Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to Sarah D. Hance, October 6, 1863
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Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to Sarah D. Hance, October 6, 1863
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:dxt
student editorTranscriber:spp:crb
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1863-10-06
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Letter from Frances Adeline Seward to Sarah D. Hance, October 6, 1863
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1844-12-09
Death: 1866-10-29
location: Washington D.C., US
receiver: Sarah Hance
Birth: 1820-01-25
Death: 1867-06-10
location: UnknownUnknown
transcription: dxt
revision: tap 2018-07-27
<>
Page
1
e
Originally included with a letter from Frances Miller Seward to Sarah Dare
Hance on October 6, 1863.Washington Oct. 6th 1863
My dear Miss Hance,
Your kind letter
found me still at Auburn, but
already engaged in preparations
for my winter absence. We were
glad to hear that you found your
Father
I enclose dear Will's
I suppose you have not heard
what a dreadful illness he has
just passed through. Two weeks
ago he was violently attacked with
dysentery in camp. When Father
brought him here on a stretcher,
just two weeks today, he was in
a very critical condition. Father
was here alone, & telegraphed to
Mother
York, where Anna
to come on immediately. The next
morning, when we three reached
Page
2
here Will's was symptoms were more
favorable – the following morning,
Thursday, Mother & Jenny
with the nurse
found him still exceedingly ill,
though better. He has continued
to improve, and yesterday came down-
stairs for the first time – very thin
and pale. As soon as he is able
he will go home with Mother &
Jenny, to try the good effects of
change & home. When I look
at him now I can scarcely realize
that he is the same person whom
we found so ill. I never saw any
one so low except Mother. It
was very fortunate that he was
near enough to be brought to our
house. I think in camp he could
hardly have survived. Sir
Henry Holland
day after he was brought in –
and aided physician & nurses
Page
3
very much by his experience & advice –
He was very kind in his attentions.
Mother has been unusually well
most of the time, notwithstand-
ing the amount of fatigue & anxiety
she has had to endure. She had
just returned from Albany when
she received the dispatch, &
travelled two nights and a day
to get here. I need not say how
unceasingly she has watched
since she came – nor how happy
we all feel that the load of anxiety
is lifted from us and my dear
brother spared to us still.
Jenny has been pretty well
except for a cold. Baby has had
one, too, ever since she came –
I was glad you enjoyed your
visit to Auburn – The only fault
I found with it, was that my
time was so broken with interr-
ruptions that I could not see
Page
4
half enough of you. But we must
have that quiet visit some other
time. Aunty
she is well – Kate Barrett
her little boy
house. I heard through Mrs
Warden
Jacksonville by this time her mother
is with her. I enjoyed
the remainder of our trip as much
as the first part. The day after
we left Auburn we went by steam-
boat to Ithaca, & by sailboat to
Elmira where we spent the night. The
next day we came to Geneva on
the lake, & to Niagara that night.
Sunday, Monday and till Tuesday
noon we were at Niagara – It was
very delightful there – we visited
the Canada side, & different
places of interest. Tuesday we
went to Buffalo & Wednesday a
large party of Buffalonians accom-
Page
5
panied us to Dunkirk on Lake Erie,
& Westfield by the cars. It very
pleasantly happened that Julia
& James Warden
that day, & were of the number.
From Westfield we drove to May-
ville on the Chatauqua Lake – There
taking a steamboat we had a charm-
ing moonlight trip to Jamestown.
The next morning we took cars for
Scranton Penn. reaching there late
at night. The following morning
was spent in very interesting visits to
the coal mines & iron mills – afternoon
we took the cars for New York, and the
next day, Saturday, our pleasant
party broke up. some stayed in
New York. Father & the Spanish
minister
The Swedish
Count Piper & Mr Schleiden, went
to Saratoga – & Ellen
turned to Auburn.
Page
6
It is cold, but very pleasant here. At this
season the drives are delightful. Yester-
day I had a nice ride on horse back.
I saw Mrs How
Auburn. She is usually composed, by
but the mention of Sarah
to affect her very much. Hers is a
sad & us weary lot, and she has
the cordial sympathy of all who know
her.
The day before I left Auburn (Sunday)
I accidentally heard that the church
was to be opened in the afternoon
for baptism. Mary Titus
went to the Superintendant
Sunday school, who made arrange-
ments for us, and ^we^ were baptised
that afternoon, at four o'clock, by
the Rev. Mr Rice
or four other young ladies
baptised. Mother was not able
to go to the church, but Aunty & Jenny were there. Mrs Titus
Page
7
my name. It seemed providential that
I should have heard of it as I did –
& everything was pleasant except
that the clergyman was a stranger
instead of our loved & lamented
Mr Pierson
settled in Auburn when I came
away. You know what a diffi-
cult church ours is to suit, & how
divided.
I am not really studying anything –
but have "Evidences of Christian-
ity"
a very large & interesting Natural
History
Besides, I have just finished Miss
Thackeray's
hope you will read it. 'tis a beau-
tiful thing – very short & touching.
I am reading evenings, Romola
by the author
is highly praised. I am not far in it.
When you come to Auburn again
Page
8
I hope we shall have more time for those
pleasant Waverly
I am always looking foward –
I must leave soon for Mother to add
a line. All I can say of the en-
closed photograph is that I have
been looking at Will this morning,
& he looks a thousand times more
handsome, & intellectual & generally
perfect than this.
Jenny would send love if she knew I was
writing. I shall look for a
letter from you whenever you can
write – & it is needless to say that I
am always interested in all you tell
me of yourself.
Affectionately yours
Fanny
e
Editorial Note
My dear Miss Hance,
Your kind letter
found me still at Auburn, but
already engaged in preparations
for my winter absence. We were
glad to hear that you found your
Father
Birth: 1782-09-27 Death: 1888-04-18
well on your
return.I enclose dear Will's
Birth: 1839-06-18 Death: 1920-04-29
photograph –I suppose you have not heard
what a dreadful illness he has
just passed through. Two weeks
ago he was violently attacked with
dysentery in camp. When Father
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
brought him here on a stretcher,
just two weeks today, he was in
a very critical condition. Father
was here alone, & telegraphed to
Mother
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
at Auburn & Fred
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
at
NewYork, where Anna
Birth: 1834-03-29 Death: 1919-05-02
& I were
also –to come on immediately. The next
morning, when we three reached
here Will's was symptoms were more
favorable – the following morning,
Thursday, Mother & Jenny
Birth: 1839-11-18 Death: 1913-11-09
arrived,with the nurse
Birth: 1844Certainty: Possible
, baby
Birth: 1862-09-11 Death: 1921-10-05
& Eliza
Certainty: Possible
, andfound him still exceedingly ill,
though better. He has continued
to improve, and yesterday came down-
stairs for the first time – very thin
and pale. As soon as he is able
he will go home with Mother &
Jenny, to try the good effects of
change & home. When I look
at him now I can scarcely realize
that he is the same person whom
we found so ill. I never saw any
one so low except Mother. It
was very fortunate that he was
near enough to be brought to our
house. I think in camp he could
hardly have survived. Sir
Henry Holland
Birth: 1788-10-27 Death: 1873-10-27
was
here – theday after he was brought in –
and aided physician & nurses
very much by his experience & advice –
He was very kind in his attentions.
Mother has been unusually well
most of the time, notwithstand-
ing the amount of fatigue & anxiety
she has had to endure. She had
just returned from Albany when
she received the dispatch, &
travelled two nights and a day
to get here. I need not say how
unceasingly she has watched
since she came – nor how happy
we all feel that the load of anxiety
is lifted from us and my dear
brother spared to us still.
Jenny has been pretty well
except for a cold. Baby has had
one, too, ever since she came –
I was glad you enjoyed your
visit to Auburn – The only fault
I found with it, was that my
time was so broken with interr-
ruptions that I could not see
half enough of you. But we must
have that quiet visit some other
time. Aunty
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
writes thatshe is well – Kate Barrett
Birth: 1837 Death: 1878-04-08
andher little boy
Birth: 1861-06-27 Death: 1939-10
were a
left at ourhouse. I heard through Mrs
Warden
Birth: 1804-06-10 Death: 1883-12-18
that Julia
Birth: 1839-04-03 Death: 1866-01-11
had reachedJacksonville by this time her mother
is with her. I enjoyed
the remainder of our trip as much
as the first part. The day after
we left Auburn we went by steam-
boat to Ithaca, & by sailboat to
Elmira where we spent the night. The
next day we came to Geneva on
the lake, & to Niagara that night.
