New York 9 March 1833
My dear Brother
Fifty times a week it occurs to me
that I ought to write you, and still the
weeks slip away & engrossing cares prevent
me from writing.
I did not return by way of Albany
from Rochester as we expected, a S. School
object in Ithaca carried me that way,
it was something of a disappointment to
me, for I wanted to see you.
I found our honored father in NewBurgh
[ s ] urrounded with friends, begging him to hold
on to the Office he has so long & so credibly
filled, and I must confess I was a little
surprised to hear him give his consent to
be again considered a candidate. Do write
& tell me what are his prospects for reap-
pointment.
He still remains of the opinion that he
will arrange his business & get off on a foreign
voyage in June, & has talked much to me
about going with him, but I cannot afford
the sacrifice, he says nothing to me about
bearing my expenses, except that I would be
well to hunt about & find business, & if I do
not succeed, he has two or three young frends
he has thought of as travelling companions.

[left Margin] Your Factory has been advertised in the American as you directed
I paid the bill it is $5.56.

It would be difficult to find business to take
me on such a tour, & might be more dif-
ficult to find business, when returned. I would
like the tour, but have not the least expec-
tation of taking it. Now why could it not be
made to comport with your circumstances and
views to go. I know it would be next thing
to destruction to your business, but then the
object is a great one & you can, I suppose
well afford it. You may on your return, set
up again, in Auburn, Albany or here. It
would moreover be a disruption to your [ plitical ]
influence, but could you have a better pre-
text for stepping out of the ranks, than the [ fil ] -
ial duty of devoting a year to the care of
an infirm Father. All this I suppose
you have considered & certainly are the
better judge of.
Poor Ward!, his "Whig" is running behind
hand, & must soon fall, he sees nothing
to take hold of in the good cause, nor
is he very well assured that any niche will
be found where he can step in to and the
general object, if you can give him a word
of comfort, you would do well to write him,
he is talking of getting up a daily religious
newspaper.
Several letters from Cornelia mention that
she is very discontented there, & I am plotting
with friends, for some little living here to put
her husband in, to work out her deliverance.

On my return I found a club of merchants
in Pearl Street waiting my arrival, to employ me
in hunting up customers, searching into the
safety of thier debtors & in forwarding them
against rogues in the country. When they had
come to my terms, to give me $3000 per an. and
bear my travelling expenses, & allow me to prosecute
a S. School Agency in connexion with thier business
& to be from 4 1/2 to 6 mo in the year ^in the city^ & to countenance
me for six years, I went to Phil to ask leave
a dismission & offered beside my own gratutitous
services to pay the support of a man to be sta-
tioned here in my stead, but the board declined
accepting my offer, & though much elated with
the idea of earning three
salaries, in an hour I was
cool as a May day morn'g.
I consider the question to
have been settled for me by an Overruling Prov-
idence, that always arranges for me better
than I can for myself, indeed I rejoice in
the disappointment of my expectations, as though
I had had a revelation, that death or some
some calamity was thereby averted.
Berdan & Irving set off for Illinois next
monday, they want your letters & mine that
are with them, can you send them: do I
pray you, not forget thier request.
We have taken house in Provost street
No 54. where after 20May we should be very
happy to see you & Frances & all the little boys,
& if you come to town sooner, we shall be
just as glad to see you but cannot promise
quite so much in the way of comfort, come
& see.

Give my best love to sister & a kiss to each
of the little boys. I expect to put Augustus
in the store with me this summer.
Your affectionate Brother
B.J. Seward
Gen Wm H Seward
now in Albany
NEW YORK MAR 11
B.J. Seward
9 March
1833
B.J. Seward
May 9. 1833