Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Major Augustus Henry Seward, October 11, 1853
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Major Augustus Henry Seward, October 11, 1853
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:bpt
student editorTranscriber:spp:tap
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1853-10-11
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Major Augustus Henry Seward, October 11, 1853
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: UnknownUnknown
transcription: bpt
revision: vxa 2019-04-03
<>
Page
1
Tuesday Oct 10th e
October 10 was a Monday, so if this letter was written on
Tuesday, it was October 11, which is the date of the postmark
My dear Son,
Your letter met me on my
return from Canandaigua where we
went last week – We left home Tuesday
went to Lyons the first day and
the next to Canandaigua arriving in
time for dinner – stayed there
one day, returned home Thursday
leaving Fanny
Cousin Frances
exchange will last one week – The
almost incessant rains have made
the roads much worse than they
were when we came from our journey
Fred
[top Margin] I have a letter from Caroline
Schoolcraft
and seems
much happier than when she wrote before
Page
2
you I had a letter from him
a few days ago – This was
the week appointed for the encampment
so Clarence
yesterday playing soldiers – The day
was fine and every thing went on very
well until night when it came off
very cold, rained all night and
this morning the ground was covered
with snow – Clarence went home
sick last night – I was too much
troubled about Willie to sleep
& was troubled also with the conviction
that I had done wrong to allow
him to go – my conscientious convictions
being against the cultivation of a
warlike spirit – I fear that because
you were in the Army I have failed
to impress these principles upon my
younger children as I should have
done –
Page
3
Willie came home this morning
at my request and changed his
wet clothing for dry – of course he
had no disposition to remain though
he promised to come if he felt ill –
All this has made me reflect upon
the many hardships to which you have
been exposed for so many years & I
am uneasy with the apprehension that
you may again go into service. – I
shall never feel quite at ease until
you resign your commission or cease
at times to feel condemned that I
ever assented to your going to the
Point – We gain both wisdom and
goodness slowly in this imperfect state
stage of our existence. May God
enlighten us all – My strength I
think increases – but I do not feel quite
able to go to N. York – I think Aunt
Clara
Chrystal palace – I try to persuade
Page
4
her and Aunty to go without me.
Father
for a day – Monday the 17th he goes
to New York – Clarence & Caroline
will go down in time to hear the
speech and Willie goes with them.
Mrs Watrous
I miss Fanny very much – Cornelia
Morgan
Eugene Barber
Reason: went
somewhere on
a tour – I think this weather must be
unfavourable to your operations but it
cannot last much longer – Aunt
Clara is well, the rain prevented my seeing
her last night – May God bless you
Your Mother –
Tuesday Oct 10th e
Editorial Note
My dear Son,
Your letter met me on my
return from Canandaigua where we
went last week – We left home Tuesday
went to Lyons the first day and
the next to Canandaigua arriving in
time for dinner – stayed there
one day, returned home Thursday
leaving Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
with Aunty
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
and
bringingCousin Frances
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
home with us
– – Theexchange will last one week – The
almost incessant rains have made
the roads much worse than they
were when we came from our journey
Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
is sorry that he missed[top Margin] I have a letter from Caroline
Schoolcraft
Birth: 1834-07-25 Death: 1922-02-28
– she was in Paris
and seems
much happier than when she wrote before
you I had a letter from him
a few days ago – This was
the week appointed for the encampment
so Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
and Willie
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
commenced yesterday playing soldiers – The day
was fine and every thing went on very
well until night when it came off
very cold, rained all night and
this morning the ground was covered
with snow – Clarence went home
sick last night – I was too much
troubled about Willie to sleep
& was troubled also with the conviction
that I had done wrong to allow
him to go – my conscientious convictions
being against the cultivation of a
warlike spirit – I fear that because
you were in the Army I have failed
to impress these principles upon my
younger children as I should have
done –
Willie came home this morning
at my request and changed his
wet clothing for dry – of course he
had no disposition to remain though
he promised to come if he felt ill –
All this has made me reflect upon
the many hardships to which you have
been exposed for so many years & I
am uneasy with the apprehension that
you may again go into service. – I
shall never feel quite at ease until
you resign your commission or cease
at times to feel condemned that I
ever assented to your going to the
Point – We gain both wisdom and
goodness slowly in this imperfect state
stage of our existence. May God
enlighten us all – My strength I
think increases – but I do not feel quite
able to go to N. York – I think Aunt
Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
would like to see theChrystal palace – I try to persuade
her and Aunty to go without me.
Father
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
goes to day or tomorrow to Buffalo
for a day – Monday the 17th he goes
to New York – Clarence & Caroline
Birth: 1828-05-22 Death: 1906-12-09
will go down in time to hear the
speech and Willie goes with them.
Mrs Watrous
Birth: 1805-01-29 Death: 1860
is here copying
the speech.I miss Fanny very much – Cornelia
Morgan
Birth: 1834-04-02
was married last Tuesday toEugene Barber
Birth: 1828-05-13
the[ y ] Supplied
a tour – I think this weather must be
unfavourable to your operations but it
cannot last much longer – Aunt
Clara is well, the rain prevented my seeing
her last night – May God bless you
Your Mother –