Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 14, 1837
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 14,
1837
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:sss
student editorTranscriber:spp:keh
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1837-04-14
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 14, 1837
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Canandaigua, NY
transcription: sss
revision: crb 2015-10-16
<>
Page
1
Friday April 14th 1837
My dearest Sister,
I have this moment received your
letter. I am sorry you have been looking for Henry
long. I have this morning received a letter from H him
saying it is uncertain when he can leave but not this
week – he has such an increase of business that from
what I can gather from his letter he has worked ut
until he is sick. Although I expected to hear from
him again before he set out I could not avoid looking
out whenever I heard a stage coming this way[ . ]
Reason:
It will be ten weeks Tuesday since he left and then
thought he would return in six. His father
written for him to come immediately to Florida
that he may consult him about some business.
The old meeting house at Florida has been burned
recently. Mr Seward talks of travelling this
summer. Rouse
and left Sarah with her children. I doubt whether
he returns again. Henry says Sarah
lives principally on what she gets from his house
she intends going to her friends in Ohio.
I hope you will receive much benefit from the “tincture
of gridiron” which has proved itself so efficacious. I made
a trial of my strength yesterday – the day was so inviting
that I walked as far as Mrs Burts
assembled old Mrs Burt who is much altered since
Page
2
I last saw her (nearly two years ago), Mrs Joshua
and Mrs Howe
Mrs Howe had with her an infant
I did not expect to find her there and being totally un-
prepared was so much overcome that I lost all control
of my feelings and cryed myself into a violent
headache – fortunately the dear little baby did not make its
appearance in the room until I had nearly completed
my visit and I was able to take my leave very
soon after. I think now I will stay at home a while
longer. I cannot bear an exhibition of my feelings and
I have not yet sufficient firmness to conceal them.
Mrs Burt with the best intentions in the world probes all
wounds with very little delicacy. Joshua’s
animated and pretty but did not say much. Saturday
I thought some of calling on Mrs Beardsley
Jane Perry
from Mrs Burts with a violent headache which con-
tinued until I went to bed. I was about as much fatigued
as I used to be in walking two miles. Tuesday Mrs Miller
sent for us to meet Mrs Horner
Martha
Mrs Horner but the room was so light it almost put
my eyes out. Maria says it is a very cheerful looking
room which if cheerfulness consists in a glare of sunshine
I will not attempt to disprove. Tom Miller
came to tea. My Gus
me home. Wednesday Maria Jane and Martha took tea with
us – rather a dull season – Mary
see the little boys and
seemed to enjoy her visit very much.
We have had some very pleasant days and I endeavour to spend
some time every day in the open airs. Clara
strength yet, her eyes are very weak. She wears a shade and spectacles[ . ]
Reason:
Page
3
Mrs Muir
complains of ill health – dispepsia – is living by Dr
Murry’s
bread. I think if she would cut her corsett lace
she might eat a little beefsteak occasionally with
impunity. Mrs Muir was dressed very fashionably.
Bobby
open house and made a speech the day of his inauguration
by the way did you see Willis
at Washington – very well described though he is evidently
in favour of the 'powers that be'. It seems there was no
foundation for the report that he was to accompany
Cambrelling
I have been waiting a long time for the arrival of the
Museum (we have had none since February) to send it to you
in company with the last Knickerbocker which contained
so little that I did not think it worth sending alone.
It does not come yet. I wish John C. Spencer
you wanted books he has plenty of them and is very
liberal. I doubt not he would supply you.
Mr
Parrott
said it was astonishing that she could make any
person of common sense believe the preposterous stories
she told. Mrs Smith
the day she called she had on a very long face having
just heard a report of Miss Parrotts death which she
seemed to believe though she had received a letter from
her a short time before. I should think from all I have
that she was superficial in her acquirements, conceited and
excessively impudent – not pretending to have any regard to veracity.
I hope she will not return. I have much more to write but my
eyes are worse and worse. Kiss Frances
Page
4
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
March 14 —
AUBURN NY
APR 16
Type: postmark
h
Apr 14 1837
Friday April 14th 1837
My dearest Sister,
I have this moment received your
letter. I am sorry you have been looking for Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
solong. I have this morning received a letter from H him
saying it is uncertain when he can leave but not this
week – he has such an increase of business that from
what I can gather from his letter he has worked ut
until he is sick. Although I expected to hear from
him again before he set out I could not avoid looking
out whenever I heard a stage coming this way[ . ]
Supplied
It will be ten weeks Tuesday since he left and then
thought he would return in six. His father
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
haswritten for him to come immediately to Florida
that he may consult him about some business.
The old meeting house at Florida has been burned
recently. Mr Seward talks of travelling this
summer. Rouse
Unknown
has gone to Erie to work andand left Sarah with her children. I doubt whether
he returns again. Henry says Sarah
Birth: 1811 Death: 1837
is very destitutelives principally on what she gets from his house
she intends going to her friends in Ohio.
