Sunday afternoon
My dear Henry
Your letter of Friday has just
come to me– I am glad to hear that your cough
has left you– I have had a dread of coughs from my
cradle– Freddy has been unwell for the last week
but is better to day – has been to church – I
went this morning to hear for the first time
our new Pastor – Mr. Croswell – I was pleased with
his sermon but he falls far short of Mr Lucas in
every respect. Until your letter announced the
destruction of that pretty crab apple tree I was
not conscious of being attached to any thing
of the kind in Albany– Thank Heaven that is not
my home if it were I would not have exchanged
that tree for 20 cisterns – the sacrifice seems to
me to have been altogether unecessary as I cannot
conceive of a more unsuitable place for a cistern

than the one selected— I believe you and I agree entirely
in our taste about trees and shrubs and should we ever
be blessed with a permanent home of our own we may
escape the pain of seeing them mutilated or destroyed
wantonly— I was wishing yesterday that you were
here to see how beautifully our oleanders were
blooming– you have the same enjoyment there– are
those both red or white? I have never seen them
in flower. The frequent showers we have increase the
verdure of the trees and shrubs so that the county
never looked more beautiful–
Mr Beardsley called the same day I received your
letter and took your miniature which he purposed
sending by the first safe opportunity– he was to
go east himself in a few days– I agree with you
in thinking mahogany the most suitable colour for
the doors– I am very glad the lower rooms are
to be painted I hope the same favour will be extend-
ded to the woodwork on the outside of the street door
It was not my intention to inflict a long

letter upon you for annoyed as you are
in that way I cannot persuade myself that even
my letters afford much pleasure – Does Jennings
go to Florida? Can you tell me when he will probably
return home? – I have deferred my visit to
Canandaigua for another week – have not heard
from Lazette since Blatchford returned – Please
remember me to him and Jennings – your own
Frances
I have opened my letter to ask you to send me some money
I had forgotten that I was without any until this moment –

William H. Seward
Albany
AUBURN
AUG
3
N.Y.
h Frances A. Seward
August 4. 1840