Letter from Augustus Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, January 3, 1848
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Letter from Augustus Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, January 3, 1848
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:cnk
student editorTranscriber:spp:smc
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1848-01-03
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Letter from Augustus Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, January 3, 1848
action: sent
sender: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
location: Mexico
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: cnk
revision: tap 2018-10-31
<>
Page
1
e
This letter is copied in Frances Miller Seward’s hand and is
included with four additional letters: November 20, 1847, February 05, 1848,
April 02, 1848, and May 01, 1848.Mexico – Jan 3d 1848 –
We left Jalapa the 23d of Nov, after three days
march reached Perote . This march was over
mountains of very great height, the temperature
so low that it snowed during the passage of
the higher portions – Perote contains about 8000
inhabitants, likewise the celebrated Castle
which is a complete bastioned fort of very great
accommodations, surpassing in size any thing
of the kind I have heretofore seen – We only
stopped here part of a day – I had consequently
little opportunity to look about as much as I wished
The weather was exceedingly wet and drizzly
resembling our Spring and Autumn weather during
the equinox – I am told it so nearly the whole
year – This is the highest point between Vera Cruz
and Mexico – The productions both vegetable and
animal resemble those with us – Turkeys, pigs,
and potatoes in great abundance –
After passing one night here we started for Puebla
The march for about 40 miles on this route is over
a perfectly level plain, of which portions of the
surface compose the base of an innumerable
number of mountains whose peaks rise in all di-
Page
2
-rections as far as the eye can reach – some of
the more distant being completely covered with snow
At one time three of these snow-clad mountains
were to be seen at one time – The country is very
barren, no villages and very few houses, these
mostly miserable ranches. This plain is covered
with salt and seems to have been the bed of a salt
lake at some previous time – the water obtained
from the wells is exceedingly brackish –
On our third days march from Perote we commenced
passing into a more fertile country, the villages
were numerous and the ground well cultivated
I saw on this days march some of the largest
fields of corn that I have ever witnessed –
imagine one single field extendinding over a
perfectly level plain, as far as the eye can reach
and you will have some conception of them – it
is at least 30 miles around some of them –
The fith day we arrived in sight of Puebla, about
11 oclock in the morning – When two or three
miles distant from the city, it appears to be one
mass of churches, indeed when we arrived there
nearly every other building proved to be a
Cathedral, Monastery, Nunnery or some
other building of a Religious character –
Puebla contains about 80,000 inhabitants, and
is one of the prettiest cities I have ever seen.
It is completely filled with fountains, parks, and
other ornaments – We were pushed on our
journey after remaining here only one day –
From Puebla for about 30 miles the country
is thickly settled and well cultivated.
Page
3
then we commence ascending mountains – we
were one day passing these – the afternoon of
that day we came in sight of the Valley of
Mexico the most magnificent sight that I ever
beheld – One immense fertile plain bounded on
all sides by ranges of mountains – The city
of Mexico was visible though at the distance of
30 miles. We encamped at the foot of the
mountains during the night and in two
days more arrived at the city –
Having taken the recruits that I brought, to their
rendez vous I went to join my Regiment
which I found quartered in a Convent –
There are about 12000 troops now in the city
fit for duty – I do not know what course Gen
Scott
instructions from Washington – We received
the Presidents
The weather here is delightful and the
climate more healthful than any portion of
the country through which we have passed.
I spent Christmas & New Years pleasantly – and I hope
you did – This city has one of the most mag-
nificient theatres in the world – The plays are altogether
in Spanish but still quite entertaining –
The last letter I received from you was at Jalapa –
one train has come to the city since I have been
here but brought no mail from the States – I write
now as we are about departing for Toluca the capital
of the state of Mexico – the city of Mexico being like
Washington the capital of the Republic – A train
will probably leave here in about 2 weeks —
e
Editorial Note
We left Jalapa the 23d of Nov, after three days
march reached Perote . This march was over
mountains of very great height, the temperature
so low that it snowed during the passage of
the higher portions – Perote contains about 8000
inhabitants, likewise the celebrated Castle
which is a complete bastioned fort of very great
accommodations, surpassing in size any thing
of the kind I have heretofore seen – We only
stopped here part of a day – I had consequently
little opportunity to look about as much as I wished
The weather was exceedingly wet and drizzly
resembling our Spring and Autumn weather during
the equinox – I am told it so nearly the whole
year – This is the highest point between Vera Cruz
and Mexico – The productions both vegetable and
animal resemble those with us – Turkeys, pigs,
and potatoes in great abundance –
After passing one night here we started for Puebla
The march for about 40 miles on this route is over
a perfectly level plain, of which portions of the
surface compose the base of an innumerable
number of mountains whose peaks rise in all di-
-rections as far as the eye can reach – some of
the more distant being completely covered with snow
At one time three of these snow-clad mountains
were to be seen at one time – The country is very
barren, no villages and very few houses, these
mostly miserable ranches. This plain is covered
with salt and seems to have been the bed of a salt
lake at some previous time – the water obtained
from the wells is exceedingly brackish –
On our third days march from Perote we commenced
passing into a more fertile country, the villages
were numerous and the ground well cultivated
I saw on this days march some of the largest
fields of corn that I have ever witnessed –
imagine one single field extendinding over a
perfectly level plain, as far as the eye can reach
and you will have some conception of them – it
is at least 30 miles around some of them –
The fith day we arrived in sight of Puebla, about
11 oclock in the morning – When two or three
miles distant from the city, it appears to be one
mass of churches, indeed when we arrived there
nearly every other building proved to be a
Cathedral, Monastery, Nunnery or some
other building of a Religious character –
Puebla contains about 80,000 inhabitants, and
is one of the prettiest cities I have ever seen.
It is completely filled with fountains, parks, and
other ornaments – We were pushed on our
journey after remaining here only one day –
From Puebla for about 30 miles the country
is thickly settled and well cultivated.
then we commence ascending mountains – we
were one day passing these – the afternoon of
that day we came in sight of the Valley of
Mexico the most magnificent sight that I ever
beheld – One immense fertile plain bounded on
all sides by ranges of mountains – The city
of Mexico was visible though at the distance of
30 miles. We encamped at the foot of the
mountains during the night and in two
days more arrived at the city –
Having taken the recruits that I brought, to their
rendez vous I went to join my Regiment
which I found quartered in a Convent –
There are about 12000 troops now in the city
fit for duty – I do not know what course Gen
Scott
Birth: 1786-06-13 Death: 1866-05-29
intends to pursue but presume he
awaitsinstructions from Washington – We received
the Presidents
Birth: 1795-11-02 Death: 1849-06-15
message
about a week ago.The weather here is delightful and the
climate more healthful than any portion of
the country through which we have passed.
I spent Christmas & New Years pleasantly – and I hope
you did – This city has one of the most mag-
nificient theatres in the world – The plays are altogether
in Spanish but still quite entertaining –
The last letter I received from you was at Jalapa –
one train has come to the city since I have been
here but brought no mail from the States – I write
now as we are about departing for Toluca the capital
of the state of Mexico – the city of Mexico being like
Washington the capital of the Republic – A train
will probably leave here in about 2 weeks —