Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 31, 1831
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 31, 1831
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:meb
student editorTranscriber:spp:lmd
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1831-12-31
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to
place elements in the project's places.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file.
verical-align: super; font-size:
12px;
text-decoration: underline;
text-decoration: line-through;
color: red;
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, December 31, 1831
action: sent
sender: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
location: Albany, NY
receiver: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
location: Auburn, NY
transcription: meb
revision: crb 2017-10-26
<>
Page
1
Saturday evening —
My Dear Sis — The letter I expected to night has not come
but I think it will be along in the morning by way of
wishing me a happy New Year — I thought last Sunday when I
wrote that long letter I sent by George Throop
every day but here it is Saturday and I have not written
a word but I have been about half sick all the week and
went to bed early the time I had set apart to write has been
employed in sleeping but the letter will be ne’er the shorter for
being written in two evenings instead of five or six — Sunday
you remember I told you I went a long way to Church at which
time I took some cold — Monday I had the toothache — In the morning
Mrs Walworth
she is a remarkably young looking woman I could not believe
they were mother and daughter although she has another
daugter
not very smart — Walworth is a cousin of Tracy’s
evening Mrs Cary
playing backgammon with her husband
as boisterous as Gus
to my own room and went to bed with the toothache — Teusday
morning got up with considerable symptoms of the influenza sore
throat &c — In the morning that is some time between the hours of
11 and 2 the fashionable hours Mr
to see me and while they were here Mrs
called McLean
me Henry
and looks quite young — Serene
more about her than to me — Ellen the sister is also very pretty
but not a very intelligent countenance I cannot say how smart
they may either of them be I saw them so short a time —
Page
2
They were both dressed very pretty — Mrs Blanchard had on a merino
pelisse the same colour as the silk I sent you — a black velvet hat
Miss Blanchard had on a silk pelisse maroon colour if you
know what that was ^is^ — I did not until I was told — I should call
it a reddish brown — a bonnet of the same colour — her pelisse was
trimmed with velvet down in front — O how much prettier pelisses are
than cloaks I do not like cloaks nor ever shall — these
pelisses were made without capes I the first I have seen — They
all departed together — just as I was going to my room one of the
waiters came and told me that Mrs. Savage
Mrs Bronson and myself to tea — I was not well which was my
apology I went to see if Mrs Cary would go — she said she believed not
as Mrs Savage had not called on her since she came this time but
she would not send any answer until she consulted Mr Cary
left Robert
go out to dinner — Henry did not come home — I did not feel
well enough to dress so Gus went alone and had my dinner
sent sent in with Freds
asleep Henry came home he had been to the dentists having his teeth
set which look very well and he says the operation was not half as
painful as he anticipated — before I got up Mrs Cary came in to see if
I was going to Mr Savage
an apology — She said she and Mr Cary had concluded to go and sent
an answer to that effect — because they had been invited there last win-
ter and did not accept the invitation — Well I could see no harm in
all this — I did not go out to tea — after tea Mrs Cary came in and
said she had a proposition to make to Henry — that she wished him and
Mr Cary to go and apologise for her not coming because her nurse
was sick — Jemima by the way had been sick a day or two — Henry
objected said he did not think it would look well for two men to go
alone to make a social visit and leave their wives at home that
he would come up at between 8 and 9 oclock if they went and if they
did not wish to go they had better send up an apology on the
score of Jemima’s illness — so back she went to consult Trumbull
I told her I would take care of Trummy Junior
not prevent — so I went and brought the little fellow into our room
Page
3
where he was playing very contentedly when Mr Cary came — said they had
come to a conclusion to go and wanted Henry to go with them to introduce
them to Mrs Savage whom he was quite sure he had never seen and
he thought it quite uncertain whether he should know the Chief
Justice himself — Henry again resisted and persisted in not going until after
they had taken tea — finally between 7 and 8 oclock they got started Mary
one of the chambermaids to take care of Trummy — Henry went after 8
and found them actually there though when they got within sight of the
house they had so many misgivings that they almost determined to come
home and send an apology Mr Cary by this time being quite sure he should
not know the chief justice — I tell you all this because I think it will do
more towards informing you what kind of people they are than any thing
else I can say — they are both very clever unassuming people and Mrs
Cary considers Henry a kind of oracle — Mrs Cary appears very well and converses
much better than I imagined she did, though she cannot exactly
feel just as we do and think as we do she is a good kind hearted woman —
Teusday night while they were gone I wrot wrote to Clary
I tried that on — sits very good — It is nothing different from the manner
of making them at Auburn — I think the sleeves are rather larger below
the elbow [ than ]
Reason: wax-seal those Miss
Blood
on the wri[ stband ]
Reason: wax-seal— not fulled at all like the
tunnel sleeves — Wednesday
morning Mrs Bain
that afternoon Henry and I went out shopping — I bought me a bead bag of Lucus Terry
who keeps the best assortment of Jewelry &c in Albany — exchanged a pair of
shoes that pinched me — went to the museum — saw the Egyptian Mumy and
divers other curiosities — called at the store where Joshua Burt
and then came home to tea — went to bed early with a pain in my side
Thursday not very well all the morning — went in the evening to Mr Hopkins
not at home — called at Walworths and Savages — Walworth the illest looking
man I ever saw for a Chancellor very little of a gentleman — wife silly —
Mrs Savage continues to look some like Mrs Rudd
so tall which makes her very nearly round — came home and went to bed
Friday did not go out any where or see any one — Henry and Mr Cary went to
the play to see the Gladiator by Forrest
kind I never could endure the thoughts of a gladiator since I read Zilliah
Henry was much pleased with the acting but said he did not wish to see
it again — Saturday morning we called at Porters and the Governors
suppose you know all ladies are to call on Mrs Throop
the matter a long time and I suppose delayed it much longer than any
one else as every one was asking me if I had not called yet and
La Forge the young gentleman who is engaged to
Page
4
Elisabeth Porter
she could not account for my not having called in any other way — So I con-
cluded to go as they have always been civil to me and my not calling as
every body knows we are from the same place would appear very pointed —
happily the word was “not at home” which I was very thankful for as I
understood Mrs Lupton
to encounter her —
Mrs Porter was very pleasant — the room looked so comfortable I have
not seen any in Albany that pleased me so much the sofa was drawn
up to the fire books were on the table — plants in one corner of the room
— the piano open — all looked so much as if the room was made to live
in not kept for show — here I am at the bottom of the page and have not
wished you a happy New Year — it is Sunday night now — Kiss Fan
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Auburn.
