Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, December 17, 1838
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, December 17, 1838
transcriberTranscriber:spp:ahf
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1838-12-17
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, December 17, 1838
action: sent
sender:
William Seward
Person
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
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: ahf
revision: ekk 2015-10-28
<>
Page 1
Auburn Dec. 17. 1838.
My dear Jennings,
I have needed ubiquity since the election. I intended
to go to Chautauqua
Name: Chautauqua County City:
County:
State: NY
Country: US
, but I could not. Even this hour is stolen
from pressing cares and clamorous demands of every form to
tell you why I did not come, what I mean to do, and what
I think you must do.
I was obliged to go to Albany
Name: City: Albany
County:
State: NY
Country: US
. I staid the shortest time to
make half the arrangements for such a home as I need,
I came back. Amid interruptions of every five minutes and
lasting sometimes (ring now of the street doorbell) all day and
night, I have prepared the material of my message. I have devoted
to it every hour I had from 8 to 12 until last night. Today
I have written four letters and done no more but answer
calls from home and abroad.
I steal away to Albany the [ mometmoment ]
Alternate Text: I get my corres=
pondence brought up[ , ]
Reason: my papers ready and other things ne=
cessary done. There (what a prospect) to recieve my message,
and complete domestic arrangements. I leave Frances
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
at
home, sick all winter, and live, how you may imagine.
What I want you to do is thus.
Remember 1st. I want to close all my accounts in Chautauqua
2d. Appoint you agent.
3d. Apportion all monies received (& expenses) since 20th Feb.
last. among the properties
4th Shew each proprietor his account of lands & monies.
5th. Sell and convey all
6th . Establish the new principles of doing business under the
new arrangement.
Page 2
When the bustle of the 1st. of January is over & you have all the papers
perfect for all this as far your knowledge of the affairs of the
office will permit, come to Albany and we will complete
them together. I will then notify our friends to join us there,
and John Duer
Name: John Duer
Birth: 1782-10-07
Death: 1858-08-08
to come up from New York
Name: City: New York
County:
State: NY
Country: US
.
Thus I have said all that is needful, only to bring with
you every question that embarrasses with you and the papers bear-
ing on it. After two or three weeks this excitement and bustle
will wear away. I will have a home for you.
Time is too precious to expend even in grateful acknowl=
edgements of love affection and gratitude to you and to my
dear sister
Name: Marcia Seward
Birth: 1794-07-23
Death: 1839-10-28
. Let me know from time to time when I may expect
you to the end that I may advise you as to my probable engage-
ments. Commend me to Mrs Thompson
Name: Clarence Seward
Birth: 1828-10-07
Death: 1897-07-24Certainty: Probable
and not
forgetting Jane
Say to everybody in Chautauqua that I am poor in lan-
guage to express my gratitude and hope to be with them early in
the Spring.
God bless you all,
W.H.S
Page 3
Benjamin J. Seward Esq.
Westfield
Chautauqua Co.
Auburn N.Y DEC
Type: postmark
Name:
Birth:
Death: Certainty: Probable
December 17. 1838
Auburn Dec. 17. 1838.
My dear Jennings,
I have needed ubiquity since the election. I intended
to go to Chautauqua
Place
from pressing cares and clamorous demands of every form to
tell you why I did not come, what I mean to do, and what
I think you must do.
I was obliged to go to Albany
Place
make half the arrangements for such a home as I need,
I came back. Amid interruptions of every five minutes and
lasting sometimes (ring now of the street doorbell) all day and
night, I have prepared the material of my message. I have devoted
to it every hour I had from 8 to 12 until last night. Today
I have written four letters and done no more but answer
calls from home and abroad.
I steal away to Albany the [ mometmoment ]
Alternate Text
pondence brought up[ , ]
Supplied
cessary done. There (what a prospect) to recieve my message,
and complete domestic arrangements. I leave Frances
Person
home, sick all winter, and live, how you may imagine.
What I want you to do is thus.
Remember 1st. I want to close all my accounts in Chautauqua
2d. Appoint you agent.
3d. Apportion all monies received (& expenses) since 20th Feb.
last. among the properties
4th Shew each proprietor his account of lands & monies.
5th. Sell and convey all
6th . Establish the new principles of doing business under the
new arrangement.
When the bustle of the 1st. of January is over & you have all the papers
perfect for all this as far your knowledge of the affairs of the
office will permit, come to Albany and we will complete
them together. I will then notify our friends to join us there,
and John Duer
Person
Place
Thus I have said all that is needful, only to bring with
you every question that embarrasses with you and the papers bear-
ing on it. After two or three weeks this excitement and bustle
will wear away. I will have a home for you.
Time is too precious to expend even in grateful acknowl=
edgements of love affection and gratitude to you and to my
dear sister
Person
you to the end that I may advise you as to my probable engage-
ments. Commend me to Mrs Thompson
Unknown
LaurettaUnknown
ClarencePerson
forgetting Jane
Unknown
, and the boyUnknown
.Say to everybody in Chautauqua that I am poor in lan-
guage to express my gratitude and hope to be with them early in
the Spring.
God bless you all,
W.H.S
Benjamin J. Seward Esq.
Westfield
Chautauqua Co.
Auburn N.Y DEC
Stamp
Person
date:
Monday, December 17, 1838
receiver:
sender:
year: