Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, February 14, 1857

  • Posted on: 29 July 2022
  • By: admin
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, February 14, 1857
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:amr

student editor

Transcriber:spp:csh

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1857-02-14

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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, February 14, 1857

action: sent

sender: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08  Death: 1915-04-25

location: Washington D.C., US

receiver: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01  Death: 1876-09-11

location: Indian Key, FL

transcription: amr 

revision: amr 2022-02-14

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Page 1

Washington Feb 14th
My dear Son,
We are in the midst of a
thaw which commenced 10 or 12
days ago – it has occasioned much
trouble and loss of property at
the North – at Albany and along
the course of the River – the water
is said to have been 2 feet higher
at Albany and Troy than it has
ever been before – The Telegraph
tells us that no person has been
able to cross the River at Albany
in three days – we have no
mails from them – the Hudson
River road is submerged –
A week ago the whole of our basement
floors were two feet below the
water – we removed the kitchen
into the office – the dry well

[left Margin] I believe Mr Brooks
Birth: 1819-08-06 Death: 1857-01-27
has died since I wrote before –
his death was sudden and painful


[top Margin]
Can you tell yet when
you will probably come North –
Nothing important
going on in
Congress –

Page 2

which was made to receive this
water from the drain overflowed
Mr. Woodhull
Birth: 1813-04-02 Death: 1863-02-19
is having a new
well dug – in the coal cellars –
the men were obliged to dip the
water out of the basement in pails
after ineffectual attempts to pump
it out with a fire engine – Anna
Birth: 1834-03-29 Death: 1919-05-02

had another evening party Tuesday
which seemed very satisfactory to
all parties – there were 140 persons
here – music and dancing –
There are abundance of parties, now
that Ash Wednesday is so near the
fashionable world are greatly pressed
for time – Anna has morning
receptions Friday which are largely
attended – Mrs Bliss
Birth: 1824-04-20 Death: 1909-07-25
was here yester
-day – Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
says she is not changed
in manner but a little more “stout.”
as Mrs Wood
Birth: 1811-04-09 Death: 1875-12-02
says – we would say
fleshy — I have not been so fortunate
as to meet her yet – I was at
Page 3

Mrs Wood’s one evening – Mrs Bliss was
out – It is a week since I have
heard from home – Aunty
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
was not
quite well then – the others were –
Jenny Watson
Birth: 1839-11-18 Death: 1913-11-09
has taken tea there
twice – Aunty seems pleased with
her – Will
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
has concluded to remain
with Mr Barnes
Birth: 1824 Death: 1867
for the present – We
begin to think and talk of going home,
though Father
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
thinks I had better
remain until some time in April –
He has not been very well this past
week – every time he dines out he
has an ill turn – I shall try to
persuade him not to go to any more
dinners at present – Yesterday was
Franks’
Birth: 1854-02-13 Death: 1931-05-23
birth day – he is 3 years old
a merry little boy he is – quite
well now. Frances’ health is much
improved since she came here – she
looks better than I have seen her
for a long time – seems to enjoy
the gay society – to night they
Page 4

go to the Presidents
Birth: 1804-11-23 Death: 1869-10-08
for the last time
there will be but one more reception –
Mrs Pierce
Birth: 1806-03-12 Death: 1863-12-02
has accepted Mr Buchanan’s
Birth: 1791-04-23 Death: 1868-06-01

invitation to remain at the White House
until the weather shall be warmer
so that she can go North safely – She
has been ill – Sarah Seward
Birth: 1833-06-08 Death: 1891-06-12
will
hardly come this Winter – I had a
letter from Frances Seward
Birth: 1836-02-16 Death: 1910-02-06
last
night – She wants advice about a
matrimonial engagement which is
not to be spoken of at present –
I do not hear any thing from Tom
Miller
Birth: 1817-07-09 Death: 1864-07-23
lately – think he is probably
addressing some lady at the North
this Winter – on account of the
interruption of the mails it is some days
since we have heard from Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
– the
ice has made the Susquehanah impassable
the bridge above the ferry is swept
away – the long Bridge here has been
destroyed by the ice – which is still to
be seen in the River – it is raining to day
Aunt Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
was well when I last heard – we
often wonder what kind of a Winter you have
so far South – Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
sends love God bless you

[right Margin] Mother –