[right Margin] for Aunty — Your own Sis —
Saturday evening —
My Dear Sis — The letter I expected to night has not come
but I think it will be along in the morning by way of
wishing me a happy New Year — I thought last Sunday when I
wrote that long letter I sent by George Throop
Birth: 1793-04-12 Death: 1854-02-23
I should
writeevery day but here it is Saturday and I have not written
a word but I have been about half sick all the week and
went to bed early the time I had set apart to write has been
employed in sleeping but the letter will be ne’er the shorter for
being written in two evenings instead of five or six — Sunday
you remember I told you I went a long way to Church at which
time I took some cold — Monday I had the toothache — In the morning
Mrs Walworth
Birth: 1795-12-31 Death: 1847-04-24
and daugter
Birth: 1817-09-29 Death: 1895-10-03
called on me — the wife of the
Chancellor
Birth: 1788-10-26 Death: 1867-11-27
she is a remarkably young looking woman I could not believe
they were mother and daughter although she has another
daugter
Birth: 1812-12-19 Death: 1875
married — Mrs Walworth is very pretty
and clever butnot very smart — Walworth is a cousin of Tracy’s
Birth: 1793-06-17 Death: 1859-09-12
— In theevening Mrs Cary
Birth: 1788 Death: 1863-06-22
and I went up to see Mrs
Bronson
Birth: 1799 Death: 1867-02
found herplaying backgammon with her husband
Birth: 1789-11-17 Death: 1863-09-03
and Master Orville
Birth: 1826 Death: 1860Certainty: Probable
quiteas boisterous as Gus
Birth: 1826-10-01 Death: 1876-09-11
ever is — thought this quite encourageing —
cameto my own room and went to bed with the toothache — Teusday
morning got up with considerable symptoms of the influenza sore
throat &c — In the morning that is some time between the hours of
11 and 2 the fashionable hours Mr
Birth: 1793-01-06 Death: 1862-11-11
and Mrs
Birth: 1803-03-30 Death: 1866-03-02
James Porter
cameto see me and while they were here Mrs
Birth: 1801 Death: 1838-04-13
and Miss Blancahrd
Birth: 1810-02-10 Death: 1892-12-09
called McLean
Birth: 1793-04-20 Death: 1858-12-05
who boards at this house introduced them
tome Henry
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
of course was in court. Mrs Blanchard is
prettyand looks quite young — Serene
Birth: 1805 Death: 1884-01-19
has of course talked to
youmore about her than to me — Ellen the sister is also very pretty
but not a very intelligent countenance I cannot say how smart
they may either of them be I saw them so short a time —
They were both dressed very pretty — Mrs Blanchard had on a merino
pelisse the same colour as the silk I sent you — a black velvet hat
Miss Blanchard had on a silk pelisse maroon colour if you
know what that was ^is^ — I did not until I was told — I should call
it a reddish brown — a bonnet of the same colour — her pelisse was
trimmed with velvet down in front — O how much prettier pelisses are
than cloaks I do not like cloaks nor ever shall — these
pelisses were made without capes I the first I have seen — They
all departed together — just as I was going to my room one of the
waiters came and told me that Mrs. Savage
Death: 1837-04-06
had sent for Mrs. CaryMrs Bronson and myself to tea — I was not well which was my
apology I went to see if Mrs Cary would go — she said she believed not
as Mrs Savage had not called on her since she came this time but
she would not send any answer until she consulted Mr Cary
Birth: 1787-08-11 Death: 1869-06-20
so Ileft Robert
Unknown
with my apology and went on to my room — I did
notgo out to dinner — Henry did not come home — I did not feel
well enough to dress so Gus went alone and had my dinner
sent sent in with Freds
Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25
— after dinner I went to bed — while
I wasasleep Henry came home he had been to the dentists having his teeth
set which look very well and he says the operation was not half as
painful as he anticipated — before I got up Mrs Cary came in to see if
I was going to Mr Savage
Birth: 1779-02-22 Death: 1863-10-19
— though I told
her at the time that I had sentan apology — She said she and Mr Cary had concluded to go and sent
an answer to that effect — because they had been invited there last win-
ter and did not accept the invitation — Well I could see no harm in
all this — I did not go out to tea — after tea Mrs Cary came in and
said she had a proposition to make to Henry — that she wished him and
Mr Cary to go and apologise for her not coming because her nurse
Unknown
was sick — Jemima by the way had been sick a day or two — Henry
objected said he did not think it would look well for two men to go
alone to make a social visit and leave their wives at home that
