Chautauqua Land Office
Westfield Jan 30. 1838
Dear Henry
Yours of the 18 – reached me on
the 27^th while I was lying prostrate with
rheumatism – brought on as Dr Jones says by
change of climate. I have done but little
for a week past: but am now just recovering.
I rejoice that the object of your , is
likely to succeed. " Fortune favors the Brave"
and I had expected it.
The work of making the report has been
severally parcelled out among the clerks &
all have gone to work with whatever of indus-
try they can muster, to complete it by the
20^th Feb. – They say that it can be ac-
complished by that time – I have doubted
it, – although it is true the materials from
which such a work is to be accomplished
are much more abundant than when
the statement of May was made. I
hope to be able to do something at it
myself tomorrow – but settling questions
about delinquents, has been a full employ-

ment for my little strength for some days: &
if the statement be not completed by that
time, it ^will^ be but a few days later. – I wait
of course your instructions in regard to the
mode of sending it.
I had furnished Van Hall a check for
the twenty one hundred dollars falling due
in Phil – but recalled it, by the first mail
after the arrival of your letter.
Falconer and Lowry both promise their
attention to the protested draft of of forty two
hundred dollars: & $2,000 are already fur-
nished by Lowry (as I before informed you.)
The present is such a crisis, as in conversa-
tion, I have once for twice given you the
opinion, a security could be demanded by
you & obtained for what there is balance due
from the L. Bank —
As you see by the inclosed a blow
up has occurred: & the disclosures are
"awful",— true enough. Mr Falconer dropped
me a line to make an unimportant en-
quiry, a day or two since & signed himself
Pr. – as usual – but whose side he is
on – or who he is against in the several

clubs of bloodsuckers, does not appear. –
Wheeler the Clerk & Brigham the Director are
under Bonds, for swindling – (the order & agency
of these, extracted our packages of sealed up
Bills) & it is said that Mr Falconer, as
he stepped into the court room to attend
the examination of a charge of perjury, fainted.
Our business progresses slowly. our December
transactions this year were probably as new
money as they were last – but mostly lighter
as it regards money received. The monthly
rep[ or ] t is longer.
We have received no account
current from the Gen^l Land Office
& I suppose they intend to give
us none: – they are preparing for the
monthly report for Dec.
Our little family are all enjoying
usual health (except myself) & our
ladies are all rejoicing that Frances
& the boys are with you. The good Lord
of all our lives prosper you – & bring you
home in peace & safety.
Your grateful Brother
B.J. Seward

I send the inclosed in this from supposing it
to be unlikely to reach you as newspaper
Wm. H. Seward Esq
Care Am. Life Trust Co.
hAuburn
New York City
Double Only.
WESTFIELD
NV
31
N.Y.
FEB 5
NEW YORK
FEB
5
hB.J. Seward
Jan 30. 1838.

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