Auburn Oct. 7^th
Dear Henry,
When I received your very welcome letter yesterday
I intended, before I answered it to have gone over to the house and
gathered such information as I thought would be most interest
ing to you. But the snow storm has placed a gulf between
here and there which it will take many sunny days to remove
and I must be content to give you such details as my Francis Harriet Weed and Peter have related to me. Fanny was quite ill a day
or two with the ague in her breast but is now so far recovered as
to be about her own room though she has not again returned
into the kitchen and dining. Mrs. Dean who left her for a few
days is again with her and will continue there until she is called to
George Woods. The baby grows fast and beautiful and is the admiration
of us all particularly Augustus who since ^he^ has become convinced
she is his sister loves her exceedingly never leaving the room for
a moment without giving her a parting kiss. Fred says he loves
her just as well as Augustus does but it is quite evident his feelings
are not of that enduring nature of his Mother’s. Grandpa they say is quite
lonely particularly since the snow storm which rendered everything
both in and out doors particularly gloomy. They try to keep a fire
in the south room but as usual it will go out and when he comes
home he has no place to abide in, the consequence is he wanders about
like an unquiet spirit only not as silent. Harriet Weed is as much

as usual, always making up for the delinquencies of other in her attention
to Fanny and the little one. Clary of course is busy about many things and
your uncle Hugh talks of going to New York some time this week.
I believe I have informed you as far as is in my power of the estate and
condition of all at home. Every thing wears an uncommonly melon
choly aspect out of doors the ornamental trees in particular
have sufficed extremely from the effectts of the late snow storm
which you doubtless have also experienced in your cold county.
It commenced storming Tuesday night and continued to snow
increasingly until yesterday morning when the trees presented
something of the appearance swiss village does after
the descent of an Avalanche. The limbs were broken (particularly
the poplars and other high ones) entirely off at the top and lay on
the ground in such quantities that the walks were impassable
and during the day quite dangerous as they were continually
falling. Those at home suffered less than did their neighbors
none of any consequence being broken except the poplars
outside the gate and the sumachs—so says Peter who seems
to take great credit to himself for having been to lazy to shake
the snow from them. He says Mr. Hills lost many of his most
valuable ones and he kept a man constantly at work with them
all day–therefore it is much better to keep still on such occasions
and all others. Which was to be demonstrated. Today it looks
more pleasant, the sun strives to shine the trees have resumed their
upright posture the snow is fast dissolving and incorporating
itself with the clay in the streets thereby forming as obstinate a con-
tinuation as one would wish to contend with in the way of walking
we shall all be anxious to hear if you have had a similar
visitation at the west which you undoubtedly have.
You make many kind inquires dear Henry respecting my

health, arrangements for the winter &c. I am better very much better
in all respects than when you left still I consider myself quite an
invalid in comparison with ^my^ usual good health. Until last week
I could get no definite answer from W. as to ^our^ future mode of
live and now he appears to be quite undecided whether he con-
continues at Canandaigua though he has provided bread for us
for the winter as he says “when he shall be able to determine where
he shall go.” He complains bitterly of the arduous duties of his office
which devolve mostly upon himself and he anticipates a still grea-
ter weight of care should Sibly be elected to Congress. I have said
all I could to induce him to remain there contented but it is out
of the power of mortal to persuade him to be satisfied any where
long at a time. Peter has just been over to inform me
there is a Mr. Somebody going to start for Chatauqua this afternoon
and that Fanny wants to me to write as she did not feel quite
equal to t[ he ] [ task ] [ on ] such short notice though she is almost
as she was [ previous ] to h[ er ] attack of the ague which she says
Augustus mentioned in his last letter to you. So I hope you will
not be in the least alarmed as you know it is quite common with
her when she is mending and Mrs. Dean is an indefatigable nurse
we hope to see you out here in the course of the present month
when I hope it will be more pleasant than now though I begin
to think winter has commenced already. The little boys anxiously
look forward to the time of your return and I now see them but I
am entertained with the many wonderful events they will cause
to come to pass when “Pa comes home again”. Do write as often
as you can spare time from your more important duties
and remember that to hear you are well and happy adds
not a little to the few enjoyments of your affectionate sister.
Lazette

William H. Seward
Westfield
Chautauque County
Auburn Oct. 8 N.Y.
Lazette
Oct. 8. 1836