Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, May 19, 1825
xml:
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, May 19, 1825
transcriberTranscriber:spp:jjm
student editorTranscriber:spp:mec
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1825-05-19
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's persons.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "pla" point to
place elements in the project's places.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's staff.xml authority file.
In the context of this project, private URIs with the prefix "psn" point to
person elements in the project's bibl.xml authority file.
verical-align: super; font-size: 12px;
text-decoration: underline;
text-decoration: line-through;
color: red;
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, May 19, 1825
action: sent
sender:
Benjamin Seward
Person
Name: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
Person
location:
New York NY
Place
Name: City: New York
County:
State: NY
Country: US
Place
receiver:
William Seward
Person
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: jjm
revision: crb 2016-02-01
<>
Page 1
New York 19 May 1825
Dear Henry
Tomorrow Berdan
Name: James Berdan
Birth: 1805-07-04
Death: 1884-08-24
informed me he shall
set out for Auburn and "The Lakes." The happy
dog - I wish that I were going also - Oh how
I ^should^ love to saunter about the fields of Auburn &
snuff the breezes that glide over the silver sur-
face of your smoothe Owasco- But more than
this a thousand fold would I love to see
you at your office - to hear you talk of what
interests ^you^ - Given the nature & extent of
your business (so large as to engross you wholy
from your friends)- but more than all this ten
thousand fold, would I love to clasp the hand
of the adopted sister
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
of our family & impress upon
her lips the token of the love I bear her -
Oh how I long to congratulate you that she
is yet spared to you, and her that health has
resumed his wanted seat in roses on her cheek-
-And scarcely less do I want to see my only half
sister Lazatte
Name: Lazette Worden
Birth: 1803-11-01
Death: 1875-10-03
- To her - to you - to Francis - to all
[left Margin] I almost envy you your happy meeting with your friend Berdan- Suppose you
mind your part & tell me something about the expedition of the Philosopher
Page 2
it would afford me a melancholy pleasure to tell
the story of our late bereavement- From you, kind
friends, I should receive a sympathy which would
seem to cure the load of grief ^that^ which bows me down
and robs me of my spirits- But yet you Know not-
(those who have known can only tell) the bereavement
we deplore - Our dear Aurelia
Name: Aurelia Seward
Birth: 1821
Death: 1825-04-08
is no more! And though
you have not noticed the circumstance of her descease
I doubt not you have felt it.. And ^notwithstanding^ this I fully believe
the God of Heaven to be the Sovereign Disposer of all-
& that the God of all the earth does right, (and that
if I were as wise as He I should see as he does)
still this is a most afflictive Providence, and may
be borne without murmuring, but cannot without
tears-
I gave you a full & circumstantial account
some little time since of the circumstance of
my abdication from Hanover Square & my Grand
Entree in to Wall Street- (if the letter ever reached
you) – Nothing particular has transpired since –
My situation is still a temporary one- Probably
in a week or two I shall know what they
give me – I think the prospect good of obtaining
[left Margin] I often wish to know the ages of friends & for this purpose am collecting a family Record
Will you send me yours and Judge Millers
Name: Elijah Miller
Birth: 1772-04-11
Death: 1851-11-13
– Don’t forget it –
Page 3
a first teller ship – A committee from our board have
gone to Orange Co
Name: Orange County City:
County:
State: NY
Country: US
and to Kingston
Name: Kangton City: Kingston
County: Ulster County
State: NY
Country: US
to explore the
several routes for the proposed Canal- I fear
they may not adopt the Orange route – but do
not think they have yet sufficient information
to determine where the rout shall be
I shall send you a pamphlet by mail showing
the project in one of its shapes- That by Culvers
Gap in Sussex Co
Name: City:
County:
State: NJ
Country: US
& those between Warwick
Name: City: Warwick
County: Orange County
State: NY
Country: US
& Florida
Name: City: Florida
County: Orange
State: NY
Country: US
to Cornwall
Name: City: Cornwall
County: Orange County
State: NY
Country: US
will suit the people of O[
range Co
]
Reason: hole
better & our Father is extremely
solicitous for this route- He
did himself no small honor
by his deportment & speech while in N.Y.