I hope you will receive much benefit from the “tincture
of gridiron” which has proved itself so efficacious. I made
a trial of my strength yesterday – the day was so inviting
that I walked as far as Mrs Burts
Birth: 1776-07-25 Death: 1859-12-02
. There I foundassembled old Mrs Burt who is much altered since
I last saw her (nearly two years ago), Mrs Joshua
Birth: 1823-06-23 Death: 1886-10-27
, Elizabeth
Birth: 1809-01-18 Death: 1891
and Mrs Howe
Birth: 1808 Death: 1866-04-16
who is much more deaf
than Elizabeth. Mrs Howe had with her an infant
Unknown
about the age of Nealy
Birth: 1836-08-25 Death: 1837-01-14
I did not expect to find her there and being totally un-
prepared was so much overcome that I lost all control
of my feelings and cryed myself into a violent
headache – fortunately the dear little baby did not make its
appearance in the room until I had nearly completed
my visit and I was able to take my leave very
soon after. I think now I will stay at home a while
longer. I cannot bear an exhibition of my feelings and
I have not yet sufficient firmness to conceal them.
Mrs Burt with the best intentions in the world probes all
wounds with very little delicacy. Joshua’s
Birth: 1810-09-27 Death: 1871-06-13
wife lookedanimated and pretty but did not say much. Saturday
I thought some of calling on Mrs Beardsley
Unknown
but did not.Jane Perry
Birth: 1810 Death: 1877-01-07
was from home. I went there
first. I returnedfrom Mrs Burts with a violent headache which con-
tinued until I went to bed. I was about as much fatigued
as I used to be in walking two miles. Tuesday Mrs Miller
Birth: 1785-04-24 Death: 1870-04-17
sent for us to meet Mrs Horner
Birth: 1780 Death: 1856-12-09
. I
went. Jane Yates
Birth: 1813-09-16 Death: 1891-03-23
andMartha
Birth: 1792-05-02 Death: 1866-01-14
were there. I had a very agreeable
time talking toMrs Horner but the room was so light it almost put
my eyes out. Maria says it is a very cheerful looking
room which if cheerfulness consists in a glare of sunshine
I will not attempt to disprove. Tom Miller
Birth: 1817-07-09 Death: 1864-07-23
and Isaack
Birth: 1791-04-30 Death: 1853-04-03
came to tea. My Gus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
came over about
eight to accompanyme home. Wednesday Maria Jane and Martha took tea with
us – rather a dull season – Mary
Unknown
came with her mother tosee the little boys
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
We have had some very pleasant days and I endeavour to spend
some time every day in the open airs. Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
does not get herstrength yet, her eyes are very weak. She wears a shade and spectacles[ . ]
Supplied
Mrs Muir
Birth: 1801-01-27 Death: 1864-01-08
and Maria Bennet
Birth: 1798-07-25 Death: 1849-08-23
called Thursday. Mariacomplains of ill health – dispepsia – is living by Dr
Murry’s
Unknown
direction on potatoes &
salt and brownbread. I think if she would cut her corsett lace
she might eat a little beefsteak occasionally with
impunity. Mrs Muir was dressed very fashionably.
Bobby
Birth: 1790 Death: 1868-02-17
you know is the president of our
village – heopen house and made a speech the day of his inauguration
by the way did you see Willis
Unknown
account of the inaugurationat Washington – very well described though he is evidently
in favour of the 'powers that be'. It seems there was no
foundation for the report that he was to accompany
Cambrelling
Birth: 1786-10-24 Death: 1862-04-30
as Secretary of Legation to
Russia.I have been waiting a long time for the arrival of the
Museum (we have had none since February) to send it to you
in company with the last Knickerbocker which contained
so little that I did not think it worth sending alone.
It does not come yet. I wish John C. Spencer
Birth: 1788-01-08 Death: 1855-05-17
knewyou wanted books he has plenty of them and is very
liberal. I doubt not he would supply you.
Mr
Birth: 1799 Death: 1839-08-25
& Mrs
Lucas
Birth: 1794-01-12 Death: 1876-05-12
called last week, we talked of MissParrott
Unknown
they seemed to appreciate her exactly. Mr
Lucassaid it was astonishing that she could make any
person of common sense believe the preposterous stories
she told. Mrs Smith
Birth: 1801-08-15
was one of her warm admirersthe day she called she had on a very long face having
just heard a report of Miss Parrotts death which she
seemed to believe though she had received a letter from
her a short time before. I should think from all I have
that she was superficial in her acquirements, conceited and
excessively impudent – not pretending to have any regard to veracity.
I hope she will not return. I have much more to write but my
eyes are worse and worse. Kiss Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
– your own Sister FrancesMrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
March 14 —
AUBURN NY
APR 16
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03