Thursday morning–
My dear Henry,
I feel vexed with myself that I
have allowed so much time to pass without writing
I wrote a few lines on Sunday but then was not
well enough to write much– Monday the 4^th
your letter came saying Mr & Mrs Bowen would
be here Tuesday– We were without any girl
in the kitchen, ours having gone home sick that
morning – we succeeded yesterday in finding another
and after I had made every thing ready the
Bowens went through without stopping– Pa
saw Bowen at Syracuse who told him they
intended coming here when they returned— Perhaps
they will, but I shall not promise them such
fine large strawberries and so nice a fresh
salmon as they might have had to day
The fourth proved to be a pleasant day and
Fred who was the only member of our family who

who calculated largely upon enjoyment, had a very
satisfactory time– The fire companies came out
Saturday evening with their engines, in uniform
with torches, made a very pretty appearance
Monday morning they marched through the
streets again– This was all the procession we
had– the attempt to get up another proved a
complete failure– Howe delivered his oration on
Fort Hill– Many people were here from the
country– in the evening the garden with its
fire works and the boys with their bonfires
furnished the closing amusements– I was all
alone in the house about 2 hours with Willie–
a drunken man was lying in the court yard
and Snip who is usually very courageous found
his valour dampened by the noise of rockets
and fire crackers– so I fasten all the doors
and sat down with James' last novel which
so engrossed me that the time slipped away
imperceptibly– I feel vexed with myself that
I have been so absorbed with that book that I

have allowed it to engross the whole of my leisure time for
the last two days– beside injuring my eyes and in
truth being the chief cause why I have not
written to you– The next novel I read I shall
commence with the last chapter, first—
Lazette writes that she will probably be here this
week— Worden is in Utica– Serene is here
with two of her children e– It is really refreshing
to a spirit wearied with fashionable frivolities
to meet a woman with a mind and heart
like Se[ rene ] s– With the consuming cares by which
she is constantly surrounded I am surprised that
she retains so much of either– I have not
heard yet of Augustus safe return– hope to have a
letter tomorrow– I am glad you are pleased with his
progress in his studies– I never had the least misgiving
about the strength of his understanding– his judgement
and firmness of principle are much more than ordinary
Willie's eye is again inflamed— I have made use of the
powders given me for him by Dr Ward which have benefitted
him but there are but two more left– if these do not
entirely relieve him I shall write for more–
Your own
Frances

[left Margin] Every body enquires when I expect you– I say I do not
expect you at all—

I have your Tuesday's letter– am sorry to hear of the Oleander
the tub should have been bond before the plants are put in
The leaves that are yellow had better be picked off—
When I came home I found those which we have here had
been scorched with the sun– I picked off almost
every leaf– they are putting out again beautifully
Poor Jenny will not succeed in hatching her eggs I fear– but
we must let her try– I think all the birds should
be moved before the 1^st of August—
William H. Seward
Albany–
AUBURN N.Y.
JUL 7
hMrs Seward
July 17 42