Letter from Clarence Armstrong Seward to William Henry Seward, February 23, 1852

  • Posted on: 19 July 2019
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Letter from Clarence Armstrong Seward to William Henry Seward, February 23, 1852
x

transcriber

Transcriber:spp:pag

student editor

Transcriber:spp:cnk

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1852-02-23

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Letter from Clarence Armstrong Seward to William Henry Seward, February 23, 1852

action: sent

sender: Clarence Seward
Birth: 1828-10-07  Death: 1897-07-24

location: Auburn, NY

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

location: Auburn, NY

transcription: pag 

revision: fdc 2019-05-17

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Page 1

BLATCHFORD & SEWARD,
ATTORNEYS
AND
COUNSELLORS AT LAW,
AUBURN, N.Y.
Office in Exchange Buildings, 94 Genesee St.
SAMUEL BLATCHFORD. CLARENCE A. SEWARD.
Auburn February 23. 1852
My dear Uncle:
I found on my return from
Geneva this morning your letter of the 19th
instant. I deeply regret that it did not
arrive sooner – if it had I should not have
to confess the commission of an act which I
fear you will not approve.
I had told Mr Beardsley
Birth: 1820-07-11 Death: 1906-08-14
I would
give him an answer last week. I waited
till the last hour on Saturday and then
redeemed my promise by saying to him
that I would take his house: The first regret
that I have Experienced since the bargain
was completed is caused by your letter.
I have so long been accustomed to regard
with the utmost deference your advice and
counsel – so long been accustomed to follow it
that it startles me now to find myself acting
in a manner disapproved by you. But the
regret comes too late: I have told Mr
Beardsley that I would take his house
and upon the faith of my promise he has
concluded the purchase of the Dennis
Birth: 1806 Death: 1866-05-31Certainty: Possible

place: I have not made this purchase
Page 2

hastily and without reflection, but on the
contrary have asked the advice of friends and
have bestowed much thought upon it. I found
that I would be necessitated in the spring to
seek a home elsewhere than at Mrs Youngs
Birth: 1802-09-16 Death: 1878-07-09

that my family
x Birth: 1852-02-26  Death: 1927-04-04  Birth: 1828-05-22  Death: 1906-12-09 
would, by that time, if no
disastrous event occurred, be increased by one,
that my wife would then require some assistance
and with three to support, besides myself I
should be compelled to ask admittance at a
public house. If I gained admittance there
it would only be at an Extravagant price
and at a great sacrifice of comfort and
convenience – I wanted a home and its comforts
and neither were to be found in a public house.
I then looked for house which I could rent
and there I was disappointed. I could find
no house which I would wish to live in that
would be vacant in the Spring. I was com-
pelled to buy. I knew not that your letter
would contain the kind offer it does and
should have acted far differently a home
with you and Aunty
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
and a home at a
hotel, are two very dissimilar prospects. I
did not wish to build for I did not wish
at once to lay out the money necessary to
construct a house. If no adverse circumstances
befall me I can pay for this house from my
income – The office is doing a business worth at the
Page 3

least $2000 a year of which I receive
one third – The business is constantly in-
creasing and in the event of Mr Blatchford's
Birth: 1798-04-23 Death: 1875-09-04Certainty: Possible

Election at the Expiration of two years, I should
have sufficient of it left in my hands to
obtain an Equal partnership with any
lawyer in Auburn. I could not rent a
house. I did not wish to board at a
hotel, I had no home and I must buy.
I did so. My only regret is that your
letter contains advice hostile to such a step.
If health and strength continue I have
no fear for the future – if they fail me
my family will have a home –
Again I thank you for your kind
offer of a home with you and trust that
the affection which prompted it will also
furnish an excuse for what ^may^ seem to have
been an inconsiderate step:
Ever gratefully
Your Nephew
Clarence
The Honorable:
William H. Seward.
Page 4
Unknown
Clarence Seward
1852