Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 29, 1841
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 29, 1841
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:msr
student editorTranscriber:spp:obm
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1841-11-29
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 29, 1841
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Albany, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Canandaigua, NY
transcription: msr
revision: crb 2017-07-06
<>
Page
1
Monday morning Nov 29th
My dearest Sister,
I steal a few moments from my guests to
commence a letter which I hope to finish some time this week.
Yours by Mr Wood
outside that Mr Wood Wood was prevented calling by want of
time. Our Winter has come upon us in good earnest it has
snowed without cessation the last 6 or 7 hours—Mr and Mrs Webb
came last Friday morning and have been with us ever since until
this moment when they departed for Troy—I was treated so politely
at Spring Lawn that I felt it a duty to do all in my power to make
their time pass agreeably—Mrs Webb was so much pleased with
Mary that I was not often called upon to join the conversation
there are undoubtedly ties ^sympathies^ between persons educated in cities
which make them very interesting company for each other—I am
at a loss to define the particular nature of the attraction but it
is evident that they assimilate much more readily
than the city and the country—Mrs Webb's mind is far inferior
to that of Mary in cultivation their manners are dissimilar
but I should think their dispositions somewhat alike and they
have both spent their lives in the City which is after all I presume
Page
2
chief magnetic influence—They both seem to look upon me with
a sort of compassion for my helpless rusticity
Monday afternoon—For the first time in the two weeks I am once more
alone you will not think me a selfish misanthrope
if I say that I do not find the change unpleasant. Our
very pretty and very erudite sister-in-law left us at 4 clock
Mary has many qualities to excite admiration many
worthy of high esteem and is sufficiently affectionate
to make you love her while she is with you still
there is just enough precision in her manner to occasion a
little restraint which is not a pleasurable sensation. And
again when I see how much she is is liked by others I feel
satisfied that the fault is my own and verily believe that
it is a sense of inferiority in some particulars which pro-
duces the uncomfortable feeling and then I strive against
pride and envy and many other unchristian qualities
which I am afraid sometimes take possession of my heart—
How much I was disappointed not to see my boy
I received a letter from him last Tuesday saying that
he thought it best to defer his visit until Christmas
upon the whole I believe I wrote this to you last week and your
allusion to his coming home meant at Christmas—We suppose the
river will close here long before that time but if it remains
Page
3
open as far as Newburgh he can come by stage—Otherwise there
is no hope of seeing him as W. Point is almost inaccessble in
the winter—I would it were less so; it will occasion me much
anxiety when I cannot receive a letter under two or three
days—I had another letter from Augustus yesterday
an excellent letter it was—I did not feel satisfied with
his studying 2 hours each day—it allows him no time for
exercise—I must send his letter to Dear Clara
you are going there to make a visit—wish I could join
you—this being my last Winter I feel disposed to
make all the required sacrifices without murmuring which
is as much as saying I should feel very rebellious were
it otherwise—I must say I received much the same
impression that you did with regard to Bishop Hughes
speech was certainly very unsuitable for a clergyman—He
is said by all who know him to be a meek peaceloving man
After the election he wrote a beautiful letter to Henry
I laid one [ side ]
Reason: wax-seal for you to read but it has since been called
for—Now [ my ]
Reason: wax-seal sincere opinion which I have never spoken to any
one else is that this meekness is a garb assumed to answer
his own purposes—Of course all the generous professions which
are made to Henry can be easily explained—I have read two or three
of his speeches which though they indicate talent are by
no means specimens of a meek and forbearing spirit— But
perhaps my prejudices make me uncharitable—Weed
quite enamoured of the Bishop and Mr Blatchford
a visit to him in extacies—I know nothing about the part
Weed took in the Bishops proceedings only know that he was in N.Y.
at the time——Tuesday morning – This cold day we must go to
Troy and bring the Webbs back with us I think if they stay much
longer the river will be frozen—We are also to attend the
marriage of Miss Huntington
at four oclock rather a strange hour—Willie
exceedingly amusing he says all manner of funny things is a
boisterous little boy—wakes up every morning at 5 oclock and enter-
Page
4
tains mother with all manner of stories—Mrs Doane
at all like the miniature—her expression is altogether different
her hair brown and she a small woman—The picture I
should think a fancy price. Mr Mumford
Mrs Blatchford
the last I trust which I shall be obliged to spend in Albany—There has
been much sickness about us but we are kindly spared so far
Mrs Horner
I have all those visits yet to make—when shall I begin is a
question I frequently propose to myself. Greely
[right Margin] although his want of "polish" was so very perceptible Mary seemed to appreciate
his extraordinary at abilities—I think the depriving of polish obscured his
merit in the eyes of the other Lady—your own sister—Love to Frances
[center Margin] Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Paid W.H.S.
PAID
Type: postmark
ALBANY N.Y.
NOV 30
Type: postmark
Monday morning Nov 29th
My dearest Sister,
I steal a few moments from my guests
Birth:
Death: 1848-07-01
Birth: 1802-02-08
Death: 1884-06-07
Birth: 1815
Death: 1879-08-29
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
commence a letter which I hope to finish some time this week.
