Bargain Town March 19^th 1830 e My dear Brother,
How much pleasure your frequent & kind
letters afford us, I cannot tell. You know I never can
say any thing as I would or describe any thing as it should
be, but ^with^ your usual kindness you will take the will for the
deed from me – & one more favor I have to ask when you
are tired of reading my dull epistles or have not time
to read them just let me know – we have not much to write
that can interest you – you will think this is affectation
but I assure you my dearest Brother I am sincere –
I write now to say that I sent my last letter under rather
unfavorable impressions – I was exasperated with the
meanness of P___ who makes use of every opportunity
to injure Mahlon, & with this sentiment I feel dis-
couraged & unhappy, but upon sober & serious reflection
I do not see so much cause for despondency –
There is probably few places where we should not have
to contend with the same difficulties, though I think there
are not many except always the P___ d who could conde-
scend to the same meanness to advance their interests
This country has never been agreeable ^to us^ & ‘tis true it was never
less so than now, but I have been contented for the most
part with the hope that one day we could leave it
with means to settle ourselves to advantage some where
we could have some society if not that of our relatives

As to going to Auburn – I am sure you are the kindest hearted
man, who would not say, “Lord deliver me” from any more poor
relations Brothers-in-law – We would dearly love to live so
near you, & if any lot had been cast so I think I would not
complain of any fortune, but it is otherwise – You see
my dearest Brother my affection is still the same tho’
time and error on my part has caused a great loss of enjoy-
ment to us – I will hope that next summer I may meet you
some where to make the long desired visit to your home
yet I dare hardly indulge it lest I may again be disappoint- ^ed^
I learned this morning by a Salem County Gentleman (who staid
with us last night) that Antimasonry is spreading like wild
fire in that county. I hope it will not stop there but travel
on over the United States, my informant I suspect was
a mason but a clever Jackson man –
If you go to Florida,carry my love to our dear Mother
and if she can find time to write will you not have her
letter mailed, & as soon as you can write I shall be glad to
hear how they all do at home, Ma’s last letter dated Feby 14^th
says poor Polydore does bad very bad.
There is a vessel on the bar & Mahlon has gone to enquire
after her but I may venture to send you his love. I think
your letter of the 13^th Ult tho’ very wounding has had the full
effect of establishing your character for integrity & sincerity
with my Husband – my dear Henry Mahlon is a kind &
good hearted man and to your sister a faithful good
Husband, but his opportunities for observation by intercourse

with the world, has been limited – I sincerely hope you ^will^ not as I
know he does not entertain any unkind feeling on the subject
of those foolish letters –
You must have enjoyed very much your visit to Dr Nott
and to the scenes of ^your^ by gone days of collegiate life – &
with feelings not dissimilar to mine when I visited
Beth m my visit at Florida affords me more pleasure
than any other I ever made, I used to dislike it ^F___^ but it is
very dear to me now –
What figure does Mrs Gov Throp ^Throop^ make? I always
think of them as ^being^ too slender to appear well in such
[ lar ] ge characters,
Make my kind love to Frances & tell
her my little Augustus

x

Augustus Canfield

Birth: 1829-12-04 Death: 1867-10-25

saw me crying over
your letter & came with his little check apron to wipe
away the tears & then kiss’d me –
Your affectionate
Sister
Louisa C. C.
To my dear Brother
W^m H Seward Esq

Bargain Town N. J
March 21^st Free M. D. Canfield

William H. Seward Esq
(In Senate) Albany
N. York
hL C Canfield
19 March 1831