Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, December 29, 1846
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, December 29, 1846
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:pxc
student editorTranscriber:spp:msr
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1846-12-29
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, December 29, 1846
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
receiver: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
location: West Point, NY
transcription: pxc
revision: tap 2018-07-23
<>
Page
1
Auburn Dec 29th 1846
My dear Augustus,
Your letter which came
last week found me the occupant of a
sick bed – I am much better now
though not able to sit up the whole
day – The influenza with a severe
attack of neuralgia have thoroughly
incapacitated me for any exertion
for the last ten days – I hope you
are not afflicted with the prevailing
cold – most of our family have
been or are now sick with it –
Willie
three weeks though he is occasionally
well enough to go out and take
a new cold – Fred
at length recovered from his cold –
Clarence
better – We have had some exceeding-
ly cold weather here though at this
time the weather is milder and more
pleasant than is usual at this
season of the year – Our last fall
of snow which was about 2 feet
has almost entirely disappeared and
Page
2
the roads will be bare for New Years
day, very much to the discomfort
of those young persons who had calculated
on long drives drives about that
time – You father
went in a sleigh the other day to
Seneca Falls – much of the journey
was made over bare ground – the
bridge particularly – and they were
obliged to leave the sleigh and borrow
a wagon of Mr Sackett
the sleigh is still there – They spent
the night there and saw your quondam
acquaintance John Sackett
not grown much in stature or knowl-
edge – As Grandpa
no attempt was made to make any
unwilling boy the bed fellow of John —
Fred has not made his proposed visit
at Canandaigua – Frances
and having other company I thought
his visit might be mal a propos
at this time – he may go yet but
it is doubtful as he returns to College
next week – We had all intended
spending Christmas there but the illness
in both families prevented – Willie
who has arrived at the knowledge
Page
3
that St Nic is a fiction hung up his
stocking and Fan's
He was up before daylight Christmas morning
took his lanthorn and went down to
wish Aunt Clara
he stayed to breakfast – he made molasses
candy in the afternoon and in the evening
had a show in the dining room – I
believe so far as he was concerned Christmas
was a very pleasant day – The weather was
far from fine – it rained snowed and
hailed alternately thawing all the time –
Father and the boys went to church but
were preve[ n ]
Reason: wax-sealted driving in the
afternoon
I am [ not ]
Reason: wax-seal
[
s ]
Reason: wax-sealurprised at your remarks on [hole]
study of Logic – it appeared to me in the
same light at your age and since that time
I have never opened a book on the subject –
It is a study which is said to strengthen the reasoning
powers – learning much nonsense may have this
effect but I do not think your are bound
to comprehend it – however it can do you
not harm to commit it parrot like though it
is not a very satisfactory process – Perhaps
I should think differently of it now I speak
of my impression when a school girl
Aunt Clara and I count the months
until next June – May God preserve you
in health and safety – your Mother
Page
4
Willie has become the proprietor of a set
of wooden soldiers – Fanny says they are
all "Gusy" –
Your father goes to New York tomorrow
to be absent some time
Aunty
answer it soon –
Cadet Seward
U. S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN N.Y.
DEC 29
Type: postmark
Auburn Dec 29th 1846
My dear Augustus,
Your letter which came
last week found me the occupant of a
sick bed – I am much better now
though not able to sit up the whole
day – The influenza with a severe
attack of neuralgia have thoroughly
incapacitated me for any exertion
for the last ten days – I hope you
are not afflicted with the prevailing
cold – most of our family have
been or are now sick with it –
Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
has not been well for the lastthree weeks though he is occasionally
well enough to go out and take
a new cold – Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
I believe hasat length recovered from his cold –
Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
came home sick but isbetter – We have had some exceeding-
ly cold weather here though at this
time the weather is milder and more
pleasant than is usual at this
season of the year – Our last fall
of snow which was about 2 feet
has almost entirely disappeared and
the roads will be bare for New Years
day, very much to the discomfort
of those young persons who had calculated
on long drives drives about that
time – You father
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
and the boyswent in a sleigh the other day to
Seneca Falls – much of the journey
was made over bare ground – the
bridge particularly – and they were
obliged to leave the sleigh and borrow
a wagon of Mr Sackett
Birth: 1790-08-09 Death: 1865-06-02
to come homethe sleigh is still there – They spent
the night there and saw your quondam
acquaintance John Sackett
Birth: 1828-06-02 Death: 1898-06-26
who hasnot grown much in stature or knowl-
edge – As Grandpa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
was not alongno attempt was made to make any
unwilling boy the bed fellow of John —
Fred has not made his proposed visit
at Canandaigua – Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
has been sickand having other company I thought
his visit might be mal a propos
at this time – he may go yet but
it is doubtful as he returns to College
next week – We had all intended
spending Christmas there but the illness
in both families prevented – Willie
who has arrived at the knowledge
that St Nic is a fiction hung up his
stocking and Fan's
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
for mother to fill –He was up before daylight Christmas morning
took his lanthorn and went down to
wish Aunt Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
"Merry Christmas" wherehe stayed to breakfast – he made molasses
candy in the afternoon and in the evening
had a show in the dining room – I
believe so far as he was concerned Christmas
was a very pleasant day – The weather was
far from fine – it rained snowed and
hailed alternately thawing all the time –
Father and the boys went to church but
were preve[ n ]
Supplied
I am [ not ]
Supplied
Supplied
study of Logic – it appeared to me in the
same light at your age and since that time
I have never opened a book on the subject –
It is a study which is said to strengthen the reasoning
powers – learning much nonsense may have this
effect but I do not think your are bound
to comprehend it – however it can do you
not harm to commit it parrot like though it
is not a very satisfactory process – Perhaps
I should think differently of it now I speak
of my impression when a school girl
Aunt Clara and I count the months
until next June – May God preserve you
in health and safety – your Mother
Willie has become the proprietor of a set
of wooden soldiers – Fanny says they are
all "Gusy" –
Your father goes to New York tomorrow
to be absent some time
Aunty
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
has received your
letter and willanswer it soon –
Cadet Seward
U. S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN N.Y.
DEC 29