Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 29, 1841
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 29, 1841
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:nwh
student editorTranscriber:spp:csh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1841-12-29
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to
place elements in the project's places.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file.
verical-align: super; font-size: 12px;
text-decoration: underline;
text-decoration: line-through;
color: red;
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 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: Auburn, NY
transcription: nwh
revision: tap 2017-09-08
<>
Page
1
Wednesday night
My dear Sister
I have no letter yet from Auburn but
hope to get one tomorrow I write whenever I have leisure I it
is dangerous to delay at this season – I have been part of
the afternoon at Harriet's
last evening – she breathed her last about 5 oclock an hour
after I left – she died easily but has suffered much with
pain during her illness – Poor Harriet is much afflicted – Sarah
had just become old enough to assist her in the care of the
other children – Abbey
a shroud and cap made knowing it was impossible Sarah
could continue long – The coloured people have been kind
to Harriet – Lucinda was there this afternoon – I brought
little Harriet
at her age are at the nature of death – she has played
merrily with Willie
Gen
Senate and city the 1st of January – I shall be sorry to see
his place occupied by a Loco Foco – it would be difficult to
find one with his benevolent expression ^and kind heart^ – Mrs Lee when we
[top Margin]
go I will try and write once more while you
are at Auburn – The prospect of Gurnee's
very flattering – I have engaged an American chambermaid
Henry
go to the burying ground despite of city customs –
Page
2
when we saw her at Buffalo last summer was mourning the
loss of a daughter
and seems to have suffered severely – she is more cheerful
than when we saw her – Our house will be in a state
of inextricable confusion from tomorrow until next Tuesday
imagine how delightful it will be on Sunday – but you
cannot imagine – I defy any one to do that who has not
witnessed it – dont you feel almost inclined to come – I am
not sure that I shall see company if Mrs Cary
I am expecting her every day – Our Christmas dinner came off
about as well as I anticipated – the waiters not understanding
the new arrangement made hundreds of mistakes which I
presume no one saw so plainly as myself – I was obliged to
see it and at the same time to keep up an interesting conversation
with the Lieutenant Governor
Mrs Collier
are you know the rival candidates for my enviable situation
one sat on each side of Henry – Mrs. Root
were at my end of the table – Webb
vexed me exceedingly as I thought it must appear to him like a
very poor imitation of Gen Wool
Page
3
enormities which Bill Taylor
pyramid of ice cream on the side table because he had carved
the meat there – I came very near giving utterance to an expression
of horror but was restrained by a glance at the imperturbable
face of my precise neighbour
with an account of the faux pas blunders committed which
made me nervous the remainder of the night – After coffee
in the drawing room the ladies retired leaving a few gents
who remained until 11 oclock – I played 2 or 3 games with
the boys before going to bed – Sunday I was too ill to go to
Church – with all my servants Christmas day I did not find
time to sit down half an hour before dinner – I miss Maryann at
such times – Polly
so feeble in health that I require as little of her as possible – She is
to leave me next week – then I have no resource but the Irish —
Monday evening the Bostonians arrived yesterday afternoon they
had a public dinner – all of which you have read in the papers
We had 2 or 3 lb of the sperm candles which were manufactured at
Bedford 50 miles beyond Boston Monday morning – Weed
has just been in – this moment returned from Springfield to which
place he accompanied the Bostonians this morning – it appears
like an annihilation of space to think of it – I had a letter
from dear Gus
abandoned the idea of coming home before I wrote – his letter was
6 days getting here – the boats are not able to land at West Point
haff half the time when they get up so far – Mr Wood
Friday evening – he had many perils to recount – perhaps you
have seen him – he said his mission was unsuccessful – The
boys have vacation this week which is not so well enjoyed by any
of us as though Augustus were with us – I must tell you an anec-
dote of Willie – The other day I had given Clarence
Willie was very impatient to get – of course he cried loudly when I told
him if he were not quiet he could not have any – he immediately wiped
away his tears and marched up to Fred
Clarence as wistfully as he had done – "Freddy" said he "do you ever cry"
"Yes" said Fred "sometimes" "Are you going to cry now" he enquired
so emphatically that we could none of us restrain our laughter
I thought he was fairly entitled to a double portion of cream
which he enjoyed amazingly — Good night —
Page
4
Friday morning – Your letter came yesterday – I am glad you are at Auburn
I hope you will be able to stay longer than you propose – Henry thinks
he will be able to go to Auburn for a day after the Legislature has
convened – I believe he has written so to Pa
to find you returned to Canandaigua – I dare no[ t ]
Reason: risk the exposure
with my cough or I should be tempted to go with him but the
time would be so short and I should not get over the fatigue
of one days journey before the other commenced – I do not think it
certain that Henry will go but he does —
To day we take up carpets &c preparatory to New Years – I had a letter
from Augustus he is very well says he was very glad to
get Aunt Clara's
I have filled my letter so as to leave very little room for any
account of our dinner – The dessert was all placed upon the
table including fruit, (except the ice cream) where we sat down
also the vegetables – interspersed – the courses were soup, fish
Mrs Alvah Worden
Care of Hon. E. Miller
Auburn
Paid W.H.S.
PAID
Type: postmark
ALBANY
DEC
31
N.Y.
Type: postmark
[right Margin]
bread Turkey, venison, Pheasants and oysters – all served from a side table – napkins placed
under the plates which were removed in place of the table cloth
in other respects it was like all other dinners – the returning
senators seemed to enjjo enjoy it much – if Henry does not
Wednesday night
My dear Sister
I have no letter yet from Auburn but
hope to get one tomorrow I write whenever I have leisure I it
is dangerous to delay at this season – I have been part of
the afternoon at Harriet's
Birth: 1807 Death: 1888-08-20
she
Sarah
Birth: 1833 Death: 1841-12-27
has been dying since last evening – she breathed her last about 5 oclock an hour
after I left – she died easily but has suffered much with
pain during her illness – Poor Harriet is much afflicted – Sarah
had just become old enough to assist her in the care of the
other children – Abbey
Birth: 1822 Death: 1895-09-16
has just returned – I sent her to geta shroud and cap made knowing it was impossible Sarah
could continue long – The coloured people have been kind
to Harriet – Lucinda was there this afternoon – I brought
little Harriet
Birth: 1838 Death: 1860-04-22
home with me – how perfectly unconscious childrenat her age are at the nature of death – she has played
merrily with Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
without once thinking of her poor sister –Gen
Birth: 1783-06-11 Death: 1868-04-17
and Mrs Lee
Birth: 1793 Death: 1864-05-15
have just left me – the General leaves theSenate and city the 1st of January – I shall be sorry to see
his place occupied by a Loco Foco – it would be difficult to
find one with his benevolent expression ^and kind heart^ – Mrs Lee when we
[top Margin]
go I will try and write once more while you
are at Auburn – The prospect of Gurnee's
Unknown
visit is notvery flattering – I have engaged an American chambermaid
Unknown
–Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
& I attended Sarah's funeral yesterday – Poor Harriet wouldgo to the burying ground despite of city customs –
when we saw her at Buffalo last summer was mourning the
loss of a daughter
Birth: 1816 Death: 1840-07-18
25 years of age – she spoke of it to nightand seems to have suffered severely – she is more cheerful
than when we saw her – Our house will be in a state
of inextricable confusion from tomorrow until next Tuesday
imagine how delightful it will be on Sunday – but you
cannot imagine – I defy any one to do that who has not
witnessed it – dont you feel almost inclined to come – I am
not sure that I shall see company if Mrs Cary
Birth: 1788 Death: 1863-06-22
is not with meI am expecting her every day – Our Christmas dinner came off
about as well as I anticipated – the waiters not understanding
the new arrangement made hundreds of mistakes which I
presume no one saw so plainly as myself – I was obliged to
see it and at the same time to keep up an interesting conversation
with the Lieutenant Governor
Birth: 1783-09-15 Death: 1863-08-30
– Mrs Bradish
Birth: 1803 Death: 1868
appeared in blue silkMrs Collier
Birth: 1809-04-14 Death: 1897-07-09
in black velvet both with tight sleeves – theyare you know the rival candidates for my enviable situation
one sat on each side of Henry – Mrs. Root
Birth: 1788-10-25 Death: 1871-02-14
and Mrs Randall
Birth: 1813-05-23 Death: 1903-08-02Certainty: Possible
were at my end of the table – Webb
Birth: 1802-02-08 Death: 1884-06-07
was among our guests whichvexed me exceedingly as I thought it must appear to him like a
very poor imitation of Gen Wool
Birth: 1784-02-20 Death: 1869-11-10
; entertainment – Among otherenormities which Bill Taylor
Birth: 1797 Death: 1872-09-13
committed was cutting up a beautifulpyramid of ice cream on the side table because he had carved
the meat there – I came very near giving utterance to an expression
of horror but was restrained by a glance at the imperturbable
face of my precise neighbour
Unknown
