Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 14, 1863
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Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 14, 1863
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:srr
student editorTranscriber:spp:csh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1863-02-14
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Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, February 14, 1863
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1844-12-09
Death: 1866-10-29
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: UnknownUnknown
transcription: srr
revision: tap 2018-02-14
<>
Page
1
Washington February 14th 1863
My dearest Aunty,
This is the morning
of St Valentine’s day as I have
just discovered by one of the papers.
The time is not very far past when
I needed no such reminder, but was
first to run after the bundle of
mail, and search it through for
the certain valentines. So one hurries
along in the education of the world,
dropping one frivolity for another.
Your kind letter was so gladly
received, and had been so anxiously
expected, that I resolved to write
you as soon as I could in order that
the intervals between my letter from
you might be as short as it was
in my power to make them.
Don’t read Winthrops
Page
2
ly that you cannot re-read them with
your niece for a listener: and yet
I think there is no fear of such a
thing. Yes, they improve with every
reading. I have succeeded
in procuring a photograph of
Curtis
it is now placed, side by side with
Lucretia Mott’s
vignette I should have put it
by that of Winthrop. It would ^is^
be a good likeness, I think, as
nearly as I recollect, except the color
of the hair, which looks too dark.
The face has all that you speak
of – he looks in delecate health
and sad. The expression is really
beautiful. Mother
Curtis, is exceedingly pleased
with it. The sentence on timely
death, which you quoted from
“Cecil Dreeme
struck me ^us^ very forcibly, Mother
Page
3
and I, when we read the book in
Philadelphia . It was like a conversa-
tion which Alice Hall related to me,
which took place between herself
and Major Winthrop, while look-
ing at the 7th regiment, in
that eventful spring of 1861. “How
sad,” she said, “to think that all
thats risen must stand up to be
killed.” “Well I don't know,
we all must die some-time,” was the reply ^with more in the manner than the words^
Your letter containing the particulars
about Robert Turner
day. I will write to poor Mollie
I am more grieved than surpris-
ed that they should have told
her all the melancholy details,
at Mr Browne’s
how little tact some people have.
I am glad the Central
church festival was so success-
ful. Not surprised at Mrs
Osborne’s
Page
4
and endurance of women physic-
ally — The polar bears would be
as likely to prove masculine
as any people I know of – Milly
especially, if she is human at all.
It is a pity Haggerty
have so changed his reputation.
He seems to talk all ways at
once – and rather shakes one’s
faith in such things as virtue
& sincerity.
Mother has probably written
you about “Arlt —” We are
talking of going to camp, Mother,
Sue
— — Tuesday morning. You –
see how much time I have been
obliged to skip. We went Saturday
to make the expected visit.
As you have done the same
thing I will not describe —
I thought it very pleasant.
Mother leave the party depart-
Page
5
ment to me, both as to attendance
and description. Last Thurs-
day evening there were two: a reception
at Marshall Lamon’s
at Senator Arnold’s
Anna
of her grandmothers
not, of course go out. So ^to^ represent the
family, Fred
a fine large house, where the Cameron’s
formerly lived. The room filled up a good
deal while we were there. Among the
persons with whom I talked was a young
Mr Stoddard
visited the Dennis family
he gave me an account of Fred Dennis’
conduct in an engagement, and seemed
delighted with his bravery. Fred’s physic-
al courage I doubt not, is such as to
make a fine officer of him. Mr
Robert Lincoln
vacation, was at Mrs Lamons—
I was introduced and had quite
Page
6
a conversation with him. He is well
looking and intelligent, as well as
natural and agreeable. General
Mrs Butler
among the many present. Miss Cameron
who is visiting Mrs Douglas
there. She is handsome & stylish. From
Mrs Lamon’s we went to Mrs. Arnolds
There I met many of the same persons,
as well as others. Both parties were very
pleasant. I wore the same white tarle-
ton and plaid ribbons, as at Miss Chase’s
Friday evening we had a dinner. Somewhat
to my own surprise I found that I was
to preside. Anna did not appear. In
her place I went to the table with Mr
Molina
had on my left M. R. Limbourg
minster from Holland. The other guests,
as far as I remember, were Gen.
Halleck, Col. Townsend
Ms Latham
Page
7
Fisher, Gen.
Mr. Alruca
Mr Gooche
enjoyed the evening quite well. Wore
my red silk, with lace & peasant
waist, & shell flowers. After our
own guests were gone, Fred and I went
to a party at Madame Stoeckls
have a beautiful house for entertaining,
the rooms, six in number, and the stair
case, all open upon a circular hall,
in the center of which an immense
flowerstand was filled with a collection
of rich flowers, all in bloom. The
upper-hall forms a gallery, from
which you look down into these flowers
& the hall. All the diplomatic
corps and a great many others were
there. All the heads were dressed
in the latest styles, and the
married ladies made gorgeous
displays of rich laces and heavy
Page
8
silks. Madame Stoeckls wore
a white brocade with small flower
clusters in the pattern, and an
amulet of emeralds and diamonds.
