Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Clarinda Miller McClallen, December 22, 1849
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Clarinda Miller McClallen, December 22,
1849
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:ekk
student editorTranscriber:spp:lxw
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1849-12-22
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Clarinda Miller McClallen, December 22, 1849
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1793-05-01
Death: 1862-09-05
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: ekk
revision: crb 2016-07-01
<>
Page
1
Washington Dec 22
My dear Clara
I have a letter
from Augustus
always makes me think more
constantly of you. He wrote
but five lines merely saying
he had received one of my
letters but it was sufficient
to assure me that he was
well. I hope we shall see
him some time in May.
You can well imagine how
busy I have been. we have
now all our furniture except
some crockery from Phil-
Page
2
adelphia which we expect every
day. When that comes our
house will be arranged soon.
I like Washington very much
but shall be quite ready to come
home in time for the garden
in the summer. I am sorry
to hear that you have a cold
again I was in hopes you
had had your turn in the
fall. Willie
would like to be at home
where he could ride Bob
he has as yet found no
playmates here. when he
does I think he will be
more contented. He has
Page
3
a bad cold at present. Fanny
is very well and contented
She is making great calcula-
tions about St Nicholas.
Fred
evening to purchase toys.
I do not think Frances
will stay later than Febru-
ary. at least she thinks
so now. We have a great
many calls but the evening
parties do not commence
until after New Years –
Monday evening. Fred
went this morning to Silver
Spring 7 miles distant to
a breakfast party given
Page
4
in honour of Mrs Reeves
bride the daughter of Mr
Mrs Blair
Pa
Blair is – a leader of the Loco
Foco party. Fred was the
only member of the family
invited. He arrived at 12 oclock
the time specified. After the
company had assembled break-
fast was announced. it consisted
of much the same things as
our suppers – stewed oysters
cold fowls – chicken salad
in cream jellies and fruit.
After breakfast they danced
and amused themselves as at
other parties. Fred came
home at 6 oclock. We of
course have company to dinner
almost every day. though
our dishes are rather scanty
Page
5
John Oliphant
office with Henry
just as he used to. he had
that cane which made
Fred so much trouble.
We all went to Church
yesterday. the Episcopal
Churches are so crowded
that it is difficult to
get seats for our whole
family. I am very sorry
for this as the children
will get out of the habit
of going. it is not pleasant
to take them when you
feel that you incommode
Page
6
others. Our milk man
an Irishman insulted
Mary Coe
so we have disciplined him
and now get our milk
of a coloured family.
Does Clara Miller
yet? Lazette
she expects her, Christmas.
Willie
Christmas, and a merry
time he and Fanny
had. they both wish
Christmas was coming
again tomorrow. their
toys were very pleasing
they have played very
Page
7
steadily all day. I went
to Church this morning
it has been a very cold
day for Washington. I
think I feel quite as
cold as I do very cold
days at the North.
the change of temperature
has been so sudden and
the houses are not built
for Winter. We were
all invited this morning
to Mr Harringtons
egg nog and eat cake,
Frances
merly to call from 12
until 2 oclock a southern
Page
8
custom. New Years day
the ladies visit as much
as the gentlemen. The
President
the morning when every-
body goes in full dress.
I am excused from such
gatherings this Winter as
I wear mourning.
I hope to hear you are all
well soon. I hope Lazette
will not get sick. tell
her I have her letter con-
tainging containing one for
Fanny. I will write soon
All send love
your affectionate
Frances
Washington Dec 22
My dear Clara
I have a letter
from Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
today whichalways makes me think more
constantly of you. He wrote
but five lines merely saying
he had received one of my
letters but it was sufficient
to assure me that he was
well. I hope we shall see
him some time in May.
You can well imagine how
busy I have been. we have
now all our furniture except
some crockery from Phil-
adelphia which we expect every
day. When that comes our
house will be arranged soon.
I like Washington very much
but shall be quite ready to come
home in time for the garden
in the summer. I am sorry
to hear that you have a cold
again I was in hopes you
had had your turn in the
fall. Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
thinks he would like to be at home
where he could ride Bob
Death: 1844-01-25
.he has as yet found no
playmates here. when he
does I think he will be
more contented. He has
a bad cold at present. Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
is very well and contented
She is making great calcula-
tions about St Nicholas.
Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
and I went out thisevening to purchase toys.
I do not think Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24Certainty: Possible
will stay later than Febru-
ary. at least she thinks
so now. We have a great
many calls but the evening
parties do not commence
until after New Years –
Monday evening. Fred
went this morning to Silver
Spring 7 miles distant to
a breakfast party given
in honour of Mrs Reeves
Unknown
abride the daughter of Mr
Birth: 1791-04-12 Death: 1876-10-18
&Mrs Blair
Birth: 1794-11-10 Death: 1877-07-05
who gave the partyPa
Birth: 1772-04-11 Death: 1851-11-13
will tell you who MrBlair is – a leader of the Loco
Foco party. Fred was the
only member of the family
invited. He arrived at 12 oclock
the time specified. After the
company had assembled break-
fast was announced. it consisted
of much the same things as
our suppers – stewed oysters
cold fowls – chicken salad
in cream jellies and fruit.
After breakfast they danced
and amused themselves as at
other parties. Fred came
home at 6 oclock. We of
course have company to dinner
almost every day. though
our dishes are rather scanty
John Oliphant
Birth: 1831-08-15 Death: 1888-03
is down in the office with Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
. he looks just as he used to. he had
that cane which made
Fred so much trouble.
We all went to Church
yesterday. the Episcopal
Churches are so crowded
that it is difficult to
get seats for our whole
family. I am very sorry
for this as the children
will get out of the habit
of going. it is not pleasant
to take them when you
feel that you incommode
others. Our milk man
Unknown
an Irishman insulted
Mary Coe
Birth: 1819-11-24 Death: 1854-12-18
the other morningso we have disciplined him
and now get our milk
of a coloured family.
Does Clara Miller
Unknown
comeyet? Lazette
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
writes thatshe expects her, Christmas.
Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
wishes you a merryChristmas, and a merry
time he and Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
havehad. they both wish
Christmas was coming
again tomorrow. their
toys were very pleasing
they have played very
steadily all day. I went
to Church this morning
it has been a very cold
day for Washington. I
think I feel quite as
cold as I do very cold
days at the North.
the change of temperature
has been so sudden and
the houses are not built
for Winter. We were
all invited this morning
to Mr Harringtons
Birth: 1816-10-26 Death: 1892-12-05
to
drinkegg nog and eat cake,
Frances
Birth: 1834 Death: 1913
and Henry
Birth: 1795-04-05 Death: 1846-10-12
wentmerly to call from 12
until 2 oclock a southern
custom. New Years day
the ladies visit as much
as the gentlemen. The
President
Birth: 1784-11-24 Death: 1850-07-09
has a levee inthe morning when every-
body goes in full dress.
I am excused from such
gatherings this Winter as
I wear mourning.
I hope to hear you are all
well soon. I hope Lazette
will not get sick. tell
her I have her letter con-
tainging containing one for
Fanny. I will write soon
All send love
your affectionate
Frances