Letter from William Henry Seward to William Henry Seward, Jr., October 19, 1870

  • Posted on: 8 May 2018
  • By: admin
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Letter from William Henry Seward to William Henry Seward, Jr., October 19, 1870
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:crb

student editor

Transcriber:spp:lmd

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1870-10-19

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Letter from William Henry Seward to William Henry Seward, Jr., October 19, 1870

action: sent

sender: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16  Death: 1872-10-10

location: Shanghai, China

receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1839-06-18  Death: 1920-04-29

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: crb 

revision: tap 2018-03-30

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Editorial Note

Letter written by Olive Risley Seward for William H. Seward.
Shanghai. China.
October. 19. 1870.
My dear William,
The haste with which I have
necessarially traveled, to escape ice
and snow at Peking, has rendered
it impossible for me to dictate, or for
Olive
Birth: 1844-07-15 Death: 1908-11-27
to write as frequently and as
fully as I should have done.
Gov. Randall
Birth: 1819-10-31 Death: 1872-07-26
parts with us here.
I fear also that Mrs. Randall's
Birth: 1845-10-02 Death: 1918-10-06
resolution
to proceed with us through India will
give away, and that she will prematurely
return to the United States with him.
I tax dear Olive this morning
in the first hour of rest after a
ball that lasted all night, and in
the hour of her preparation for a new
Page 2

voyage to say, that, we arrived here
safely on Monday the 17th int, after
a very pleasant and instructive
visit of twenty days in Japan.
My general health and strength
have continually improved, so that
I should roll a wheel barrow twice
as far, and draw up a weight twice
as heavy as that I lifted at Auburn.
I have lost only one meal during
the voyage from illness. My arms
have not recovered their muscular
elasticity, but I have learned to use
them better.
Olive has had many, and serious,
though short turns of illness, m[ u ]
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Supplied

Reason: 
ch as she
had at Auburn, but I hope and I even
believe that she is now restored to more
perfect health than she enjoyed
since her alarming illness. She
is gentle and affectionate as I promised
my friends she would be. I hope they
Page 3

will remember her with gratitude
for the care and love she is bestowing
upon me in the travel which though tedious
at times and not altogether free from
perils seems to be staying the progress
of infirmities.
Hattie Risley
Birth: 1850-03-05 Death: 1925-07-27
is very well and cheerful.
George Seward
Birth: 1840-11-08 Death: 1910-11-28
and his young wife
Birth: 1850-06-06 Death: 1934-06-15
are
constantly with me, and are very kind
and affectionate. I am experiencing
every where reverence and esteem, from
people of all countries and races, which
surpass all claims of mine to publick con-
sideration. We go tomorrow evening to
Peking by sea, accompanied by Adml.
Rodgers
Birth: 1812-08-08 Death: 1882-05-05
, with an imposing Naval
Escort. I expect that we shall leave
them on the 15th of November and after
a brief stay here, make our way leisurely
through Southern China to Singapore
the hurry of my journey will then
have passed. Impatient to hear
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of the health, welfare and happiness
of my dearly loved children. I am
your affectionate.
Address your letters as heretofore
to the Consulate here.
Hand Shiftx

William Seward

Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
William H. Seward
Birth: 1844-07-15 Death: 1908-11-27
William H. Seward, Jr.
With my best love, and I am so sorry
that it is absolutely impossible to
write more.
Olive.