Sunday Auburn May 25^th
My dear Henry,
Your letter to Augustus and
one to me this morning have determined
us in the opinion that it is better that both
my boys should go to you this week — I
wish my duties here would allow me to
accompany them — but Grandpa Willie and
Fanny all claim my attention — It is no
small sacrifice for me to part with Augustus
after being with him but 10 days I — Were
I not pretty well assured that he would ^will^
not again return to the army I should not
do so — I have been able to go out with
him here but very little from the cold &
unpleasant state of the weather — but I think
you will perceive that he is gaining confidence
and ease — He is becoming much interested in
the prospect of the European tour — is studying
guide books, maps, and foreign intelligence —
You will find him impatient to be off — he is
desirous to talk with you about the plan of
his tour — I am satisfied that you are right
about Fred — he had convinced me himself

before your letter came — Augustus is troubled about
the difficulty of communication in a foreign tongue
but I tell him that, that is a disadvantage
that many travelers must be subjected to —
When the time of his departure is fixed I will
make some arrangement for meeting him
somewhere — either at Washington or New York
I find much less time to read the News
papers than I wish — I do not know
what Grandpa will do without Fred — he
is uneasy now if he leaves him an hour —
This hearing some person read has become so
habitual to him that he is unaf uncomfortable
unless he hears a voice the whole time —
Augustus and Fred have gone to Church this
morning — The Bishop is here and two or three
young clergymen are to be ordained — the
rain keeps me at home — Grandpa and all
the boys go to dine with Aunt Clara to
day — Augustus and I went yesterday to
see Mrs Horner and her family — They seem
to be much afflicted — David Compston
has lost his store by the fire at Corning —
Mrs Compston is quite ill and both Mrs
Horner and Eliza look sick and dispirited –

We also called on Miss Hobbie and Mrs Wright –
The rain prevented our going further –
George Seward does not come from Chicago
yet — William Brown and Harriet were
in Washington the week you were away
they called here for a few moments Thursday
They were staying at Dr Willards

x

Sylvester Willard

Birth: 1825-06-19 Death: 1865-04-02

and declined
an invitation to take tea with me — I should
have called upon them the next day but
the increasing rain prevented —They have
been in Orange County and attended Lockwoods
wedding in Albany — He married a Miss
Chapin — Our garden is very pretty — I
fear the peaches were injured by the last
frost as were some tender vines which
Fred had planted — Fanny has made herself
a little garden into which she has transplanted
tulips and polyanthus in flower — she stays continually
in the open air and is growing fat and
florid — I think I must send Willie
to school after Fred leaves — I have not the
time to devote to him that he requires — The
weakness of his eyes will prevent his studying
much but I think the confinement of a few
hours each day will be beneficial — I wish
there was some other [ shcool ] than the Academy — Mr

Hopkins adheres to the [ barborus ] custom of
corporal punishment disgusts me and makes
his scholars all dislike him—He evinces
a narrow mind as well as a bad disposition
to persevere in a practice which has been
censured by the wise and humane —
I cannot decide about the furniture but will
leave it until I see you — Dr Jayne and
Mary do not come yet — I think they are
probably making their visit in Seneca
County first — I wish I could sit
with you an hour this quiet Sabbath —
Your own
Frances –