Feby 6
My dear Sir,
Cornelia has kindly offered me a couple of
blank pages as an inducement to write to you,
Probably I shall not be able to fill all the spaces, no more than
a part of half of it– I made a great effort some time
ago and wrote you a very long letter, all about–Morgan, Clay,
Sam Patch &c &c of which, the one mentioned in
Cornelia's last, was a sort of epitome, I got sick and
my letters did not leave home, but – no matter; their only
possible use was to shew what you know well enough
already,–that antimasonry is all a—
Pray tell me what are the real motives of B.J. Seward's
journey to the West – From your letters I would conclude that they
were rather political than religious, I hope he will not suffer
his antimasonic, anti-duelling & anti-gambling zeal for
one who is known as a mason, a duelist, a gambler and
an idle, vulgar, prating demagogue, to prejudice the
good cause of Sunday School, Tell him he'd better come
out for Judge McLean, He is a good man & a christian,
to advocate his pretensions would shew something like consis-
tency; but unfortunately the Judge is "ist" of the
most objectionable kind to good people of a certain
name, –he is a Methodist – worse by a thousand
times than Clay a Duellist or Webster a Federalist
I often wonder at the determined perseverance with which
you, and the party, (I should have said parties) to which
you belong seeks a grievous disappointment which at the
same time you would avoid if it were possible – Be
patient & in due time you will find this result of all
your political cares & anticipations –
Respectfully Your
and Friend
M.D. Canfield
W^m Henry Seward Esq

Monday the 7–
Cornelia does not like what I wrote last evening but I
can see no harm in it because I meant none, Your own goodness
will acquit me of any wrong intentions you must consider it
a rough record of my thoughts just at the moment-
Cornelia has a letter from Mrs Seward of 16 inst so
warm & affectionate & withall so excellently written that
I was taken captive at once— I love her with all my heart
As a great novelty we have good sleighing & plenty of cold
weather this winter. The storm of the 14^th was really
frightful, I never saw any thing like it – How wonderful
that although coming from N.E. it should have commenced
here 5 hours earlier than in New York, & South of us
earlier than here- Franklin(the man whose plain Tomb
we visited in Philadel) says something on the subject,
but I forget what –
When you write home (Auburn) which I suppose you
do occasinally, remember me very affectionately to Mrs Seward
I am truly your Friend &c
M.D.C.—

Bargain Town Feby 6
Dear Brother,
I am quite sure I should not sit down
to write at this time but for the pleasure of hearing
from you again, your kind letter of the 9^th Ult was
rec^d with a still kinder one from Frances which
I answered as well as I could last mail, her letter
made me almost determined to meet you in N.Y.
to go on home with you but I am not able to
say how it will be since my housekeeper Elizabeth
is married and good girls are scarce – at all events
I am very grateful to you and Frances for the so-
licitude you express to have me visit you and assure
you nothing but absolute necessity will make me f[ oreg ] o
the pleasure of seeing you in the Spring –
We have had the most awful storm ever was known
in this district, much damage done to the shipping
the weather is very severe, sleighing has been fine
something quite novel & certainly very pleasing, I have
been out a few times, & rode thru the barn yards and
even door yards, thru the fields &woods for the roads
have been blocked up completely – there has not been
so much cold weather together tis said in 30 years–
I have had a letter from Marcia, they appear to be in fine
spirits and must have had an agreeable journey– for my-
self I can never think of their move without the deepest
regret, they were so comfortably fixed I fear it will be a
long time before they realize as much comfort at home
again – I have heard from Florida but once since I left
there, you will very much oblige me if you can
give me any information, especially after you have
been there if you will write.
We are all well except our little one has a cold
Mary says who Mrs C writing to? I told ^her^ “she, says you
are quite much of a gentleman"
The D^r is gone but when he returns he may fill up
this sheet
Yours affectionately
Louisa C.C.

W^m Henry Seward Esqure
in Senate
Albany
New York
Bargain Town NJ 7 Feby
Mr. D Canfield
Feb 6 1831
L C Canfield