Washington March 2 ^nd
My dear Son,
I sent your last
letter to Aunt Clara so I
do not remember the date
but it came a few days after
I sent my last– I sent
the Copy of the Coast Survey .
The book is not yet fully
published this one copy
was sent to your Father
previous to the general
publication – he gave it to
me to keep for you–
Just at this time your father
is pretty well though he
continues to have so many
ill turns that I am anxious
for him to get through

the session and go somewhere
in pursuit of health– He
talks sometimes of going to
to California , sometimes to
Europe sometimes to Key West
but nothing is fixed for
the present– Wednesday
is the 4 of March. When
the inauguration is fairly
over the town will be
more quiet– I hope the
extra session will be short–
If father goes away I shall
try to go home the & by
the 1 ^st of April– More than
two weeks ago Will cut his
knee just above the pan
with an axe which fell
from the scales as he was
weighing it– Dr. Briggs
dressed the wound &

attended him 7 days– By
that time Aunty discovered
that it was not doing well
and sent for Dr. Robinson –
He made a different application
and they think it is healing
rapidly – indeed Will has
been out of the house with
crutches– I am anxious to see
him–Aunt Clara and
the others are well–
Fred writes of the disasters
occasioned by the rising
of the River which are
unparalleled – the waters
rising there far higher
than ever before known–
The weather there as here has
been uncommonly mild
for the season – it is freezing
again to day–

Lent having commenced there
is a little more rest for
the gay world – which is
fortunate for the women
who would all be sick
otherwise– Henry Chesebro
came last Friday – remains
until after the inauguration
Frances will not return with
him as she is to stop some
time in Philadelphia &
New York – will probably
remain a week or two
longer– Henry Seward
Tuttle son of George Tuttle
of Mobile is here also - he
too awaits the inauguration
Mary Grier will probably
go home with the Murray's
of Goshen – Anna remains
probably until I go. Tomorrow
(your father has notice) the

Albany Burgess Corps
and the Auburn
Willard Guards are to
pay their respects to him –
so we are preparing some
slight refreshment for
them – there will be
about 140 in both com--panies– Mr Sumner
is here for a few days
I went to his room to
see him– His face is
very little changed
but he rises from a
chair with great diff-
culty and cannot
straiten himself for
some time – is unable
to sit up half the
day– Next Friday
he sails for France in

the steamer Fulton
hoping the voyage may
improve his health– If he
ever recovers it will be
a long time yet, though
I feel more encouraged
about him since talking
with him– He seems
cheerful and hopeful.
Fanny was sick last week
with fever and sore throat.
She is up again now
and sends love– We
have had much trouble with
water in the cellar which
is now drained into another
of those miscalled dry wells,
as they seem to be always
half full of water and
are exceedingly disagreeable
unhealthy & I do not think
it would be safe to stay
here through the Summer
I shall hear from you

[right Margin] soon I hope. When are you coming home? God Bless you
Mother.

Lieut– A. H. Seward
Assist. Coast Survey
Key West
Florida
h William H Seward
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MAR 3
1857
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