Sunday Afternoon Aug 19^th
My dearest Henry, I have not had a letter
from you since last Sunday [ uness ] I count
that Bradish hand bill as one— Peter has just
returned from the office and says the mail is not
yet opened so I shall fancy there is one there
until I send again— I went to church this morn-
ing with Fred— Was disappointed (as I always
am when I see any one in the pulpit but Mr
Lucas) in seeing a strange clergyman - his
sermon was poorly written and affectedly delivered—
I believe he is from New York but cannot tell
his name— Clara went this afternoon to the methodist
but was not much edified - it is a charming
day just warm enough in the open air— I can
fancy how it looks at Westfield to day we had
so many such Sunday's last Summer— I would
I were with you this afternoon going to the quiet
little Church to hear one of Mr Hugh's eloquent
discourses— Lazette's last letter says Sibley
is getting better, has passed the crisis of his disease
Mr Ruggles at whose house he is staying writes
every day to some of the family when Mrs Sibley
cannot— Mrs Ruggles I am told has gone to
Saratoga and left them in posession of the house.
Was it not indiscreet in Noah to say you were
committed to Mr Clary, beside it is untrue— Noah
is I believe a warm supporter of your interests but
rather deficient in discretion. I suppose you

have seen the manner in which you are disposed of in
the Washington County paper seconded by the Buffalo
Journal— Why did the Daily Advertiser copy that article
How could Bradish consent to have that paper circulated
I suppose it was not done without his consent.
You perceive I am all in the dark about politics when
you are away. The opponents of the Prison discipline
have commenced publishing a book of Chronicles
which like Chronicles of a similar kind combines
some wit with much scurrility.
Sanford made me another visit Thursday and I was
sorry after he went away that I had written to you
as I did the day [ befor ] — Agensy, I think was
rather too dignified a name for the employment
Mr Leonard proposes to him to undertake which
is neither more nor less than to take a one horse
wagon full of bolting cloths and carry them
about the country to sell— Perhaps it is one
of my foolish prejudices but I always had
a particular aversion to this sort of business[ . ]
[ Pedlars ] of tin ware, time pieces and table cloths
always appeared to me pretty much on thesame footing. I was obliged to ask a great many
questions before I could ascertain just what
I wanted to know, of course I expressed no disappro-
bation, I only regretted that I had not been more
fully acquainted with the nature of the employment
before I asked your advice on which he evidently
relies. My first idea always when my advice
is asked is that I wish Henry were here that I might
consult him and though I am often under the
necessity of relying upon my own judgement I
never feel quite sure I am right until your
approbation is accorded.

We called to see Harriet Hughes yesterday, she is at
Mrs Chase's taking care of Dr Smith's children during
their absence they have been gone nearly three weeks
the last account received was from New York
the Dr was worse has had a paralysis— Mrs Smith
proposes returning home as soon as the Dr is sufficiently
recovered to travel— If Henry Smith has not heard left Westfield I presume he has heard from his
father recently - we hear nothing except that
he is failing— Monday morning - I detained my
letter last night so confident was I that I should
hear from you in the interim, but no letter comes
I think Cyrus is making you a long visit if he
still continues at Westfield— You spoke about
my making a list of annual flower seeds— I
see Thorbom advertises packages of from 20 to
50 ra. I think you had better send
one of [ tho ] se I know so few flowers by n[ ame ]
that I would not like to trust to my own
selection— I would like some of the snow drop
this is I believe a tube root— I do not know when
would be the proper season for transplanting but
should think the Autumn— Our garden is still
gay with Balsams Chysanthemums and Tiger Lillies,
the Dahlias I am afraid will not realise their
promise, there is no evidence of flowering yet—
Pa complains to me that Nicholas will not tie the
horses so as to keep them in their stalls— Clara thinks
I ought to make Peter behave himself more properly
wild horses and wild Irishmen are pretty hard subjects
to deal with won[ ' ] t you come and help me—
The little boys promise to write this week but should the
season continue equally favourable for kites I would not like
to certify for them— your own Frances— I[ s ] Cousin Gus at
home?

William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauqua County
hFrances A. Seward
Aug 19. 1838.