Letter from George Washington Seward to Frances Miller Seward, November 22, 1861

  • Posted on: 17 November 2021
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Letter from George Washington Seward to Frances Miller Seward, November 22, 1861
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:ska

student editor

Transcriber:spp:tml

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1861-11-22

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Letter from George Washington Seward to Frances Miller Seward, November 22, 1861

action: sent

sender:  
x

 

Birth:   Death: 

location: Florida, NY

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

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: ska 

revision: amc 2020-02-04

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Page 1

Florida Nov 22 nd 1861
My Dear Frances
Do not suppose that by my taking
this large sheet that I intend to inflict on you
a long letter, the simple reason is that I have not a less
sheet convenient, Event[ s ]
x

Supplied

Reason: 
have transpired here in my
family so unexpected and yet so gratifying that I
feel a desire to communicate them to you,
Samuel
Birth: 1838-04-16 Death: 1916-02-22
returned home the 4th of the month and
the next day called upon me, in a friendly, kindly
spirit, toward the close of the week Fred
Birth: 1840-11-08 Death: 1910-11-28
asked
me if I would be at home on Saturday as he in-
tended to call, the next day he called and we
had a pleasant conversation on the subject of his
appointment, I had had heard it said that the
next day they were all going to the Hotel to board
while they remained in Florida, with some mis-
givings I intend invited him and authorized him
to carry the invitation to the others
x Birth: 1844-11-20  Death: 1917-01-29  Birth: 1833-06-08  Death: 1891-06-12  Birth: 1835-01-09  Death: 1926 
to make our
house their home while they staid in the vil-
Speaking for himself, he said that he should be
Page 2

pleased to come and would mention it to the
others, Believing that a personal invitation to the
others will would aid the matter after church in
the evening I went down and invited them all
together, Henry proposed to send up their decision
in the morning, Fred had previous to all, told
me that the Portraits were to be returned to
me, Julia
Birth: 1824-02-11 Death: 1895
has seconded all my invitations
in the morning Samuel came in and said
that they would all accept our invitation
and come up to dinner,
There was some restraint at first on all
sides, but it soon wore away, and our inter-
course was very agreeable and pleasant, we
aided them in various ways in making their
arrangements, in packing their goods, in advising
and assisting them and they showed their ap-
preciation by their thanks and by many me-
mentos and articles of more or less value,
They treated us both respectfully & kindly and
we parted as Parents & children should,
Samuel left Sunday for th. his post as Aid to
Genl Ord
Birth: 1818-10-18 Death: 1883-07-22
, near Washington, Sarah & Henry went
Wednesday evening, and this morning I took
the others to Goshen. They sail next Wednesday
by the Maguire from Boston, they urged me very
strongly to go to that city and see them onboard
which I shall try to do, and will probably be
gone a week.
Page 3

And now the most difficult part of my letter
is to come, how shall I express my own feelings
on such an occasion, It is six years nearly since I
took a meal with Sarah, and but very occasionally
with any of the others, we have parted, it may be
indeed it is more than probable to me that we shall
never meet again in this world, they go to grap-
ple with ^the battle^ life and its vicissitudes, to scenes of
trial and danger, I remain here, age is creeping
on me, already I am on the down hill of life, I do
not look but for a few years, nor do I dread its
dissolution, Whatever may be in the future for them
or for me, the experience of the past two days has
prepared the way, I can with the utmost confidence
leave it with Him who presides over the lives of
men, How excellent is a kind forgiving spirit, it
is more precious than rubies, the mines of Golconda
cannot unfold so precious a treasure, I may have
needed more than I was willing to acknowledge
I feel that I have it, nor do I feel that I have witheld
I feel that indeed m I may be indebted to Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10

for this result, I desire that he might know that
I recognize it, and be assured of my gratitude
I presume that you will see him at last after a
while, will you do me the kindness to convey to
him this expression of my feelings, say to him that
he can measure my thanks by whatever he may have
done to produce the result, and that he knows better
Page 4

than I do, I would write to him, but I prefer
to make it through you, a letter me from me
might not reach him, yours I suppose go direct
and then you know it is much to have a Friend
at court, I would have written sooner but then
I could not come to the conclusion of the whole
matter, How lonesome we are to night, You do not
know the whole history, did you, you would not won-
der,
I feel that I owe you an apology for so long a
letter, indeed I did not intend or think I should
write so lengthy, but please excuse me,
Did you not rejoice at over the capture of Mason
Birth: 1798-11-03 Death: 1871-04-28
&
Slidell
Birth: 1793 Death: 1871-07-09
, nothing which has taken place during the war
has been more grateful to me, England must show
her hand, and we are prepared for her, Jeff. Davis
Birth: 1808-06-03 Death: 1889-12-06
can
not supply the loss, and if he could, it was very difficult
for other ambassadors to leave Secessiondom, and again
may we not suppose that S&M, left, for in part for the purpose
of saving their own necks, if so, then they are safe,
There was a Providence in it,
Our children
x Birth: 1857-06-27  Death: 1936  Birth: 1857-06-27  Death: 1946  Birth: 1853-09-21  Death: 1877-10-20 
are somewhat troubled with colds but
otherwise we all quite well, –
I sent you a notice of the Children’s Sailing,
Shall we have the pleasure of welcoming you here
on your journey to Washington, we hope so,
Affectionately Your Brother
Geo, W, Seward

[right Margin]
Hand Shiftx

Frances Seward

Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
George Seward
Nov 22 d
1861