– some other time I will amusewith an account of the faux pas blunders committed which
made me nervous the remainder of the night – After coffee
in the drawing room the ladies retired leaving a few gents
who remained until 11 oclock – I played 2 or 3 games with
the boys before going to bed – Sunday I was too ill to go to
Church – with all my servants Christmas day I did not find
time to sit down half an hour before dinner – I miss Maryann at
such times – Polly
Unknown
is goodnatured and willing to do all she can butso feeble in health that I require as little of her as possible – She is
to leave me next week – then I have no resource but the Irish —
Monday evening the Bostonians arrived yesterday afternoon they
had a public dinner – all of which you have read in the papers
We had 2 or 3 lb of the sperm candles which were manufactured at
Bedford 50 miles beyond Boston Monday morning – Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
has just been in – this moment returned from Springfield to which
place he accompanied the Bostonians this morning – it appears
like an annihilation of space to think of it – I had a letter
from dear Gus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
Saturday – with his accustomed good sense he hadabandoned the idea of coming home before I wrote – his letter was
6 days getting here – the boats are not able to land at West Point
haff half the time when they get up so far – Mr Wood
Birth: 1805-10-07 Death: 1844-02Certainty: Possible
was hereFriday evening – he had many perils to recount – perhaps you
have seen him – he said his mission was unsuccessful – The
boys have vacation this week which is not so well enjoyed by any
of us as though Augustus were with us – I must tell you an anec-
dote of Willie – The other day I had given Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
some ice cream whichWillie was very impatient to get – of course he cried loudly when I told
him if he were not quiet he could not have any – he immediately wiped
away his tears and marched up to Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
who he supposed was watchingClarence as wistfully as he had done – "Freddy" said he "do you ever cry"
"Yes" said Fred "sometimes" "Are you going to cry now" he enquired
so emphatically that we could none of us restrain our laughter
I thought he was fairly entitled to a double portion of cream
which he enjoyed amazingly — Good night —
Friday morning – Your letter came yesterday – I am glad you are at Auburn
I hope you will be able to stay longer than you propose – Henry thinks
he will be able to go to Auburn for a day after the Legislature has
convened – I believe he has written so to Pa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
– he would be sorryto find you returned to Canandaigua – I dare no[ t ]
Supplied
with my cough or I should be tempted to go with him but the
time would be so short and I should not get over the fatigue
of one days journey before the other commenced – I do not think it
certain that Henry will go but he does —
To day we take up carpets &c preparatory to New Years – I had a letter
from Augustus he is very well says he was very glad to
get Aunt Clara's
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
letter – Mrs Cary does not come – We expect Sam
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
to day –I have filled my letter so as to leave very little room for any
account of our dinner – The dessert was all placed upon the
table including fruit, (except the ice cream) where we sat down
also the vegetables – interspersed – the courses were soup, fish
Mrs Alvah Worden
Care of Hon. E. Miller
Auburn
Paid W.H.S.
PAID
Stamp
DEC
31
N.Y.
Stamp
[right Margin]
bread Turkey, venison, Pheasants and oysters – all served from a side table – napkins placed
under the plates which were removed in place of the table cloth
in other respects it was like all other dinners – the returning
senators seemed to enjjo enjoy it much – if Henry does not