Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, September 17, 1837
xml:
Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, September 17, 1837
transcriberTranscriber:spp:keh
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1837-09-17
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, September 17, 1837
action: sent
sender:
William Seward
Person
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Person
location:
Washington D.C. DC
Place
Name: City: Washington D.C.
County:
State: DC
Country: US
Place
receiver:
Benjamin Seward
Person
Name: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
Person
location:
Westfield NY
Place
Name: City: Westfield
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: keh
revision: dxt 2015-11-05
<>
Page 1
Washington September 17th. 1837.
My dear Jennings,
It is a blessed and bright Sunday morning. I
am relieved from the solicitude that has preyed upon me
since I left home. My friends and acquaintances have
left me alone, and I am at liberty to write with more
coolness than has marked my hurried letters heretofore,
but at the same time I must make short letters because
I am to write several letters this morning.
1st. The arrangement as to the $50,000 is after this man-
ner. I receive the certificates of the American Trust Co.
for $650,000, payable in London
Name: City: London
County: England
State:
Country: GB
. The Bank of the United
States (this is confidential) are on the first of next month
to send an Agent to reside in Europe
Name: Europe City:
County:
State:
Country: NULL
– they will take the cer-
tificates to sell on commission and will advance the
$50,000. I meet the Prest
U.S. in Philada
Name: City: Philadelphia
County:
State: PA
Country: US
on Wednesday next to settle the form of the
transaction, and then proceed to New York
Name: City: New York
County:
State: NY
Country: US
where the
certificates will be issued – and delivered.
2nd. I am to explain the reasons for the tenor of my late
letters to you. There is evidently a contraction of the currency
to continue for several months. The times are to grow more
difficult. I think there is some risk that our measures
of collection may be misunderstood and therefore be regard-
ed as oppressive. Supposing that an impression has been
made sufficiently extensive, that we are to have our annual
payments, I think it best to be very cautious how we give
occasion to complaints of harshness and severity. But
you are to recollect my absence denies me of the means
Page 2
of judging upon this matter. I wish not to be severe and I wish
moreover not to be esteemed more severe than I am. You
will exercise therefore a discretion leaning towards for-
bearance, and especially being generous in the settlement
of the mortgage foreclosures.
3d I wait with much solicitude to hear the news
of your efforts to arrange the matter with the Lumber-
man's Bank.
I have found many friends here and made
some interesting acquaintances, especially that of Mr Clay
Name: Henry Clay
Birth: 1777-04-12
Death: 1852-06-29
& that of Mr Calhoun
Name: John Calhoun
Birth: 1782-03-18
Death: 1850-03-31
. I am to drive tomorrow
with the former[ . ]
Reason: There is a possibility that the bill to
postpone the distribution of the fourth instalment of the
deposites which passed the Senate the day before yesterday
will pass the house of Representatives – although this is by
no means certain. This law however will not operate
to our prejudice at home, as the state will pay the
amount.
It is probable that a bill will pass Congress
authorizing the issue of Treasury notes to 12 millions of
dollars. This will relieve the Country very much, as the
notes will go into circulation.
I think no other law will pass Congress.
Mr Calhoun has made a towards the ad-
ministration, but will carry not more than two mem-
bers of Congress with him. His purpose however is not
yet clearly understood and I am inclined to believe
he will fall back into the opposition when he finds that
the administration with his aid will not be strong e-
nough or bold enough to carry out its locofoco project[ . ]
Reason:
Page 3
Will you address your next letter to Albany
Name: City: Albany
County:
State: NY
Country: US
care of J.
L Rathbone
Name: Jared Rathbone
Birth: 1791-08-02
Death: 1845-05-13
– and after that to Auburn
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
.
I leave here tomorrow at five – but suppose I shall be
detained at New York until some time next week.
My love to Marcia
Name: Marcia Seward
Birth: 1794-07-23
Death: 1839-10-28
and Kindest regards to
all the family – with expressions of warm remembrances
of all my friends at Westfield.
Yours affectionately
WH.Seward
B.J.Seward Esq.
Page 4
Benjamin J. Seward Esq.
At the Land Office
Westfield
Chautauqua Co.
Name: Chautauqua County City:
County:
State: NY
Country: US
N. York
WASHINGTON CITY D.C. SEP 17
Type: postmark
Name: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
September 17. 1837
Washington September 17th. 1837.
My dear Jennings,
It is a blessed and bright Sunday morning. I
am relieved from the solicitude that has preyed upon me
since I left home. My friends and acquaintances have
left me alone, and I am at liberty to write with more
coolness than has marked my hurried letters heretofore,
but at the same time I must make short letters because
I am to write several letters this morning.
1st. The arrangement as to the $50,000 is after this man-
ner. I receive the certificates of the American Trust Co.
for $650,000, payable in London
Place
States (this is confidential) are on the first of next month
to send an Agent to reside in Europe
Place
tificates to sell on commission and will advance the
$50,000. I meet the Prest
Unknown
. of the Trust Co. & the BK of theU.S. in Philada
Place
transaction, and then proceed to New York
Place
certificates will be issued – and delivered.
2nd. I am to explain the reasons for the tenor of my late
letters to you. There is evidently a contraction of the currency
to continue for several months. The times are to grow more
difficult. I think there is some risk that our measures
of collection may be misunderstood and therefore be regard-
ed as oppressive. Supposing that an impression has been
made sufficiently extensive, that we are to have our annual
payments, I think it best to be very cautious how we give
occasion to complaints of harshness and severity. But
you are to recollect my absence denies me of the means
of judging upon this matter. I wish not to be severe and I wish
moreover not to be esteemed more severe than I am. You
will exercise therefore a discretion leaning towards for-
bearance, and especially being generous in the settlement
of the mortgage foreclosures.
3d I wait with much solicitude to hear the news
of your efforts to arrange the matter with the Lumber-
man's Bank.
I have found many friends here and made
some interesting acquaintances, especially that of Mr Clay
Person
Person
with the former[ . ]
Supplied
postpone the distribution of the fourth instalment of the
deposites which passed the Senate the day before yesterday
will pass the house of Representatives – although this is by
no means certain. This law however will not operate
to our prejudice at home, as the state will pay the
amount.
It is probable that a bill will pass Congress
authorizing the issue of Treasury notes to 12 millions of
dollars. This will relieve the Country very much, as the
notes will go into circulation.
I think no other law will pass Congress.
Mr Calhoun has made a towards the ad-
ministration, but will carry not more than two mem-
bers of Congress with him. His purpose however is not
yet clearly understood and I am inclined to believe
he will fall back into the opposition when he finds that
the administration with his aid will not be strong e-
nough or bold enough to carry out its locofoco project[ . ]
Supplied
Will you address your next letter to Albany
Place
Person
Place
I leave here tomorrow at five – but suppose I shall be
detained at New York until some time next week.
My love to Marcia
Person
all the family – with expressions of warm remembrances
of all my friends at Westfield.
Yours affectionately
WH.Seward
B.J.Seward Esq.
Benjamin J. Seward Esq.
At the Land Office
Westfield
Chautauqua Co.
Place
N. York
WASHINGTON CITY D.C. SEP 17
Stamp
Person
date:
Sunday, September 17, 1837
receiver:
sender:
year: