N.Y. 27 July 1825
Dear Father
I have recently held a long
conversation with our dearly beloved Cornelia—
It resulted in giving me a great deal of
satisfaction, while at the same time it
gives me great anxiety — The state of her
mind — (I think I am not mistaken in it)
is, that she is now free from fetters &
embarrassments engagements & at liberty to
do as she pleases — nevertheless there is
something of the old predilection left.
With hardly a full purpose of mind, except
upon three heads — one if the Dr goes to Go
shen to settle — to have nothing more to do with
him under any circumstances — another that she
will in good faith live up to the stip-
ulations of the agreement — & a third that
no offer under any circumstances could be accep-
able to her that would not include in it a
complete & unquestionable competence — There make
up a bulk of favourable circumstance upon

which her real friends need not fear to rely
could they always have the control of every
intermediate circumstance -But here is the
intermiediate cause of apprehension — her pretended
friends may magnify the obligation she owes to
public opinion — nor will one sound talking es
tablish her beyond their control — connection
may be shaken — recantion is a work of time —
she is not now prepared to allow that she was
hasty — but yet she may without doubt be ex-
pected to see and own it, if others are kept
from her ears — but that way Geo Wickham
& and his wife talked to me when there would
lead her to conclude that the peace
ratified with Great Britain might as prop-
erly be broken as her engagement — And
yet it would to my view be highly impolitic
to press a renouncement— If she goes to Orange
& is curtailed in her visits, she will at once
ascribe it to this — & it will create hostility &
stubbornness - If left at the mercy of others she
is gone to a certainty— Such are my views
of this matter — your better judgement may see more

to relieve in some points & perhaps more to fear
in others than I do —
I have this day rec^d a letter from Dr C
enquiring very earnestly whether the agreement
has been accepted or rejected— Mentions that
Gen Dickerson had rec^d your letter & only
says that his mama handed it to him
speaks nothing about the opinion or effect
of it there — I answered him that it was
harvest time & no answer had been re-
ceived –––––––––––
Your unnamed correspondent has found
it necessary to go to New Jersey for the
benefit of his health — will return about
the 20^th August & I expect very likely thro’
Orange – tho he has not said so — He really
conducts himself with the utmost propiety
in this matter & the character given him
here by his friends & acquaintances, im
proves him upon our esteem at every
new enquiry — His attentions have been
(tho’ observed yet) sparing and evidently in

subordination to some higher motive for
his conduct — Cornelia had with more than
half of earnestness invited Miss Randolph home
with her — which when he heard of it said
(not to us) that he would then come to F
& invite C & Eliza to Schooley Mountain — We
however thought it prudent quietly to wave
the whole matter —His politeness is ev-
idently highly esteemed & rather solicited
by C. than otherwise — If this be found
to answer it may easily be affected ––
Our institution is now fairly open.
the capital small & the business light —
—I am perfectly conscious that my
services here could be dispensed with at
this moment better perhaps than for
years to come — could I afford it I
should ask permission to go to Auburn
& to Buffalo — I think it probable
our Jersey friend might be inclined to go–
Your affectionate Son
B.J. Seward