Sunday evening 30^th
My Dear Henry, I sent my last letter on Friday. I do not recollect one
thing that occurred on that day worth mentioning. Saturday morning
your first letter came. I was glad to hear of your safe arrival.
I am very very much disappointed about Mrs Cary's leaving – it has
destroyed many pleasant anticipations for the winter. I think
your landlord has not treated you well about the rooms. I should
be very unwilling to take rooms in the third story. Mrs Beardsley
was so situated last winter and I thought very unpleasantly.
She could see no company in her room. I used to think it a task
myself to climb all the stairs to her apartment and I was
in the same house - the servants were not attentive and her
nurse was employed most of the time in running up and down
stairs. Her only inducement for remaining in those rooms was
that they looked upon the street and the children were amused
by standing at the windows, we should not have even this
advantage. You will perhaps think I ought not to express so much
dissatisfaction without proposing some remedy - this I am unable
to do knowing nothing about the situation of the other apart-
ments. Mrs Mott will certainly be one of the most intellectual
companions imaginable in the parlour and Mrs Bronson ditto.
Mrs Yates I was rather pleased with had she not been so very
intimate with Mrs Dix whom I certainly was not pleased with.
Of Mrs Foster I can say nothing — her husband [ way ] always polite
and obliging.

Saturday being a fine day we went out to make some calls. I went
to Lazette's in the morning and we came to the conclusion that we
would all go to the Ball tomorrow evening. I called at Dr Rudds
and found no one at home. Mrs Sherwoods, she had the toothache -
at Hulberts there I found Mrs Howe she said she expected her husband
home that evening. Mrs Hulbert was in much better spirits than I
have seen her since her husband's death. At Porters — found Mr and
Mrs Porter both at home and very agreeable. We then came home
to tea and after tea went to see Mrs Horner, but had a long cold
walk and found the house shut up, all from home— the night being
very light we concluded to return through lumber street and endeavour
to find Mrs Moffatt – this we did not succeed in – stopped some
boys and made enquiry but recieved no information, so we continued
our walk round until we came to Cumpstons here we went in
and found them all at an oyster supper. Mrs Hosmer and Eliza were
both there. Here we spent the remainder of the evening. Nothing was
said about Carter's being a stage driver until Eliza and her mother
went home then Mrs Cumpston said that Debby had been there
that morning and offered to take her oath that Clary had slandered
Carter. Clary began to make some asseveration to the contrary but
I interrupted her and told her I thought it hardly necessary to contradict
a story of Debby Woods. So we came away. How the Compstons and
Hosmers are affected I am unable to say but of one thing I am sure that
if they chose to believe so notorious a story teller as Deb I should
make no effort to undecieve them. They believe what she says about
Maria and express considerable ill will. Debby makes no secret of the
matter and says if Maria does not take care she will have Mrs Smith to settle with shortly. This is rather an unworthy subject
to occupy so much space.

The day has been fine but a headache kept me at home. Augustus has read
to me all day, his Grandpa has bought him a new book. The first book of History
by Peter Parley. with which he is delighted and wishes to read in it all the time.
Clary had a cold and did not go out. Augustus says I must tell you his
Christmas consisted of a Christmas cake, a little tin soldier, another on horseback
a tin basket and a dancing man, with the candies as usual – & says I must
tell he has kept them all nice. I expected Lazette this evening but the wind has
risen and I fear she will not come. Clary has gone to see Mrs Fosgate. I must
reserve the remainder of my paper to tell you about the Ball tomorrow evening.
Smith is one of the managers. Maria may meet his wife and have that settlement
Deb predicts — Monday night or Teusday morning 3 oclock. To begin
with I wish you a happy New Year. I have just returned from the Ball
Clary, Lazette Maria and myself were all there and all pretty much
belles. I have not enjoyed a ball so much in years could I have
seen your dear eyes occasionally singling me out from the crowd
I think I should have been quite happy. I danced every figure but
two which is much more than I ought to do but for once I felt
perfectly well and free from headache and as the young gentlemen
were disposed to be very polite it would have been treasonable to
have refused. I shall feel the effects of it tomorrow and as I cannot
stop to night I thought I would finish this letter. I went to
Lazettes this morning she dear girl had had the toothache all night
and the day before yesterday so I went up to help her finish
a dress to wear on this occasion. The Dr attempted ineffectually
to extract her tooth but it was easy to night. There were about
ten ladies and as many again gentlemen that I had met before
the rest were all strangers but the party was not so large
as to make dancing unpleasant. Bronson came out new
again and talked and treated me as he used to do before I was
married so I danced twice with him. I wonder if that
five thousand dollars that warms his heart to his old acquaintance
Mc Lallen I danced with twice on Clary's account and twice with Worden on
Lazettes account — with the others Mr Fosgate Duremier Goodwin Fifield Van- -dervier Myres and a gentleman from New York, on thier own account —
George Throop met me in the street on Saturday and said he was going to Albany
tomorrow offered to take any thing I wished to send. I shall send this letter
by him if he goes if not by mail tomorrow. Good night dear one. Your own
Frances
My love to Tracy's and Cary's—

William H. Seward
Albany
Frances A Seward
30 December 1832