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
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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
W. H. Seward Esq
In the Politeness of his
Best friend, save one
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
B.J. Seward
May 19th
1825
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
W. H. Seward Esq
In the Politeness of his
Best friend, save one
Person
May 19th
1825
date:
Thursday, May 19, 1825
receiver:
sender:
year: