Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 10, 1850
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 10, 1850
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:nwh
student editorTranscriber:spp:cnk
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1850-04-10
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, April 10, 1850
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: nwh
revision: crb 2019-01-29
<>
Page
1
Washington April 10th
My dear Sister,
Your letter has not come this week
but I think it will tomorrow – I have another
letter from Augustus
which time he had not received his leave
of absence – he says he shall set out as soon
as it arrives and thought it must be within
two weeks – That would make the time of his
departure about the 1st of April – perhaps a
little earlier –Next week I shall begin to look
for him again – I am getting my house in order
to leave that I may not be detained here more
than one week after he comes – We are having
about as cold and unpleasant weather as we
usually have at the North at this season —
I went Monday to hear Col. Benton’s
ladies were not admitted on the floor, indeed
there were but few of them but the gallery was
crowded with men and I sat from ½ past
10 until 4 oclock very uncomfortably – The
Col made a very good speech – I was perhaps
unnecessarily disappointed that he did not
speak decidedly against slavery – but this
he has never done in the Senate – He is a
Page
2
much more impassioned speaker than either Webster
or Clay
but in his gentler moments his voice is very
sweet and persuasive – He is a very fine looking
man – there is something about his face that
always reminds me of Grandma Miller
The question of admitting a con California
without any compromise was discussed by Benton
& Clay after the conclusion of the speech – you
will read it all – Mr Webster was not there
it seems to me he is not there half his time
It was asserted by Mr Foote
changed his position and would now vote for
California only in conjunction with other measures
to be determined by the committee of 13 – I do not
think anyone knows how he will vote – if he
is there at all which is by no means certain —
he certainly evinces no fixed principle on the
subject – I send you to days Union – in it
you will see a singular debate in relation
to the census bill which occurred in the Senate
yesterday – I want you to read it all and tell me
what impression it makes upon your mind – There
is also an account of a Dinner at Baltimore where
Mr Webster received abundance of incense and
where ^Sir^ Henry Bulwer
Page
3
me as being very flippant in the outset though
on the whole very proper and some parts of
it fine – I have no doubt the adulation of the
“wealthy and respectable” classes is quite as acceptable
^to Mr Webster^ indeed more so than any manifestation of popular
approbation could be – his sympathies (if he is capable
of so warm an emotion) are with and for that class —
Henry
but I have studied his course carefully and do not
think I am mistaken – I never saw a more impassive
face – Henry continues to receive very flattering
testimony to the uprightness of his views he has now
some 1600 letters unanswered – Among them
are many of warm commendation from all parties —
A very excellent and phylos philosophical letter
from Judge Conkling
of them home for you to read – Yesterday morning
I spent in shopping – In the evening I ^we^ called
at Col Bentons and Mr Merediths
all out – This morning the ground was
covered with snow – I went this evening to
invite Mrs Nelson
tea with me tomorrow evening – They are
coming but the visit is deferred until Saturday
as the Judges are occupied every other evening —
Judge Wayne
is at Gadsby’se
Gadsby’s is in reference to the
National Hotel in Washington, D.C. owned by John Gadsby (1766-18440515).
– Mrs Carroll has been quite
Page
4
ill and is still coughing and hoarse – They continue
to be oppressed with engagements – Violet
this evening – had been to two weddings this week
Friday morning – Your Monday letter has just
come I am glad I have kept this until this
time – now I shall send it to Auburn —
I hope you will be there tomorrow – I send
the “Unions” to Fred
more full than in the Intelligencer – I
expect Mrs John Davis
this evening – this being my reception morning
I have less time to write – Yesterday I
went to present Clarence
and spent the remainder of the morning
making visits – As I found most of the
people at home I could not make many —
Mrs Collamer
ill – I called but saw no one – I saw
for the first time Mrs Butler
clergyman
Onderdonk
to find her intelligent agreeable and very
pretty – the latter I had supposed however – She
must have been very young at that time as she
does not now look more than 26 –She is a
Virginian and said Mr Seward must give her
credit for all the sympathy she felt in his
course as she was the daughter & sister of slave
owners
Washington April 10th
My dear Sister,
Your letter has not come this week
but I think it will tomorrow – I have another
letter from Augustus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
dated the 15 of
March atwhich time he had not received his leave
of absence – he says he shall set out as soon
as it arrives and thought it must be within
two weeks – That would make the time of his
