Albany Wednesday morning
My dear Frances,
I have just disposed of a cup of black tea and toast at
Crittenden’s breakfast table and hasten before the Telegraph mail
closes to advise you of my safe arrival here in good health.
The moon (and it was one of the finest that ever looked down upon
this wicked world) was shining upon deserted streets when we
arrived at between nine and ten o,clock last evening. The ap-
pearance of the cholera does make people more careful in
their habits. The disease however has not become epidemic
here. Almost all the cases which have occurred were among
the wretched inhabitants of what is called the Pasture in the
lower part of the town.
It seems that in New York the number of cases continues
to average about the same 23 or 24 daily. Still there is no
panic there, the disease there as here is confined to locali-
ties particularly filthy. I think I will remain here until
Friday evening as I will not be able to go by the way of Orange County and arrive in New York in time to attend the
Court on Saturday morning. I am anxious to arrive
there at that time because I learn that the Chancellor
has given out that the Court will adjourn immediately
to Saratoga. Of all places Saratoga is the most gloomy
when the fashionable visiting season has passed and that
will be over in ten days. I would vastly prefer coming
to Albany.

At Utica I very fortunately met young Freeman the painter
and engaged him to go to Auburn (before he returns Eastward)
and take Fred’s picture. He is to write to me at Auburn.
You will open the letter and please to answer it
as concerns your convenience in selecting the time. Should
he succeed it is my particular and ardent wish that
you will sit for your picture, if it prove a failure
we will destroy it. To induce your consent I promise
you that if I remain long enough in New York I will
have my miniature taken by a good artist.
The G.&G business being now closed and our matters
looking not very badly will you dearest determine
whether you will take the Chedell’s piano forte
or prefer that I shall get one in New York.
If you conclude to take that please send for Mr. Beardsley to come over, show him this letter and
(this part of it I mean) and ask him to make the
best bargain he can for it, saying that I will get one
in N.Y. unless the terms sent us &c[ . ] Chedell is an
unconscientious man, and probably can well
enough afford to sell the piano at $200 or $225
but you will buy it at the lowest price should it
be $200 for I doubt whether I can bargain to so
good advantage here. My dear Fan let no motive

of delicacy prevent your bringing this matter to a close
with as much dispatch as is practicable so that I can
know what to do here.
I saw Mr Devereux at Utica which I mention for
the purpose of saying that your memory is very highly
cherished in his household.
I have had a short interview with Weed, he is
very well and in very good spirits. Thinks we are
to beat the Tories. He is quite zealous for your
nomination to the first place but it is not rational.
My attack on Aaron Vail has brought out a Cham-
pion in Philadelphia.
In haste my dear F. I remain as ever your
Henry.
Address, 205 Broadway, N.Y. Tell me about both
the boys, — any silk dresses dear?
Tell Beardsley to stipulate on the piano a credit
of 3 and six months.
Tracy arrived last Friday & left for Connecticut on
Sunday (He gave nothing! in the Jac Gould affair agst Weed)

Mrs. William H. Seward
Auburn.
Albany August 20
August 22^d 1834
Henry.