Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, July 31, 1839
xml:
Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, July 31, 1839
transcriberTranscriber:spp:nds
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1839-07-31
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Letter from Frances Miller Seward to Lazette Miller Worden, July 31, 1839
action: sent
sender:
Frances Seward
Person
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
Place
receiver:
Lazette Worden
Person
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
Person
location:
Canandaigua NY
Place
Name: City: Canandaigua
County: Ontario
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: nds
revision: ekk 2016-01-28
<>
Page 1
My Dearest Sister,
I am quite anxious about you
as your letter is now two days behind its time
but I will hope that you y have been deterred
from writing by nothing more serious than the
extreme heat of the weather. The most important
event which has occurred here since I wrote last
is the visit of Henry Clay
Name: Henry Clay
Birth: 1777-04-12
Death: 1852-06-29
– he came in town
Thursday about 5 oclock and was our guest
for the night together with his son
Name: James Clay
Birth: 1817-11-09
Death: 1864-01-26
and waiter
Charles
Name: Charles Dupuy
Birth: 1829
Death:
, who was by no means an unimportant personage.
When he came in town he went immediately to the
American where he was addressed by Bronson
Name: Parliament Bronson
Birth: 1792
Death: 1857-06-20Certainty: Probable
in behalf
of the committe and to whom he made an eloquent
reply – this you will see in the Newspaper. His son
came here to tea with William Beardsley
Name: William Beardsley
Birth: 1816-03-27
Death: 1900-01-25
and a Mr
Wood
Name: City: Syracuse
County: Onandaga
State: NY
Country: US
Committe who were in waiting
to accompany Mr Clay to that place – his son is a young
man of 20 no way extraordinary in appearance or
ability. Mr Clay came about eight oclock and
[top Margin] Angelina Briggs
Name: Angelina Briggs
Birth: 1810-10-01
Death: 1841-04-24
has a
young daughter
Name: Angelina Briggs
Birth: 1840-07-29
Death: 1845-05-17
.
Mr Lucas
Name: William Lucas
Birth: 1799
Death: 1839-08-25
continues
very ill – they feel
almost discouraged
about his recovery
it is said that
he has the dropsy[ . ]
Reason:
I have opened my
letter at the request
of Maria
Name: Maria
Birth:
Death:
to ask
you if you know
anything about the
10 shillings which has
disappeared from my
needle book – you
may remember hearing
Clara & I talking about it
one day – Maria think
you may have deposited
in some more
safe place.
The boys
Name: Augustus Seward
Birth: 1826-10-01
Death: 1876-09-11
Name: Frederick Seward
Birth: 1830-07-08
Death: 1915-04-25
wish to
inform cousin Frances
Name: Frances Chesebro
Birth: 1826-12-12
Death: 1909-08-24
that two balloons
ascended from
the garden
Teusday evening
which spectacle
they witnessed
in company with Mr
McClallen
Name: Hugh McClallen
Birth: 1791-09-07
Death: 1860-11-16
[
.
]
Reason:
Page 2
the remainder of the evening was occupied in receiving the
gentle folks who called upon him here ladies & Gentlemen[ . ]
Reason:
I saw him a few moments in the North Room – his
manners are very conciliating but not quite as easy
as I expected – he is much older than I fancied. Our
conversation was of course commonplace – he said he
did not anticipate the pleasure of me an introduction
to me & enquired how old my babe
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1839-06-18
Death: 1920-04-29
was whether it
was a girl or boy &c – he was evidently very much
fatigued. I begged him to return early without ceremony
which he did withdrawing himself from the company
at half past nine. You can imagine what an exertion
I must have made to go to the breakfast table (I
have hardly yet recovered from the effort of it) but I felt
unwilling to y lose any opportunity of seeing him & Clara
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1793-05-01
Death: 1862-09-05
was
unwilling to do the honours alone – he said little
at table was extremely hoarse with speaking so much
in the open air – he seemed to talk with so much
difficulty that I refrained from addressing him as often
as I would otherwise have done. I crawled into bed
as soon as I left the table but in half an hour
was summoned to receive the adieus of the father
and son they were going to the prison and at nine
oclock were to take the cars for Syracuse. Upon the
Page 3
whole I was not more than half satisfied. I suppose great
men are always hurried through the world in this way
without much time to devote to forming acquaintances, with
women especially. He was at Canandaigua did you
see or hear of him? Now for myself and Willie. Although
I gain strength and am able to go about the house I have
lost my appetite have severe pain in my breast [ particulary ]
Alternate Text: particularly
after nursing Willie. I have much less nourishment for
him and he is more hearty than any of my other children were.
You know Mrs Dean
Alternate Text: pails
of milk can make no allowance for me. I feel [ sometime ]
Alternate Text: sometimes
very much disheartened and fearful that I shall be obliged to
wean my little boy which I cannot think of with any [ composur ]
Alternate Text: composure.
