Albany Sept 26
My dear Mother
Since last Sunday it
has been very cold here indeed the change is
so great that I have not been able to keep warm
a moment since then and I think there is a
good prospect of our all freezing unless our land-
lady puts some stoves up in the house before
long. The last few days have been quite
lively here with us as our County Fair has been
in progress since Tuesday, I went up to the
“grounds” last Thursday with some friends and remain ^ed^
there most of the afternoon the fair itself was
very much like all other fairs with the us[ u ] al number
of cattle horses sheep pigs &c the latter animals
(the pigs) as is us[ u ] a[ l ] ly the case in such places was
not entirely confined to the quadrupeds, the
greatest features of the day was the Ladies Driving
match which would I have no doubt been
very interesting if the ladies had done the driving
for themselves but as it was each & all of them
had escorts who insisted on doing about two thirds
of the driving for them.
I believe I wrote you that William Henry has
returned here to finish his studies at the Law School

he has succeeded in getting a room at
the same house with myself & is to take
up his quarters here on or about the first of
the month, last year when we boarded together
on Broadway we had rooms with each other but
now we each have separate ones which I find
more pleasant.
“Barnes” was down here last week on his way to
New York he was quite anxious that I should
come up to Auburn & take his stock as he has
made up his mind that he is not well enough
to attend to his business and I have no doubt
would sell out at a sacrifice, Clarence Corning
who has been a clerk in our store for about eight
years proposes that we shall go up and see
what kind of a stock “Barnes” has & if it be
any object buy him out but of course I could
make no answer to such a proposal as father does
not appear willing to give me any assistance at present
although my two years are more than up, I
wanted to have some conversation with him the
last time he was here but I could get no opportunity
then, and Fred tells me that he now intends to
return home the other was, if I thought I would
be able to find him home next Sunday perhaps
I would come up.
“Fred & “Anna” I believe have been intending to
go up to Auburn for the past two weeks but as

yet “Fred” has been unable to get away.
Have I anything at home in the shape
of Under Shirts I find that I have none
here and therefore conclude that I have either
left them in Auburn or else they have never
returned from the wash. I received the book
which you sent and am much obliged.
Love to Aunty Fanny & all.
Your affectionate son
Will

Mrs Seward
hWilliam Sep 26
1858