Washington April 30t
My dear Son
Your letter of the
18^t came this morning –
mine seem to be much
longer getting to you –
Father, Fanny & I are
quite alone now – Will,
left us ' a week ago
he had been impatient
to go home for some time –
Mr. Green is to come
to day to take his place
in the office for the
present – Mr Wilkeson
was with us ten days –
since then George
Grier has been here
and gone again –

Mr Weedwas here
Monday at dinner.
I saw him a few moments
for the first time in three
years – I have many
things to tell you on
political subjects which
it will not do to write –
The convention in June
will decide the nom-
ination for President – at
present Fremont and
Judge McLean of Ohio
are the candidates the
most talked of –
Fred Douglassays the
Republicans dare not try
their strength by running
their best men –
Stephen A. Douglas will
probably be the Democratic

candidate though Mr.
Buchanan has many
adherents – Mr Pike
who took Mr. Greely’s
place here as a correspondent
of the Tribune has been
Quite sick with varioloid
Green has been staying
with him –
There is now no doubt
of the loss of the Pacific
with all on board – though
no certain intelligence can
be hoped for.
May 2^d – My letter
was not completed Wednesday –
To day Capt. Palmer’s family
are moving from the house
near us – Capt. Palmer
has been ordered to Minnesota
I hear – Mrs. Palmer

remains here – at lodgings –
The Sec. of War is unsparing
in his discipline – There
is much complaint in
Congress about the removals
from the Navy –
Aunty has returned to Auburn
from Canandaigua after a
visit of a week – Her last
letter tells us that poor old
Watch is gone – he died
Tuesday from the effects
of poison – Was sick but
a short time – I need not
tell you how much
Fanny and I are grieved by
his loss – Fanny has cried
herself sick – Willie was
there to bury him and
Aunty to use all possible
means for his recovery –

Will writes that Mr. Mc
Clallen is in his shop again
and appears to be doing well –
He thinks the ehorse was
injured by running out last
winter but may recover
Every thing else is doing
very well – I intend
to go home the last of
this month or the first
of June though I should
wait here if I thought
there was a probability of
your not coming North
soon after your return –
I do not know that there
is any way that this can
be ascertained – Judging
from other cases you may be
ordered away the day after
your arrival – I wish you
would not go – there

have been some resignations
I am told in consequence
of the summary action of
the Secretary – Gen Webb
says Andy has a very
unpleasant and hazardous
situation in Florida from
which he is trying to extricate
him but so far without any
success – I think upon the
whole I shall wait until the
1^st of June with the hope of
seeing you before I leave –
Frederick and Anna are
well – Dr. Boyd Anna’s Uncle
has lost a son – a student
at Princeton – If anything
of importance occurs I will
write again but my letters
are so long reaching you that
it may be useless – I am very
glad to get yours so soon –
If possible let me know when you
will come to Washington – Fanny sends
love – May God preserve & bless you
Mother –

Lieut. A. H. Seward
Assist Coast Survey
Key West
Florida
WASHINGTON, D.C.
MAY 3, 1856
FREE
hWilliam H Seward