New York 17 Apl. 1828
Dear Brother
Your letter and bundle per
Capt Fitch was handed me three days
since - The Capt tells me he shall re-
main in town some ten or twelve days
during which time if it be possible
the frock for the "vrouw" shall be pro-
cured - it is however doubtful. I have
for some time past, had on my list that
Pollydore wants a boyag & 1/2 barrel shad-
– Father wants two men for laying stone
fence and my madam must have a girl-
beside sundry & divers little housekeeping
articles which must be bought cheap
at auction - so that I see not the gap
in my affairs when I can get out to
procure the silk. Marcia is still
more confined to "business" -- Just as she
commenced cleaning house her girl took
cold in an ulcerated tooth & was forced
to leave her and that she is dependent on
such help as she can procure from day
to day in this "critical juncture" -

your man Fanning I believe I have before
told you, is a tough fellow. I have
just commenced afresh with him & am
determined to haunt him from gally
pot to gally pot, through all the av-
enues of his anti intemperate abode
till he pays me. He says he will
positively pay me before Fitch leaves
town. "That's as thereafter may be"
Give my very warmest regards to sister
Francis and tell her I am a little mor-
tified that she should suspect it to be
a trouble to me to procure any little
article in which she would dare to
trust my taste - she must entertain
no such thoughts – they are all wrong -
Tell her moreover that Marcia is deligh-
ted with the idea of having her for
a neighbor. Already she begins to
count upon the solid comfort they are
to have together – and tell her of all
things to be careful of the boy Augustus
that she keep him safe & sound like
Gilpin's wine, until I can have an

opportunity of seeing him -
I think, if you have really made
up your mind to remove to the city (doubtless
it is so) - you had better obtain from the
ton a license for your good lady to per-
amble Broad Way, without delay. You
must know that the "Navarinos" that
are at present in vogue are larger by
9/11ths than the Bolivers - and more
delicate by far. Hence no more than
between 9 & 10 ladies can be accommodated
in front of one block at a time.
and there being but few blocks
each way from White Street
that are considered "fashionable" few can
gain admittance at a time, while others
must wait their turn - and unless Fran-
cis send down & get a box ticket she
will be forced to wait her turn in an-
other summer or doff the Navarino, neith[ er ]
of which would please her City friends.
Has George returned yet? -
My hands are so sore with cording bedstands
& my brain so bewildered with the con-
fusion of housecleaning that I cant write
or think- B.

Col Wm H Seward
Auburn
New York
NEW YORK APRIL 17
B. J. Seward
April 17
1828