Sunday O^ct 20^th 1844
My dear Augustus,
It is more than a week since
I received your letter, during which time I
have been so much more unwell than usual
that I have until now been unable to answer
it – I had been out assisting John in trans-
planting shrubbery and probably took cold –
I will remember your commendable caution
about Dougherty and endeavour to impress it
upon the other members of the family –
Your father went last Saturday to Albany, thence
to Orange County to see his mother – he returned
last evening – Grandma Seward has been
confined to her room for two months and
is slowly wasting away with consumption
Grandpa's health is good, for him – Mrs Tuthill
of Goshen has lost her oldest son – and cousin
Horace was lying dangerously ill – Our
William who you will recollect went
home last Spring died of Typhus fever and
was buried the day before your father

went to Florida – though he had become
almost a graceless boy I feel much affected
by his death after having the care of
him for four years – he was very nearly
the age of Fred – would have been 14 some
time this month – he was ill only four
days and most of the time delirious –
he had been at work on a farm this Summer
was taken home in an early stage of his sickness
Friday night we had violent
wind which has done much damage
on the lakes and occasioned the loss
of many lives – so far we have only the
report of railroad passengers – it is
probably somewhat exaggerated but I
fear there is sufficient foundation to make
it a deplorable calamity – Mr Glover
was at that time putting a new roof
upon our house – in the course of the night
all the loose shingles were blown off
making so much noise that we could none
-of us sleep – a large tree fell across the
rail road track east of Syracuse, fortunately
after the passing of the cars for that
night –

Aunt Clara and Fred have been to day to Church
and heard our new clergyman – Mr Cox –
son of Dr Cox the Presbyterian clergyman –
Mr Cox is called to take Mr Croswell's place
who resigned some weeks since, and is
to take charge of a new Church in Boston –
The Church has become much poorer than
it was 6 years ago and the last year
it was found impossible to collect the
salary which they had stipulated to give
this is the chief cause of Mr Croswell's leaving –
I am glad to hear your money matters are
so comfortably arranged – how is it about [hole]
the bill for dancing and the cotillion parties
do not hesitate to draw upon your father
if necessary as I presume he so intended
when he advised your subscribing –
Clarence is very uneasy at Geneva – complains
bitterly of being obliged to study hard and get
up at 6 oclock these cold mornings –
especially he complains of his mathematical
course of studies and finally thinks he shall
never get through College – I fancy spending
money sufficient to meet his desires would
cure many of these evils but this your father
cannot afford – Clarence is now in

favour of studying physic in preference to law – he
is however young enough to change his mind
many times yet – Walter Cary sailed for
Paris last week – Mr and Mrs Cary accompained
him to N. York –
Willie wishes me to send you a large yellow
apple in this letter – I tell him a kiss will be
more portable – your affectionate – Mother
Aunt Clara sends love
Augustus H. Seward
U. S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN
N.Y.
OCT
20