Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 5, 1841
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 5, 1841
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:mlb
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Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1841-11-05
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 5, 1841
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: mlb
revision: srr 2017-11-02
<>
Page
1
Friday night – Nov 5
My dear Sister
As I am in the way of letter writing at present
and do not seem to have any place in particular to stay I think
I wl will just congratulate you upon the result of the election
is it not beautiful – the indifferent Whigs I presume have
very satisfactory reflections – I believe the defeat is rather more
complete than the most desponding ventured to predict – Henry
will have a pleasant situation with a Loco Foco Legislature
this Winter – New York might easily have been saved but for the
Salem Witchcraft party alias those who are in such mighty
fear of being made Roman Catholics – Were you not surprised by
Verplancks
the Catholic votes – it is no matter the Whigs do not bear
prosperity well it is time they had a reverse provided it
does not last too long – I think Mr Sibley
particularly enviable situation – he is considered accountable
for the loss of the Senate – I fancy there will be a falling off
in the candidates for Governor – Granger
ran behind his ticket – I shall expect your letter Monday
Henry Morgan
Page
2
Did you see by the Journal of yesterday or the day previous how
well Dr. Canfield
to write him a letter immediately – I received a letter (a nice
letter is was) from dear Gus
but says he is some homesick – I sent the letter to Pa
Henry I hope will go to West Point next week – Augustus says
the school is half a mile from the Point – on the River
there are 14 scholars about his size – They study 8 hours each
day – have Wednesday and Saturday to themselves – I believe
it is as good a school as we could have found – Clarence
came home Wednesday – Mr. Duff
at Cooperstown and is now going to Sing-sing to establish a
school – he with his family came on with Clarence – He
seems to be making large calculations about his new school
proposes having an immense number of scholars – The school
is to commence in two weeks when Clarence will go and com-
plete his term – if they do not break up again before that time.
Sunday night – I wrote so far Friday evening and as I expected
the letter still remains unfinished – – Last Tuesday we received
a letter from Augustus Seward
married – this was all the information he gave us on the
subject adding that he should by the same mail make a
similar communication to his Grandfather
when where or to whom he was married leaving us in doubt whether
it is to some one in Westfield or N. York – When he left
here for Florida, it was with the expectation of having his Grandfather
supply funds to enable him to complete his collegiate course
Page
3
I presume his Grandfather did nothing of the kind – he was to go to
New York a week last Saturday and from his letter I suppose will
soon be here on his return to Westfield – I am utterly at a loss to
know what he intends to do when he gets there – I do think
the Sewards are very much addicted to marrying – His Grand-
father will consider this ample cause for disinheritance – George
Tempe
with a letter to Mr Kinsley
I feel without him – Fred
little urchin the whole time romping and playing with some one
he does not much fancy "Janes
little girl but he has his own opinion on all subjects – Friday
morning I went to attend morning prayers in our Church preparatory to
Communion – Mrs Pruyn
child
Church I found Sam Blatchford
to see Sam after a months absence – he has talked to me the whole afternoon
and this evening has gone on to Utica to see Miss Spencer
engaged – The Lymans are in N. York –
She returned to Utica to give him an
opportunity to pursue his studies – I told him I had a packet for him
and ran up stairs to get it – when I came down he was gone & laid the
packet on the table and stepped into the nursery – When I came
out again I found he had come in and taken possession of it (Tracy
we have never exchanged a word on the subject – I had copied
this message from your letter and slipped it into the packet
adding another seal – He intends coming here the 1st of January to be
admitted – says he has lost all interest in politics and is entirely devoted
to his profession – returns here Tuesday and to New York Wednesday –
