Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, April 1, 1839
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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, April 1, 1839
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:nds
student editorTranscriber:spp:keh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1839-04-01
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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, April 1, 1839
action: sent
sender: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
location: Westfield, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Albany, NY
transcription: nds
revision: crb 2016-02-10
<>
Page
1
Westfield 1 April. 1839.
Dear H. –
After leaving Auburn, I called
on Mr. Schermerhorm
budget forthwith before him, but suggested
that it might be more satisfactory to him
to accompany me over to Batavia and
attend a settlement with the other parties
concerned. But he declined to do
either – alledging that he was now
perfectly satisfied, and if the papers
were left at Batavia, he would some-
day call & look over them if he should
think it worthwhile & not inconvenient.
I need scarcely say that the absence
of Mr. Cary
seemed to my mind, unwise if not unsafe
to leave my papers in Batavia: but
after a pleasant interview with Mr Lay
& a promise to lay the papers before
him & Mr. Cary, in the course of a very
few months, I proceeded homeward &
made safe arrival on Friday night
. 9 days from Albany: all well here.
[left Margin] I have Rathbones
Page
2
I believe, I mentioned to you from
Auburn, that I had given Underwood
your chick for $600. This I did, under-
standing that he had drawn nothing or
but a trifle here. I now find, that
two or three small bills he left orders
to be paid for him here amount to
something over a hundred dollars: &
beside this, he has drawn on you pay-
able here, & Smith
to pay, $675 – so that if all this be
paid, he will have $1400 – a sum larger
than you spoke of advancing to him
just now. – I know but little of
your obligations or the contract between
you – and my present impression is that
I must suspend the payment of the
$675 till I hear from you – & I shall
do so, unless I find it a clear case
that the contract calls for more. I
have felt a great delicacy in prying
into your contracts, for fear of officiousness
– but I now feel that it would be well
if I understood this matter better.
Page
3
My next will explain the state of the
office – suffice it for the present, that all
looks well – payments fair & money safe
– a good job has been done while I have
been absent.
Found a severe letter here in waiting
from father
without measure, for not fixing the day
when I wrote from N.Y. about the iron
railing, for visiting Florida to
build the vault: & in part, for
& for not giving any encourage-
ment, that I would ever build
it; but exhibited the same cruel
indifference about it as ever before
. How differently two persons may
view the same thing! how easy it
is to misinterpret another persons
views & feelings. –
Saw much of Marvin
home – he seems loyal – possibly from
compulsion. Lay, speaks of abolition dan-
gers – & disaffections toward Tallmadge
Uncle Cary can tell you more about this.
Everywhere, W.
with affectation. B.J.S.
Page
4
William H. Seward Esq.
Albany
N.Y.
Single.
Paid
Chg 59
WESTFIELD N.Y.
APR 2
Type: postmark
h
April 1. 1839
Westfield 1 April. 1839.
Dear H. –
After leaving Auburn, I called
on Mr. Schermerhorm
Birth: 1791-12-11 Death: 1855-08-22
, offering to open my budget forthwith before him, but suggested
that it might be more satisfactory to him
to accompany me over to Batavia and
attend a settlement with the other parties
concerned. But he declined to do
either – alledging that he was now
perfectly satisfied, and if the papers
were left at Batavia, he would some-
day call & look over them if he should
think it worthwhile & not inconvenient.
I need scarcely say that the absence
of Mr. Cary
Birth: 1787-08-11 Death: 1869-06-20
defeated my object there. Itseemed to my mind, unwise if not unsafe
to leave my papers in Batavia: but
after a pleasant interview with Mr Lay
Birth: 1798-07-26 Death: 1860-10-21Certainty: Probable
& a promise to lay the papers before
him & Mr. Cary, in the course of a very
few months, I proceeded homeward &
made safe arrival on Friday night
. 9 days from Albany: all well here.
[left Margin] I have Rathbones
Birth: 1791-08-02 Death: 1845-05-13
deed – & Blatchfords
Birth: 1820-03-09 Death: 1893-07-07
letter.I believe, I mentioned to you from
Auburn, that I had given Underwood
Birth: 1797-03-07 Death: 1864-01-05
your chick for $600. This I did, under-
standing that he had drawn nothing or
but a trifle here. I now find, that
two or three small bills he left orders
to be paid for him here amount to
something over a hundred dollars: &
beside this, he has drawn on you pay-
able here, & Smith
Unknown
has given assuranceto pay, $675 – so that if all this be
paid, he will have $1400 – a sum larger
than you spoke of advancing to him
just now. – I know but little of
your obligations or the contract between
you – and my present impression is that
I must suspend the payment of the
$675 till I hear from you – & I shall
do so, unless I find it a clear case
that the contract calls for more. I
have felt a great delicacy in prying
into your contracts, for fear of officiousness
– but I now feel that it would be well
if I understood this matter better.
My next will explain the state of the
office – suffice it for the present, that all
looks well – payments fair & money safe
– a good job has been done while I have
been absent.
Found a severe letter here in waiting
from father
Birth: 1768-12-05 Death: 1849-08-24
, in which he censures me without measure, for not fixing the day
when I wrote from N.Y. about the iron
railing, for visiting Florida to
build the vault: & in part, for
& for not giving any encourage-
ment, that I would ever build
it; but exhibited the same cruel
indifference about it as ever before
. How differently two persons may
view the same thing! how easy it
is to misinterpret another persons
views & feelings. –
Saw much of Marvin
Birth: 1786-05-09 Death: 1856-06-25Certainty: Possible
on my wayhome – he seems loyal – possibly from
compulsion. Lay, speaks of abolition dan-
gers – & disaffections toward Tallmadge
Birth: 1795-02-08 Death: 1864-11-02
– butUncle Cary can tell you more about this.
Everywhere, W.
Unknown
is spoken of as the Vice C.with affectation. B.J.S.
William H. Seward Esq.
Albany
N.Y.
Single.
Paid
Chg 59
WESTFIELD N.Y.
APR 2
Stamp
h
Unknown
B. J. SewardApril 1. 1839