Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Sarah Dare Hance, February 8, 1858

  • Posted on: 1 April 2021
  • By: admin
xml: 
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Sarah Dare Hance, February 8, 1858
x

transcriber

Transcriber:spp:tml

student editor

Transcriber:spp:csh

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1858-02-08

In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to place elements in the project's places.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file. In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file. verical-align: super; font-size: 12px; text-decoration: underline; text-decoration: line-through; color: red;

Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Sarah Dare Hance, February 8, 1858

action: sent

sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24  Death: 1865-06-21

location: Washington D.C., US

receiver: Sarah Hance
Birth: 1820-01-25  Death: 1867-06-10

location: Palmyra, NY

transcription: tml 

revision: vxa 2020-11-22

<>
Page 1

Washington Feb 8th
My dear Sarah,
I know you will not think it
an evidence of forgetfulness that I have
so long failed to answer the pleasant
letter I had from you before leaving
Auburn – We felt very much alone after
you left us – I employed myself in
trying to amuse my little girl
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
who
missed you exceedingly – Much sooner
than I anticipated our summons came to
go to Washington – Mr Mellen
Birth: 1822 Death: 1896
wrote me
they would be there the 26t – in order
to be there to meet them I found it necessary
to go as early as the 18thMy sister
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
could
not be persuaded to stay – She came home
Saturday night – me leaving the next Tuesday
morning – You will readily imagine how
much we were obliged to leave unsaid –
Fanny was sick in bed when her Aunty
came home with sore throat – & scarcely
able to sit up Monday – however the Dr
Unknown

said the journey would not harm her
as the event proved –

[left Margin] Fanny sends love with the enquiry
"did you get my letter"


[top Margin] Mr Sumner
Birth: 1811-01-06 Death: 1874-03-11
came back, for a few days only, last
Thursday – He is stronger than he was last Spring
and thinks near recovery – I hope it may be so
there seems to me much cause yet for apprehension –
Page 2

William
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
came home to escort us on
our journey which we accomplished in
four days – saw Frederick
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
& Anna
Birth: 1834-03-29 Death: 1919-05-02
&
Caroline
Birth: 1834-07-25 Death: 1922-02-28
in Albany – who were all well -
Clarence
Birth: 1828-10-07 Death: 1897-07-24
was there too – I saw his wife
Birth: 1828-05-22 Death: 1906-12-09

in New York but as I did not go to their
house I did not see the children
x Birth: 1857-05-22  Death: 1929-11-27  Birth: 1852-02-26  Death: 1927-04-04 
.
Fanny attempted to find Mrs Watrous
Birth: 1805-01-29 Death: 1860
but a
mistake about the number prevented –
We found Mr Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
at the depot – pretty
well – a little more care worn than at
Auburn – Catherine
Birth: 1837 Death: 1878-04-08
had the house in excellent
order – We find John
Birth: 1827
a much more
useful & reliable waiter than HenryLouisa
Birth: 1825

and Lewis continue in their respective
apartments for the present –
Mr Seward wrote again for Anna soon
after I came down finding it impossible
to manage the matter of intercourse with
serenity here without the entire devotion
of one woman at least to that occupation –
I had been obliged to spend much more
time than I could well spare in merely
attempting to leave Mr Sewards card
in return for the hundreds which accu-
mulate here every ten days Of course
I make no attempt to at intercourse with
general society – We had a very
Page 3

pleasant visit of a week from our
good friends Mr & Mrs Mellen
Birth: 1830 Death: 1902
– they
were greatly disappointed when they found
Mrs Worden had gone – It is a long time
since I have enjoyed so many evenings
of conversation outside of our own family –
conversation that was not only agreeable
but strengthening – I felt that it was
not too dear a price to obtain it at the
cost of some sleepless nights, which
is my usual penalty, you know –
The ball given by Lord
Birth: 1819-09-19 Death: 1898-12-19
& Lady Napier
Birth: 1823-12-20 Death: 1911-08-24
came
off the Monday succeeding our arrival. It
was in honor of the marriage of the Princess
Royal
Birth: 1840-11-21 Death: 1901-08-05
– a brilliant affair – Mr Seward
was there but I could not induce Will
to remain – he left for Albany the day
after we reached here – I spent a quiet
evening with Lady Napier very pleasantly
last week – She is not well – Their receptions
and evening entertainment, together with con-
tinual dinners make a large draft upon
one who has never strong health – I fear
she will not endure through the Winter
without serious illness – Her eldest son
Birth: 1846-09-22 Death: 1913-12-06

a boy of 11 is very pretty and winning
in manner – he is the only one of her
Page 4

4 boys
x Birth: 1850-07-03  Death: 1874-02-21  Birth: 1852-01-21  Death: 1919-08-19  Birth: 1848-11-13  Death: 1938-03-09 
that I have seen –
Fanny has been to see Miss Howland
Birth: 1827-11-20 Death: 1929-06-29
&
the Aquarium etc etc – all of which
I will leave for her more graphic pen – She has commenced no lessons yet except
an hour of History with me each morning –
I am thankful to be again strong enough
to resume in part the responsibility from
which you so kindly & satisfactorily relieved
me for a year – I know of no one else
to whom I would have delegated so precious
a charge – I am quite sure no other
could have performed the part more
conscientiously or more beneficially to my
child than you have done – You may
feel assured that both Mother & daughter
will always hold you in grateful
remembrance –
Frederick's wife came Saturday – is well
and enters upon her duties cheerfully
though she left her husband with some
reluctance – Mrs Schoolcraft comes
some time this week for a visit –
Mr Andrews
Unknown
is still with us – & Mr Wharton
Birth: 1808-02-07 Death: 1868-09-09

at present – he came with Anna – I trust
you will remember us all – May the
blessing of our Father be always with &
around you – F.A. Seward –

[right Margin] I hear frequently from my sister
who is well at present
& with our Aunt
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05