Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, January 9, 1831

  • Posted on: 3 May 2022
  • By: admin
xml: 
Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, January 9, 1831
x

transcriber

Transcriber:spp:jds

student editor

Transcriber:spp:msf

student editor

Transcriber:spp:cnk

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1831-01-09

In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to place elements in the project's places.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file. verical-align: super; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration: line-through; color: red;

Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, January 9, 1831

action: sent

sender: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16  Death: 1872-10-10

location: Albany, NY

receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24  Death: 1865-06-21

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: jds 

revision: amr 2021-08-02

<>


Page 1

x

Editorial Note

The top portion of this letter is transcribed under January 8, 1813, William Henry Seward to Frances Adeline Miller Seward.
x

Editorial Note

This letter was transcribed by Augustus Henry Seward for William Henry Seward's biography. It was edited by Frederick William Seward in pencil. The original is not in the Seward Papers, Rare Books & Special Collections, University of Rochester.
Jan’y 9 th
Sunday morning here is a sorry time. I have
bowed to Miss Livingston
x

 

& to Mrs Clarkson
Birth: 1808-08-17 Death: 1874-04-28
once since
I became a locum tenens in this house and except
those ladies I have not seen the face of a woman
in the house — yes, I must except also Amy
Unknown
, the
housekeeper as they describe her — Who is old, and
cleverer than old and after a fortnights absence
from all others of the sex seems to be not very
ill looking. It snows this morning, and all
around is so cheerless that I should have gone
vapours.
Page 2

15.
After I had finished writing to you yesterday
Mr Tracy
Birth: 1793-06-17 Death: 1859-09-12
called upon me, and sat about
two hours, then I went with him to call on
Mr Senator Cary
Birth: 1787-08-11 Death: 1869-06-20
& his lady
Birth: 1788 Death: 1863-06-22
from Batavia .
I took tea with them — dropped in to Tracy's
room where I am most at home. I very
much like them — they are so free from all
affectation. He is one of the most agreeable
men in conversation I ever knew & she is
a very independent little body despising
all the mock pretensions of our would be
great folks. Then I adjourned to the
Theatre for the purpose of meeting some of
my friends
Unknown
from abroad, who had
arrived in the afternoon. The play was
the 8 th of January, or the battle of New Orleans .
The Heroes of the play were the two opposing
Generals, Jackson
Birth: 1767-03-15 Death: 1845-06-08
and Packenham
Birth: 1778-03-19 Death: 1815-01-08
. The
only incident of any originality was not
in the play as written. It was that just
as Gen. Packenham was to appear on the stage
he was arrested and carried off by a
constable. Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
came home with me &
we discussed matters and things in general
over a cold supper and hot punch. I was
surprised to find when he left me it was
one o'clock. J's—
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
letter is all in character —
Sunday Schools and Anti Masonry figure in
every paragraph — I should think the advance-
ment of the former must be somewhat retarded
by the connection with the latter.
Page 3

16.
I can hardly hope to make you understand
how entirely the illusion under which I
have labored in respect to the importance of
my station has faded away. Seen through
the vista of opposition, excitement, puffs, and
abuse the post of Senator of this great State
seemed one of immence importance & dignity.
One week has removed all the accumulating
vanity of a year and I find the whole
affair a dull every day common place
affair.