Florida 26 Sep 1828
My dear William
Yours of the 8^th & 17^th have
severally been received ‑ For some days
previous to the arrival of Judge Miller
the weather having become fine, in
overseeing my business on the farm I
often reflected that it would be tedious
getting along without inviting Henry
and Francis with little Augustus to
visit us this [ faul ] — In one of these
lonely fits the Judge passed in upon
us — Immagin to yourself how
much I was gratified and made up
Never did a visitor enter my dwelling
more unexpected or more pleasing
His cheerfull affibility restored viva-
sity to our before rather lonely
mansion — And the only difficulty
was his stay was so short — He arived
on monday on wednesday my
Bank business unavoidably caled
me to Newburg and beyond that we
could not detain him

I thank you for the proceedings of the
Utica convention of young Men ‑ It has
many things to recommend it, First
it shows that the young and rising
population who are advancing to the
Theator of Action feel a deep interest in
a wise honorable & patriotic AdmS^t
of our government — Secondly it shows
by the assembling of near four hun-
dred men from distant parts of
the state leaving their businesses behind
them that they were willing to spend
and be spent in what they consider
a vertuous cause — And thirdly they
discovered such a degree of mildness
Uninimity and moral rectitude
as to convince the world that they
were a safe and highly important
deliberative body — The address
however I considered rather too
prolix and desending into rather
fine spun manutia — Still in it
there are many striking facts

Your being called to preside over that
body when we reflect that it was com-
prised of men of high pretentions me^n^
who had been law given & otherwise dis-
tinguished in the state, was more
than we had reason to expect ‑ But
it verifies what I have often stated to
you and the other Counselor of our
family e — That public opinion is not
uncharitable — And that if a man qua-
lifies himself for businesses he need
not dispair of finding it‑ Wood to
God that others I have nurtured in
the cradle of Sciance had followed
my advice, and respected themselves
My heart melts over them and my
eyes swim in floods of tears when
I reflect on what they are and what
they might have been — But one
valuable consolation supports
me, vis, that I have conscientiously
done my duty and whatever mis-
fortune they experience is the act
of their own misguided Judgement.

[ White ] on this subject my dear William
it may not be amiss to remark that
the more distinction a man arives to
the stricter account will be kept with
him and the sooner will those acts which
a portion of the public may deem im-
proper be brought in Judgement against
them — And although there are many
men who’s intrensick value is never
known for want of confidence to place
themselves in the way of business, still
there are by far the greater number who
do too much — This was the case with
Alexander & Napolion two perhaps of
the greatest men that ever lived —
This was the case with Aaron Burr
and this it is to be feared may ulti-
matily be the case with Martin
Van Buren — The most successfull
polititions and those who wear the
best are men of conciliating manners
and who make the best interest of the
public their polar star without un-
alienable attachment to any party
views — That this may be your course to
preferment is the ardent wish of your
devoted father

On the subject of your attachments
to the home of your youth I never
doubted — The long pased by Augusta
letter speaks volumes on that subject
Our conflict I confess I often have
between your interest in attending
to and discharging your duty in
your official concerns, and over
inclination to have you and your
beloved little family often with us
I had a conversation with Judge
Miller on this subject and impresed
on his mind our desire of your
visiting us as often as possible with
out breaking in on your interest
or your duty to your clients
As time moves on we find strong-
er attachments to our mansion &
fire side — And as the bustle of busi-
ness recedes the desire to fill up
the time with the company of our
affectionate Children will increase
and we therefore hope that without
inconvenience you will visit us
once or twice a year ‑ Hither to the
the inmates of Augustus Henry at Auburn
have claimed a prospective right to him
but I think that Florida will show a stronger claim

You ask for the pasing events
in Orange — We have nothing new
or interesting The Presidential
question having long since become
thread bare — The result of the Herki-
mer Convention reached us on
Friday evening —. The hot Jackson
men claim 2000 at least for
Van Buren and Troop ‑
Our coming Circuit it is said
will produce a heavy calander
There are also some important
cases for the Oyer [ Interminer ] —
We abound in candidates for
Sheriff — D^r Evans alone on the
Adm-side has 10 or a dozen pro-
minent opposers on the side of
Jackson — all which except one are to
vanish before the caukus Nomination
This Nomination it is thought
lies between Jones of Warwick Conger
of Montgomery and Hulet of Minisink
Either of whom will probably
make a good Sheriff

M^r Cummins has this day commensed
a course of Sermons to show that the
Christian Sabbath began at the Crea-
tion of the World and not with the
law of Moses and that all men are
bound to observe it agreeable to the
directions laid down by the
moral Sanctions of these United States
Our place enjoys more
tranquility than it has
done for many years
Esquire Wood & Mr Henry W Thompson
set out a few days to the West by
way of Albany they will probably
call at your office —
Remember us cordially to each &
all our friends — And believe us to be dear Henry Francis & Augustus
most affectionately
Yours
SamlS. Seward O P M
W H Seward

Free
S.S. Seward P M
Florida N.Y.
William H Seward Esqr
Auburn NY
hS. S. Seward
Sep 28 1828