Auburn March 30^th 1844
My dear son,
I have been watching the mail for the last
ten days hoping to hear something from you – but no
letter comes – I am anxious to learn how you
have arranged matters about your room mate
whether in a manner satisfactory to yourself–
It is a long time since I have heard directly from
you– Nothing particularly new has occurred here
Your Grandpa has recovered from the gout is is in
the village again as usual he was confined to
the house nearly two weeks– We have had some
pleasant weather though generally March weather
has prevailed, to day we have a snow storm
which would do honour to January I do
not know where those pretty birds have
gone which have been singing for us so sweetly
a week past– John has had some difficulty to
keep his hot–bed from freezing– but it was doing

very well a day or two ago – Aunt Clara is well
Mrs Wood has been trying again to persuade her
to take that house and keep boarders – Mr McClallen
has finally decided not to go, I think very wisely –
Mrs Wood has pretty fairly recovered from the
grief occasioned by the death of her husband
she spent a day with me a short time ago, when
she talked quite as rapidly and communicated
as much information relative to her neighbors
as formerly– Mr Cumpston is to leave Corning
this summer– I do not know what he is to engage
in, in the way of business– Charles is trying to
get a situation where he can learn the trade of
coppersmith– he and David are both in Corning –
Clarence and Fred go regularly to school – Clarence
has occasionally a mania for store keeping which
makes him inef uncomfortable for a day or two
then passes off– Fred is reviewing Virgil having
read all the Latin necessary to prepare him for
entering College– he does not get along quite
so fast with his Greek–

Willie has been quite unwell for a day or two
he seems better to day– his eyes are much better
than they were three weeks ago — Aunty
Wr writes that Frances has commenced studying
French– her teacher is a young man who has been
some years in France though not a Frenchman–
A letter from your Grandfather Seward says
that Grandma's health is rapidly declining I doubt
whether she lives through the summer– she
is a good woman who will receive the reward
of her virtue in the next life– this has been to her
a life of many trials – Your Father proposes to go
to Florida some time next month– I believe he goes
to Albany i next week– he applies himself so
unremittingly to his business that I fear his health will
suffer – Mr Weed writes that Harriet is much out
of health– he says nothing about himself but his
leg we hear is very troublesome– Your report from
February gives you 18 demerits– Do not fail my
child to write punctually – neglecting o to do so always
grieves me, & is an injury to yourself– Your affectionate Mother

Augustus H. Seward
At the U.S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN N.Y. MAR 30