Florida Jan^y 6^th 1826.
My dear Henry
Your dear Christmas letter come just in
time to give me a good appetite for my tea on
Monday & has served for a relish ever since. I cannot
tell you my dear Bub how much good it does me
to get a letter from any one but especially from
you. I do not wish to flatter you but it is my
greatest happiness next to that which I derive from
my own sweet tho’ts (excuse the prefrence) –
I have sat down with a bad pen and empty
head but hope I shall find something to write &
sincerely beg you to make the best of it. I have
entered on the all important & most agreeable
task of Tutoress (is there such a word) to Neal Charley
Jinney Mary &c. &c. I am sure of your hearty con-
gratulations & wish of success in my a b c under-
taking – with this encouragement I shall proceed
not doubting but that I shall have a Coeus among
the numbers, or he is not the son of his Father.
GWS has moved Mrs Crane bag & baggage home
today we are over stocked but this will soon be remedi-
ed, she is to put out her children & P-man I expect
will be dismissed.

[left Margin] Ma

x

Person

Name: Mary Seward Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11

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is greatly obliged by your dear good kind &c letter, did intend
answering it this eve but I doubt the performance of the same
Make my warmest love to all. I dreamed the other night of getting 2 letters

It makes us all feel melancholly to see Polydores things
come home without an owner, every ^thing^ seems so well calcu-
lated for living snugly & nice, we have not heard one word
of him since he left home, if we could only hear where
he was – then we should wish him with us I suppose: -
is he not miserably calculated to live among strangers
poor fellow I wish he had hinted to me his determination
he seems to have provided nothing for his journey except
his horse & that on a very short notice.
You express much surprize at Monsieur Wiltse’s letter
now it does not surprize me much he is just fool
enough to think this the very time for him to speculate
he still persists in believeing himself the choice of Father [ ! ]
I must send you the original ^letter^ I should do away half the
effect by leaving out the I should be glad if you
can make a key or perchance procure one of the author
to preserve it until I come up – this reminds me of
a speech of my Pa (in a gracious humor) that if we
should have good sleighing he would take me to Auburn
but believe it not I cannot leave home this winter
unless matters & things should change vastly from this
time. he keeps me so economiccally that I will not mor-
tify my flesh by going from his own fireside (he is a good
way off therefore I may slander him a little – is truth slander-
ous say? if it is I cannot help it he is the most un-
generous man I ever saw. Pa went to N.B. this morning
befor daylight.

In looking over Brother Polydore’s letters I found the letter
to Ms. Mellen wrote in partnership to us from Bethm
you recollect her? this Summer when I was in the city
I came in contact with her & mentioned to her that
I was staying with a Brother she made some enquiries
when I introduced her to Marcia, she looked surprised
&c when she called on me she asked for my Brother think-
ing it was yourself, who made bold to write to her.
I need not tell you her curiosity was very much
disappointed, she is the same sweet Hellen I used
t[ o ] know in school as beautiful as ever. this brings
to my mind an address sent you I presume by one
of your fellow students from
Ravenna & I will send it on if
I do not forget it you must
read it for the sake of the last page which does honor
to his head & heart, cannot be transported to our Country
to instill some love of Gallantry in the minds of our
beaux? Tell my Sister I do not intend to be so polite as
to ask after her health any more unless she will permit
me to enquire of her self. You ask for information [ respect- in ] Frances T. H Elliott & Blank H. Seward declare that she
is an “infamous character” this I have from Marcia She
had it from her Husband & he had it from fountainhead
I conceit it as it is very easily perceived in her manners &
deportment. I will leave you to make the comments on
this & tell me if you please how you heard of it.

[left Margin] one was written for a make believe the other was a long full & very loving
the first I read with indifference the last the I concluded should not be read
until I could be alone I was perfectly happy until I awoke and
to it was a dream – why could not I have slept a little
longer May you share Heavens
choicest blessing is the wish
of your Sister
LCS

Florida
Jan 6
W^m H. Seward Esq
Auburn
N.Y.
L.C. Seward
Jan 6, 1826