Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 2, 1840

  • Posted on: 5 October 2017
  • By: admin
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 2, 1840
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:cnk

student editor

Transcriber:spp:ahf

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1840-08-02

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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to William Henry Seward, August 2, 1840

action: sent

sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24  Death: 1865-06-21

location: Auburn, NY

receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16  Death: 1872-10-10

location: Albany, NY

transcription: cnk 

revision: crb 2017-06-30

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Page 1

Sunday afternoon
My dear Henry
Your letter of Friday has just
come to me– I am glad to hear that your cough
has left you– I have had a dread of coughs from my
cradle– Freddy
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
has been unwell for the last week
but is better to day – has been to church – I
went this morning to hear for the first time
our new Pastor – Mr. Croswell
Birth: 1807-11-07 Death: 1851-11-09
– I was pleased with
his sermon but he falls far short of Mr Lucas
Birth: 1799 Death: 1839-08-25
in
every respect. Until your letter announced the
destruction of that pretty crab apple tree I was
not conscious of being attached to any thing
of the kind in Albany– Thank Heaven that is not
my home if it were I would not have exchanged
that tree for 20 cisterns – the sacrifice seems to
me to have been altogether unecessary as I cannot
conceive of a more unsuitable place for a cistern
Page 2

than the one selected— I believe you and I agree entirely
in our taste about trees and shrubs and should we ever
be blessed with a permanent home of our own we may
escape the pain of seeing them mutilated or destroyed
wantonly— I was wishing yesterday that you were
here to see how beautifully our oleanders were
blooming– you have the same enjoyment there– are
those both red or white? I have never seen them
in flower. The frequent showers we have increase the
verdure of the trees and shrubs so that the county
never looked more beautiful–
Mr Beardsley
Birth: 1816-03-27 Death: 1900-01-25
called the same day I received your
letter and took your miniature which he purposed
sending by the first safe opportunity– he was to
go east himself in a few days– I agree with you
in thinking mahogany the most suitable colour for
the doors– I am very glad the lower rooms are
to be painted I hope the same favour will be extend-
ded to the woodwork on the outside of the street door
It was not my intention to inflict a long
Page 3

letter upon you for annoyed as you are
in that way I cannot persuade myself that even
my letters afford much pleasure – Does Jennings
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24

go to Florida? Can you tell me when he will probably
return home? – I have deferred my visit to
Canandaigua for another week – have not heard
from Lazette
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
since Blatchford
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
returned – Please
remember me to him and Jennings – your own
Frances
I have opened my letter to ask you to send me some money
I had forgotten that I was without any until this moment –
Page 4

William H. Seward
Albany
AUBURN
AUG
3
N.Y.
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Stamp

Type: postmark

Hand Shiftx

William Seward

Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
Frances A. Seward
August 4. 1840