Sunday Sep 19^th
My dearest Henry,
I feel vexed with myself that I did
not write in time for you to receive my letter previous
to you visit to New York — I have your letter of Friday
this morning. As we had decided in favour of
the West Point school I thought my writing a
day or two later would not be material — I would
prefer to know something more of Mr Kingsley's [ shool ]
before sending Augustus there but the information
which I would like to have I should not be
likely to obtain from a man — the boys or their
mothers could give more satisfactory information
Mrs Webb having visited the Cooperstown school
and feeling satisfied with the arrangements went
very far towards inducing me consent to send
our boys there — Many very many of the home comforts
must be dispensed with at any school, as I know by

bitter experience but I consider it an act of positive
injustice to keep a child at a school too much
upon the Squeers plan — I infer from what Augustus
says that he would consider it a disgrace to his
manhood for me to visit the school an[ d ] make some
observations for myself so I must e'en rest contented
with what I can learn from others — The winter
term does not commence until the 1^st of November
shall I bring Augustus to Albany with me?
I am sorry to hear so poor an account of the state
of Clary's wardrobe – I will write and make some
enquiries to day and can then tell better what it
is necessary to do — I would prefer not to go
to Cooperstown on my way down it would be excee-
dingly inconvenient and when there I could only
give directions to others — If his clothes are all
to be made in uniform (as Mr Webb said and which
is certainly very absurd) I suppose they can be made
but at one place — I will enquire and should that
not be the case could not Clarence meet us at Utica

and have a suit made there — His under garments
I must make and send from Albany — When he left
us in the Spring I did not doubt but that I should
see him during the vacation therefore no provision was
made for winter and I do not now know what he
requires — This I can ascertain by writing —
Frederick and his Aunty came yesterday — we were
very glad to see them — Augustus continues
his writing lessons and I think is improving —
Willie is quite well once more and beginning
to get fat — he talks of Nicholas and the
shorses very frequently — Mr Patterson was in town
a few hours on Wednesday — returned directly to Westfield —
I handed him the letter you sent — every thing was satisfactorily
adjusted with Mr Gibson — Augustus Seward has gone to Cincinnati
It has just occurred to me that you have said nothing
about Clarence meeting his brother and accompanying his mother's
remains to Florida — should he go there it will be easy
to arrange affairs with regard to his clothing — Please
let me know when you write again — I am making
my arrangements to leave here the 1^st of October —
Lazette will stay until I leave — The family will be
lonely enough when we are all gone — Now we take Augustus
away Clara is half inclined to shut up the house and spend
the Winter in Albany but is undecided — All send
love — your own
Frances —

William H. Seward
Albany —
AUBURN N.Y.
SEP 19
hMrs Seward
Sept 19 1841