He had heard nothing of Augustus Sewards singular marriage which
I forgot to mention is a secret – said he thought Augustus would
come up tomorrow and probably Mary
were all up late last night consequently are sleepy to night – A young
woman
Prison – she was pretty and well dressed – artful, weak minded vain
and selfish – she had one or two interviews with Henry before I saw
her though I had been provoked with the noise she made – I was
sitting on the sofa when she came in last night – she immediately com-
menced crying loudly and wringing her hands – when Henry came in she
Page
4
threw herself on her knees and commenced an extravagant supplication for money
for which act of impiety I saw fit to reprove her rather sharply
and Henry told her he could not talk with her at all unless she
sat down and behaved rationally – She then sat down and Henry tried
to reason the case with her – just as we thought she was getting a
little composed she was seized with a hysteric fit which con
tinued half an hour – we finally succeeded in getting her up stairs
on the bed – I persuaded her to take some opium and left her to
Maryann and Polly
a spoiled child – would not eat any thing though she disclosed
she had not eaten in 3 days – refused to get into bed and lay ot
all night on the outside –
I finally went to bed much afraid that she would succeed in making herself too ill
to leave the house in some time but was relieved this morning by an assurance
from Polly that she had risen early and taken her departure – I never have had
less sympathy for a person who pretended to be afflicted – I hear nothing from
from Clara – sent Augustus letters to Pa the day I received it – Miss Lansing
be married to Mr Pruyn
Sam is coming back to the party – I was sorry I had no more of the vanilla
to send you but will send again – love to Frances
Friday night – Nov 5
My dear Sister
As I am in the way of letter writing at present
and do not seem to have any place in particular to stay I think
I wl will just congratulate you upon the result of the election
is it not beautiful – the indifferent Whigs I presume have
very satisfactory reflections – I believe the defeat is rather more
complete than the most desponding ventured to predict – Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
will have a pleasant situation with a Loco Foco Legislature
this Winter – New York might easily have been saved but for the
Salem Witchcraft party alias those who are in such mighty
fear of being made Roman Catholics – Were you not surprised by
Verplancks
Birth: 1786-08-06 Death: 1870-03-18
want of firmness – he would have been elected by the Catholic votes – it is no matter the Whigs do not bear
prosperity well it is time they had a reverse provided it
does not last too long – I think Mr Sibley
Birth: 1796-11-06 Death: 1852-09-08
is not in aparticularly enviable situation – he is considered accountable
for the loss of the Senate – I fancy there will be a falling off
in the candidates for Governor – Granger
Birth: 1789-06-03 Death: 1866-08-20
the Argus saysran behind his ticket – I shall expect your letter Monday
Henry Morgan
Certainty: Possible
who is here says the
railroad is open all the wayDid you see by the Journal of yesterday or the day previous how
well Dr. Canfield
Birth: 1798-11-26 Death: 1865-01-05
had behaved in the
N. Jersey Legislature – I intend to write him a letter immediately – I received a letter (a nice
letter is was) from dear Gus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
to day – he is pleased with
the schoolbut says he is some homesick – I sent the letter to Pa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
and Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
Henry I hope will go to West Point next week – Augustus says
the school is half a mile from the Point – on the River
there are 14 scholars about his size – They study 8 hours each
day – have Wednesday and Saturday to themselves – I believe
it is as good a school as we could have found – Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
came home Wednesday – Mr. Duff
Death: 1847-07-16
has I
presume got throughat Cooperstown and is now going to Sing-sing to establish a
school – he with his family came on with Clarence – He
seems to be making large calculations about his new school
proposes having an immense number of scholars – The school
is to commence in two weeks when Clarence will go and com-
plete his term – if they do not break up again before that time.
