Sunday June 17, 1838
Dear Seward
I rec^d your last letter this morning and perceive that you take
the matter of politics most philosophically, which perhaps after all is the
wisest way to treat these matters: for my own part I have long entertained the
most thorough contempt for politics and mere politicians: — by politicians
I mean those men who are hanging on the skirts of such as they
deem great men, seemingly with the design of being elevated themselves
as they shall elevate others — they always appear to me to be like the
tail of a kite, – unless the kite goes up there is no chance of them
rising: now a tail to a kite is a very necessary thing, and it is proper
that great men should have tails, but I recollect when a boy it was
deemed a matter of some skill ^so^ to adjust the kites tail as not to preserve
the proper proportions between the ascending and depressing power &
it seems to me that great men should understand something of this
science, and be capable of correctly judging as to the length and
weight of their tails — We have a most notable instance of the misfor-
tune which results from a want of a due sense of the fitness of propor-
tions in this respect when we regard the political life of Henry Clay —
he has always carried too long a tail: and has never been able
with his great ascending force to make it swing clear — Now I have
feared that you was embarrassing yourself in this way: and letting
every foolish, fop of a polician latch himself on to your kite — until
when the time arrived for the “grand ascencion” you would find
you had too much weight to carry. You must know how this is
better than I, but let me beg of you to beware in this particular — The
people when they come to raise the wind will enquire into this matter
and they will be cautious of putting any kite to the end of their
string with too long a tail: Granger is off tomorrow for Ohio — I have
had frequent talks with him lately but he avoids all reference to you

or to the nomination — Entre vous I think Granger a shrewd politician
and perhaps he is too cautious in his personal intercourse with
his friends: how this is however I have no means of judging — that he
is shrewd you must know: that circumstances have placed you and
him in positions where it may be well supposed your personal in-
terests are some what opposed: and my fears all along have been
that the indiscretions of friends might open a door whereby he
could and would take advantage of you I do not wish you to
understand that I think G r would take any unfair step — I
have never supposed he would go further than what he thought
was just and honorable: yet I have feared that others out
of what they supposed was the requirements of friendship to him
might be less scrupulous in what they were ^the^ measures they adopted
this is the view of the case I have endeavored to impress upon you
and the dangers I have apprehended the most was such as
might result from the undue action of friends, some acting
from the best motives towards you, and I have also apprehended
that an unjust and unproper use might be made of the
Clay movements in NY —
I am not certain that sound policy requires us to take
up Mr Clay for the next Presidency: I fear he is not as strong
in NY as his friends suppose, and that he cannot carry Ohio &
Pennsylvania: but of this the present is not the time to judge
Talking about flowers – we are revelling in the most delicious
perfumes — our whole street for miles is a perfect nosegay — and you
cannot imagine any thing more beautiful than our main street
with its locusts Horse Chestnuts and the mountain ash all
in full flower: — We are all well & expect Clara here every day
Truly
A W

Hon William H. Seward
Auburn
CANANDAIGUA N.Y.
JUN 17
hAlvah Worden
Jun 7. 1838.