Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August 17, 1838
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August 17, 1838
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:axa
student editorTranscriber:spp:lmd
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1838-08-17
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, August 17, 1838
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Canandaigua, NY
transcription: axa
revision: crb 2017-10-31
<>
Page
1
Friday morning Aug—17th 1838
My dearest Sister,
Well I hope you are able to keep
cool this weather I have been freezing all the
week—Why didn’t you come out to the wedding
I understood you were expected — They
I believe Tuesday evening I have seen no one that
was there except Sanford
municative as my Gus
occasion—Mc Clallen
preparations they seemed to be making that a
large party was expected—his shop is in a very
central place you know—the next evening there
was a party at Sat’s
man
Mrs Throops
at the wedding if this was the case—a good
opportunity to climb another round of the ladder—
I thought Maryann
upon her intimacy with Mrs Weed
has been so unpleasant since Monday that we
have seen no one but Mrs Miller
with us Teusday—Monday evening I went
up to see Mrs Lucas
she has some made like yours[ . ]
Reason: there I found
Warren
visit—I was formally introduced and made
as formal a courtesy as if I had had the first
introduction at that time—Warren seemed to be
seized with a paroxysm of rocking in a large
Page
2
Boston rocking chair—Mrs Lucas and myself seemed
to be left to keep up the conversation by ourselves
for some time—not liking to destroy the sociability
of the company by my presence I addressed some
commonplace enquiries to Mrs Worden about her
health journey &c—she said she met you at
Canandaigua and presumed you had gone to the
Springs—I had great pleasure in communicating the
information that Mr Worden
for me on his way to New York—Warren about
this time was seized with a disposition to talk
earnestly to Mr Lucas
long enough I informed Mrs Lucas that I desired
to speak alone with her—we withdrew to the hall
and had a long talk about the mattrasses—Mr
Lucas came out to say he was going home with me
but Mrs Lucas would not consent to my leaving
so soon and as an inducement to stay said the
Wordens were going away soon—I returned to spend
the remainder of the evening—soon after Emily
made a move to go which being seconded by the
others the hats were brought the usual number of
compliments passed and they departed Warren
taking special care not to say good evening to me
Such things do appear so contemptible to me now such
a sure evidence of littleness of mind that I think
I shall never again be guilty of not speaking to any
one—I spent an hour very pleasantly after they
were gone—I believe I have mentioned the cousin Miss
Lord to you—she is a teacher in the seminary
an intelligent warmhearted girl but I fancy her
manners are not generally preposessing as I find
she does not make a favourable impression on all—
She is intimately acquainted with Mrs Sigourney
Page
3
I think knew Tracy’s
a very superior woman—I have seen no one with as much
mind and as cultivated taste in some time—I think
you would like her if you could over look her defects
of manner—I shall try to see more of her—Mr Lucas
came home with me—he spoke in very high terms
of the abilities of Mr Hale
College—I told him how much you were pleased with
him—I had a long letter from Henry
a few lines again yesterday—the 2nd contained Johns
which I transcribe—
Houston May 19th—
My dear Seward, My brother
interest you have taken in my affairs and of the friendship and sup-
port you extended to him—I return you the offering of my thanks
and gratitude—Maurice has suffered severely from
disease, is disheartened and turns his back upon the country:
It is not so with me—My health is better than for many years
past, and God has smiled upon me in the morning and the
evening of every day since I left the scene of my folly &
affliction—What do you now think of me? a mad[ man ]
Reason:
or a fool! That I have been one or the other is undeniabl[ e ]
Reason: —
But my friend I am neither now—By the Grace of God
I am redeemed—We are now in your season of July & August
So far as regards the temperature and the productions of the
earth—The Irish potatoe and the whole class of garden veg-
atables are in perfection—All is repose and quiet—Our
public enemy
upon the Gulf under blockade, and several of the states and
their military chiefs are in open rebellion—We are now secure of
another year of peace—The country is rapidly settling and increasing
in strength—I observe the Assembly of N.Y. have negatived the prop-
osition of an annexation to the Union by a vote of 80 to 13—We
had not expected this—I[ s ]
Reason: this the feeling of N. York towards
Texas or towards the administration at Washington? We had hoped
for the annexation—We felt ourselves a part and portion of the people
of the U. States and desired a common country—But if Texas
is left to herself she will not falter in her course—She will stand by
herself and sustain herself or perish in the field—My friend when
I have the honor of addressing you as the ___ of the state of N. York
Page
4
I shall expect different sentiments on the subject—Tell me if you are
to be elected this fall—Do not be over modest—If Mrs Seward thinks me
rational offer her my warmest love and prayers—Kiss the boys
if you can catch John
He is an orphan before his time and I an exile from in a country deemed
unworthy the fellowship of civilized nations—The workers of this
iniquity have their reward—your friend John Birdsall—
Henry says he has not commenced his business yet—writes hurriedly
I hope to be able to send your things some time next week
I believe I shall send the portrait along—will write the day
they are dispatched—Clara
aches intolerably so good bye Frances—
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
AUG 17
Type: postmark
Friday morning Aug—17th 1838
My dearest Sister,
Well I hope you are able to keep
cool this weather I have been freezing all the
week—Why didn’t you come out to the wedding
I understood you were expected — They
were married
I believe Tuesday evening I have seen no one that
was there except Sanford
Birth: 1818-01-22 Death: 1883-07-21
and he was about as com-municative as my Gus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
