Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, January 9, 1839
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, January 9, 1839
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:rag
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1839-01-09
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, January 9, 1839
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Albany, NY
transcription: rag
revision: ekk 2015-06-16
<>
Page
1
Auburn Jan 9th 1839
My dear Henry
Your letter of the 3d came in
time to dispel many anxious fears of the
family for the welfare of yourself and
Augustus
your house by the mob had reached
here the day previous and caused much
alarm - the kind consideration of my friends
kept me ignorant of all this and your letter
gave me the first information that such
reports were in circulation. Though your
house and furniture were not entirely demolished
by the Loco's I should judge by the
information of those who were there that
were present that your Whig friends behaved badly
enough - they abused your house and stole your
provisions. Upon the whole the canaille at Albany
and the canaille at Auburn do not materially
differ. I insist still that a private house is not
a suitable place to entertain such company. Glad
am I that I was not there - no woman ought to be
willing to see her home so desecrated I felt greived
vexed and insulted last New Years by the abuse
of our house and furniture - the defacement and
Page
2
destruction of articles peculiarly mine seemed like a
personal affront. Independent of all this the custom
of feeding the rabble in this way is in my estimation
decidedly wrong - demoralizing in its influence.
I would that one so good as you are would not
encourage it by your example - but I have
said enough on this subject perhaps already
more than you will think kind.
Lazette
Reason:
I have since heard that she reached home comfortably[ . ]
Reason:
I believe Worden
Pa
who were to accompany him not being ready they
have postponed it until Saturday. I went out
of my room yesterday for the first time in three
months. I am still so much troubled with nausea
and faintness as to be able to sit up only a few
hours at a time - still I am getting better slowly.
You can hardly imagine how much I miss dear Gus
he was always with me Sundays and every evening
and always ready when I was ill to read for me
or perform any kind office within his power. You
have been such a truant of late that I have
become more accustomed to your absence. I hope
it will not always be so. Since Frances
Fred
is better than it was a few weeks ago. I received
your Sunday letter this morning. I hope your health
will not suffer from your confinement and the constant
occupation of your whole time. My love to Gusey
Page
3
tell him I will write in a letter which Fred has
commenced in answer to his last. His description
of New Years day was very entertaining the
letter has been been read a great many
times - all have heard it. I have many more
things to say but the weakness of my breast
prevents my writing more. your own Frances.
I have not seen one Albany paper since you
left
Page
4
Auburn Jan 9th 1839
My dear Henry
Your letter of the 3d came in
time to dispel many anxious fears of the
family for the welfare of yourself and
Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
. Rumours of an assault uponyour house by the mob had reached
here the day previous and caused much
alarm - the kind consideration of my friends
kept me ignorant of all this and your letter
gave me the first information that such
reports were in circulation. Though your
house and furniture were not entirely demolished
by the Loco's I should judge by the
information of those who were there that
were present that your Whig friends behaved badly
enough - they abused your house and stole your
provisions. Upon the whole the canaille at Albany
and the canaille at Auburn do not materially
differ. I insist still that a private house is not
a suitable place to entertain such company. Glad
am I that I was not there - no woman ought to be
willing to see her home so desecrated I felt greived
vexed and insulted last New Years by the abuse
of our house and furniture - the defacement and
destruction of articles peculiarly mine seemed like a
personal affront. Independent of all this the custom
of feeding the rabble in this way is in my estimation
decidedly wrong - demoralizing in its influence.
I would that one so good as you are would not
encourage it by your example - but I have
said enough on this subject perhaps already
more than you will think kind.
Lazette
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
left us last Saturday morning in the stage[ . ] Supplied
I have since heard that she reached home comfortably[ . ]
Supplied
I believe Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06 Death: 1856-02-16
intends going to Albany this week.Pa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
was was to have gone to day but the gentlemenwho were to accompany him not being ready they
have postponed it until Saturday. I went out
of my room yesterday for the first time in three
months. I am still so much troubled with nausea
and faintness as to be able to sit up only a few
hours at a time - still I am getting better slowly.
You can hardly imagine how much I miss dear Gus
he was always with me Sundays and every evening
and always ready when I was ill to read for me
or perform any kind office within his power. You
have been such a truant of late that I have
become more accustomed to your absence. I hope
it will not always be so. Since Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
has goneFred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
is again absorbed with his books - his healthis better than it was a few weeks ago. I received
your Sunday letter this morning. I hope your health
will not suffer from your confinement and the constant
occupation of your whole time. My love to Gusey
tell him I will write in a letter which Fred has
commenced in answer to his last. His description
of New Years day was very entertaining the
letter has been been read a great many
times - all have heard it. I have many more
things to say but the weakness of my breast
prevents my writing more. your own Frances.
I have not seen one Albany paper since you
left