Spring Lawn – O^ct 15^th –
My Dear Henry, It was not until Tuesday evening
that I received you first letter and then it
was accompanied by two others written two
days later —We are three miles from the Post Office
and when Mr Webb is absent letters and papers
are only occasionally sent for — I have not
written to you since the day after my arrival
here being ignorant of your movements and
uncertain where to direct a letter — Mr
Webb came from the city Saturday evening
and remained until Monday morning he
does not return again until Friday evening
consequently I must prolong my visit until the
following Monday when he goes again to the
city —Frederick was quite sick all day
Sunday — chills and fever — but recovered sooner
than I dared hope— fever and ague and intermittent
fevers are very prevalent on the Island — One
of Mrs Webbs little boys is quite sick (Andy)
at present — they have both had Chicken pox
since I came — I am anxious to get home
while we are all tolerably well — find it quite
as uncomfortable visiting with Willie and Mary

as I apprehended — We have had two fine days –the remainder of the time it has been too cold for
comfort — still I w ride or walk every day when
it does not rain — To day I am suffering
from my old tormentor nervous headache —
Friday morning — Last night I received letters
from Mr Blatchford, Sam, and Jennings — Sam
is to go to Philadelphia with his mother to day
returns Monday afternoon where he will wait
to accompany me to Albany — his letter advises
me of your departure on Teusday morning —
Jennings wrote me a long, kind letter which I
will endeavour to answer while I am here —
I have not heard a word from home since
I left Albany — I am surprised that Augustus
does not write — I wait impatiently for a
letter from you to assure me that all are
well there — Should Mrs Blatchford be in the
city I will spend a day there but believe I
cannot make any other visit in New York
with Mary and Willie — Mary has relatives
in the city who will probably engross a portion
of her time— She seemed much disappointed that
she could not be with them the few hours we
we there before — Well, I am tempted to say
again as I have said many times before I will
never be guilty of the folly of visiting again
with a young child — There is more discomfort
in it than you can conceive—

I hope you will spend as much time with
dear Sis as you can — it is a long time since
she has seen you — I close my letter abruptly
to send it to Flushing — Mrs Webb desires me to
make her kind remembrance to you— your own
Frances —

William H. Seward
Auburn
Cayuga County
FLUSHING N.Y.
OCT 17
hMrs W. H. Seward
Oct 15. 1840