Thursday Night
My Dear Henry, It is a cold stormy night and I have a great mind
to be homesick but have wisely concluded it is better to write to you although
I have nothing new to communicate. George left here about seven oclock
on Monday morning and I thought for a bridegroom manifested considerable
reluctance to encounter the approaching storm. Dr Finlow Mr Hoyt Miss
Finn and Miss Caroline Wood accompanied him. Since that time we have no
intelligence from them. Dr Horton came in to night as he said to wish Ma joy
I told him he had better defer his congratulations until he was sure the
wedding was over. It commenced raining about the middle of the afternoon
on Monday and has rained ever since with very little intermission, so that
we presume the party are still in New Jersey. I am thinking the wedding
cake we made will become somewhat stale if their return is much longer
delayed. Augustus has been detained at home by the rain since Monday
He and cousin Augustus have given us no reason to complain of their dullness
even Hetty said she believed they would make her crazy and Miss Juliann’s
more delicate nerves suffered indescribably. To day by way of giving some
relief to the good people below stairs I have been keeping [ shool ] in my
room. The little boys behaved pretty well upon the whole and cousin
Augustus read, spelt and wrote like a good boy by way of encouraging our
Augustus to do likewise. They are now both down stairs having a show
in imitation of the caravan. I heard some of them yesterday trying to persuade
Hetty to perform the part of an elephant but Hetty refused with becoming
dignity. I have recieved two good long letters from you which I employ all
my leisure time in reading and rereading. the first came on Monday
and the 2^d found me not yet risen yesterday morning. I was sleeping
to make up lost time having sit up a great part of the night on Monday.
Frederick still continuning continuing to evince symptoms of indisposition
your father advised a portion of calomel which I administered on Monday
afternoon. he was I ill through the night but has appeared better since is
much more playful and less peevish than he was. I was much astonished
to hear of the marriage of Olivia Powers having been silly enough to believe she did
actually love her husband. What does Weed think of Marcy’s being a candidate for
Governor? I hope his face is not as long as it was when the news came of Marty’s rejection.
You speak of retirement from active life, of abandoning politicks and the law.
it is unnecessary ^to say^ how happy such a retirement would once have made me—would
still make me—but it may not be. I am no flatterer Henry—least of all to you would
I speak insincerely—but it is obvious be your merits what they may, that you are the
pride and hope of your parents and kindred. I who love you best of any would once have
pointed to a different path as more likely to secure peace of mind - but the time has gone by
and though my own views remain unchanged I cannot find it in my heart to advise

a course which would mar the happiness of so many who love you kindly if not so well
as your own Frances. I must still content myself with dreaming of the realization of
my wishes and “tis all but a dream at the best.”
So the Tracy’s are going to Connecticut and I shall see them no more[ . ] I knew
it would be so but I am very, very sorry. Tell them I do not love them at all
I shall know nothing disicive about the adjournment until I have dispatched
this letter how provoking it is that your letters cannot come until the very
moment that mine depart. Will you write to Lazette the day before you
leave Albany and tell her not to write to me again as I cannot get the
letter. I expect to hear from her again on Monday. I shall wish to remain two days
in Albany when we return so you need not specify any particular day as the
day of our return I know how heavily the hours drag along after the expiration
of an appointed time. Your Father recieved a long letter from Jennings on
Wednesday which I have neither seen or heard. He has been very ill but is so
far recovered as to be able to travel at at the time he wrote was returning
to Marcia. We have seen nothing of Polydore or his household since the
commencement of the storm. George, your mother has been telling me to day
experienced a change in his views with regards to religion, at the time of the
last excitement here he is going to unite himself with the Episcopal Church
some time this Spring. Your Mother thinks he is a sincere christian and
I do not know that we have any reason to doubt it. he is certainly sincere
with regard to every thing else. The good presbyterians here expressed their
regret and sympathy for Ma that he should have strayed from the true fold
but she silenced them by saying she was perfectly satisfied that her son was a
true believer and his joining the Episcopal Church was far from being a source
of disquiet to her. Your mothers health is far from good she suffers much
with the rheumatism and twice since I came has been threatened with a settled
fever. She never can be much better unless she can be persuaded to entrust the
management of household affairs to some one else. I have great hope that
this will be the case when Mrs. G. W. Seward gets at home here. Beulia says
she is a first rate housekeeper, and she can have ample scope here for the ex-
ercise of her powers. A child died yesterday near Polydores with scarlet fever.
we escape as yet. Friday afternoon — I am going to conclude and send
this letter in its unfinished state having an opportunity to send it to Goshen
and fearing if I wait until Monday mail that you will not recieve it
before you leave Albany. The sky still continues clouded though it has
rained but little this day. no news from New Jersey. we are beginning to expect

the party since the rain has ceased. I am sorry it is not in my power to give
you an account of the wedding. I shall be advised by your letter on Monday
whether I can write again. If Mrs Cary has returned do not fail to remember
me to her affectionately. I wish it was possible for me to meet her again before
she goes home. Your own Frances.

William H. Seward
Congress Hall
Albany
Goshen NY APR 23
hFrances A Seward
19^th April 1832.