Auburn Sep 20^th 1845
My dear Son,
I have been endeavouring every day
since I received your letter to find time
to answer it but until now have not been
sufficiently at leisure — Aunty and Cousin
Frances left here this morning — Since
Frances came the house has been so constantly
filled with young company that to night
it appears unusually quiet — We have
all thought of little but poor Horace Cook
for the last three days — he had his
leg amputated ^Thursday^ yesterday in consequence
of an accident — he fell while attempting
to get upon the tender of the locomotive
his foot caught in one of the wheels which
being in motion shattered his leg terribly
and rendered immediate amputation necessary
It is a very melancholy affair — Horace
went upon the cars to obtain support
for a widowed mother and sisters — he is
now rendered comparatively helpless — and the
loss of a limb to a young man whose
personal appearance was so fine as his
is no small trial of his fortitude to say
nothing of the pain he has suffered.

I never have known any misfortune elicit
more general sympathy — Horace is a
universal favorite among all classes
The accident occurred about 3 miles
from Seneca Falls where he was brought
by the cars — Dr Pitney was sent for and
the operation performed 8 hours after — he
is I believe now as well as can be expec-
ted — his mother is with him — many
of the young men from this place have been
out to see him — Mr Worden was there
yesterday — the rail road company will
do all they can to lighten this affliction
but it will nevertheless be a sore trial
Your father regrets that the pressure of his
business will not allow him to go to
the Falls — he has always esteemed Horace
highly — A little girl was killed at
Utica by the cars yesterday —
I was much surprised to hear you had
a new Superintendent — Mr. King speaks
highly of Capt. Brewerton — Mr King was
here on his way to Milwaukie where he is
going to edit a Newspaper — he will
remove his family some time next month
he was in fine spirits much pleased with
his new occupation — Milwaukie’s a larger
town than Auburn — he found there a number

of families who formerly resided in Albany
among them Mr Keelers – Mr King has a
salary of $1500 a year — 
Clara Miller still remains with Aunt Clara
they have also two boarders added to their family
a man and his wife — the man is employed
in some way by the rail road company — So far
Aunt Clara has found them very pleasant boarders
Leonard Lathrop was among the gentlemen who
visited cousin Frances — he has just returned from
Carolina e where he went for his health — I
should judge from appearances that his attentions
to Frances were of a more serious character than
her beaux generally — Aunty thinks him a young
man of extraordinary ability but is much troubled
by his visits as her objections to him are in-
suferable — [ I ] think Frances is pleased with him
but I do not really think she is seriously attached
to any one at present not even Pat who
continues a constant admirer — Young ladies
are a little capricious usually, so that it is
impossible to predict the result — Your father
is puzzelled to know how your pay can be reduced without
the action of Congress — he would cheerfully send the
sum you ask but at present it is entirely out of his
power — he is much embarrassed to obtain money
having no one to collect for him — Let me know how
you get along — I hope to be able to make up the
deficiency of your pay soon — Mary did not go
home nor Clarence to Orange county for the want
of funds — Clarence returned to Geneva Wednesday
was impatient for the close of his vacation partic-
ularly

after Fred left — Don’t you think Fred has been away
more than two weeks and has not written me a line
If his silence has no cause but negligence I shall
be much grieved — I am anxious to hear that
he is well — Your Father left him boarding with
Mrs Nott together with four or five other students
A son of Mr Corning of Albany is his room mate
Mr Cary was here Friday — enquired much about you
Walter is to remain in Europe until next spring
goes this Summer to Switzerland and Italy — returns
to Paris to attend medical lectures this Winter —

Cadet Seward
U.S/ Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN N.Y.
SEP 21

[right Margin]
Leonard Lathrop went with Frances as far as
Seneca Falls — Perhaps further‑

[bottom Margin]
Aunt Clara sends much love — so does Willie

x

William Seward

Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29

and
Sister Fanny

x

Frances Seward

Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29

would if she could talk — I wish you
could see her sit alone on her little bench — A Dieu
your Mother