Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, December 29, 1846

  • Posted on: 16 October 2018
  • By: admin
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Augustus Henry Seward, December 29, 1846
x

transcriber

Transcriber:spp:pxc

student editor

Transcriber: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

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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
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
has not been well for the last
three 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 has
at length recovered from his cold –
Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
came home sick but is
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
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
and the boys
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
Birth: 1790-08-09 Death: 1865-06-02
to come home
the 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 has
not grown much in stature or knowl-
edge – As Grandpa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
was not along
no attempt was made to make any
unwilling boy the bed fellow of John —
Fred has not made his proposed visit
at CanandaiguaFrances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
has been sick
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
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" where
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 ]
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Supplied

Reason: wax-seal
ted driving in the afternoon
I am [ not ]
x

Supplied

Reason: wax-seal
[ s ]
x

Supplied

Reason: wax-seal
urprised 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
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
has received your letter and will
answer it soon –
Cadet Seward
U. S. Military Academy
West Point
AUBURN N.Y.
DEC 29
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Stamp

Type: postmark