Wednesday afternoon
My Dear Henry although I have just sent a letter by mail I
cannot let so good an opportunity pass. This morning some one
knocked I went to the door and found a young man standing
there whom I did not remember ever to have seen before
he said he was going to Albany tomorrow morning and if I wished
to send any thing to Mr Seward would be happy to
oblige me by delivering it. I said I would like to send
a letter, he then remarked it would be necessary
to send it up this evening as he should leave early in the
morning. I then enquired the gentleman’s name, “Burt,” was
the answer, and suddenly my eyes were opened and behold
it was Joshua. Mrs Burt will undoubtedly think it very
strange that I did not know Joshua! It was very stupid
certainly. Your Sunday’s letter came as I calculated this
morning. Your letter was interesting, all of it, and dearest you need
never fear that even politics do not interest me when in any
manner connected with you. I always read all the proceedings
of the Senate in the evening journal a thing I am sure I
never thought of doing before. I read your resolution, hardly
comprehended its import, and was very ignorant of the meaning
of laying it on the table. I do not think you vain dear one
I never did, that is I never have thought you vain since we
were married, on the contrary I shall scold you for your
diffidence soon. If you could hear half the flattering speeches
that are made to me about your talents and believe them half
as religiously as I do you would not think you had any cause

for embarassment. I kow know you will feel differently in process of
time and perhaps think strange that you could ever have ex
perienced these sensations I have no fears for you and you
know I am sensitive to an extreme, foolishly sensitive about these
things. The letter for Lazette I shall keep until I see her
I do not know when that will be it continues so cold
I have read the Governors Message since I wrote if it is not
his own composition I think it might have been written
with ordinary abilities, it appears more a matter of
calculation than any thing else. Joe Richardson says it
is a grand thing. Mrs Horton was here today. I bought
12 lb pounds of beautiful honey of her, she said Mr Horton was
at home sick with his old complaint, was very inquisitive
about Cornelias going home, she had not heard from
Orange county in a long time. I had much that was near
to tell her, we promised her a visit this winter she
appears to think we do not come as often as we might.
I wrote to Cornelia on Sunday and proposed to her that
she should meet you at Albany in the Spring and
come home with you. I intend writing to George soon.
Let me know if you hear any thing from Florida.
Fred has not cut any more teeth yet though his gums
are very much swollen he must suffer a great deal of
pain but he bears it all meekly, is now riding and
singing in his little waggon beside me. Ann does make
a tolerable horse the only thing she has envinced any ingenuity
about since she came here. Gus has written what he calls
a letter to you and wishes me to take charge of it, he
says he promised Pa he would write. Your own Frances.