Sunday Sept 4^th –
My dear Sister,
Your letter came this morning – I am
sorry you find the warm weather so oppressive – you have
the consolation of knowing it will soon be over – Clara and
I have been very much hurried without much accomplishing
any thing very important – Monday we went to the Capitol
Tuesday to Troy – Called at Mrs Boardman's and invited
her to ride with us to Lansingburgh – she declined but said
she would go with us when we returned if we would come
there and dine – Maryann and Rosa were bedecked in all
manner of finery prepared to make calls – William is at
home and a young gentleman from a Mobile (Mr Andrews)
who seemed to be performing the part of cicisbeo to Williams
wife – We went to Lansingburgh – Clara went to see her
old beau Albert Willet while I called upon Mrs Blatchford
and Mary – Mrs Blatchford has been ill and is not yet
entirely recovered – has come here to have the benefit of
Dr Blatchfords

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Thomas Blatchford

Birth: 1794-07-20 Death: 1866-01-07

advice for Ethelinda whom they are

[top Margin] You may direct your next letter here. If I
go it will follow me – Clara wrote to Mc

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Hugh McClallen

Birth: 1791-09-07 Death: 1860-11-16

today that she
should be home Wednesday or Thursday
we have heard nothing from them since we left

engaged in starving to death. Mary (who I think is the
most agreeable member of the family) enquired very particularly
about you – Mrs Blatchford said she was too unwell to
make any visits therefore I am not to expect the pleasure
of her company – Mary thought she would come – I committed
the enormity of forgetting to enquire for the 4 old maids which
I suppose will never be forgiven – Clara had a very satis-
factory time with Albert who took her to see his wife; she
Clara says is a fool and I entertain the same opinion of her
husband – Clara went to Stearns' also and made a visit – she
has given up going to Pittstown – does not seem to care any
thing about it and I get no opportunity to go with her – We
returned and dined with Mrs Boardman & her family – then Mrs
Boardman took a short drive with us – She is in much grief about
Clara, who has gone to her unprincipled mother – The sister came at
the appointed time – Mrs Boardman did not think it best to oppose her
going – She was rather pleased with the sister, who appeared very
differently from Frances – Clara was very unwilling to go till the last.
Maryann who has a new shawl did not seem to care any
thing about it – I consider her more than commonly selfish – – After
the drive we came immediately home – found Henry on the steps
waiting for us to come and go to Congress Hall to see Mrs Wheeler (Cornelia
Hunn) and a party of men and women with her – we found them all out
as my head ached I was not sorry – however they they all came
round in the evening and staid a long time – so it seemed to me –
Wednesday seems a blank to me I suppose there was such a day–
Thursday afternoon Henry, Underwood and I went to Mr Willard
Clara would not go along – They live 3 miles out of town — a very
pretty place when you once get there – In the evening we had
here a caucus of the Whig members – Clara and I sat up until
10 oclock listening to speeches — Friday the Webbs came from
Sharon Springs – Clara to avoid them went to Yates' – They
came in the Western cars – Mr and Mrs Webb 5 children, a Mrs &
Miss Palmer and 2 servants made quite a carload – Henry
and Weed went to the depot in our carriage returned with
that and 2 barouche's full – they servants were sent on

to Congress Hall to engage rooms and dinner – They only made a short
visit at our house – I accompanied them to the garden to see the
Century plant, which by the way is not yet in flower – Then
went to Congress Hall — The piazza being full of people. Webb at
has a paper for display I think must have been quite satisfied – I left
them promising to come up with Henry in the course of the evening – Webb
is still lame – uses 2 crutches – I doubt whether he can entirely
recover the use of that limb – seems very happy that he has been
made a mark for the pistol of Marshall – There is a variety
in taste & ambition in this world – Mrs Webb appears just as usual
Robert has become a handsome young man – The young ladies & gentle-
men are not much changed — We went up in the evening according
to promise spent an hour – Carlin went with us and attracted universal
attention by his fine face and graceful movements — but I have not
introduced our new protege – He is a young artist from Philadelphia
a deaf mute — has been well educated and has been abroad 4 years
taking lessons of the first masters in Paris – so says Lewis Clark
who introduced him to us – Poor of course – a mother (a
"widowed mother" as he says and sister dependent upon him for sup-
port – The hard times have deprived him of employment he came
here in the hope of better success and is taking Henry's portrait
because he desired it and Henry never can refuse an application
which appeals to his humanity or generosity – I do not think I ever
was more deeply interested in any person – he writes both English
and French well, and his fine eye conveys more of thought
and feeling than many words can – He is generally cheerful
but from some casual expressions I fear he bitterly feels his
privation – I talk with him frequently with the pencil and he has
taught me the Alphabet which I hope to be able to use in conversing
with him – We are all interested in him Fred and Clarence as much as
myself – I have never seen Clarence manifest so much consideration
for any one before – Poor Carlin he is constantly in my mind –
Yesterday Clara spent most of the day at Weed's – Harriet went
with her to do some shopping – I was a prisoner at home with
an aching head – Joseph Hoxie came this morning to breakfast
and spent the day – Clara would not go to church – It was
refreshing to hear Dr Potter once more – Willie's eyes are no better
I am advised to go to Sharon Springs – have about concluded
to give up my visit to Orange County and go with him this week
it will be culpable to neglect any thing that might benefit him –
I am very sorry not to have Clara go to Florida for they want her
to come very much – She will return to Auburn when I go to the
Springs if I go – We leave the railroad at Canajoharie and

go 8 miles by stage in the direction of Cooperstown – In the mean time
Henry wishes to consult Dr Francis of N. York who has analyzed the
waters — Tomorrow Gen & Mrs Morehead of Kentucky are to come
and abide with us – the next day Stanley is expected perhaps
his wife who is at N. York with him – There is to be a meeting
of the Whig members of Congress Tuesday –
Lord Ashburton came in town Tuesday evening and left the next morning –
If you do not find Henry's Chautauqua letter I will ask H. Undewood
to send you a copy – he wishes to be remembered to you and says he has
not forgotten his promise to make you a visit – It is thought the Legislature
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
Paid W.H.S.
ALBANY
SEP
5
N.Y.

[right Margin] will have the goodness to adjourn tomorrow or the next day – I hope so–
Mrs Boardman wishes very much that she could see you — Carlin is taking
Harriet Weeds likeness, Weed is as much pleased with him as myself
we are neither of us deficient in '[ entusimusy ]

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Alternate Text

Alternate Text: intimacy

' — Fred commences his studies
tomorrow – Clarence leaves in the morning for Hopkinton

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Hopkinton, NY

– Your own
Sister