Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, March 20, 1849
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, March 20, 1849
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:maf
student editorTranscriber:spp:csh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1849-03-20
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Frances Miller Seward, March 20, 1849
action: sent
sender: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: maf
revision: tap 2018-11-01
<>
Page
1
Washington March 20 1849.
My Dearest Frances
Here is a nice affair –
Mysterious hints have been given out for four
or five days that the proprietor
had absconded, and that this great es-
tablishment was to be closed by the Sheriff.
This morning there appeared on the doors
a placard requiring guests to leave the
house to day. I refused to go – all the
rest have withdrawn and I am here in the
great carnarium all alone – I have
stipulated with servants to bring me my
meals and warm my room and I shall
remain until the close of the session of
the Senate –
We were in Executive (secret) session all
day, The Loco Focos cut off the head
of the Whig nominee
I immediately set about procuring that
appointment for John C. Clark
Page
2
Vice President
to the State Department to procure that
office for the partner in his office, Mr
Hall
mission - He has sunk so low from his
commited nepotism and selfishness that
the Departments close their doors against
him. Could ever a more revengeful
party then I ask now than this? He
has not yet the least idea of the
descent he has made - Could any
self complacency exceed this? I may
not get Clark appointed – for there are
other interests in other states – and this
President
of Clark, but I shall not be the man
for insisting on it.
I dined to day with Mr. Webster
Mrs W.
and Miss Fletcher
appeared very beautiful, and the party
Page
3
was very pleasant. It consisted of these
Ladies, Mr. Dawson
James Monroe
Mr Webster without the effacing of
Mr Bradish
his desires, his viands, and his wines
as the Correspondent of Ibahim Pacha
Every thing was of the best, and served
in the very nicest manner – The conversa-
tion was not particularly intellectual
or elevated – But it was a free, social
gathering.
I believe I have established the
best relations with the leading mem-
bers of the Senate of both parties.
I am particularly at ease with Col
Benton
I have spoken only the twice that I
have mentioned, and shall not claim the
floor again –
Page
4
Mr Webster satisfied me to night that
I was right in insisting on keeping
house – so it remains for you to come
here and provide a place and
continue the comforts of it for me.
I am, dearest Frances,
ever your own
Henry.
Washington March 20 1849.
My Dearest Frances
Here is a nice affair –
Mysterious hints have been given out for four
or five days that the proprietor
Certainty: Possible
of the
Hotelhad absconded, and that this great es-
tablishment was to be closed by the Sheriff.
This morning there appeared on the doors
a placard requiring guests to leave the
house to day. I refused to go – all the
rest have withdrawn and I am here in the
great carnarium all alone – I have
stipulated with servants to bring me my
meals and warm my room and I shall
remain until the close of the session of
the Senate –
We were in Executive (secret) session all
day, The Loco Focos cut off the head
of the Whig nominee
Birth: 1815-09-08 Death: 1903-04-22
for governor of
Minnesota
I immediately set about procuring that
appointment for John C. Clark
Birth: 1793-01-14 Death: 1852-10-25
– TheVice President
Birth: 1800-01-07 Death: 1874-03-08
on the other
hand laid siegeto the State Department to procure that
office for the partner in his office, Mr
Hall
Birth: 1810-03-28 Death: 1874-03-03
of Buffalo - He was denied ad-
mission - He has sunk so low from his
commited nepotism and selfishness that
the Departments close their doors against
him. Could ever a more revengeful
party then I ask now than this? He
has not yet the least idea of the
descent he has made - Could any
self complacency exceed this? I may
not get Clark appointed – for there are
other interests in other states – and this
President
Birth: 1784-11-24 Death: 1850-07-09
does not know the reputationof Clark, but I shall not be the man
for insisting on it.
I dined to day with Mr. Webster
Birth: 1782-01-18 Death: 1852-10-24
Mrs W.
Birth: 1797-09-28 Death: 1882-02-26
was not at
table, Her niece
Birth: 1834-06-14 Death: 1883-04-04Certainty: Probable
and Miss Fletcher
Unknown
were – they bothappeared very beautiful, and the party
was very pleasant. It consisted of these
Ladies, Mr. Dawson
Birth: 1798-01-04 Death: 1856-05-05
,
Ed. Curtis
Birth: 1801-10-25 Death: 1856-08-02
James Monroe
Birth: 1799-09-10 Death: 1870-09-07
and
Schoolcraft
Birth: 1804-09-22 Death: 1860-06-07
of Albany
Mr Webster without the effacing of
Mr Bradish
Birth: 1783-09-15 Death: 1863-08-30
is as fastidious inhis desires, his viands, and his wines
as the Correspondent of Ibahim Pacha
Birth: 1789 Death: 1848-11-17
Every thing was of the best, and served
in the very nicest manner – The conversa-
tion was not particularly intellectual
or elevated – But it was a free, social
gathering.
I believe I have established the
best relations with the leading mem-
bers of the Senate of both parties.
I am particularly at ease with Col
Benton
Birth: 1782-03-14 Death: 1858-04-10
as
well as Mr. Webster – I have spoken only the twice that I
have mentioned, and shall not claim the
floor again –
Mr Webster satisfied me to night that
I was right in insisting on keeping
house – so it remains for you to come
here and provide a place and
continue the comforts of it for me.
I am, dearest Frances,
ever your own
Henry.