New York Tuesday O^ct 10
My dear Sister,
I looked in vain for a letter from
you while at West Point and although I was
well aware of the irregularity of the mails I
could not avoid feeling disappointed that
no letter came – We remained there until Mon-
day morning – then I took leave of my boy
for many long months – I had proposed
returning and spending some part of another
week but our intercourse was so unsatisfactory
and interfered so much with Augustus' studies
that he thought himself that I had better not
return – We saw many of the officers of the
institution including the Clergyman and physician
the conversation I had with them did much
towards reconciling me to situation of my
boy still I have so many apprehensions about
his health that I am by no means comfortable
I think sometimes I should be quite reconciled
if Augustus could when ill be under the
care of a homeopathic physician – Dr. Wheaton
said he was very ill for 15 days – fever
which I made him acknowledge by close enquiry
was occasioned to his exposure during the
summer – they are obliged while on guard
to walk for four hours in the open air

along the bank of the river exposed to the influence
of miasma arising from the low ground on the
opposite side – I am constantly hearing accounts
of young men whose health has been injured or
destroyed by a residence at the point – The
first five months is acknowledged by all graduates
to be the most severe – one cadet told me that
were he now to leave the institution there was
nothing – no inducements could be offered that
would lead him to subject himself to the hardship
which he had undergone the first year – I have
almost filled my letter with that which has entirely
filled my heart for the last week – Freddy
went to the Post Office early the morning we
left – I asked Augustus to redirect any letters
that came, to Albany, as my stay at any
other place was too uncertain to admit of
sending there any where beside – Henry remained
with me at the point – we all came here Monday
morning – in the Newburgh Boat – reached the
city at eleven oclock – went to the Astor house
and dined – I was to go to Mrs Blatchford's
that evening and Henry to return to Albany –
when Mr Blatchford came I ascertained indirectly
that one of the children was very dangerously
ill – of course though he politely urged it I
declined accompanying him home and decided
upon accepting the cordial invitation of Col. and
Mrs. Webb to come immediately to their house

Col. Webb and Sam dined with us at the Astor house
after dinner we came home with the Col – and Henry
after a stay of 10 minutes took his departure for
the steam boat – Our room was full as usual
while we were at the Astor – Henry did not
succeed in finding Mr. Inman – I was sick
and tired – returned to my room soon after tea –
This morning at 1/2 past nine I made my first visit
to Dr. Parmly – my side tooth is set with very
little trouble – the wedge between a couple of teeth
which are to be filled gives me more pain than
setting half a dozen – Tomorrow I go again and
hope to get through which will depend upon
the Dr – It is my intention to leave here Saturday
for Florida where I shall spend Sunday and Monday
perhaps Tuesday – then to Albany – and then
home I hope certainly as early as the last
of next week – I cannot until I hear from
you make any arrangement about my dear little
boy – Henry was to send on any letter he might
find at Albany – unless they meet me here
I must wait until I go to Albany – Sam
came here this afternoon to let me know that
his sister was no better – I shall not go they
there to make any stay if I go at all – Sam
says he sent you two baskets by Pomeroy: express
did they come safely – Freddy has been quite
ill to day with the sick headache which I fear
he inherits from his fathers family – Kiss my precious
one for me – love to Frances – your own Sister

Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
NEW YORK
OCT 11