Letter from Louisa Cornelia Seward Canfield to William Henry Seward, February 7, 1836

  • Posted on: 10 March 2016
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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to William Henry Seward, February 7, 1836
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:lmd

student editor

Transcriber:spp:sss

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1836-02-07

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Letter from Louisa Cornelia Canfield to William Henry Seward, February 7, 1836

action: sent

sender: Louisa Canfield
Birth: 1805  Death: 1839-01-04

location: Bargaintown, NJ

receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16  Death: 1872-10-10

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: lmd 

revision: lmd 2015-12-01

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Page 1

Bargain Town Feby 7th – 1836 –
My dear Brother,
I am in receipt of your very kind letter of
the 26th Ult, – I feel grieved that I should have troubled you
at a season when you were so much occupied – but if you
could realize, how much of happiness I have felt, on reading
your letter over and over, you would not think the time
entirely thrown away – After comparing your arguments,
with Mahlons
Birth: 1798-11-26 Death: 1865-01-05
opinion, on the subject of our Emigration,
I find they are very much alike, and I must do myself
the justice to say, that my own did not differ very much
from them both – I have always felt the greatest anxiety
to live near some of our own family – After securing a
competency this has been the most cherished wish of my
heart – And until Jennings
Birth: 1793-08-23 Death: 1841-02-24
went west I never could bear
the idea of going farther from home than I am now –
but I have often felt ready to despair of accomplishing
this long wished for object – And with Jennings’ strong
arguments in favor of our moving, the uncertainty of
a reconcilliation with my father
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
, the dull prospect of
schooling our children
x Birth: 1834-07-25  Death: 1922-02-28  Birth: 1832-02-20  Death: 1876-01-14  Birth: 1829-12-04  Death: 1867-10-25 
here, &c, &c I readily yielded my
consent with the proviso if yours could be obtained) to pull
Page 2

up” and be off – I have never yet been able to obtain
Mahlons approbation – entirely to this plan, he has urged
continually the necessity of being very sure we are going
to mind our condition before we quitted a certainty
for an uncertainty – Jennings thinks we might do
a good business in Cincinatti, – enjoy good society,
have the advantage of good schools and be able to
make something for a rainy day, – these certainly
are inducements (if true) to make us willing to emigrate
Dr. Somers
Unknown
(our neighbor) moved here two or three years since
bought land and built a handsome brick house, –
is now entirely discouraged, says he can’t live, will sell
if he can at almost any rate, & be off – he has divided
the practice with Mahlon, his land is good & his situation
much to be preferred to ours, being on the shore, in full
view of the bay & Inlets – Dr C has talked some of
buying the place, which I have objected to because when
we get ready to leave the shore we would not want
the incumbrance of so valuable a property – I believe
it has cost him land & improvements $5000 –
when you have leisure and inclination to write tell me
what you would think of this project –
I have been setting my heart on going to Florida next
spring – will it not be convenient for you to meet me
Page 3

there with Frances
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
? I hope she is recovered from her late
indisposition – I am very happy to hear that our Father
and Mother
Birth: 1769-11-27 Death: 1844-12-11
are so comfortable, Ma writes sometimes
but always in much haste – she was in great trouble
about our unfortunate Brother G. W. S
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
when she wrote
her last letter – poor boy I sympathise with him and
that is all I can do –
Our little boys
x Birth: 1832-02-20  Death: 1876-01-14  Birth: 1829-12-04  Death: 1867-10-25 
grow very fast this winter, if we could
send them to school we should see more comfort
rather, but the weather has been very stormy cold
and uncomfortable – Dr C goes in a few days to
Washington – our good Uncle Mahlon
Birth: 1770-04-17 Death: 1853-10-05
though he
never gives advice has never sanction[ ed ]
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Supplied

Reason: hole

the motion – of our moving from here
Once more my dear Brother I must say how much
pleasure your letter has given us – it comes with
new assurance of your devotedness to us and those
most dear to us – I ardently
Hot or burning; causing a sensation of burning • Having the appearance or quality of fire; fierce • Warm; much engaged; passionate •
hope your benevolent
wish to see us once more a united and happy family
may be realized, tho’ it seems like hoping against hope
Remember me affectionately to my Sisters Lazette
Birth: 1803-11-01 Death: 1875-10-03
Clara
Birth: 1793-05-01 Death: 1862-09-05

& kiss the little boys
x Birth: 1830-07-08  Death: 1915-04-25  Birth: 1826-10-01  Death: 1876-09-11 
for me – Gus talk about Cousin Freddy
every day – how much pleasure it would give us to
see you all once more tell my Sister when she is
well enough to write without inconvenience I love
to hear from her –
Yours affectionately
L. C Canfield
W H. Seward

[left Margin] N. B. save this letter ^long^ for Sunday
Page 4

Bargain Town
W. S. Feby 8th 36
M. D. Canfield
Free P.M.
W. H. Seward Esq
Auburn,
Cayuga Co
N. Y.
Hand Shiftx

Frances Seward

Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
Louisa C. Canfield
Feb 7th
1836