Wednesday night
My Dear Henry, An old fashioned toothache prevented my writing
any last evening. Yesterday morning recieved your letter sent on
Friday evening. Joshua appears to have been more expeditious in traveling
than my letter which preceded him. I hope you will not continue
to be so uneasy about the scarlet fever I shall certainly write you
immediately should the children discover any symptoms of that
disease. You speak often of the cold weather, it continues excessively
cold here but we manage to keep warm in the house and going
out you know is out of the question with me in cold weather.
I suppose the Govenors party is over before this time. I think
you must have been invited notwithstanding your surmises to the
contrary, it would be rather undignified for Enos to remember
the monkey. I may be mistaken about the printed cards having
no better authority than the newspaper and Baldwin the
former I think I should give the preference for wo truth
and veracity. I have just stopped here to give little
Fred some oil I feel quite provoked with the little rascal
he appeared to enjoy eating it so much when it has made
so sick at my stomach I can hardly write he
sits on the floor beside me very contentedly playing with
one of Augustus shoes just as if it was not almost ten oclock
at night. Gus is snug in bed with his new red flannel nightgown
which he considers no common article of clothing. Yesterday morning
Catherine’s brother Dennis came to take her home, brought
Mrs. McDonald with him, poor woman she looks like a
widow indeed, a husband and two sons within two years,
she appears at least ten years older than when I saw her not
two years ago.

Clary went home with Catherine and Dennis Mrs McDonald remained
to spend the day with Mrs Vredenburgh or Mrs Burt , when Samuel
came in the afternoon to take her home Clary returned with
him, almost frozen. Ezra Schooley came here in the
course of the day he had been with his wife to Elbridge
to see some of her relatives, she did not come over with him
as he staid but a few minutes. He said Laurinda and
Jerry were married at the appointed time. They have had
much merry making there ever since. Ezra gave us no par-
ticulars as none of the Schooley family were invited, this
I suppose was one of Aunt Eliza’s freaks to give people more
reason to say she was as crazy as Patty. I commiserated
Ezra on his neglect told him I did not think it hardly
right inasmuch as they all attended Adeline’s wedding. All
the other relatives were asked and some of the neighbors.
The Hayts were also among the slighted, they thought they had
earned an invitation by taking Laurinda a sleigh riding. This
is an ungrateful world. Laurinda of course has had nothing to do
with it, Aunt E. is so keen she does not often consult any of her
household. I suppose she made her good man do all manner
of housework on this occasion. They have had parties at Elisha’s ,
Ezra’s and Blains, yesterday they all came down to Blury’s
tavern for a ride. This is all Ezra could tell us. Edward does not
come home yet, I do not know whether to expect Sarah with him
or not. I suppose her head is nearly turned by this time, undoubtedly
thinks herself a young lady. This is a part of Aunt Eliza’s wisdom
to allow a little girl twelve years to go everywhere she pleases.
In the afternoon Eliza Horner called here. She says the Dr has
commenced housekeeping with his new wife, Cornelia, and black
Betty from Hudsons. He says he is going to show the people

in Auburn how to l i f live, intends to have three meals every day
(a very uncommon occurrence) and have them in such style
that he can ask in any of his friends when he wishes to do so.
I suppose he means to have victuals enough on the table which
I believe was not the case in his former housekeeping. Bartlett is moving
for amusement this bitter cold weather into the house formerly occupied
by Volney Gunn, he has purchased it. Meritt went with his sister
D. Cock’s wife the other day to bury her babe, returned by the way
of the halfacre and danced there all night at a ball. I suppose
the Miss Wallaces will say to dissipate grief. I have not heard any
thing of the suicide at Rochester except what you wrote. Theodore
Hamilton has come home but we have none of us seen him.
Mr Thursday morning. The weather has moderated considerably since
yesterday. I should go and see Lazette to day but am yet obliged
to wear a ba [hole] for the toothache and Fred has a bad cold.
I should not dare take him out, the sun is actually making an attempt
to shine but appears enveloped in snow. I know just how disagreeable
John Card and Frank Yvonnett can appear, how much I did dislike all
the Trojans you know. I do not ever desire to see any of them but
Mrs Boardman again, if you go to Troy you must not neglect to
call and see her. Mary Pitney is so much pleased that she has
written to her Pa for permission to remain another term, how much
people differ in taste. Cornelia is very much pleased with her new
Mother. If you were home to go with me I should enjoy a ride very
much but it seems like a wonderful undertaking to do any thing of the kind
alone, however I intend to go and see Mrs Horton before the snow leaves us.
I came across Wirt’s speech in an old Balance the other day (at the time
of Burr’s trial) about you think it very beautiful you must have
read it and I think cannot but remember it. I have not finished
reading the Conspiracy yet I allow myself but little time to read, am still
employed in making clothes for the babies it takes all my time that I can spare from Fred

[top Margin] I shall
expect
a letter
tomorrow
morning
I am
always
sucessful
in my
calculations
about
letters.
your
own
Frances.

William H. Seward.
Albany.
AUBURN N.Y.
JAN 28
hF. A. Seward
28 Jan. 1831