Sunday, Monday and till Tuesday
noon we were at Niagara – It was
very delightful there – we visited
the Canada side, & different
places of interest. Tuesday we
went to Buffalo & Wednesday a
large party of Buffalonians accom-
panied us to Dunkirk on Lake Erie,
& Westfield by the cars. It very
pleasantly happened that Julia
& James Warden
Birth: 1843-08-24 Death: 1869-12-15
were in Buffalothat day, & were of the number.
From Westfield we drove to May-
ville on the Chatauqua Lake – There
taking a steamboat we had a charm-
ing moonlight trip to Jamestown.
The next morning we took cars for
Scranton Penn. reaching there late
at night. The following morning
was spent in very interesting visits to
the coal mines & iron mills – afternoon
we took the cars for New York, and the
next day, Saturday, our pleasant
party broke up. some stayed in
New York. Father & the Spanish
minister
Birth: 1817-07-19 Death: 1875-02-14
returned to Washington. The Swedish
Birth: 1820 Death: 1891
& Hanseatic ministers
Birth: 1815-07-22 Death: 1895-02-25
,Count Piper & Mr Schleiden, went
to Saratoga – & Ellen
Birth: 1840-08-19 Death: 1931-02-12
and I re-turned to Auburn.
It is cold, but very pleasant here. At this
season the drives are delightful. Yester-
day I had a nice ride on horse back.
I saw Mrs How
Birth: 1808 Death: 1866-04-16
just before I
leftAuburn. She is usually composed, by
but the mention of Sarah
Birth: 1843 Death: 1863-08-10
seems
alwaysto affect her very much. Hers is a
sad & us weary lot, and she has
the cordial sympathy of all who know
her.
The day before I left Auburn (Sunday)
I accidentally heard that the church
was to be opened in the afternoon
for baptism. Mary Titus
Birth: 1846-01-11 Death: 1913-03-14
& Iwent to the Superintendant
Birth: 1822-10-04 Death: 1885-03-03
of theSunday school, who made arrange-
ments for us, and ^we^ were baptised
that afternoon, at four o'clock, by
the Rev. Mr Rice
Birth: 1819-09-11 Death: 1909
.
There were threeor four other young ladies
Unknown
who
werebaptised. Mother was not able
to go to the church, but Aunty & Jenny were there. Mrs Titus
Birth: 1820-05-18 Death: 1895-12-19
gavemy name. It seemed providential that
I should have heard of it as I did –
& everything was pleasant except
that the clergyman was a stranger
instead of our loved & lamented
Mr Pierson
Birth: 1825 Death: 1863-05-14
. There was no pastorsettled in Auburn when I came
away. You know what a diffi-
cult church ours is to suit, & how
divided.
I am not really studying anything –
but have "Evidences of Christian-
ity"
Author: William Paley Publisher: James Eastburn & Co. Place of Publication:New York City Date: 1817
–
Paley's
Birth: 1743-07 Death: 1805-05-25
– to read Sunday –
&a very large & interesting Natural
History
Author: Samuel G. Goodrich Publisher: Derby & Jackson Place of Publication:New York City Date: 1861
, for weekdays – (by
Goodrich
Birth: 1793-08-19 Death: 1860-05-09
)Besides, I have just finished Miss
Thackeray's
Birth: 1837-06-09 Death: 1919-02-26
"Story of Elizabeth"
Author: Anne Thackeray Ritchie Publisher: Smith, Elder and Co. Place of Publication:London, England Date: 1863
– Ihope you will read it. 'tis a beau-
tiful thing – very short & touching.
I am reading evenings, Romola
Publisher: Home Book Co. Place of Publication:New York, NY Date: 1863-?
,by the author
Birth: 1819-11-22 Death: 1880-12-22
of Adam Bede
Publisher: Harper & Brothers Place of Publication:New York, NY Date: 1859
. It is highly praised. I am not far in it.
When you come to Auburn again
I hope we shall have more time for those
pleasant Waverly
Publisher: A.L. Burt Place of Publication:New York Date: 18?
readings – to whichI am always looking foward –
I must leave soon for Mother to add
a line. All I can say of the en-
closed photograph is that I have
been looking at Will this morning,
& he looks a thousand times more
handsome, & intellectual & generally
perfect than this.
Jenny would send love if she knew I was
writing. I shall look for a
letter from you whenever you can
write – & it is needless to say that I
am always interested in all you tell
me of yourself.
Affectionately yours
Fanny