would be on a similaroccasion—Mc Clallen
Birth: 1791-09-07 Death: 1860-11-16
said he judged from the preparations they seemed to be making that a
large party was expected—his shop is in a very
central place you know—the next evening there
was a party at Sat’s
Unknown
—and last night Perry’s
Birth: 1807 Death: 1875
man
Unknown
told Peter that there was to be another atMrs Throops
Birth: 1806-02-11 Death: 1872-06-17
—I think it probable they wereat the wedding if this was the case—a good
opportunity to climb another round of the ladder—
I thought Maryann
Unknown
seemed to dwell considerablyupon her intimacy with Mrs Weed
Birth: 1797 Death: 1858-07-03
—The weatherhas been so unpleasant since Monday that we
have seen no one but Mrs Miller
Birth: 1785-04-24 Death: 1870-04-17
who took teawith us Teusday—Monday evening I went
up to see Mrs Lucas
Birth: 1794-01-12 Death: 1876-05-12
on the subject of mattrassesshe has some made like yours[ . ]
Supplied
Warren
Birth: 1806-07 Death: 1891
Emily
Birth: 1810 Death: 1895
and a cousinUnknown
making a sociablevisit—I was formally introduced and made
as formal a courtesy as if I had had the first
introduction at that time—Warren seemed to be
seized with a paroxysm of rocking in a large
Boston rocking chair—Mrs Lucas and myself seemed
to be left to keep up the conversation by ourselves
for some time—not liking to destroy the sociability
of the company by my presence I addressed some
commonplace enquiries to Mrs Worden about her
health journey &c—she said she met you at
Canandaigua and presumed you had gone to the
Springs—I had great pleasure in communicating the
information that Mr Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06 Death: 1856-02-16
had left a notefor me on his way to New York—Warren about
this time was seized with a disposition to talk
earnestly to Mr Lucas
Birth: 1799 Death: 1839-08-25
—After I thought I had stayed long enough I informed Mrs Lucas that I desired
to speak alone with her—we withdrew to the hall
and had a long talk about the mattrasses—Mr
Lucas came out to say he was going home with me
but Mrs Lucas would not consent to my leaving
so soon and as an inducement to stay said the
Wordens were going away soon—I returned to spend
the remainder of the evening—soon after Emily
made a move to go which being seconded by the
others the hats were brought the usual number of
compliments passed and they departed Warren
taking special care not to say good evening to me
Such things do appear so contemptible to me now such
a sure evidence of littleness of mind that I think
I shall never again be guilty of not speaking to any
one—I spent an hour very pleasantly after they
were gone—I believe I have mentioned the cousin Miss
Lord to you—she is a teacher in the seminary
an intelligent warmhearted girl but I fancy her
manners are not generally preposessing as I find
she does not make a favourable impression on all—
She is intimately acquainted with Mrs Sigourney
Birth: 1791-09-01 Death: 1865-06-10
andI think knew Tracy’s
Birth: 1793-06-17 Death: 1859-09-12
sister Harriet
Birth: 1788-09-03 Death: 1830-04-25
whom she says was a very superior woman—I have seen no one with as much
mind and as cultivated taste in some time—I think
you would like her if you could over look her defects
of manner—I shall try to see more of her—Mr Lucas
came home with me—he spoke in very high terms
of the abilities of Mr Hale
Birth: 1797-11-27 Death: 1863-07-15
the president of GenevaCollege—I told him how much you were pleased with
him—I had a long letter from Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
Sunday anda few lines again yesterday—the 2nd contained Johns
Birth: 1802 Death: 1839-07-22
letterwhich I transcribe—
Houston May 19th—
My dear Seward, My brother
Birth: 1815-01-15 Death: 1907-03-02
has informed of the kindinterest you have taken in my affairs and of the friendship and sup-
port you extended to him—I return you the offering of my thanks
and gratitude—Maurice has suffered severely from
disease, is disheartened and turns his back upon the country:
It is not so with me—My health is better than for many years
past, and God has smiled upon me in the morning and the
evening of every day since I left the scene of my folly &
affliction—What do you now think of me? a mad[ man ]
Supplied
or a fool! That I have been one or the other is undeniabl[ e ]
Supplied
But my friend I am neither now—By the Grace of God
I am redeemed—We are now in your season of July & August
So far as regards the temperature and the productions of the
earth—The Irish potatoe and the whole class of garden veg-
atables are in perfection—All is repose and quiet—Our
public enemy
Birth: 1780-07-27 Death: 1853-02-06
is powerless—The French have placed all his fortsupon the Gulf under blockade, and several of the states and
their military chiefs are in open rebellion—We are now secure of
another year of peace—The country is rapidly settling and increasing
in strength—I observe the Assembly of N.Y. have negatived the prop-
osition of an annexation to the Union by a vote of 80 to 13—We
had not expected this—I[ s ]
Supplied
Texas or towards the administration at Washington? We had hoped
for the annexation—We felt ourselves a part and portion of the people
of the U. States and desired a common country—But if Texas
is left to herself she will not falter in her course—She will stand by
herself and sustain herself or perish in the field—My friend when
I have the honor of addressing you as the ___ of the state of N. York
I shall expect different sentiments on the subject—Tell me if you are
to be elected this fall—Do not be over modest—If Mrs Seward thinks me
rational offer her my warmest love and prayers—Kiss the boys
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
for me andif you can catch John
Unknown
, stamp a kiss on his forehead in my behalf—He is an orphan before his time and I an exile from in a country deemed
unworthy the fellowship of civilized nations—The workers of this
iniquity have their reward—your friend John Birdsall—
Henry says he has not commenced his business yet—writes hurriedly
I hope to be able to send your things some time next week
I believe I shall send the portrait along—will write the day
they are dispatched—Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
continues unwell and my headaches intolerably so good bye Frances—
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
AUG 17