Name: City: New York
County:
State: NY
Country: US
before o[
ur
]
Reason: hole
board as Committee man from Orange Co-
How were you suited with the termination of
The Colt
Name: Joseph Colt
Birth:
Death:
affair- When may we expect to see
you- or to hear from you- What is my friend
Worden
Name: Alvah Worden
Birth: 1797-03-06
Death: 1856-02-16
doing- & what is he going to do & when
will he do it-
Now besure you make the warmest regards of your
Humble Sevt acceptable to Sister Frances & Sister Lazette
& Aunt Clara
Name: Clarinda McClallen
Birth: 1794
Death: 1862-09-05
- & Marcias
Name: Marcia Seward
Birth: 1794-07-23
Death: 1839-10-28
particular remembrance you will
also please present
Your Brother B.J. Seward
Page 4
New York 19 May 1825
Dear Henry
Tomorrow Berdan
Person
set out for Auburn and "The Lakes." The happy
dog - I wish that I were going also - Oh how
I ^should^ love to saunter about the fields of Auburn &
snuff the breezes that glide over the silver sur-
face of your smoothe Owasco- But more than
this a thousand fold would I love to see
you at your office - to hear you talk of what
interests ^you^ - Given the nature & extent of
your business (so large as to engross you wholy
from your friends)- but more than all this ten
thousand fold, would I love to clasp the hand
of the adopted sister
Person
her lips the token of the love I bear her -
Oh how I long to congratulate you that she
is yet spared to you, and her that health has
resumed his wanted seat in roses on her cheek-
-And scarcely less do I want to see my only half
sister Lazatte
Person
[left Margin] I almost envy you your happy meeting with your friend Berdan- Suppose you
mind your part & tell me something about the expedition of the Philosopher
it would afford me a melancholy pleasure to tell
the story of our late bereavement- From you, kind
friends, I should receive a sympathy which would
seem to cure the load of grief ^that^ which bows me down
and robs me of my spirits- But yet you Know not-
(those who have known can only tell) the bereavement
we deplore - Our dear Aurelia
Person
you have not noticed the circumstance of her descease
I doubt not you have felt it.. And ^notwithstanding^ this I fully believe
the God of Heaven to be the Sovereign Disposer of all-
& that the God of all the earth does right, (and that
if I were as wise as He I should see as he does)
still this is a most afflictive Providence, and may
be borne without murmuring, but cannot without
tears-
I gave you a full & circumstantial account
some little time since of the circumstance of
my abdication from Hanover Square & my Grand
Entree in to Wall Street- (if the letter ever reached
you) – Nothing particular has transpired since –
My situation is still a temporary one- Probably
in a week or two I shall know what they
Unknown
willgive me – I think the prospect good of obtaining
[left Margin] I often wish to know the ages of friends & for this purpose am collecting a family Record
Will you send me yours and Judge Millers
Person
a first teller ship – A committee from our board have
gone to Orange Co
Place
Place
several routes for the proposed Canal- I fear
they may not adopt the Orange route – but do
not think they have yet sufficient information
to determine where the rout shall be
I shall send you a pamphlet by mail showing
the project in one of its shapes- That by Culvers
Gap in Sussex Co
Place
Place
Place
to Cornwall
Place
Supplied
better & our Father is extremely
solicitous for this route- He
did himself no small honor
by his deportment & speech while in N.Y.
Place
Supplied
board as Committee man from Orange Co-
How were you suited with the termination of
The Colt
Person
you- or to hear from you- What is my friend
Worden
Person
will he do it-
Now besure you make the warmest regards of your
Humble Sevt acceptable to Sister Frances & Sister Lazette
& Aunt Clara
Person
Person
also please present
Your Brother B.J. Seward
date:
Thursday, May 19, 1825
receiver:
sender:
year: