Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, July 14, 1861
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, July 14, 1861
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:csh
student editorTranscriber:spp:srr
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1861-07-14
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, July 14, 1861
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Washington D.C., US
transcription: csh
revision: crb 2018-01-18
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Page
1
Sunday July 14th
My dearest Henry
Your letter in-
dicates the same state
of affairs that I am
led to expect from
the Journals – a
battle or many
warlike engagements
in Virginia – How I
wish I could see
some end to this
deplorable state of
affairs – something
other than loss of
liberty or loss of
life –
Page
2
God certainly "works
in a mysterious way" –
We can only trust
to his wisdom to
direct the course —
of events, the result
of which is beyond
all human calculation.
That some part of the human
family will be benefitted
it is impossible to doubt,
and retain our faith
in a good and just
God.
I have hoped all along
that you might find a
opportunity of spending at
least a few days at home
but I see no prospect
Page
3
of that at present – so I
will write some of the
questions about which I
need your advice –
I think you will desire
Fanny
knowledge of the French
Language as will enable
her to converse with
tolerable ease – I say
tolerable because I know
her diffidence will prevent
the perfect confidence which
is necessary to perfect ease
without very long practice.
There are two ways in which
this can be attained either
by having a tutor two
or three hours every day
Page
4
to talk with her or to
place her in a French
family – The Masse's who
all well educated will
I think assist in it either
way – Mrs Masse has a
school in Philadelphia
where I will go with Fanny
if you think best (I cannot
send her alone) or Mr
Masse will come here
for the Summer & which
with three months in
the winter at the school
I think would be sufficient
time — The expense would
not be materially different
behind 3 or 4 or ^three hundred^ dollars
would be required
Page
5
either for a competent
teacher at home or for
the school ^for 6 months^ – But I make
this estimate from my
previous knowledge of such
matters without having
consulted them – I think
Fanny would prefer the
school – as there are some
other advantages to be attained
there which she cannot have
here – Will you write
me as soon as you have
time to think of this
matter – Mr Masse
has written to see if he
can get a class here
which I do not think
possible at this time –
Page
6
We are having cool
weather after the exceeding
heat – Aunt Clara
Fanny stayed one night
with Harriet Weed
home Tuesday – They
both enjoyed the visit
Lazette
to come & see her soon –
Frances has been entertaining
Gov
Nassau – This is very
agreeable apparently –
Pisgah is very attractive
I hope Frances will enjoy
her stay there –
Mrs Martin
Friday and told me a
long story about a letter
Page
7
and Mr Blair
she made him so much
trouble about it – She wished
me to thank you for the
interest you had taken in
Mr Rochester
Our place is in such nice
order this summer I
wish you & Fred
could come & see it –
May God preserve
you all – your own
Frances –
Sunday July 14th
My dearest Henry
Your letter in-
dicates the same state
of affairs that I am
led to expect from
the Journals – a
battle or many
warlike engagements
in Virginia – How I
wish I could see
some end to this
deplorable state of
affairs – something
other than loss of
liberty or loss of
life –
God certainly "works
in a mysterious way" –
We can only trust
to his wisdom to
direct the course —
of events, the result
of which is beyond
all human calculation.
That some part of the human
family will be benefitted
it is impossible to doubt,
and retain our faith
in a good and just
God.
I have hoped all along
that you might find a
opportunity of spending at
least a few days at home
but I see no prospect
of that at present – so I
will write some of the
questions about which I
need your advice –
I think you will desire
Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
to acquire such aknowledge of the French
Language as will enable
her to converse with
tolerable ease – I say
tolerable because I know
her diffidence will prevent
the perfect confidence which
is necessary to perfect ease
without very long practice.
There are two ways in which
this can be attained either
by having a tutor two
or three hours every day
to talk with her or to
place her in a French
family – The Masse's
Birth: 1828
Death:
Birth: 1815
Death:
all well educated will
I think assist in it either
way – Mrs Masse has a
school in Philadelphia
where I will go with Fanny
if you think best (I cannot
send her alone) or Mr
Masse will come here
for the Summer & which
with three months in
the winter at the school
I think would be sufficient
time — The expense would
not be materially different
behind 3 or 4 or ^three hundred^ dollars
would be required
either for a competent
teacher at home or for
the school ^for 6 months^ – But I make
this estimate from my
previous knowledge of such
matters without having
consulted them – I think
Fanny would prefer the
school – as there are some
other advantages to be attained
there which she cannot have
here – Will you write
me as soon as you have
time to think of this
matter – Mr Masse
has written to see if he
can get a class here
which I do not think
possible at this time –
We are having cool
weather after the exceeding
heat – Aunt Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
andFanny stayed one night
with Harriet Weed
Birth: 1819-02-06 Death: 1893-11-01
cominghome Tuesday – They
both enjoyed the visit
Lazette
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
is expecting Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
to come & see her soon –
Frances has been entertaining
Gov
Birth: 1816-11-24 Death: 1873-07-16
& Mrs BaileyUnknown
fromNassau – This is very
agreeable apparently –
Pisgah is very attractive
I hope Frances will enjoy
her stay there –
Mrs Martin
Birth: 1818-12-25 Death: 1899-07-09Certainty: Probable
was hereFriday and told me a
long story about a letter
and Mr Blair
Birth: 1813-05-10 Death: 1883-07-27Certainty: Possible
– I am sorryshe made him so much
trouble about it – She wished
me to thank you for the
interest you had taken in
Mr Rochester
Birth: 1797 Death: 1874Certainty: Possible
—Our place is in such nice
order this summer I
wish you & Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
& Anna
Birth: 1834-03-29 Death: 1919-05-02
could come & see it –
May God preserve
you all – your own
Frances –