Auburn March 13^th
My dearest Henry,
I am very sorry that you think
I have been negligent about writing. I wrote
as you desired me to do before I returned
from Canandaigua and until I received your
first letter it never occurred to me that you
would expect to hear from me earlier. In
that letter you spoke of a probability of your
coming home in ten days, this prevented
my writing again supposing you would not receive
my letter should I write. I have been looking
for your appearance a day or two, this morning
I received your letter of the 9th[ . ]
Nicholas came to Canandaigua Wednesday
afternoon. I was obliged to detain him until the
next day as I had returned no calls. Thursday
morning I found the snow diminishing so rapidly
that I decided upon leaving that afternoon.
One of our horses being lame I told Nicholas
to supply their places with Mr Blossoms
grays. I had made but two calls when it
commenced raining, but I went to Grangers
and Mrs Spencers maugre the rain. Lazette
was to accompany me to Mrs Graigs. I returned
for her and by the time we had made this visit
it was one oclock, the sleigh shoe was broken
& to be mended, dinner to be eaten all in
half an hour as I had intended setting out at 1/2 past[ . ]

Every thing seemed to go wrong and worst of all
we had a prospect of performing our journey over
bare roads. Worden and Granger consulted together
about the best route for me to take finally
concluded upon my going through Orleans
by Oaks'. Worden wrote the direction all down
upon a card I never should have remembered had
he not. I was to stay all night at Waterloo,
in case I had not a prospect of getting home
at a reasonable hour. The rain had become a
moist heavy snow, little better than rain.
With all our exertions it was 1/2 past 2 when we came
away. We found the sleighing more tolerable
than we had any reason to anticipate, it was
nearly 7 oclock when we reached Waterloo.
Nicholas was very wet, indeed the continual
falling of the snow was getting rather un-
comfortable for us all. I directed Nicholas
to drive to Birdsall's where (finding Mrs Fosgate
at home and the family all well) I remained
all night. Mrs Fosgate was glad to see me &
I had a very good visit, left them at 10
the next morning and came home over bare
roads. Nicholas crossed the ice. Fred & I
walked over the bridge. I found all well at
home. Augustus had been a good boy and studied
all the time he was not with his Grandpa.
Charlotte Moses a daughter of our cousin at
Marcellus came before I had been home an hour
and staid all night. Mrs Miller came over
to take tea with us. The next day I went
to see Mrs Benedict who had come to Mr Beach's while I was absent. They were to
return home Monday, from thence I went
to Throopsville in pursuit of a girl to supply
Mary Bloods place who was to leave Monday
my search was unsuccessful I returned
with a violent nervous headache which
has continued with intermissions ever since.
I was almost tempted last night to resort
to the use of opium but I do not like the habit
the consequences of it are frequently, if not univer-
sally, lamentable.
I had a very pleasant visit at Lazette's
should have staid longer but was afraid
Clara would be left without a girl as she
would have been. We have one come to
day, very poorly recommended however.
Clara and McLallen still talk of housekeeping
but have not decided upon a house.
Nicholas and Peter have completed the hot bed
they found some difficulty in getting bog earth
the snow in the woods is still deep and
the ground frozen.
I found a long letter from Serene
awaiting my return, it was chiefly filled with
an account of the recent duel all of which
I had previously read. Serene seems to consider
Cilley a martyr instead of a man who
died violating the law of God and man,
of course she has heard but one side.
I feel some doubt now about this letter
coming to your hands but I would not willingly
disappoint you again. your own Frances.

William H. Seward
Westfield
Chatauque Co.
AUBURN Mar 14 N.Y.18 2/
F.A. Seward
March 13. 1838