he would come up at between 8 and 9 oclock if they went and if they
did not wish to go they had better send up an apology on the
score of Jemima’s illness — so back she went to consult Trumbull
I told her I would take care of Trummy Junior
Birth: 1829 Death: 1832-03-29
so that
neednot prevent — so I went and brought the little fellow into our room
where he was playing very contentedly when Mr Cary came — said they had
come to a conclusion to go and wanted Henry to go with them to introduce
them to Mrs Savage whom he was quite sure he had never seen and
he thought it quite uncertain whether he should know the Chief
Justice himself — Henry again resisted and persisted in not going until after
they had taken tea — finally between 7 and 8 oclock they got started Mary
Unknown
one of the chambermaids to take care of Trummy — Henry went after 8
and found them actually there though when they got within sight of the
house they had so many misgivings that they almost determined to come
home and send an apology Mr Cary by this time being quite sure he should
not know the chief justice — I tell you all this because I think it will do
more towards informing you what kind of people they are than any thing
else I can say — they are both very clever unassuming people and Mrs
Cary considers Henry a kind of oracle — Mrs Cary appears very well and converses
much better than I imagined she did, though she cannot exactly
feel just as we do and think as we do she is a good kind hearted woman —
Teusday night while they were gone I wrot wrote to Clary
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05
— my dress came
homeI tried that on — sits very good — It is nothing different from the manner
of making them at Auburn — I think the sleeves are rather larger below
the elbow [ than ]
Supplied
Unknown
made me though they are set on plainon the wri[ stband ]
Supplied
morning Mrs Bain
Unknown
called — she is the wife of an antimason —
very nice little woman —that afternoon Henry and I went out shopping — I bought me a bead bag of Lucus Terry
who keeps the best assortment of Jewelry &c in Albany — exchanged a pair of
shoes that pinched me — went to the museum — saw the Egyptian Mumy and
divers other curiosities — called at the store where Joshua Burt
Birth: 1810-09-27 Death: 1871-06-13
is to see himand then came home to tea — went to bed early with a pain in my side
Thursday not very well all the morning — went in the evening to Mr Hopkins
Birth: 1772-05-09 Death: 1837-03-09
—not at home — called at Walworths and Savages — Walworth the illest looking
man I ever saw for a Chancellor very little of a gentleman — wife silly —
Mrs Savage continues to look some like Mrs Rudd
Birth: 1785
— more fleshy and notso tall which makes her very nearly round — came home and went to bed
Friday did not go out any where or see any one — Henry and Mr Cary went to
the play to see the Gladiator by Forrest
Birth: 1806-03-09 Death: 1872-12-12
— I did not
wish to see a tragedy of thatkind I never could endure the thoughts of a gladiator since I read Zilliah
Author: Horace Smith Publisher: J. & J. Harper Place of Publication:New York City Date: 1829
Henry was much pleased with the acting but said he did not wish to see
it again — Saturday morning we called at Porters and the Governors
Birth: 1784-08-21 Death: 1874-11-01
Isuppose you know all ladies are to call on Mrs Throop
Birth: 1795-08-07 Death: 1834-06-29
first — I
consideredthe matter a long time and I suppose delayed it much longer than any
one else as every one was asking me if I had not called yet and
La Forge the young gentleman who is engaged to
Elisabeth Porter
Birth: 1813 Death: 1883-05-01
(he
boards here) said Mrs Throop had enquired if I was ill asshe could not account for my not having called in any other way — So I con-
cluded to go as they have always been civil to me and my not calling as
every body knows we are from the same place would appear very pointed —
happily the word was “not at home” which I was very thankful for as I
understood Mrs Lupton
Birth: 1779-02-17 Death: 1833-03-05
had arrived the evening previous and I felt no
inclinatto encounter her —
Mrs Porter was very pleasant — the room looked so comfortable I have
not seen any in Albany that pleased me so much the sofa was drawn
up to the fire books were on the table — plants in one corner of the room
— the piano open — all looked so much as if the room was made to live
in not kept for show — here I am at the bottom of the page and have not
wished you a happy New Year — it is Sunday night now — Kiss Fan
Birth: 1826-12-12 Death: 1909-08-24
Mrs. Alvah Worden
Auburn.
[right Margin] for Aunty — Your own Sis —