Florida 19^th Dec 1831
My Dear William
The Electors of this County being generally
pledged to one or the other of the contending interest
drew the^m off from their true policy. The exertions
and unwearied pains taken by both sides to mar
the prospects of Anti Masonry — allured some
and frightened others — and on the whole
redused our numbers beyond the calculation
of our opponents. Still experiance shows
daily that there is a strong and powerfull
party of antimasons if they dare show them-
selves and put forth their strength. One of
our greatest difficulties at present is the
want of an efficient editor. The young
man we have is totally inadequate to the task
and I fear unless a change is made the
paper will be abandoned. Could not
an efficient man be procured to take the press
and bring it into the Village of Goshen. It would
there find sufficient encouragement. I am
confident more than one half of the voters
in the County are opposed to Masonry

This man has a good offer from Sullivan. His
subscribers are dropping off daily and I think we
had better get rid of him. Talk to Weed on this
subject and see what can be done.
Report says that Judge Surtherland looked
at some of Col G'affidavids said [ the ] were ridiculous
and should not go on file reprimanded him
and sent him home. If an oppertunity offers
you had better talk with the Judge on this subject
Wisner says he is to attend to it in future and
the business shall be honorably conducted
If this is the case I dont fear the event for if there
ever was a rightious cause this is one — and
the opposition are injuring the groth settlement
and interest of the Town of Warwick as well as
hundreds of indivituals. Who ever heard of
four or five thousand acres of land lying
nigh a populous place and no road to get
to it — and that too cut up into small sections
and lots of land— This whole district is suffer-
ing immensely for the want of this Road.
Wood is on an average twenty five cents a
load higher than it would be if they had an
open avenue to this great body of land.

The idea has struck me that it would be well
to have a handsome map of this Tract and the
Road laid down but we have no person
competent to the task. I have a ruf map of
Browns and one or two of my own. If I were
to forward these from your knowledge of
the location you mought get a Clerk in the
surveyor Generals office to draw one. I wish
to leave nothing undone that will aid in securing
the final success on fair and honorable
principles. The Senate will
no doubt adjourn soon and if
the traveling is good will you
not come down and spend the recess
with us. If Francis is in Albany bring her
down to make us a visit and we will return
her to Albany. The Influenza has pervaded
every family — We have all had it — Ma has
been down a week just recovering. The weather
has been unusually cold these three weeks —
Write me the first leasure — Affectionately
Yours Saml S. Seward
W H Seward Esquire

William H Seward Esq.
In Senate
Albany
S S Seward
P M Florida
hSamuel S. Seward
19 Dec. 1831