Sunday night – I wrote so far Friday evening and as I expected
the letter still remains unfinished – – Last Tuesday we received
a letter from Augustus Seward
Birth: 1820-05-18 Death: 1889-05-08
saying that he had been
recentlymarried – this was all the information he gave us on the
subject adding that he should by the same mail make a
similar communication to his Grandfather
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
– He did not saywhen where or to whom he was married leaving us in doubt whether
it is to some one in Westfield or N. York – When he left
here for Florida, it was with the expectation of having his Grandfather
supply funds to enable him to complete his collegiate course
I presume his Grandfather did nothing of the kind – he was to go to
New York a week last Saturday and from his letter I suppose will
soon be here on his return to Westfield – I am utterly at a loss to
know what he intends to do when he gets there – I do think
the Sewards are very much addicted to marrying – His Grand-
father will consider this ample cause for disinheritance – George
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
andTempe
Birth: 1812-09-30 Death: 1848-10-18
left us Monday afternoon – Gusy went
that morning alonewith a letter to Mr Kinsley
Birth: 1802-02-17 Death: 1849-08-24
— You will easily conceive how lonelyI feel without him – Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
goes regularly to school – Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
is a noisylittle urchin the whole time romping and playing with some one
he does not much fancy "Janes
Unknown
sisterUnknown
" as he calls her – She is a nicelittle girl but he has his own opinion on all subjects – Friday
morning I went to attend morning prayers in our Church preparatory to
Communion – Mrs Pruyn
Birth: 1822-06-18 Death: 1859-03-22
Mrs Cornings
Birth: 1794-07-31 Death: 1883-05-26
niece was baptised also herchild
Birth: 1841-08-24 Death: 1881-02-01
about 3 months old – To day when I
came home fromChurch I found Sam Blatchford
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
and Mr Minturn
Birth: 1805-11-16 Death: 1866-01-09
here to dinner – We were gladto see Sam after a months absence – he has talked to me the whole afternoon
and this evening has gone on to Utica to see Miss Spencer
Birth: 1821-05-16 Death: 1895-09-29
to whom he is positivelyengaged – The Lymans
Birth: 1813
Death:
Birth: 1804
Death: 1869
opportunity to pursue his studies – I told him I had a packet for him
and ran up stairs to get it – when I came down he was gone & laid the
packet on the table and stepped into the nursery – When I came
out again I found he had come in and taken possession of it (Tracy
Birth: 1793-06-17 Death: 1859-09-12
like)we have never exchanged a word on the subject – I had copied
this message from your letter and slipped it into the packet
adding another seal – He intends coming here the 1st of January to be
admitted – says he has lost all interest in politics and is entirely devoted
to his profession – returns here Tuesday and to New York Wednesday –
He had heard nothing of Augustus Sewards singular marriage which
I forgot to mention is a secret – said he thought Augustus would
come up tomorrow and probably Mary
Birth: 1815 Death: 1879-08-29
would come with him – We were all up late last night consequently are sleepy to night – A young
woman
Unknown
came here yesterday to obtain a pardon for her husbandUnknown
in StatePrison – she was pretty and well dressed – artful, weak minded vain
and selfish – she had one or two interviews with Henry before I saw
her though I had been provoked with the noise she made – I was
sitting on the sofa when she came in last night – she immediately com-
menced crying loudly and wringing her hands – when Henry came in she
threw herself on her knees and commenced an extravagant supplication for money
for which act of impiety I saw fit to reprove her rather sharply
and Henry told her he could not talk with her at all unless she
sat down and behaved rationally – She then sat down and Henry tried
to reason the case with her – just as we thought she was getting a
little composed she was seized with a hysteric fit which con
tinued half an hour – we finally succeeded in getting her up stairs
on the bed – I persuaded her to take some opium and left her to
Maryann and Polly
Unknown
– She acted very perversely and very much likea spoiled child – would not eat any thing though she disclosed
she had not eaten in 3 days – refused to get into bed and lay ot
all night on the outside –
I finally went to bed much afraid that she would succeed in making herself too ill
to leave the house in some time but was relieved this morning by an assurance
from Polly that she had risen early and taken her departure – I never have had
less sympathy for a person who pretended to be afflicted – I hear nothing from
from Clara – sent Augustus letters to Pa the day I received it – Miss Lansing
Birth: 1811-06-28 Death: 1886-01-08
is
tobe married to Mr Pruyn
Birth: 1815-02-14 Death: 1882-02-26
Tuesday night
– we have had her "at home" a weekSam is coming back to the party – I was sorry I had no more of the vanilla
to send you but will send again – love to Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
– your own Sister –