Florida 16^th Oct 1834
My dear William
In a former letter you regret my
neglecting writing you. It is pleasant for children
to hear from distant parents but my day is over
and my time is fast drawing to a close. The last
two weeks I have scarcely been able to sit up.
The last week I have been confined to my bed
with inflamitory fever – and each successive turn
brings me nearer to the house of all living – and
while I lack the strength and energy to ^write^ it by no
means lessens my affection and anxeity for my
children. I feel great solicitude at the present
crisis and heartily wished for strength to see my
old and tried friends in this Country. As far as
I have had an opportunity of comparing ideas I
find them firm and active. But my heart bleeds
for my country when I am co ^m^ pelled to say that
corruption funds & Eagle poison are fast moldering
down our beloved constitutions. Not a day pases
but we see men who have seen and in strong &
forceble terms pointed out the awfull danger of our
present missrule turning round and becoming the
strongest Jackson supporters. And has it come to this
that our government is to be destroyed by bribery &
corruption – means are taking to counteract but
in many instances the bate is too inviting.
Powerfull exertions are making on either side &
my best Judgement is that we shall nearly or quite
nutrilize the County. It affords me real satisfaction
to learn by your favor of the 10^th that the great West are
still as firm as two years ago[ . ] New York will certainly
do her duty and with those large balances I would fain hope.
The day is a portentius one to our bleeding country to
you and your friend, the dye will soon be cast
and it will then be known whether other & deeper
duplicity & fraud is to be made use of to enslave the people

I think you informed me our road cause was to be
argued in October, will this matter so vitally interesting
to the pecuniary concerns of our family be attended
to. V. is so deeply engaged in defending himself that
I have not the least confidence in his doing any-
thing. It will of course devolve on you and your
Counsel I pray you not to neglect it.
A short history of E P farce is that for weeks before
the nomination was made at Utica he was
constantly high. About this time he sold off
(unbeknown to me) a considerable portion
of his property for Cash and at redused prices
told, G. W. that he had hired himself to Schultz
at Newbergh as a hostler at $20 per month
was going on sunday & requested W to purches
the rest of his property. When W told me this
I was struck with horror. Seeing his property
was fast sacrifising he owed many debts –
his family on sufferance, and above all that
his deliberately entering himself a menial
[ sevant ] in Schultz Stable would be nuts for
the Jackson men at this Crisis and wound
-ing through the state. I was sick W^m Brown & much other C^o here I was completely
stund to know what course to take –
fortunately B J arrive I stated the case to him, got
him if possible to avoid this shocking catestrophy, he
waylaid his house Saturday nigh. at 11 OClock
at night he came in not drunk but much
disguised. He asked him the truth of what
he had [ head ] , was answered that it was all
so, and that he had employed Spears (a worth-
less scoundrel) to take him to Schultz on Sunday
morning and that he should go. I said he had
come to him as a B. & A freind ready to assist
him & beged of him to delay, but all had no
effect. at 11 OClock on Sunday he ordered the

Man to get the horse forsebly seased his Trunk
and made off. I returned disheartened, I
told him he must persevere there was no
other alternative. Got him refreshment
fixed him comfortable in my sulky &
started him to Newburg – his having first
made with Locky an Inventory of his
proper. He [ doged ] him again that night
at Sunrise Monday he came in to Schultz
takeing into a private room sober he presed
on his mind the consequence of the ruinous
cause he was taking. Advised his assign-
ing his property to me for the benefit of his
Creditors & famely and going with him
to New York where he would task him
business. He agreed to all only was not
ready to go there. Got himself a new suit
& followed In. a few days to New York
having affectionately taken leave of all [ our ]
family. But was not in the City a week
before he was carousing up Town out at
Pattersons & through the country – spent
all his money & returned home sick
& broke down with In. — I am building
at Round Hill and not being able to at-
tend to it myself & hearing of his return
I wrote him to come & over see that business
this he is doing with great propensi ^t^ y.
And what will be next God only knows
In. deserves great Credit getting him and
you out of the Newburgh delemma.
If in your power to come down while
at Albany I shall be much gratified as t I
find daily more need of assistance in my
business. Ma is also very feeble and will not
stand it long. We join in affectionate love to
all our freinds Affectionately Yours S S Seward

William H Seward Esquire
Auburn
Cayuga Co
Florida
Oct^r 16
S. S. Seward
Oct 16th 1834