Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, March 24, 1838

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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, March 24, 1838
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:dxt

student editor

Transcriber:spp:sss

Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1838-03-24

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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, March 24, 1838

action: sent

sender: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23  Death: 1841-02-24

location: Westfield, NY

receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16  Death: 1872-10-10

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: dxt 

revision: crb 2015-03-24

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Page 1

Chautauqua Land Office
Westfield March 24, 1838
My Dear Henry
I find that I made a gross
blunder last night, strange that Smith
Birth: 1804-03-16 Death: 1904-10-24

did not detect it who calculated with me.
We added interest from 20 MFeb to 20 March
on Bonds & M. $150,000 instead of $550,000.
The interest having been paid in this
interum, upon many Bonds out of the
$563,493 as it stood 20 Feb, ^we thought^ it would be
sufficent to caculate it on $550,000.
You will now find the aggregates of
Bonds & M., of Articles, & of Misold
Lands set in the accompanying account
current as it is likely to be made.
In regard to the account of Expen-
ses, made up by Mr Bradley
Birth: 1808-01-19 Death: 1890-07-09
to $16,000
& supposed by you to be likely to reach
$20,000, there are many things not to
be called Expenses under your agree-
ment with the Proprietors. You will
see the distinctions I have made.
Page 2

Office expenses proper, which your contract
stipulated should be $3,000 per year for 5 years
to effect the settlement in, are reduced to $9,863.
The work is therefore done in 2 years for this sum
instead of 5 years for $15,000.
In regard to my own compensation
when I came to it in the progress of drawing
off it occurred to me that I would make
up the statement of expenses including
the $1,000 we spoke of, it is the last item
and if disallowed it is easily stricken
out & in that case, this sum must be
added to the cash on hand. Pray allow
me to beg that you will reason with the
gentlemen, that I came away from an
income of $1,600 (not $1,500 as I said to you
the other day, I was mistaken) where I could
board my children in college – that I came
when you were urgent to have some person
of yours to plough with refractory settlers
in view of a contemplated visit to Amsterdam
– that it cost me between 4 & $500 to remove
&c &c. But, I wish after all that you will
not allow this item to embarrass you,
although I see not how I shall ever
disembarress myself of it, if it is disallowed[ . ]
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Supplied

Reason: 

But you will do what is right.
Page 3

In regard to the accounts generally
I find some further corrections which will
vary the acres & make the total 59 68/100 less.
But we have at last found data to go
upon, and I am willing to ^be^ responsible
that the books shall hereafter speak a
perspicuous
Clear to the understanding; not obscure or ambiguous •
language & show at any time
the exact chah condition of the estate.
I think I shall move the office
on the first of April, although I
have not looked for another room.
My proud madam
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
says, if Francis
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21

visits us, she will be ashamed to
have it in our first room & it will
not do to cut a door without leave.
By the way McClurgh
Birth: 1785 Death: 1872-05-26
writes to
Dixon
Birth: 1787-07-23 Death: 1875-04-19
to warn me out of the house
the first of May, shall I go? Tell
me what you think.
We have been highly favoured with
furth leisure these two days to make up
accounts in – hardly a customer – and
I hope my a/c current may prove
sufficent & acceptable satisfactory.
The Lord bless you, as ever yours
B. J. Seward
Page 4

Hand Shiftx

William Seward

Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
B. J. Seward
March 24, 1836.