Albany April 7^th 1848
My dear Augustus,
I have to acknowledge the reception
of ten letters from you – I have much cause
for thankfulness for your continued safety –
Though I hardly dare anticipate a ratification
of the treaty yet the hope that it may be
consummated makes me cheerful – I am
quite sensible of your kindness in writing
you can hardly conceive what a comfort
it has been to me or how many hours
of despondency your letters have spared
me – I received the last letter from
Toluca the day before I came here
(last Saturday) — The first letter from
Toluca I have received since I have been
here – The same mail brings the news
of the adjustment of the difficulties between
our Generals which rejoices me greatly.
Your Father came here for the purpose of deliv-
ering an Eulogy on the character of John
Quincy Adams – I came with him
and brought the children – Fred awaited

us here has vacation commencing at this
time – We have been here nearly a week
The Eulogy was pronounced last evening
in the North Dutch Church to a large
assembly – in the midst of the delivery
a fire broke out in the building very near
the Church which of course must have
produced much alarm particularly among
the women — however they behaved in
a very commendable manner a good
proportion retaining their places –
I wish I could send you a copy of the
Eulogy with any probability of its
reaching you but I suppose that is hardly
possible – Should you be detained in Mexico
much longer let me know if I can send
you any thing of the kind – My apprehension
of the sickly season is daily increasing – should
the peace be ratified it will be impossible
to withdraw all the troops immediately so I
suppose it is the part of wisdom to remember
that you may not be among the first –
Your own good judgement will suggest the
necessity of being very cautious about
your food and drink – I presume

indiscretion in these particulars is the cause
of much sickness – Do not fail to read
your Bible habitually – you can find no
other guide for your conduct or good,
no comfort for seasons of affliction like
that contained in God’s Book — Every principle
and every consolating reflection which you
commit to memory now, will return to
bless you in after life — Aunt Clara has
some thoughts about being baptized and uniting
with our Church—how much happiness it
would give me could you and Fred
join her in this fulfilling the commands
of your Heavenly Father —
Clarence I suppose is at home – he was to come
the day after we left so that Grandpa was
not alone — He has been very well all Winter
Aunt Clara is well – her boarders continue
with her – they are to leave some time this
Spring – The very day I sent my last letter
your Aunty sent the letter which I enclose with
this – as we were at a loss where to direct
our letters she sent Frances’ to be enclosed in
mine – it has been detained much longer than
I intended – About that time both Willie and

Fanny had the measles – then I was sick a week
myself previous to coming here – all of which
prevented my writing – Old Mrs Fosgate
died about three weeks ago – she had become
hopelessly deranged indeed almost an idiot —
Her death under these circumstances was a relief
to her friends – It is painful to see our old friends
thus dropping off around us – Mrs Birdsall hastened
home from the funeral of her mother to the
bedside of a sick child whom I fear is not
now living — The scarle scarlet fever has
been prevalent and fatal in Auburn –
You probably have not heard that Auburn has become
a city – it has received a charter this Winter
Mr Dennis is elected the first Mayor —
Frederick answered your letter immediately
you have his letter before this time – I was glad
to see you had lost none of mine up to Christmas –
Numberless enquiries are made about you —
Mr Morgan insisted upon carrying off your letter
which he thought very excellent — I must
get it before I go for Aunt Clara—Your father
and Fred go from here to Florida — I return
home tomorrow with the children — All join in
kind remembrances to you — May God bless and
preserve you — Your affectionate Mother –

Lieutenant Augustus H. Seward
5th Infantry U.S.A —
City of Mexico
ALBANY N.Y.
APL 7