Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 20, 1844
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 20, 1844
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:maf
student editorTranscriber:spp:smc
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1844-11-20
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, November 20, 1844
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Canandaigua, NY
transcription: maf
revision: crb 2018-07-19
<>
Page
1
Wednesday evening Nov 20th
My dear Sister,
I intended to have written this letter
in time for the mail to night but have failed
in consequence of not feeling well enough after
dinner – Last Thursday morning Henry
a letter from his father
of an immediate and fatal termination of mothers
disease – Henry took the cars the same afternoon
(accompanied by Fred
to Florida – I have a letter from him to day
saying his mother is still alive though so
much exhausted that he thinks she cannot
long survive – Henry was so fortunate as to find
a day boat going down the river and reached
Florida Friday evening – he would remain
there until Monday and then should mother
be as comfortable as at the time he is writing
will go to N. York Monday – his letter is
mailed at N. York from which I infer
that he is now there – To day Weed
Harriet
Page
2
Henry will return to Florida on the receipt of
any unfavorable intelligence – As for Fred
he went away about half dressed – Henry
says nothing about him – I hope he has gone
with his father as the dearth of books in
Florida would make his sojourn there very
dull – I shall probably hear further tomorrow
or the next day – I also received a letter
from my cadet
studies have increased to the number of five
says there was much disappointment about
the result of the election – Your boy
standing by my side writing you a long
letter which is composed aloud for my
edification – he is a dear little boy – thinks he
has all the responsibility of taking care of his
mother thrown upon him – then he has to keep
Grandpa
occasionally – he is well and full of spirits
racing about in the cold whenever the weather
is at all favorable – Clara
small party at Mrs Smith’s
there were about 20 there as they were invited
to come at 6 oclock it proved rather a long
joy! – Clara says she hears many enquiries
Page
3
about Frances
whom she is a general favorite – She will
enjoy the novelty of a winter in Albany though
it would undoubtedly enhance the pleasure much
to have you with her to say nothing of other
advantages which your company would afford her –
Will Frances be able to stop here on her way down?
I should write her a long letter fearing she may
not, but I am not able – a constant and much
of the time very severe pain in my side makes it
exceedingly difficult for me to write – Your account of
Mrs Wayland’s
society at lest least as far as this state is concerned
I cannot answer for any other but I think that eating
is the chief attraction for such gatherings especially
with the men and married women – it is a humiliating
thought ^opinion^ and one for which many feel disposed to quarrel
with forgiveness for expressing – I must say I felt both
surprised and mortified to find Miss Sedgwick
express so much dissatisfaction with the entertainments
she met in England thereby confirming the English in the
belef belief that our sensuality had not been exaggerated
by Mrs Trollope
on this same subject and find many persons of whom I
expected better things, plea ^have^ their ideas of enjoyment upon
Page
4
a gratification so purely animal – I wish you would inform
Elizabeth
thinks it an imperative duty to go every day to the Post
Office for an answer –
Mrs Wright
Willie’s
black seal – it contains information about the kittens
growing very larger, qe questions about your visit &c
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
NOV 21
Type: postmark
[right Margin] he thinks it accompanies mine to the office – Reade
to return to Albany on Monday – I presume has gone – he and Mary
Jane
of course I did not see them –
Wednesday evening Nov 20th
My dear Sister,
I intended to have written this letter
in time for the mail to night but have failed
in consequence of not feeling well enough after
dinner – Last Thursday morning Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
receiveda letter from his father
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
announcing the prospect of an immediate and fatal termination of mothers
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
disease – Henry took the cars the same afternoon
(accompanied by Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
) and went immediately to Florida – I have a letter from him to day
saying his mother is still alive though so
much exhausted that he thinks she cannot
long survive – Henry was so fortunate as to find
a day boat going down the river and reached
Florida Friday evening – he would remain
there until Monday and then should mother
be as comfortable as at the time he is writing
will go to N. York Monday – his letter is
mailed at N. York from which I infer
that he is now there – To day Weed
Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22
andHarriet
Birth: 1819-02-06 Death: 1893-11-01
are to sail for Santa Cruz –Henry will return to Florida on the receipt of
any unfavorable intelligence – As for Fred
he went away about half dressed – Henry
says nothing about him – I hope he has gone
with his father as the dearth of books in
Florida would make his sojourn there very
dull – I shall probably hear further tomorrow
or the next day – I also received a letter
from my cadet
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
today – he is well and hisstudies have increased to the number of five
says there was much disappointment about
the result of the election – Your boy
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
is standing by my side writing you a long
letter which is composed aloud for my
edification – he is a dear little boy – thinks he
has all the responsibility of taking care of his
mother thrown upon him – then he has to keep
Grandpa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
in wood and read him to sleep occasionally – he is well and full of spirits
racing about in the cold whenever the weather
is at all favorable – Clara
Birth: 1827-12-03 Death: 1911-07-07
attended a small party at Mrs Smith’s
Unknown
T Monday eveningthere were about 20 there as they were invited
to come at 6 oclock it proved rather a long
joy! – Clara says she hears many enquiries
about Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
among the young people with whom she is a general favorite – She will
enjoy the novelty of a winter in Albany though
it would undoubtedly enhance the pleasure much
to have you with her to say nothing of other
advantages which your company would afford her –
Will Frances be able to stop here on her way down?
I should write her a long letter fearing she may
not, but I am not able – a constant and much
of the time very severe pain in my side makes it
exceedingly difficult for me to write – Your account of
Mrs Wayland’s
Death: 1867-01-28
soiree is very characteristic of Americansociety at lest least as far as this state is concerned
I cannot answer for any other but I think that eating
is the chief attraction for such gatherings especially
with the men and married women – it is a humiliating
thought ^opinion^ and one for which many feel disposed to quarrel
with forgiveness for expressing – I must say I felt both
surprised and mortified to find Miss Sedgwick
Birth: 1789-12-28 Death: 1867-07-31
express so much dissatisfaction with the entertainments
she met in England thereby confirming the English in the
belef belief that our sensuality had not been exaggerated
by Mrs Trollope
Birth: 1779-03-10 Death: 1863-10-06
&c – I am every day making more discoverieson this same subject and find many persons of whom I
expected better things, plea ^have^ their ideas of enjoyment upon
a gratification so purely animal – I wish you would inform
Elizabeth
Unknown
of the fate of her letter if you know it – She thinks it an imperative duty to go every day to the Post
Office for an answer –
Mrs Wright
Birth: 1806-12-25 Death: 1875-01-04
has a young son
Birth: 1842-12-11 Death: 1902
– Mrs JohnsonUnknown
is with her Willie’s
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
letter is completed and sealed with 3 wafers and a black seal – it contains information about the kittens
growing very larger, qe questions about your visit &c
Mrs Alvah Worden
Canandaigua
AUBURN N.Y.
NOV 21
Stamp
[right Margin] he thinks it accompanies mine to the office – Reade
Death: 1864
wasto return to Albany on Monday – I presume has gone – he and Mary
Jane
Birth: 1826 Death: 1896
were much together in publick – they called hereof course I did not see them –