Letter from Charles Sumner to Frances Miller Seward, January 25, 1859
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Letter from Charles Sumner to Frances Miller Seward, January 25, 1859
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:mec
student editorTranscriber:spp:msr
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1859-01-25
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Letter from Charles Sumner to Frances Miller Seward, January 25, 1859
action: sent
sender: Charles Sumner
Birth: 1811-01-06
Death: 1874-03-11
location: Montpellier, France
receiver: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: UnknownUnknown
transcription: mec
revision: crb 2017-04-26
<>
Page
1
Montpellier—France
25th Jan. '59
Dear Mrs Seward
Yours of 10th Jan. glad-
dened me this morning just as
I had recovered from the
exhaustion of my daily tor-
ment. Nobody but you
writes me from Washington (a).
"The absent are always wrong"
says the French proverb. Per-
haps this is applicable to
my case.
The Fishes are in Paris.
I have heard from them once
since. I have been here. I
[left Margin] (a) I must except my clerk, who has written once.
[top Margin] h
C.
Sumner Jan
1859
Page
2
think that they are living very
discreetly.
Did I recount to you my
Experience with the Wises? They
were on board the Steamer on
which I came out. On the
2nd day out he crossed the
deck and comes up to me
put out his hand & said
“How do you do Mr. S.?”
I looked him steadily in
The face & then turned away.
Of course I took no notice of
his wife. With the accession
after the fact to an act of
assassination or at least its
compurgation I hold no
Page
3
parley. Do not think me
harsh or austere. After
all my sufferings I have kept
my temper pretty well.
How small is Mr E's
reer! While a great anx
is overshadowing the land he
goes about with a holiday
speech of begging money for
a tomb.
I have not seen your hus-
band's
from the way in which it
has been abused I think it
must be admirable.
I often wonder at myself
so retired & tranquil here
Page
4
—seeing only a few people,
chiefly professors
—lying on my back some
16 hours a day—& in my
walks looking out upon the
Avenues the seat of that
terrible Protestant convulsion
which for a while shook
France.
Remember me to your hus-
band—Will
Ever sincerely yours,
Charles Sumner
P.S. Your husband will kindly
frank the enclosed.—
I wonder if good Mr Morgan
recd a little letter from me
at Aix.
Montpellier—France
25th Jan. '59
Dear Mrs Seward
Yours of 10th Jan. glad-
dened me this morning just as
I had recovered from the
exhaustion of my daily tor-
ment. Nobody but you
writes me from Washington (a).
"The absent are always wrong"
says the French proverb. Per-
haps this is applicable to
my case.
The Fishes
Birth: 1816-12-17
Death: 1887-06-30
Birth: 1808-08-03
Death: 1893-09-07
I have heard from them once
since. I have been here. I
[left Margin] (a) I must except my clerk, who has written once.
[top Margin] h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21Frances Seward
1859
think that they are living very
discreetly.
Did I recount to you my
Experience with the Wises
Birth: 1825-08-13
Death: 1879-12-15
Birth: 1806-12-03
Death: 1876-09-12
were on board the Steamer on
which I came out. On the
2nd day out he crossed the
deck and comes up to me
put out his hand & said
“How do you do Mr. S.?”
I looked him steadily in
The face & then turned away.
Of course I took no notice of
his wife. With the accession
after the fact to an act of
assassination or at least its
compurgation I hold no
parley. Do not think me
harsh or austere. After
all my sufferings I have kept
my temper pretty well.
How small is Mr E's
Birth: 1794-04-11 Death: 1865-01-15
ca-reer! While a great anx
is overshadowing the land he
goes about with a holiday
speech of begging money for
a tomb.
I have not seen your hus-
band's
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
Rochester speech; but from the way in which it
has been abused I think it
must be admirable.
I often wonder at myself
so retired & tranquil here
—seeing only a few people,
chiefly professors
Unknown
—enjoying books—lying on my back some
16 hours a day—& in my
walks looking out upon the
Avenues the seat of that
terrible Protestant convulsion
which for a while shook
France.
Remember me to your hus-
band—Will
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
& daughter
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
.Ever sincerely yours,
Charles Sumner
P.S. Your husband will kindly
frank the enclosed.—
I wonder if good Mr Morgan
Birth: 1806-05-02 Death: 1881-10-13Certainty: Probable
recd a little letter from me
at Aix.