Auburn July 15^th
My dear child,
I received your letter last
week and should have answered it earlier
had I been well – Your father came home
last Saturday night having been absent
two weeks attending court and mass
meetings – There was a very large gather-
ing of Whigs at Syracuse on Saturday
quite as many as at the convention you
attended there previous to the election of
Gen. Harrison – There was a mass meeting
here the Saturday previous to the 4^th which
which was the largest ever held in Auburn
there were between 6 and 8,000 persons
assembled – Mr Sibley, John A. King of N Y –
and Mr Culver of Washington county were
the principal speakers – every thing
passed off in a very satisfactory manner
From the present appearance there can
be little doubt of Henry Clay's election
by a large majority – there is ever

a greater manifestation of enthusiasm than
thare was there was in 1840 – I believe I
have not written you since the 4^th – The
day passed off very quietly no oration
no procession – the fire companies were
out the previous evening with torches but
did not pass us – Willie sat up until
10 oclock expecting to see them and finally
went to bed disappointed – he amused himself
all the next day marching about with
your toy sword and a feather in his cap –
Fred's fire works were displayed the evening
of the 3^d and went off well – the evening
of the 4^th he and Clarence went to the garden.
Clarence went to the Syracuse meeting as
did almost every whig in town – the village
was quiet as Sunday – The Caravan was
attended by all the boys but was not quite
satisfactory as the crowd prevented their seeing
the horse driven before a car, which feat was
performed inside of a large cage –
My health is yet very poor but I still propose
coming to see you in August – I think the
first week – should any thing occasion
an alteration in this arrangement I will

write again – Aunty and Frances accompany
me – they are to come out this week and
will remain until we go – I wish Aunt
Clary to go too but she does not consent –
she thinks she shall not like West Point and
would rather see you here than there –
I will bring the things you mention – should
any thing else occur to you – write – write
again at all events if you are sick or any
thing unexpected occurs – Clarence is to
be examined the week after next at Geneva
there will then be a vacation of 6 weeks
before he enters College – Willie has
many doubts whether Augustus will know
him – he is at present making a great noise
with a new drum which his father
brought him from Syracuse – You have
seen Maria Weed's marriage in the paper
she goes to Springfield to live – Sherman
Beardsley is married again – he married
a widow – much younger than himself –
All join in love to you – I hope soon
to see you once more – till then adieu
Your affectionate
Mother

Augustus H. Seward
At the U. S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN
N.Y
JULY
15