Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, March 7, 1843
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, March 7, 1843
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:pxc
student editorTranscriber:spp:jjh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1843-03-07
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, March 7, 1843
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: pxc
revision: crb 2018-03-05
<>
Page
1
Tuesday afternoon
My dear Sister,
Though I am very tired and
rather sleepy I will not defer writing another
day – yesterday I had nervous headache –
Henry
Willie
time – it was a very cold night – Henry has
come to a conclusion that travelling in the
winter is not exceedingly comfortable – I have
been of this opinion some years – He was in
New York 4 days without coming to any definite
conclusion about the portrait until the day he
left – Of course the opinions were some more various
at a personal interview than on paper – Each man
had employed at least one artist whom
he preferred to all others – Henry was made to
visit many different studios and look at
pictures of men women and children innumerable
in private houses – Minturn
and appeared so much hurt that none of the
others would agree with him that he finally
Page
2
asked Henry if he would consent to have Page paint
his portrait on condition that the Common Council
should not take it unless generally approved – he
said he would guarantee Page's accession to such
a proposition – consulted Page who agreed – then
some of the party said that every artist ought
to be willing to paint one on the same con-
ditions – each man visited the artist he preferred
and all agreed to the condition – the merits of
the pictures to be judged by three Artists of
acknowledged celebrity – one Sully
the other two not yet determined upon – It was
thought Inmans
would not accede to the terms but he did
He, Harding
selected – The four pictures not sent to the com-
mon councils are to be kept by the different
paper layers who contributed a large sum
to remunerate the artists and as there are more
than 4 they draw lots for the pictures – is it
not 'funny' as Willie says – All the artists are
to come here and abide with us while painting
I think we have a prospect of a regular Boarder
for a year to come – Mr. Harding of Massachu-
setts (the only one not of the city of N.Y.) made his
appearance last Sunday – He is Weeds
favorite – he is a very plain man not far from
Page
3
50 – has spent some time in Europe – very unpretending
and as little like a young artist in appearance as
you can imagine – Inman comes next – I hope not
until Harding leaves – Mr. Harding is to paint Pa
and Judge Conkling
whole letter with this one subject, which has been the
subject of letters innumerable for this last month –
I have not been out of the house since I wrote to you
before – it was so cold Sunday that I did not
venture – have heard nothing more from Augustus
poor boy his disappointment will be very great
if he loses his nomination appointment as is most
probable the bill I mentioned having passed
both houses – I suppose Spencer
to get him appointed by the President
whether he will use it for that purpose – He will
be at home the 1st of April – I hope you will come
out – I cannot reply to your last letter in
a very circumstantial manner as Henry has taken
it off and is not here to tell me where – Fred
has finished Bear we had quite enough of it but
I think it much better reading for young people than
the mawkish sentimental books which were the
fashion in our young days – Gurnee
I have not seen him except at dinner – Willard
added his agreeable society and delicate appetite –
Henry brought home Mrs. Bulwers
not read – it is wasting time – Bulwers last
be very good – have you read it – Willie's eyes are
not matinally better this is one of his best days so he
Page
4
can play about the house – yesterday he hardly looked up
either lying flat on the floor, on his face or burying
his eyes in the cushion of a chair – poor little boy
it makes me very sad to see him suffer so much –
The first question he asked about Mr. Harding was if he
had eyes that he could see with – Clara
Millers
is engaged in keeping lent and indulging uncharitable
thoughts about those who do not likewise. your own Sister
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
MAR 7
Type: postmark
Tuesday afternoon
My dear Sister,
Though I am very tired and
rather sleepy I will not defer writing another
day – yesterday I had nervous headache –
Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
came home last Wednesday night
afterWillie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
and Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
and I had been
asleep sometime – it was a very cold night – Henry has
