Sunday 25th
My Dear Henry I recieved your letter on Thursday Evening written at
Albany on your return from Boston. you say I may write to you
all of that week but I am quite sure you will have time
to recieve this letter before you return as I doubt not that you
went to Baltimore as you contemplated on Wednesday.
I believe I sent my last letter on Thursday morning. that
evening Mrs Hills spent here Mr Hills had that day gone to
New York they were not civil enough to give me any intimation
of his intentions. Mrs Hills conversation was about, as usual
great complaints about domestics. Mrs Bissel was very ill
with a fever immediately after her return to Pittsfield. She desired
Sarah to make particular acknowledgements to you for your
attention which was all told me in due style. your letter
came while she was here and before I had half finished reading
it she departed for home. Friday morning a wagon
drove up to the gate a man woman and child alighted
therefrom and brought with them an enormous trunk with
other baggage. Clary and I viewed the performance from the
window and were wondering why every body would insist upon
visiting us just as we wanted to clean house. the people
looked about like Romulus people but we could not recognize
any of the countenances. they came to the door and imme-
diately after knocking returned and called the man back
who had by this time got about to Eleazer Hills with the
wagon. they then replaced the ponderous trunk and after
remounting drove up the south road. we were quite satisfied
to have the matter thus disposed of. on enquiry found they
were in pursuit of Horace Hill's. they proved to be “brother Benny”
and his family. I hope this time they will be permitted to

to have a room somewhere below the garret where they were kept the
last time because they were not genteel. In the afternoon Clary
and I made an attempt to go to old Mr Field’s to make
a call but by the time we were arrayed there came up a
thunder shower and we gave up the call. Dr. Humphreys
came the same afternoon and vaccinated Frederick Clary
and myself. we were trying the experiment to see if our
former vaccination had been effectual. little Fred never cryed
at all though the Dr said he winked hard when he made the
incision. I think I have been bled with about as little pain.
It is not time yet to know what effect will be. Frederick
continues well and should you stay two or three weeks longer
I think would gain some flesh. We hear constantly of new
cases of the small pox no one has died with it yet
Saturday Lazette spent the day with us. her mouth continues
very sore yet from the effects of the calomel. she went home imme-
diately after tea to prevent Harriet of recieving any company
having heard that the small pox had made its appearance in
New Guinea. Clary went to Compstons — and I — went to bed.
This afternoon I went to Church. the Church is enclosed and
the pu slips partly finished. I do not like the plan and think
the appearance of the Church is very much injured so low
and so long. it was very well however. Serene has been
here this evening until now and I have hardly time to write being
in momentary expectation of the awakening of Fred. This morning
Edward brought in a letter from Dr Canfield to Cornelia directed
to your care so I conclude she is actually on her way up
I hope you will not miss her in your wanderings I shall
expect you the last of this week unless I hear something to the contrary
in the interim. I wish I could hear something from
the Tracy - if additional honours could in any way compensate

him for the loss of health I should pray that they might be showered upon
him. but they are but as dust in the balance. 27 cases of the
small pox Serene says. I would like to know why I do not feel
as much alarm about this disease as I usually do in such cases
Monday afternoon I could not finish my letter last evening and
to day we have been so busy cleaning house that I have had no
time. I send it now fearful if I detain it another day that
you will not recieve it. your own Frances.

Frances A. Seward
25 Sept. 1831