Monday June 8^th
My Dear Sister – After so long a time I have accomplished the much
dreaded journey and am ready to tell you all about it. Perhaps you have read
the letters I sent Henry if so this will appear like a repetition – again
perhaps you have not and at all events I know my sis will not be weary
if I tell it all over half a dozen times – We started from Auburn with
only one passenger beside the Beardsely's and he only went as far as Skaneateles
he appeared to pride himself upon being an excellent sportsman and told
Beardsley he once killed a whole flock of pigeons at one fire – “How many
were there” – “only one in the flock” – In the course of the day we picked up two
or three more men one at Manlius who had read for the edification of the
company more than an hour a book written for the purpose of abusing the presbyteri-
ans – as much as I dislike some of their measures I disliked the book more it
was disgustingly violent and some parts indecent, I was very thankful that
the noise of the stage prevented my hearing much of it – We ascertained
after the man left the stage that he was the author of it. We came to Utica
about 7 oclock - - Clark and Caroline have removed to Waterville – this I think
must be true love as Grandma says for he no doubt went purely to gratify
Caroline and it certainly must injure his business –– I wrote to Mrs Gordon from
there and told her I had made a mistake in my calculation with regard to
the day I should be in Utica – I hope she did not come – We remained there
until 2 oclock the next day – went to the garden – got some ice cream not quite
as good as ours – Gus was very much amused with the little gold fishes.
Dont you think we went to Albany in the Eclipse a new line of stages
travel very fast change horses every 8 miles – We rode all night got to Albany
at 4 in the morning pretty considerably tired –– better than the canal with
its small dirty berths and musquetos notwithstanding – We stayed in Albany all
day on Wednesday – I accomplished all my important business – firstly I called
on old Mrs Dole – then went to the dress makers then the milliners – stores
shoe shop – barbers and – I believe that was all – I got the materials to make
Gus a red velvet spencer – some plain hair for Mrs Seward and four rolls for
myself – had my white dress cut and engaged a hat to be made so
that I could have it before I started in the morning – by the way my
ill looking hat had by this time riding all night been made to look much

worse than when I started if possible so that I should have been obliged to have
purchased a new one had it been more decent – – The milliner told me my hat
would be six dollars and when it came home in the morning just as we were
starting it was eight – so much for a milliner – it is very pretty however
and she said had been more admired than any she had made this summer
I took two of her pattern hats and combined the least exceptionable parts
as a pattern – it is made of white [ ariphone ] crape trimmed with lilac
ribbon and a lilac flower – blond lace just in in the form of a cap –
the berrage patterns are the same as Mrs Jennings – I enquired about the
patterns for dresses – the mantaumaker said they made silk frocks mostly
with plain waists and trimmed them with a broad bias pieces peice
round the bottom with any kind of heading the fancy dictates either
one or two small ruffles or rolls – the sleeves the same as the pattern
I had of Mrs Jenning – My white dress is made with a very full waist equally
full at the top and bottom before and behind with full shoulder straps
such as we make for babies – the bottom plain with as many broad tucks
as the cloth will allow – dresses trimmed with 2 folds and rolls –
I believe that is all that I learned about the fashions – We left Albany
the next morning at 7 oclock – it was a beautiful day and I should
have enjoyed it very much had I not been very much vexed before
I started – when we went on the boat almost the first person I encountered was
Julius Rhodes who had the impudence to kiss me before a cabin full of
passengers – I do think he is the most intolerably impudent man I ever knew
he was talking leave of Mr and Mrs Sanford – Sanford of Skaneateles had been
married that morning to a Miss Porter a niece of Dr Porters at James Porters
Albany – they were accompanied by Addison and I could not but smile
when I recollected what a terror he used to be to me when the Dr was
Ma’s phisician – Julius introduced me to them – I found Mrs Sanford
very pleasant she regretted very much (at least said so) that I left the
boat at Newbergh – They are going to New York and in a few weeks
return to live at Skaneateles – I promised to renew our acquaintance when
I return home – We went down in the Albany – there were just enough passengers
to make it pleasant – Augustus was a little afraid and very quiet at first
but as his fear subsided he wanted to run about and as Miss Sarah had a
fit of pouting all the way down the river I found him rather troublesome
I would much rather she would have differed this amiable display
until wh we had got on shore – I have never been able to find out the reason

She appears to have Aunt Patty fits without any cause – she is a little mad if I
tell her to do any thing since I have been here and so cross that I sometimes wish
her at home. I have not said any thing to her yet but my patience is almost
exhausted – You see my dear sis I always make more complaints to you than
anyone else and I am quite sure you will not think me very unreasonable
nor love me the less for it — We got to Newbergh at 2 oclock the stage did not
go out until 7 oclock for Goshen and not until the next boat came in which
Beardsley and his brother were to go to West Point (I am sorry I have made this
great blot by upsetting my inkstand I am writing on a paper box put across the arms of
a chair) You must know I have a wonderful regard for Beardsley he could not
have been more attentive to me had I been his sister so I of course felt very
sorry when he left me at Newbergh and the more so because I had the rest of
my journey to perform alone – He offered to remain and come with me
but I thought it would be very selfish to accept the offer as I knew
he could not do so conveniently – His brother was too much of a boy to travel
alone and he landed with us – he was going to enter as cadet at West Point
a very good natured boy with extremely weak eyes – Gus cried when Beardsley
left us I did not quite but cannot say what I might have done had I
not at that time been receiving a polite call from a sister of Mrs D
whose name I never did ascertain – We started in about 20 minutes after
the boat with ten other passengers one Irish girl and the remainder men
of the lowest kind returning from the races – fortunately the stage proporietor
was along and was very polite to me. Beardsley had paid our bill and
stage fare and gave the necessary directions about the baggage so that I
had nothing to do but get into the stage and ride to Goshen – we did
not get there until 12 at night and then they would not let me go to Dr Evans
so I staid at a strange publick house – got up at 6 and went to the Dr’s
found them all well and very glad to see me they made many enquiries about you &
Frances and were very sorry that you was not along – I staid there but a few
hours came on here arrived at 11 oclock Friday morning almost exhausted
hope I shall never be under the necessity of making another journey of 24 miles
alone — Every body works here all the time as hard as they can… It rains to day and
is rather gloomy I have not seen Polydore and his wife yet. Mrs. Seward says their
baby is not so very pretty as Henry thinks it is — Cornelia I understand has
found the Methodist church – Jennings and Marcia have removed for this
summer to Kingston on the Delaware Canal – Kiss Fran for Gus and
myself Do write soon and tell me every thing you do or say
Your own Sis – Frances –

hFlorida
8 June
H ¾
Mrs Lazette M. Worden
Auburn –
Cayuga County