Your niece adorned her youth with
the proper youthful white – wearing
the white embroidered muslin with
pink sash and headdress. When
we came home there was an in-
vviation on the table for a
matineé the next day, at
the arsenal. Mother had
written you that we attended
Nelly’s
Sunday was very rainy – Father went
to church alone. I nursed a cold at
home. Monday evening, Mother
will tell you, that Gen. Sumner
dined with us. I like him
very much. He is better looking than
his photographs and so straight
forward and soldierly.
[left Margin]
h
It is sad to close Fanny’s gay letter
with an account of her
continued
fever & another
restless &
sleepless night.
The Dr
she has no
bad symptoms
perhaps she
has not
I will write
to Dr. Helmuth
to day –
Fanny is sleeping
this morn
without fever
I will write
immediately
if she is worse –
Sister – Tuesday Morning
Washington February 14th 1863
My dearest Aunty,
This is the morning
of St Valentine’s day as I have
just discovered by one of the papers.
The time is not very far past when
I needed no such reminder, but was
first to run after the bundle of
mail, and search it through for
the certain valentines. So one hurries
along in the education of the world,
dropping one frivolity for another.
Your kind letter was so gladly
received, and had been so anxiously
expected, that I resolved to write
you as soon as I could in order that
the intervals between my letter from
you might be as short as it was
in my power to make them.
Don’t read Winthrops
Birth: 1828-09-22 Death: 1861-06-10
books so thorough-ly that you cannot re-read them with
your niece for a listener: and yet
I think there is no fear of such a
thing. Yes, they improve with every
reading. I have succeeded
in procuring a photograph of
Curtis
Birth: 1824-02-24 Death: 1892-08-31
for my album
– where it is now placed, side by side with
Lucretia Mott’s
Birth: 1793-01-03 Death: 1880-11-11
. Had it been a
vignette I should have put it
by that of Winthrop. It would ^is^
be a good likeness, I think, as
nearly as I recollect, except the color
of the hair, which looks too dark.
The face has all that you speak
of – he looks in delecate health
and sad. The expression is really
beautiful. Mother
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
, who
never saw Curtis, is exceedingly pleased
with it. The sentence on timely
death, which you quoted from
“Cecil Dreeme
Author: Theodore Winthrop Publisher: Ticknor and Fields Place of Publication:Boston Date: 1862
”, I remember.
It struck me ^us^ very forcibly, Mother
and I, when we read the book in
Philadelphia . It was like a conversa-
tion which Alice Hall related to me,
which took place between herself
and Major Winthrop, while look-
ing at the 7th regiment, in
that eventful spring of 1861. “How
sad,” she said, “to think that all
thats risen must stand up to be
killed.” “Well I don't know,
we all must die some-time,” was the reply ^with more in the manner than the words^
Your letter containing the particulars
about Robert Turner
Birth: 1840 Death: 1862-12-16
, came yester-day. I will write to poor Mollie
Unknown
. I am more grieved than surpris-
ed that they should have told
her all the melancholy details,
at Mr Browne’s
Birth: 1829-01-28 Death: 1887-01-19
. It is astonishinghow little tact some people have.
I am glad the Central
church festival was so success-
ful. Not surprised at Mrs
Osborne’s
Birth: 1830-09-03 Death: 1911-07-18
visions of the strength and endurance of women physic-
ally — The polar bears would be
as likely to prove masculine
as any people I know of – Milly
Unknown
especially, if she is human at all.
It is a pity Haggerty
Unknown
should have so changed his reputation.
He seems to talk all ways at
once – and rather shakes one’s
faith in such things as virtue
& sincerity.
Mother has probably written
you about “Arlt —” We are
talking of going to camp, Mother,
Sue
Birth: 1791 Death: 1869-12-30Certainty: Possible
and I, for a visit today.— — Tuesday morning. You –
see how much time I have been
obliged to skip. We went Saturday
to make the expected visit.
As you have done the same
thing I will not describe —
I thought it very pleasant.