departure about the 1st of April – perhaps a
little earlier –Next week I shall begin to look
for him again – I am getting my house in order
to leave that I may not be detained here more
than one week after he comes – We are having
about as cold and unpleasant weather as we
usually have at the North at this season —
I went Monday to hear Col. Benton’s
Birth: 1782-03-14 Death: 1858-04-10
speech — Theladies were not admitted on the floor, indeed
there were but few of them but the gallery was
crowded with men and I sat from ½ past
10 until 4 oclock very uncomfortably – The
Col made a very good speech – I was perhaps
unnecessarily disappointed that he did not
speak decidedly against slavery – but this
he has never done in the Senate – He is a
much more impassioned speaker than either Webster
Birth: 1782-01-18 Death: 1852-10-24
or Clay
Birth: 1777-04-12 Death: 1852-06-29
– too much so sometimes
for my tastebut in his gentler moments his voice is very
sweet and persuasive – He is a very fine looking
man – there is something about his face that
always reminds me of Grandma Miller
Birth: 1751 Death: 1835-10-03
—The question of admitting a con California
without any compromise was discussed by Benton
& Clay after the conclusion of the speech – you
will read it all – Mr Webster was not there
it seems to me he is not there half his time
It was asserted by Mr Foote
Birth: 1804-02-28 Death: 1880-05-20
that he had
againchanged his position and would now vote for
California only in conjunction with other measures
to be determined by the committee of 13 – I do not
think anyone knows how he will vote – if he
is there at all which is by no means certain —
he certainly evinces no fixed principle on the
subject – I send you to days Union – in it
you will see a singular debate in relation
to the census bill which occurred in the Senate
yesterday – I want you to read it all and tell me
what impression it makes upon your mind – There
is also an account of a Dinner at Baltimore where
Mr Webster received abundance of incense and
where ^Sir^ Henry Bulwer
Birth: 1801-02-13 Death: 1872-05-23
made a speech which struckme as being very flippant in the outset though
on the whole very proper and some parts of
it fine – I have no doubt the adulation of the
“wealthy and respectable” classes is quite as acceptable
^to Mr Webster^ indeed more so than any manifestation of popular
approbation could be – his sympathies (if he is capable
of so warm an emotion) are with and for that class —
Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
I believe thinks I judge him too
uncharitablybut I have studied his course carefully and do not
think I am mistaken – I never saw a more impassive
face – Henry continues to receive very flattering
testimony to the uprightness of his views he has now
some 1600 letters unanswered – Among them
are many of warm commendation from all parties —
A very excellent and phylos philosophical letter
from Judge Conkling
Birth: 1789-10-12 Death: 1874-02-05
–
I hope to bring a portion of them home for you to read – Yesterday morning
I spent in shopping – In the evening I ^we^ called
at Col Bentons and Mr Merediths
Birth: 1799-06-08 Death: 1873-08-17
but foundall out – This morning the ground was
covered with snow – I went this evening to
invite Mrs Nelson
Birth: 1805 Death: 1875-04
and Mrs Carroll
Birth: 1812-03-27 Death: 1895-02-11
to taketea with me tomorrow evening – They are
coming but the visit is deferred until Saturday
as the Judges
Birth: 1802-03-02
Death: 1863-07-03
Birth: 1792-11-10
Death: 1873-12-13
Judge Wayne
Birth: 1790 Death: 1867-07-05
is to be of the party –
Mrs Nelsonis at Gadsby’se
Editorial Note
ill and is still coughing and hoarse – They continue
to be oppressed with engagements – Violet
Birth: 1829-12-09 Death: 1872-07-24
was out this evening – had been to two weddings this week
Friday morning – Your Monday letter has just
come I am glad I have kept this until this
time – now I shall send it to Auburn —
I hope you will be there tomorrow – I send
the “Unions” to Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
as the reports are generallymore full than in the Intelligencer – I
expect Mrs John Davis
Birth: 1791-02-17 Death: 1872-01-24
to take
tea with methis evening – this being my reception morning
I have less time to write – Yesterday I
went to present Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
to Lady
Bulwer
Birth: 1817 Death: 1878
and spent the remainder of the morning
making visits – As I found most of the
people at home I could not make many —
Mrs Collamer
Birth: 1796-06-23 Death: 1870-05-10
and her daughter
Birth: 1834-10-25 Death: 1917-07-11Certainty: Probable
are both veryill – I called but saw no one – I saw
for the first time Mrs Butler
Birth: 1816-10-24 Death: 1895-08-01
the wife of ourclergyman
Birth: 1810-10-16 Death: 1890-03-05
– You know she is the Mrs Butler
ofOnderdonk
Birth: 1791-07-15 Death: 1861-04-30
notoriety – I was agreeably surprisedto find her intelligent agreeable and very
pretty – the latter I had supposed however – She
must have been very young at that time as she
does not now look more than 26 –She is a
Virginian and said Mr Seward must give her
credit for all the sympathy she felt in his
course as she was the daughter & sister of slave
owners
Birth: 1791 Death: 1852-07-28
– Love to all at home Your own
Sister