Letter from Louisa Cornelia Seward Canfield to William Henry Seward, April 29, 1825
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to William Henry Seward, April 29, 1825
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:mah
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1825-04-29
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to William Henry Seward, April 29, 1825
action: sent
sender: Louisa Canfield
Birth: 1805
Death: 1839-01-04
location: Florida, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: mah
revision: crb 2016-01-01
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Page
1
Florida April 29th. 1825
My dear Henry
Your letters are always welcome because they contain
each one new assurance of your untiring & warm affection
for your loving Sister, but the last was unexpected.
I anticipated a declension in the generous feeling which
induced you to cheer sometimes a lonely hour by this
correspondence, oh I declare the last sentence is a story)
I know your duties are irksome & your anxiety great when
your dear Frances
have written had not I recd one this morning
Write me whenever you can & when you can’t, think
I know why you do not
I made a monstrous effort last week & answered
Lazettes
have answered it long ago, & been delighted with
a succession of letters. I am glad you have recd Mas
letter & answered it I hope, it will do as much good
as one of the parsons longest Summer Lectures, you know
how highly these are beloved by our Friend – (a cold title).
The little picture of Domestic felicity
acres suits my taste to a inche, by the way there is one
defect in the constitution, this is the total exclusion
of all our gurdians, surely you must have some
one to make causes for you.
Grandma
& intends to knit you another pair of mittens for
your good resolutions contained in Ma’s letter
take care not to over set them in your next letter.
This reminds me of Ann Jolines
& if I do her injustice I take it back when I say
last recourse) to connect herself with the member
elect
Page
2
I am preparing for a jaunt to New York (oh dear how anx-
ious I am to get there) & my mantuamaker
me most sewing little strips together not withstanding
I told her how much I wish to write to my Brother but it is
your motto better at the eleventh hour than not at all
I do wish to see Auburn prodigiously.
Some of the good folks more especially your Frances I did
not know she was so unwell, I hope it will be found
practicable & expedient to make your tour for her health
to the East. Henry you do not know half how much
we do love you both but come & see. Ill promise to
be good natured a week wreckless of Friend or foe besside
ye to the perfect astonishment of the knowing Pharisees
of the land one inducement I have to offer.
Mr A. Thompson
constantly on hand a complete assortment of candies
oranges lemons limes cigars snuffs sweet potatoes oysters
ect. now won’t you come? Our neighbor Curtice
very dissipated
setting sun is witness of his folly.
Has Jennings
offer in Jersey of the cashiership
to Freehold Monmouth County Bank
Papa
how selfish we are in this world – our own interest securd
& that is so much so good, but mine is excusable since
it arises purely from the love I ever had for my Brothers
& their society. I thought Florida was the Queen of the
Florida’s when you lived at home but now I do hate it
tis just ten times the most lonely place you ever had of
one thing more I must congratulate you on revivall
of you friendship with David Berdan
a new quill is matter of much joy even to me though I can
at this distance anticipate but very feebly of the effects
arising there from. Ma bids me say she is satisfied with her
son’s endeavors to live soberly righteously & in good faith,thanks you for the letter &c with much love for you all
& I beg you will love me
enough to look all these mis-
takes your affcte Sister LC
[left Margin] *This is a great secret here
Page
3
Florida April 29th. 1825
My dear Henry
Your letters are always welcome because they contain
each one new assurance of your untiring & warm affection
for your loving Sister, but the last was unexpected.
I anticipated a declension in the generous feeling which
induced you to cheer sometimes a lonely hour by this
correspondence, oh I declare the last sentence is a story)
I know your duties are irksome & your anxiety great when
your dear Frances
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
is ill all this I thought of & shouldhave written had not I recd one this morning
Write me whenever you can & when you can’t, think
I know why you do not
I made a monstrous effort last week & answered
Lazettes
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
letter, I am sorry I am such a fool. I should have answered it long ago, & been delighted with
a succession of letters. I am glad you have recd Mas
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
letter & answered it I hope, it will do as much good
as one of the parsons longest Summer Lectures, you know
how highly these are beloved by our Friend – (a cold title).
The little picture of Domestic felicity
Great happiness; blessedness; appropriately, the joy of heavens • Prosperity; enjoyment of good •
on the 6 hundredacres suits my taste to a inche, by the way there is one
defect in the constitution, this is the total exclusion
of all our gurdians, surely you must have some
one to make causes for you.
Grandma
Birth: 1742-06-02 Death: 1831-10-21
thinks you are a hopeful subject& intends to knit you another pair of mittens for
your good resolutions contained in Ma’s letter
take care not to over set them in your next letter.
This reminds me of Ann Jolines
Unknown
last resolution& if I do her injustice I take it back when I say
last recourse) to connect herself with the member
elect
Unknown
. I hope she does it with a conscience void of offenceI am preparing for a jaunt to New York (oh dear how anx-
ious I am to get there) & my mantuamaker
One who makes gowns for ladies •
has kept me most sewing little strips together not withstanding
I told her how much I wish to write to my Brother but it is
your motto better at the eleventh hour than not at all
I do wish to see Auburn prodigiously.
Some of the good folks more especially your Frances I did
not know she was so unwell, I hope it will be found
practicable & expedient to make your tour for her health
to the East. Henry you do not know half how much
we do love you both but come & see. Ill promise to
be good natured a week wreckless of Friend or foe besside
ye to the perfect astonishment of the knowing Pharisees
of the land one inducement I have to offer.
Mr A. Thompson
Birth: 1789-03-27 Death: 1879-04-27Certainty: Possible
H MosherUnknown
& Co have just recd & keep constantly on hand a complete assortment of candies
oranges lemons limes cigars snuffs sweet potatoes oysters
ect. now won’t you come? Our neighbor Curtice
Unknown
has becomevery dissipated
To scatter; to disperse; to separate into parts and disappear • To expend; to squander; to scatter property in wasteful extravagance • To scatter the attention •
– report says each setting sun is witness of his folly.
Has Jennings
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
appris’d you of hisoffer in Jersey of the cashiership
to Freehold Monmouth County Bank
Papa
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
thinks he will accept. I like this move — how selfish we are in this world – our own interest securd
& that is so much so good, but mine is excusable since
it arises purely from the love I ever had for my Brothers
Birth: 1799
Death: 1872-04-23
Birth: 1808-08-26
Death: 1888-12-07
& their society. I thought Florida was the Queen of the
Florida’s when you lived at home but now I do hate it
tis just ten times the most lonely place you ever had of
one thing more I must congratulate you on revivall
of you friendship with David Berdan
Birth: 1803 Death: 1827-07-20
& that he has found a new quill is matter of much joy even to me though I can
at this distance anticipate but very feebly of the effects
arising there from. Ma bids me say she is satisfied with her
son’s endeavors to live soberly righteously & in good faith,thanks you for the letter &c with much love for you all
& I beg you will love me
enough to look all these mis-
takes your affcte Sister LC
[left Margin] *This is a great secret here
Florida
April 28th
William H. Sewrd Esq.
Auburn
h
Cornelia Seward
1825
April 28th
William H. Sewrd Esq.
Auburn
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21Frances Seward
1825