Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 2, 1862
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 2,
1862
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:kac
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1862-02-02
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 2, 1862
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Philadelphia, PA
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: kac
revision: ekk 2015-06-30
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Page
1
Sunday Feb 2 -
My dear sister,
I am again a watcher by Fanny
bed she has been very ill since Thursday - that night
she had a burning fever with headache & pain in her
back. I sent for Dr. Helmuth
by her symptoms and by the questions he asked I knew
apprehended varioloid. Although she did
not complain of her throat I asked him to examine
it, he said it was slightly inflamed but not enough
to account for her fever which was very high.
The same night she complained of soreness of the
throat and when the Dr came yesterday he found
it swollen & ulcerated. He seemed relieved that
it was not varioloid
were so similar that he thought she must be affec-
ted in a measure by the atmosphere. He has
a number of patients with both small pox &
varioloid. Her fever continued unabated until
yesterday morning when it was less and today
she seems free from fever though her throat
[top Margin] not intimate
not perfectly competent to climb though I always thought
you had an objection to that mode of
ascending. Give my love to Clara
Tell Trippy
Sister
Page
2
still continues to trouble her. She is now
sitting up in bed looking at a book.
Friday in the midst of all my trouble dear old
Gus
with us. I suspect he came away at that time
to avoid the party at our house which came
off Friday night. I read him all of your last
letters very much to his satisfaction. He went to
the Continental to dine - then returned and stayed
with us until 9 oclock. As he was obliged to be
in Washington the next day he left here in the night.
He says he is well. (I do not think he is).
I have no letter from you since I wrote last. The
weather until today has been dreadful - in connexion
with the Burnside expedition and the Army on the
Potomac it is positively painful to see the snow
rain and mud. I hope with their other
discomforts they do not have these at Fort Pickens.
We shall be very glad to see Mc Dougalls
You see by the English papers, if they are reliable
that both France & England are impatient to ac-
knowledge the Southern Confederacy. They pretend to
fear that we will incite an insurrection among the
Page
3
slaves and renew the horrors of St Domingo.
So they conclude it is best to help the South
perpetuate so desirable an institution. This
is a poor cloak to disguise their jealousy of our
growing importance among the family of nations.
I have a letter from Mrs Adams
it is far from pleasant being in England at this
time. They were there apprehending a War.
George Andrews
Rochester presented Catherine Huson
day beside paying $700 of Mr. Huson's
was advised by Mr. Delavan
and use the interest which she concluded to do
for the present not knowing whether she should
try to keep the house she at present occupies.
The people of Rochester have been so generous I do not
think anything more should be asked of them, &
if she keeps the house she must use the $1200 to pay
for it. George also said he did not think
the plan for keeping boarders would succeed as
her price was too high for students. As I hear
nothing from Catherine herself I shall not be under
the necessity of advising in the matter. Mary Ann
Boardman
Page
4
have been unable to see her. Today she
has written me a kind note. She is staying
with her brother Augustus
sake I shall try to see her while I am here.
I hear that Augustus is less pro-slavery in his feelings
than he was some years ago - if he were not I should
not care to see him. The day that Fanny was taken
sick she went to dine with Mrs. Yarnell
very kindly came to visit her the day before & Mr.
Yarnell
her on the cars. They live 5 or 6 miles out of town.
Fanny had a very pleasant visit. Mr. Yarnells
2 sisters were there and Mrs.
Mott
were expected but did not go[ . ]
Reason: Augustus says
he does not think Anna
did not complain. She is not to have receptions
one evening every week, but three or four in the
course of the Winter. It is an immense labour as
invitations are given, otherwise the house would not
contain the guests. Mrs Lincoln
a ball - this will be a new movement at the White
house. She has apparently no misgivings about the propriety
or success of anything she undertakes. Fanny sends love
she says ask Aunty
of which 'items' speaks. The hat came safely. I shall
Sunday Feb 2 -
My dear sister,
I am again a watcher by Fanny
Birth: 1844-12-09 Death: 1866-10-29
's sick bed she has been very ill since Thursday - that night
she had a burning fever with headache & pain in her
back. I sent for Dr. Helmuth
Birth: 1801-09 Death: 1880-04-08
^in the morning^ who seemed alarmedby her symptoms and by the questions he asked I knew
apprehended varioloid. Although she did
not complain of her throat I asked him to examine
it, he said it was slightly inflamed but not enough
to account for her fever which was very high.