I have tried the bottle but he is unwilling to take it. Can
you give me any advice – I have thought of consulting Dr Thompson
Name: Alexander Thompson
Birth: 1810-05-02
Death: 1869-09-21
but am every to day hoping to regain my appetite and think
then I will have more nurse for my boy. I wish every day
when I look at him that his Aunty could see how fat and
playful he has grown – he makes us all love him more every day[ . ]
Reason:
Thursday – no letter from you yet. I do hope this coll cool
Mrs Dean day will bring one. A letter from Henry
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
written
Teusday morning, says, he is just leaving for a northern
excursion through the counties of Washington
Name: Washington County City:
County: Washington
State: NY
Country: US
Warren
Name: Warren County City:
County: Warren
State: NY
Country: US
Clinton
Name: Clinton County City:
County: Clinton
State: NY
Country: US
Essex
Name: Essex County City:
County: Essex
State: NY
Country: US
Franklin
Name: Franklin County City:
County: Franklin
State: NY
Country: US
St Lawrence
Name: St. Lawrence County City:
County: St. Lawrence
State: NY
Country: US
Jefferson
Name: Jefferson County City:
County: Jefferson
State: NY
Country: US
& Oswego
Name: City:
County: Oswego
State: NY
Country: US
– from
thenc re home by the way of Syracuse – he was quite unwell
when he wrote – says Jennings
Name: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
and Marcia
Name: Marcia Seward
Birth: 1794-07-23
Death: 1839-10-25
will return next
week – Henry is accompanied by the Adjutant General
Name: Rufus King
Birth: 1814-01-26
Death: 1876-10-13
I wish it was Blatchford
Name: Samuel Blatchford
Birth: 1820-03-09
Death: 1893-07-07
. Catherine
Name: Harriet Bogart
Birth: 1807
Death: 1888-08-20
takes her place – Lucinda
writes in great haste thinks he will be home next week. I will
not keep my letters any longer but hope to hear from you
tonight certainly. your own Sister Frances –
[top Margin] Mrs Dean will leave Teusday[ . ]
Reason: I have just sent Augustus to see
if Mrs Benedict
Name:
Birth:
Death:
is ready to take her place[
.
]
Reason: We can
almost see Willie grow.
Page 4
My Dearest Sister,
I am quite anxious about you
as your letter is now two days behind its time
but I will hope that you y have been deterred
from writing by nothing more serious than the
extreme heat of the weather. The most important
event which has occurred here since I wrote last
is the visit of Henry Clay
Person
Thursday about 5 oclock and was our guest
for the night together with his son
Person
Charles
Person
When he came in town he went immediately to the
American where he was addressed by Bronson
Person
of the committe and to whom he made an eloquent
reply – this you will see in the Newspaper. His son
came here to tea with William Beardsley
Person
Unknown
one of the SyracusePlace
to accompany Mr Clay to that place – his son is a young
man of 20 no way extraordinary in appearance or
ability. Mr Clay came about eight oclock and
[top Margin] Angelina Briggs
Person
young daughter
Person
Mr Lucas
Person
very ill – they feel
almost discouraged
about his recovery
it is said that
he has the dropsy[ . ]
Supplied
I have opened my
letter at the request
of Maria
Person
you if you know
anything about the
10 shillings which has
disappeared from my
needle book – you
may remember hearing
Clara & I talking about it
one day – Maria think
you may have deposited
in some more
safe place.
The boys
People
inform cousin Frances
Person
that two balloons
ascended from
the garden
Teusday evening
which spectacle
they witnessed
in company with Mr
McClallen
Person
Supplied
the remainder of the evening was occupied in receiving the
gentle folks who called upon him here ladies & Gentlemen[ . ]
Supplied
I saw him a few moments in the North Room – his
manners are very conciliating but not quite as easy
as I expected – he is much older than I fancied. Our
conversation was of course commonplace – he said he
did not anticipate the pleasure of me an introduction
to me & enquired how old my babe
Person
was a girl or boy &c – he was evidently very much
fatigued. I begged him to return early without ceremony
which he did withdrawing himself from the company
at half past nine. You can imagine what an exertion
I must have made to go to the breakfast table (I
have hardly yet recovered from the effort of it) but I felt
unwilling to y lose any opportunity of seeing him & Clara
Person
unwilling to do the honours alone – he said little
at table was extremely hoarse with speaking so much
in the open air – he seemed to talk with so much
difficulty that I refrained from addressing him as often
as I would otherwise have done. I crawled into bed
as soon as I left the table but in half an hour
was summoned to receive the adieus of the father
and son they were going to the prison and at nine
oclock were to take the cars for Syracuse. Upon the
whole I was not more than half satisfied. I suppose great
men are always hurried through the world in this way
without much time to devote to forming acquaintances, with
women especially. He was at Canandaigua did you
see or hear of him? Now for myself and Willie. Although
I gain strength and am able to go about the house I have
lost my appetite have severe pain in my breast [ particulary ]
Alternate Text
after nursing Willie. I have much less nourishment for
him and he is more hearty than any of my other children were.
You know Mrs Dean
Unknown
who from her own account always had [
pail
]
Alternate Text
of milk can make no allowance for me. I feel [ sometime ]
Alternate Text
very much disheartened and fearful that I shall be obliged to
wean my little boy which I cannot think of with any [ composur ]
Alternate Text
I have tried the bottle but he is unwilling to take it. Can
you give me any advice – I have thought of consulting Dr Thompson
Person
but am every to day hoping to regain my appetite and think
then I will have more nurse for my boy. I wish every day
when I look at him that his Aunty could see how fat and
playful he has grown – he makes us all love him more every day[ . ]
Supplied
Thursday – no letter from you yet. I do hope this coll cool
Mrs Dean day will bring one. A letter from Henry
Person
Teusday morning, says, he is just leaving for a northern
excursion through the counties of Washington
Place
Place
Place
Essex
Place
Place
Place
Place
Place
thenc re home by the way of Syracuse – he was quite unwell
when he wrote – says Jennings
Person
Person
week – Henry is accompanied by the Adjutant General
Person
I wish it was Blatchford
Person
Unknown
is dismissed – HarrietPerson
takes her place – Lucinda
Unknown
does the work below stairs. Henry of coursewrites in great haste thinks he will be home next week. I will
not keep my letters any longer but hope to hear from you
tonight certainly. your own Sister Frances –
[top Margin] Mrs Dean will leave Teusday[ . ]
Supplied
if Mrs Benedict
Person
Supplied
almost see Willie grow.
date:
Wednesday, July 31, 1839
receiver:
sender:
year: