Monday Nov 22^d –
My dear Sister,
All day yesterday it was one "continual grind"
I was dissatisfied that I found no time to write to you –
or to Gus – I was much disappointed that Augustus did not
come on Saturday as we expected to make us a visit before
the close of the river – in his place came a letter saying
he had come to the conclusion not to come at all as it
would interfere with his studies and make him more
homesick on his return – He is a good boy, very punctual
about writing and writes much longer and better letters
than formerly – They are to have a vacation Christmas
of one week when he purposes coming home should the
river chance to lo remain open above West Point where
he can take the stage – Mary Seward came with her
father last Tuesday – Friday morning just as we were
making preparations to visit the Shakers Dr Doane
made his appearance informing us that Mrs Doane was
at Congress Hall – Nicholas' attention was immediately
turned to that point instead of Niskauna— Mrs Doane

[top Margin] I am sorry to say Clarence is to remain here – Mr Duffs

x

William Duff

 Death: 1847-07-16

school
is abandoned entirely until Spring and Henry has before that decided that
it was an unsuitable place for Clarence – he
teases Willie so much that I am unwilling to have them together but
he has no other home and I ought not to object to his remaining
here – he says he would much rather go away to school –
Your own
Sister

came – they remained with us until Saturday afternoon – Mrs
Doane appears to be a very good affectionate kind hearted
woman sufficiently clever to be agreeable without any
pretension to extraordinary ability – She talks with as much
precision and is just about as much affected with the
Phrenological mania as Mrs Wright without her literary
information – of the sixth sense she is perfectly destitute –
The Dr you have seen — they came on purpose to see us & I
think enjoyed themselves very much – Mrs Doane was so
anxious to return to her children that we could not
persuade them to stay until Monday – Yesterday Mary
and I went to Church in the morning and the remainder
of the day and evening we passed together in the parlour –
You know how much I wished to be communing with you –
Mary will remain until there is a prospect of the river
closing – Mr Blatchford and Bowen came this morning
they with Uncle Cary dined with us – after dinner
all departed for their respective homes – and now at
ten oclock I am writing this letter – There is one advantage
in gentlemen's company you are not obliged to sit up with
them late at night – How often I have had occasion to remember

your kindness in releaving me of this responsibility
last Winter – Mc Clallen went to New York last
Tuesday – returned here on F Saturday morning and left for
Auburn Sunday morning – I sent by him your cloak after much
difficulty in getting it completed – I think now the lining is
rather basted than sewed but it came in the night and I had
not an opportunity of examining it closely – Mc Clallen thought
he would have an opportunity to send it to you – You enquire
about Dr. Canfield – The time having arrived for the reelection of
Governor by the Legislature the Council (or Senate) had an equal
number of Whigs and Loco Foco's which rendered a joint Ballot
impossible without the consent of some of the Loco Foco members
it was the intention of that party to let this election go by default
there being a majority of Whigs in the lower house they wer
sensible that Pennington would be reelected with a joint Ballot
preferred to have the President of the Council (or Lieutenant Gov)
act as Gov – for the next year — This plan Dr Canfield
defeated by voting for a joint Ballot thinly securing the
reelection of Gov Pennington – – Gen Scott's letter is certainly
as weak a production as his opponents could desire – for him–
self he is quite confident that he will be the next p President —
Mary informed us that Augustus Seward was married last September to
Sarah Finn, sister to Jane and Cornelia— he informed her at the same
time that he wrote to Henry and his Grandfather – They were married at
Jane Frasiers house – at Bath – when Augustus was on his was to Cin-
cinnati – he says they have been attached to each other since they
were children (that is smaller children than they are now) — Why it has
been kept secret and why they were married at this time is
still a matter of speculation – no explanation is given – Augustus told
Mary that that would never be known – I suppose some mystery is neces-
sary to render romantick the marriage of two cousins who have known

each other from infancy – Augustus went to Florida on his return but I judge
from his Grandfathers letter their interview was not of the most satisfactory
kind – He passed through Albany without coming here – went to Bath
and with his cousin wife has gone to Westfield – without money and
without occupation – Clarence is not pleased – says he wanted some
new person for a sister not a cousin whom he has always known
Willie continues well and fat – last night after we went to bed he enquired
where Aunty was – where Cousin Frances was and finally concluded with great
gravity with "I wish I could see cousin Frances–“ he also asked if Cousin
Frances had any candy a question which he frequently asks about his "good
nice brother" Augustus – thinking that the essential article in promoting
happiness – Freddy is not very well though he attends school – his weakness
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaiqua
Paid
W.H.S.
ALBANY
NOV
23
N.Y.

[right Margin] of nerves distresses me – I am satisfied that his intercourse with one so
totally destitute of fine feeling and delicacy as Clarence gives him great
pain though he seldom complains – I am sometimes grieved by seeing
the tears running down his cheeks without knowing the cause—