Sunday July 23^d– 1843
My Dear Augustus
Your letter which I had been
expecting a week came last Thursday– Am I to
infer that you only intend writing once a fortnight
if you do not have sufficient leisure to write oftener
I will not complain, but if you do I think for
your own sake as well as mine you had better
continue writing every week – it will be useful to
you in improving your writing and spelling, and
affords me much gratification if you write only
five lines– You seem to forget that every thing which
relates to your mode of life, even the time of rising
and lying down at night, are matters of interest
to us, so that you need feel at no loss for a
subject – Aunt Clara would be glad to hear just
how many drops of rain enter your tent when there
is a shower– she is always in trouble when the
rain is violent or accompanied by thunder and
lightening–

Aunty Worden and Frances left us last Monday
they staid with Aunt Clara while they were
here, occasionally spending the day with me–
Your Grandpa Seward continued very ill all the
time they were here– he is now a little better
but not able to sit up– Grandma is very feeble
but generally comes down to her meals– Uncle
George came here last week having heard of their
illness– but as both were then better he remained
but one night– I sometimes fear your Grandpa
will never be able to return to Florida –
I have myself just recovered from the influenza
and am now afflicted with toothache and a swollen
face– Your Father returned from Utica the
second time last Saturday a week– Mr Mc CLallen
came home the day previous from N. York– he said
he saw a cadet at the wharf at West Point of
whom he inquired if you were well–
I think we shall have some grapes though the vines
do not promise as many as they did last Fall– I
believe the Apple trees were not injured by the frost

but your Grandpa has sadly disfigured some of them
to make room for his horse and wagon to
pass under– We have the usual abundance of cherries
Walter Cary did obtain the situation in the Philadelphia
Hospital which he desired–he is there at present
You will see in the journal Mr Weed's letters from
Europe which are very interesting– Your Father
received a letter from him by the Caledonia, written
partly at sea and finished at Dublin– he seems
to be traveling with the Catholic Bishops and is
delighted with his tour so far– I doubt very
much whether he returns to America as early as he
purposed– You would be delighted to see
how well Willie's eyes are– he is very happy– goes
about every where– he promised his Aunty that he
would go and stay with her when I went to West
Point– which I hope to be able to do in October–
Fred's examination comes off this week– I do not
think he will take a very active part therein–
All send love– Your affectionate Mother–
Grandpa is much distressed that you are writing so small
pray write larger–

AUBURN N.Y. JULY 24
Augustus H. Seward
At the Military Academy
West Point