Mother leave the party depart-
ment to me, both as to attendance
and description. Last Thurs-
day evening there were two: a reception
at Marshall Lamon’s
Birth: 1828-01-06 Death: 1893-05-07
, and a party at Senator Arnold’s
Birth: 1821-04-12 Death: 1880-02-14
, of Rhode Island.Anna
Birth: 1834-03-29 Death: 1919-05-02
had received news what day
of her grandmothers
Birth: 1779-08-02 Death: 1863-02-13
death, and did not, of course go out. So ^to^ represent the
family, Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
& I went First
to Mrs. Lamon’s
Death: 1892-10-31
,a fine large house, where the Cameron’s
Birth: 1804
Death:
Birth: 1799-03-08
Death: 1889-06-26
formerly lived. The room filled up a good
deal while we were there. Among the
persons with whom I talked was a young
Mr Stoddard
Birth: 1873-03-05
of
Syracuse who had oncevisited the Dennis family
Unknown
in Auburn
he gave me an account of Fred Dennis’
conduct in an engagement, and seemed
delighted with his bravery. Fred’s physic-
al courage I doubt not, is such as to
make a fine officer of him. Mr
Robert Lincoln
Birth: 1843-08-01 Death: 1926-07-26
, now in town for a vacation, was at Mrs Lamons—
I was introduced and had quite
a conversation with him. He is well
looking and intelligent, as well as
natural and agreeable. General
Birth: 1818-11-05 Death: 1893-01-11
and Mrs Butler
Birth: 1816-08-17 Death: 1876-04-08
, the former in
uniform, were among the many present. Miss Cameron
who is visiting Mrs Douglas
Birth: 1835 Death: 1899-01-26
, was there. She is handsome & stylish. From
Mrs Lamon’s we went to Mrs. Arnolds
Birth: 1828-03-29 Death: 1905-10-11
–There I met many of the same persons,
as well as others. Both parties were very
pleasant. I wore the same white tarle-
ton and plaid ribbons, as at Miss Chase’s
Birth: 1820Certainty: Possible
.Friday evening we had a dinner. Somewhat
to my own surprise I found that I was
to preside. Anna did not appear. In
her place I went to the table with Mr
Molina
Birth: 1820 Death: 1873
, the minister from
Peru, andhad on my left M. R. Limbourg
Birth: 1806-07-08 Death: 1887-03-03
– the minster from Holland. The other guests,
as far as I remember, were Gen.
Birth: 1815-01-16 Death: 1872-01-09
& Mrs.
Halleck, Col. Townsend
Birth: 1817-08-22 Death: 1893-05-10
, Senator
Birth: 1827-05-23 Death: 1882-03-04
and Ms Latham
Birth: 1835 Death: 1867-09-10
, Mr
Birth: 1792-01-30 Death: 1865-04-24
& Mrs Cox
Birth: 1800 Death: 1889-04-23
, MrUnknown
& MrsUnknown
Fisher, Gen.
Birth: 1823-11-02 Death: 1912-04-07
& Mrs. Clark
Death: 1887
, Count
Piper
Birth: 1820 Death: 1891
,
Mr. Alruca
Unknown
, a Mr WhiteUnknown
, Mr Raymond
Birth: 1820-01-24 Death: 1869-06-18
, Mr Gooche
Birth: 1820-01-08 Death: 1891-11-11
, & Mr McKnight
Birth: 1820-01-14 Death: 1885-10-25
. I enjoyed the evening quite well. Wore
my red silk, with lace & peasant
waist, & shell flowers. After our
own guests were gone, Fred and I went
to a party at Madame Stoeckls
Birth: 1826-05-03 Death: 1913
.
They
Birth: 1804 Death: 1892-01-26
have a beautiful house for entertaining,
the rooms, six in number, and the stair
case, all open upon a circular hall,
in the center of which an immense
flowerstand was filled with a collection
of rich flowers, all in bloom. The
upper-hall forms a gallery, from
which you look down into these flowers
& the hall. All the diplomatic
corps and a great many others were
there. All the heads were dressed
in the latest styles, and the
married ladies made gorgeous
displays of rich laces and heavy
silks. Madame Stoeckls wore
a white brocade with small flower
clusters in the pattern, and an
amulet of emeralds and diamonds.
Your niece adorned her youth with
the proper youthful white – wearing
the white embroidered muslin with
pink sash and headdress. When
we came home there was an in-
vviation on the table for a
matineé the next day, at
the arsenal. Mother had
written you that we attended
Nelly’s
Birth: 1862-09-11 Death: 1921-10-05
matineé at campSunday was very rainy – Father went
to church alone. I nursed a cold at
home. Monday evening, Mother
will tell you, that Gen. Sumner
Birth: 1797-01-30 Death: 1863-03-21
dined with us. I like him
very much. He is better looking than
his photographs and so straight
forward and soldierly.
[left Margin]
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21Frances Seward
continued
fever & another
restless &
sleepless night.
The Dr
Unknown
saysshe has no
bad symptoms
perhaps she
has not
I will write
to Dr. Helmuth
Birth: 1833-10-30 Death: 1902-05-15
to day –
Fanny is sleeping
this morn
without fever
I will write
immediately
if she is worse –
Sister – Tuesday Morning