Phil’a. 13 Oct. 1834
Dear Henry
It is in my recollection that I
wrote you a letter not long since from
Boston-in which (I know not what also
I said but remember that I spoke of the
interest some old friends of yours spoke
of an announcement then fresh arrived
from Utica: and of the assurance I took
the liberty of giving, that the old “hand
maid” & yourself were on terms no more
intimate, than when these gentlemen knew
you first. To this letter I recieved
a short reply: without any notice of
what I supposed, as well as I could
recollect, was the main topick: & from
which I inferred that you wrote under
much pressure of engagement & in a
hurried manner.‑ and I have intro-
duced all this story (without knowing
that it would consume the first page
of my letter) merely to prepare the way
for saying that I would exonerate you

[left Margin] Weed

x

Thurlow Weed

Birth: 1797-11-15 Death: 1882-11-22

engaged my services in a certain matter-but did
not send me the papers-I waited two days for him & left.
I would glad-
ly have ren-
dered this
service-if
service it
could have
been: & so
he thought
of it‑I hope
he found
a better
hand: a
more willing
one he
could not.

from the necessity of a reply to this one.
I must ^say^ however, since I have opened the
door for saying it, that I would dearly
love to get a good long letter from you
telling me “how you live & how you fare”
in these days, amid the peltings of polit-
ical adversaries & the sycophantic smiles
of false & the substantial evidence of real
friends, in your new relation to the com-
munity. I would like to know how
Tracy behaves-and what Granger now
thinks & what ^is^ the amount of cordiality
of J.C. Spencer: but all these things and
others I hope to learn something of
when I meet you in Albany.
Well, I came to this city on an
official visit some days since & think
it probable I shall remain until after
the election. I am unable to give you
any news about the prospects of the Whigs
beyond the newspaper accounts; & these are
of little worth. Two of the directors
of the U.S. Bank are directors in our
“union”- & these say the Bank has little
or no expectation that the Bank it will

[left Margin] If Frances

x

Frances Seward

Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21

comes down with you-let her come to our
house & make a visit before the river closes: send her: do.

ever be rechartered. They think this win-
ter will decide the question.
Govr Wolf was here today in the
“N.American” where I put up-it is said he
is non committial about Van Burenism-indeed
there is great doubt whether the Jackson
Wolf party can be set over to Van: & some
doubt whether the whole party will not be
set aside by the Whigs: at least so
say some.
Yesterday I heard an opening
service in his new edifice
by Rector Tyng- a delightful performance-
he is a man after my own heart: but
scarcely so much so as Bishop McElvaine
whom I heard in the afternoon. The Bish-
op is going to England to beg money
to build up Kenyon College. Dr McAuley
is laid up by a complaint in his
throat-unable to talk-some enlargement
I believe-he sails in a few days to
Italy.
Cornelia writes me she is very well
regrets exceedingly she did not see you-says
she ardently desires your success-but says
not whether this is the opinion of her Jackson
husb.

[left Margin] With sentiments of unabated esteem I am your
affectionate Brother B.J. Seward.

Poor pollydore is floundering around ^the streets in^ N.Y. city
looking employment: stopping at my house.
If I could catch him (for he eludes me)
I would urge him to go out to some of the
towns in Massachusetts where the Temperance
reformation has entirely banished whiskey &
get him to stop there no matter upon what
terms. I think it is his only hope.
I suppose you have Bill Brown and his sweetly
little Harriet with you: they are dear good people
I hope sis will have opportunity to get acquain-
ted with her. Give my kindest regards to sis
& the Illinois cousins if in Auburn.
Hon. Wm H Seward
Auburn
New York
PHILA
13
OCT
FREE
hB.J. Seward
Oct 13.1834