Tuesday night
My dear Sister,
I am two days behind my usual time but
have not yet had your letter of last week—We remained
at Staten Island until Tuesday morning—when we took our
leave of our hospitable entertainers and returned to the city—
Monday Mrs Doane with her sister myself and Willie drove
about the Island—the ride would have been very pleasant
had not the thermometer stood at 90 which is rather too
melting for comfort—dear little Willie continued to suffer
much from the united effect of medicine and inflamed eyes
Henry returned in the evening accompanied by Mary Seward
who had been spending the day in town—She looks extremely
well and is in much better spirit than I have before seen
her—has found her winter at the Astor House very agreeable.
She enquired particularly about you—That evening Henry Dr Doane
Ald. Benson were going in a row boat across the island Bay to
Mr Benson's house in Staten Long Island—4 miles distant—they
invited us all to go with them, the night was bright and warm
just the night for an excursion of the kind for those who love
more than fear the water—Mrs Doane and I declined—Mary &

[top Margin] Sam has improved much in horsemanship since
last summer – Willie's eyes a a little better – I trust they
may continue to improve but have
many fears—

Miss Gordon accepted the invitation—They did not return until
11 oclock when I was safe in bed—Mary stayed at Dr Doanes all
night & in the morning went over with us to the City we left
her at the Astor House—We went to Mrs Webbs The Col
and Robert had gone to Geneva (Bob is very handsome and withal modest
has gone to enter college is just 18)—Mrs Webb, the young ladies &
" young gentlemen

x

Alexander Webb

Birth: 1835-02-15  Death: 1911-02-12 

Watson Webb

Birth: 1833-11-10  Death: 1876-12-03 

" are living in Waverly Place much as they did
at Spring Lawn with the exception of a carriage and horses—
Willie was more contented here than he had been any where else —the
boys devoted themselves to his amusement—After tea ^dinner^ Henry and I went
to return some calls I received 2 years ago—Mrs Ruggles was not
at home—Mrs James Kent also Mrs William Kent sick— Mrs
Le Roy not at home—Mrs Amory was at home and moreover
was very agreeable I have seldom seen any one I felt a greater
disposition to like—she was in her parlour with all her children
around her—nice children—Mr Amory had gone to Boston where
they are to remove in a few weeks—We went home with Mr
Ruggles visited his flower garden saw his jet d'eau made
by the Croton water which was very pretty—their house was
very handsomely furnished—He and Mr Blatchford made all
our visits with us—we went to Mr B–'s and took a glass of
wine—then returned to Mrs Webbs to tea. The next day we
had promised to spend at Mr Drapers but they lived 8 miles out

of town and we should be compelled to lose 2 days instead of one
Henry must be in Albany Monday and one day would
not answer for Florida—I regretted it extremely as Mrs
Draper had prepared dinner for us and Mr Draper came
for us in his carriage—if she is not more than commonly
good natured I am sure she will never forgive us—We
left Mrs Webbs after a lunch at 2 oclock—took the
boat for Piermont and from there came to Goshen by
railroad where we arrived in a vehement shower of rain
at 8 oclock. Our kind cousins were all glad to see us
Nicholas & Harriet were sent to the Hotel for lodging as
their small house could not accommodate us all—The
next morning Augustus Seward made his appearance at the
breakfast table he had missed us in N.Y.—and came to N.B.
in the evening boat—was on his way to see his wife having
been in Chautauqua 5 weeks—has utterly failed in business &
is now without occupation—of course relying upon the
advice and assistance of his Uncle—We rode in the rain
which had continued all night, to Florida—found Mr Seward
much improved in health—mother quite ill—she immedi-
ately expressed a wish to come home with us as she could not live
much longer there—altogether they are destroying this
excellent woman very rapidly—she is wasted to a shadow
has a bad cough and almost continual fever—I cannot
tell you now how difficult we found the task of persuading Mr
Seward to consent to her journey nor with how bad grace
the consent was finally given—he is a bad man—She
will not continue long a subject for his tyrany—this must
not be mentioned to a third person—She did come with us
and I hope the respite will benefit her though I am afraid it
comes too late— P Polydore (who has become a very agreeable
& respectable man) came with us to N.Burgh—Nicholas
Harriet and Bill had a small wagon for their own use
We left Saturday after dinner—took the evening boat which
stopped expressly for us—Sam was on board according to
agreement—I had not mentioned that he came home the
morning we left the City and breakfasted at Mrs Webbs.
seemed very much pleased with his visit to you. Sunday
morning found us all in Albany. I for one heartily glad our
journeying was ended—dear Fred and H Underwood met us on
the boat— Carlin was still at our house having painted a miniature
portrait of Fred for H me while we were absent—it is pronounced
very excellent by Henry, Weed, and Sam—to me it is very
far inferior as a likeness to that made by Frankenstein—you shall
be the judge. Carlin has gone to N. York—is to return of

[right Margin] course there was not a word of truth in [ h ]

x

Supplied

Reason: wax-seal

is report about our ridiculing him—common
humanity would forbid such an act

I am still very much interested in him—he is ambitious and unhappy
feels bitterly his privation – Clara had gone home the day after her
return. H.U. went with her as far as Utica. Henry U. has
gone to the convention at Auburn he thought he should go &
see you before he came back—Monday there was a review
which Mother & I attended with Gen. & Mrs Root—Just
as we had all reached the parade ground and the review
was commencing there came on a violent shower so Henry
had the cooling pleasure of riding the whole length of
the line twice with his head exposed to the pitiless
storm, which made his mother feel very bad—
Yesterday another review came off at Troy—we were to have gone
there but were both too sick—I was obliged to go to bed
as soon as dinner was over Monday two of the officers dined
with us—This must account for my letter not having been written
Monday morning—Dear Gus has had to wait too. I have
just finished a letter to him—my head has ached hard all
day—to night is rather easier—we are expecting Henry with
his escort of 15 officers to eat some fruit here on the return
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Paid W.H.S.
PAID
ALBANY, N.Y.
SEP 21
1842—

[right Margin] it is nine oclock and they have not come yet
I must go to bed—your own Sister