Canandaigua Tuesday 6^th
My dear Henry,
This is the 6^th day since your depar-
ture and I am beginning to look for the return of
Nicholas, we had charming weather until yesterday
it is now warm, the snow is fast wasting away[ . ]
I have heard nothing from home. Lazette has
been too unwell for us to return any of the calls
we have received. Frank brought his daughter
here Friday. I am sorry they came, their ner
Miss Granger never having called upon Lazette it places
us all in rather an awkward predicament. I do
not at all comprehend it. They certainly took
especial ^particular^ pains that day to intimate that the call
was an especial compliment to me. Mrs Graig
called Saturday, she appeared much like the warm
hearted woman I fancied her some 15 or 16 years
ago when she won my heart with her caresses
(I was younger and prettier then). I accompanied
Worden and the children to Church Sunday, the
walk was too long for Lazette. John C. Spencer
has returned. Mrs Spencer was here the day
you left. I endeavoured to receive her as cordially
as you desired. Lazette is so feeble that I am
waiting for the return of the sleigh to return
all these visits. Is not that duel at Washington
a shocking affair for Webb, how sorry I feel for his wife [ . ]
I think that last letter purporting to have been written

by one of his friends (published first in the American) places
the affair in a more horrible light than any
thing I have seen on the subject. Weed does not say
a word, what can he say?. Cilley and his seconds
were certainly far from blameless, but he was
literally murdered, his death under any circum-
stances would have turned the current of popular
feeling in his favour. Croswell makes the most
of it, and upon the whole Col Stone does
not apply balsam. Mrs Webb will of course
be spared the perusal of much that I haveheard
some seen , but she cannot ad avoid the knowledge
that her husband has occasioned the death of
one of his fellow creatures by his impetuosity,
this reflection is sufficient to embitter many hours
of in the life of a person of sensibility. If there is
any th truth in this last statement in which
Webb is represented as a perfect ruffian I should
suppose it would have no inconsiderable effect
upon his social intercourse. It surprises me
that there were so many men so dead to a
sense of all moral obligations as to give
countenance and encouragement to this revolting
performance. When will the religion taught
by our blessed Saviour take precedence of these
false notions of honor. I always supposed
that it required a greater degree of magnanimity
to refuse a challenge from proper motives
than to accept one. Cilley had not even
the prejudice of education to contend with
being a northern man.

We are going out this afternoon so I must e'en close my
letter. Please to remember me affectionately to Jennings
Marcia and family. I am sorry to send you so hurried
a scrawl, should have written yesterday but was prevented
by nervous headache. Freddy is well, reads all the
time. Frances complains that he is not a good playmate
sometimes, she says she hopes after Fred has read all
the books through he will be willing to play.
I am very anxious about Lazette she is more ill
than I expected to find her. I intend before I go
home to consult their best physician. your own
Frances.

William H. Seward
Westfield
Chatauque County
Canandaigua
Mar
7
N.Y.
12 1/2
hFrances A. Seward
March 6. 1838.