The same night she complained of soreness of the
throat and when the Dr came yesterday he found
it swollen & ulcerated. He seemed relieved that
it was not varioloid
Name given to a disease resembling small pox •
- still said her symptoms
were so similar that he thought she must be affec-
ted in a measure by the atmosphere. He has
a number of patients with both small pox &
varioloid. Her fever continued unabated until
yesterday morning when it was less and today
she seems free from fever though her throat
[top Margin] not intimate
Inmost; inward • Near; close • Close in friendship or acquaintance • One to whom the thoughts of another are shared without reserve • To share together • To hint; to suggest obscurely; to give slight notice of •
again that you arenot perfectly competent to climb though I always thought
you had an objection to that mode of
ascending. Give my love to Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
& the children.Tell Trippy
Birth: 1851-06-13 Death: 1862
we are sorry he is sick. Your ownSister
still continues to trouble her. She is now
sitting up in bed looking at a book.
Friday in the midst of all my trouble dear old
Gus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
made his appearance and spent the day
with us. I suspect he came away at that time
to avoid the party at our house which came
off Friday night. I read him all of your last
letters very much to his satisfaction. He went to
the Continental to dine - then returned and stayed
with us until 9 oclock. As he was obliged to be
in Washington the next day he left here in the night.
He says he is well. (I do not think he is).
I have no letter from you since I wrote last. The
weather until today has been dreadful - in connexion
with the Burnside expedition and the Army on the
Potomac it is positively painful to see the snow
rain and mud. I hope with their other
discomforts they do not have these at Fort Pickens.
We shall be very glad to see Mc Dougalls
Birth: 1839-09-14 Death: 1914-05-24
letter. You see by the English papers, if they are reliable
that both France & England are impatient to ac-
knowledge the Southern Confederacy. They pretend to
fear that we will incite an insurrection among the
slaves and renew the horrors of St Domingo.
So they conclude it is best to help the South
perpetuate so desirable an institution. This
is a poor cloak to disguise their jealousy of our
growing importance among the family of nations.
I have a letter from Mrs Adams
Birth: 1808-04-25 Death: 1889-06-06
who saysit is far from pleasant being in England at this
time. They were there apprehending a War.
George Andrews
Birth: 1821-09-03 Death: 1885-11-18
writes me that the people of
Rochester presented Catherine Huson
Birth: 1825 Death: 1898
with $1200 Christmasday beside paying $700 of Mr. Huson's
Birth: 1822 Death: 1861-10-14
b debts. She was advised by Mr. Delavan
Unknown
to
invest the moneyand use the interest which she concluded to do
for the present not knowing whether she should
try to keep the house she at present occupies.
The people of Rochester have been so generous I do not
think anything more should be asked of them, &
if she keeps the house she must use the $1200 to pay
for it. George also said he did not think
the plan for keeping boarders would succeed as
her price was too high for students. As I hear
nothing from Catherine herself I shall not be under
the necessity of advising in the matter. Mary Ann
Boardman
Birth: 1810-12-05 Death: 1875-11-03
has been here 3 times and
each time Ihave been unable to see her. Today she
has written me a kind note. She is staying
with her brother Augustus
Unknown
.
For her motherUnknown
's sake I shall try to see her while I am here.
I hear that Augustus is less pro-slavery in his feelings
than he was some years ago - if he were not I should
not care to see him. The day that Fanny was taken
sick she went to dine with Mrs. Yarnell
Birth: 1827-09-22 Death: 1899-12-29
who very kindly came to visit her the day before & Mr.
Yarnell
Birth: 1817-06-25 Death: 1905-09-19
came to take her there & returned withher on the cars. They live 5 or 6 miles out of town.
Fanny had a very pleasant visit. Mr. Yarnells
2 sisters
Birth: 1830-08-08
Death: 1909-08-05
Birth: 1821-10-08
Death: 1880-01-10
Birth: 1793-01-03 Death: 1880-11-11Certainty: Probable
Mrs. Osborn
Birth: 1830-09-03 Death: 1911-07-18
& EllaUnknown
were expected but did not go[ . ]
Supplied
he does not think Anna
Birth: 1834-03-29 Death: 1919-05-02
quite well though shedid not complain. She is not to have receptions
one evening every week, but three or four in the
course of the Winter. It is an immense labour as
invitations are given, otherwise the house would not
contain the guests. Mrs Lincoln
Birth: 1818-12-13 Death: 1882-07-16
is preparing to givea ball - this will be a new movement at the White
house. She has apparently no misgivings about the propriety
or success of anything she undertakes. Fanny sends love
she says ask Aunty
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
if she
heard anything of that Fancy Ballof which 'items' speaks. The hat came safely. I shall