Yours by Mr Wood
Birth: 1805-10-07 Death: 1844-02
came last evening with a notice on theoutside that Mr Wood Wood was prevented calling by want of
time. Our Winter has come upon us in good earnest it has
snowed without cessation the last 6 or 7 hours—Mr and Mrs Webb
came last Friday morning and have been with us ever since until
this moment when they departed for Troy—I was treated so politely
at Spring Lawn that I felt it a duty to do all in my power to make
their time pass agreeably—Mrs Webb was so much pleased with
Mary that I was not often called upon to join the conversation
there are undoubtedly ties ^sympathies^ between persons educated in cities
which make them very interesting company for each other—I am
at a loss to define the particular nature of the attraction but it
is evident that they assimilate much more readily
than the city and the country—Mrs Webb's mind is far inferior
to that of Mary in cultivation their manners are dissimilar
but I should think their dispositions somewhat alike and they
have both spent their lives in the City which is after all I presume
chief magnetic influence—They both seem to look upon me with
a sort of compassion for my helpless rusticity
Monday afternoon—For the first time in the two weeks I am once more
alone you will not think me a selfish misanthrope
if I say that I do not find the change unpleasant. Our
very pretty and very erudite sister-in-law left us at 4 clock
Mary has many qualities to excite admiration many
worthy of high esteem and is sufficiently affectionate
to make you love her while she is with you still
there is just enough precision in her manner to occasion a
little restraint which is not a pleasurable sensation. And
again when I see how much she is is liked by others I feel
satisfied that the fault is my own and verily believe that
it is a sense of inferiority in some particulars which pro-
duces the uncomfortable feeling and then I strive against
pride and envy and many other unchristian qualities
which I am afraid sometimes take possession of my heart—
How much I was disappointed not to see my boy
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
last weekI received a letter from him last Tuesday saying that
he thought it best to defer his visit until Christmas
upon the whole I believe I wrote this to you last week and your
allusion to his coming home meant at Christmas—We suppose the
river will close here long before that time but if it remains
open as far as Newburgh he can come by stage—Otherwise there
is no hope of seeing him as W. Point is almost inaccessble in
the winter—I would it were less so; it will occasion me much
anxiety when I cannot receive a letter under two or three
days—I had another letter from Augustus yesterday
an excellent letter it was—I did not feel satisfied with
his studying 2 hours each day—it allows him no time for
exercise—I must send his letter to Dear Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
—I am gladyou are going there to make a visit—wish I could join
you—this being my last Winter I feel disposed to
make all the required sacrifices without murmuring which
is as much as saying I should feel very rebellious were
it otherwise—I must say I received much the same
impression that you did with regard to Bishop Hughes
Birth: 1797-06-24 Death: 1864-01-03
—hisspeech was certainly very unsuitable for a clergyman—He
is said by all who know him to be a meek peaceloving man
After the election he wrote a beautiful letter to Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
whichI laid one [ side ]
Supplied
for—Now [ my ]
Supplied
one else is that this meekness is a garb assumed to answer
his own purposes—Of course all the generous professions which
are made to Henry can be easily explained—I have read two or three
of his speeches which though they indicate talent are by
no means specimens of a meek and forbearing spirit— But
perhaps my prejudices make me uncharitable—Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
and Henry arequite enamoured of the Bishop and Mr Blatchford
Birth: 1798-04-23 Death: 1875-09-04
returned from a visit to him in extacies—I know nothing about the part
Weed took in the Bishops proceedings only know that he was in N.Y.
at the time——Tuesday morning – This cold day we must go to
Troy and bring the Webbs back with us I think if they stay much
longer the river will be frozen—We are also to attend the
marriage of Miss Huntington
Birth: 1817 Death: 1885-11-25
—who is to be married in churchat four oclock rather a strange hour—Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
is well andexceedingly amusing he says all manner of funny things is a
boisterous little boy—wakes up every morning at 5 oclock and enter-
tains mother with all manner of stories—Mrs Doane
Birth: 1806-03-31 Death: 1887-06-28
did not lookat all like the miniature—her expression is altogether different
her hair brown and she a small woman—The picture I
should think a fancy price. Mr Mumford
Birth: 1791-09-18 Death: 1863-04-25
came up for Mary—Mrs Blatchford
Birth: 1798-07-24 Death: 1857-12-23
is quite ill—Tomorrow is the first day of winterthe last I trust which I shall be obliged to spend in Albany—There has
been much sickness about us but we are kindly spared so far
Mrs Horner
Birth: 1813 Death: 1873-04-29
was not well when Mary and I called—did not see herI have all those visits yet to make—when shall I begin is a
question I frequently propose to myself. Greely
Birth: 1811-02-03 Death: 1872-11-29
dined with us Sunday[right Margin] although his want of "polish" was so very perceptible Mary seemed to appreciate
his extraordinary at abilities—I think the depriving of polish obscured his
merit in the eyes of the other Lady—your own sister—Love to Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
[center Margin] Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Paid W.H.S.
PAID
Stamp
ALBANY N.Y.
NOV 30