come to a conclusion that travelling in the
winter is not exceedingly comfortable – I have
been of this opinion some years – He was in
New York 4 days without coming to any definite
conclusion about the portrait until the day he
left – Of course the opinions were some more various
at a personal interview than on paper – Each man
had employed at least one artist whom
he preferred to all others – Henry was made to
visit many different studios and look at
pictures of men women and children innumerable
in private houses – Minturn
Birth: 1805-11-16 Death: 1866-01-09
preferred Page
Birth: 1811-01-23 Death: 1885-10-01
and appeared so much hurt that none of the
others would agree with him that he finally
asked Henry if he would consent to have Page paint
his portrait on condition that the Common Council
should not take it unless generally approved – he
said he would guarantee Page's accession to such
a proposition – consulted Page who agreed – then
some of the party said that every artist ought
to be willing to paint one on the same con-
ditions – each man visited the artist he preferred
and all agreed to the condition – the merits of
the pictures to be judged by three Artists of
acknowledged celebrity – one Sully
Birth: 1783-06 Death: 1872-11-05
of Philadelphia
the other two not yet determined upon – It was
thought Inmans
Birth: 1801-10-28 Death: 1846-01-17
reputation was such that hewould not accede to the terms but he did
He, Harding
Birth: 1792-09-01 Death: 1866-04-01
, Huntington
Birth: 1816 Death: 1906
,
Page
Birth: 1811-01-23 Death: 1885-10-01
, Gray
Birth: 1819 Death: 1877
are the 5selected – The four pictures not sent to the com-
mon councils are to be kept by the different
paper layers who contributed a large sum
to remunerate the artists and as there are more
than 4 they draw lots for the pictures – is it
not 'funny' as Willie says – All the artists are
to come here and abide with us while painting
I think we have a prospect of a regular Boarder
for a year to come – Mr. Harding of Massachu-
setts (the only one not of the city of N.Y.) made his
appearance last Sunday – He is Weeds
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
and
Drapers
Birth: 1795-04-14 Death: 1866-11-06
favorite – he is a very plain man not far from
50 – has spent some time in Europe – very unpretending
and as little like a young artist in appearance as
you can imagine – Inman comes next – I hope not
until Harding leaves – Mr. Harding is to paint Pa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
and Judge Conkling
Birth: 1789-10-12 Death: 1874-02-05
also – So I have occupied mywhole letter with this one subject, which has been the
subject of letters innumerable for this last month –
I have not been out of the house since I wrote to you
before – it was so cold Sunday that I did not
venture – have heard nothing more from Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
poor boy his disappointment will be very great
if he loses his nomination appointment as is most
probable the bill I mentioned having passed
both houses – I suppose Spencer
Birth: 1788-01-08 Death: 1855-05-17
has sufficient influenceto get him appointed by the President
Birth: 1790-03-29 Death: 1862-01-18
but
doubtwhether he will use it for that purpose – He will
be at home the 1st of April – I hope you will come
out – I cannot reply to your last letter in
a very circumstantial manner as Henry has taken
it off and is not here to tell me where – Fred
has finished Bear we had quite enough of it but
I think it much better reading for young people than
the mawkish sentimental books which were the
fashion in our young days – Gurnee
Birth: 1807-10-01 Death: 1863-12-10
came to dayI have not seen him except at dinner – Willard
Certainty: Possible
alsoadded his agreeable society and delicate appetite –
Henry brought home Mrs. Bulwers
Birth: 1802-11-04 Death: 1882-03-12
new novel
Place of Publication:London Date: 1843
which I shallnot read – it is wasting time – Bulwers last
Publisher: Harper & Bros. Place of Publication:New York, NY Date: 1842
is said tobe very good – have you read it – Willie's eyes are
not matinally better this is one of his best days so he
can play about the house – yesterday he hardly looked up
either lying flat on the floor, on his face or burying
his eyes in the cushion of a chair – poor little boy
it makes me very sad to see him suffer so much –
The first question he asked about Mr. Harding was if he
had eyes that he could see with – Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
was at Mrs.Millers
Birth: 1780-09-18 Death: 1850-03-09
Saturday to tea – heard nothing more – Mrs.
Milleris engaged in keeping lent and indulging uncharitable
thoughts about those who do not likewise. your own Sister
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
MAR 7