Packet Boat Paragon
Nov 19, 1831 –
My dear Seward
After leaving you at Port Byron we
made a direct and tolerably pleasant journey to Buffalo where I
found a multitude of cares awaiting my arrival and which re-
quired all the little energy I could muster to meet it" It was
this circumstance together with the knowledge of your being
immersed to the eyelids in the troubles of the approaching election
which occasioned the postponement of my promise to write you
immediately on reaching home. I thought if I should put it off
until I could announce the result of ^our^ county election it would be
no great matter, especially as it was the only topic on which I could
hope to furnish agreeable information– But alas before our elec-
tion had passed I was violently attacked with my old foe (intermit-
tent fever) which completely prostrated my strength and for nearly a
week confined me to my room– As soon as I felt able to travel I left
took the packet and am now so far on my way– For the first time
in my life I am distressed with an obstinate cough but as I at-
tribute it to casual causes I anticipate speedy relief– I a hast-
ening on to Albany for no other purpose than to get through with
a horrible journey whilst a practicable mode of conveyance exists. When
I get there I am totally at loss to know what I shall do– Whether
I shall stay there for a time, go to Connecticut again or push on
to Georgia is totally undecided– Harriet who is with me and labor-
ing under a heavy cold, will make a visit of some weeks duration
in New York, after which her movements will be guided by my desti-
nation–
I have not health or heart to attend to the details of the election
returns– I only know the general aspect is very inauspicious if not ab-
solutely fatal to the cause of political antimasonry– It is such a re-
sult as I very much feared altho, I cannot say my feelings were al-
together prepared for it– I never believed it possible to succeed by
the influences of political action alone– Nothing short of an ardent en-
thusiasm, producing a fanatic spirit of proselyting could supply the re-
quisite energy to make head against an organized and efficient party

already in possession of place and powers– This enthusiasm which developed
itself with such resistless force now directly on the theatre of the masonic
outrages has never been but partially extended in other directions– Political organ-
ization has been necessarily resorted to as its substitute and it was inevitable
that as the question assumed more and more the character of a political struggle
individual zeal and excitement would diminish– But I wont fatigue
you with a tedious disquisition of causes which whether known or unknown
cannot change results–
Have you heard anything from Maynard or Weed.
both seem absolutely astounded and the latter I fear will never recover
from the shock– The former unless the use of figures be denied will
soon work out a new table of calculations which will abundantly
compensate for the overthrow of his last– What I wonder does J. C.
Spencer say of this sad reverse– Unless I mistake the terms which he
is on with W. H. Taylor, he will attribute the disastrous result in the 7th to his
nomination– I write so laboriously that I will go no further– Write
to me at Albany – Harriett joins in kind assurances to all of you–
Albert H. Tracy

William H. Seward
Auburn
Cayuga County
SYRACUSE N.Y.
NOV 20
h A. H. Tracy
19 Nov. 1831