New York. March 6, 1855
My dear Auntie,
Fred had informed me of his Father's
disapproval of our views concerning the dis-
position, of Mr. Mc Clellan's house, and though
I have every inclination to oblige him and
especially Aunt Clara, I hardly think it
would be proper for me to do what Uncle
thinks improper for Fred to do. My taking
the property would be a mere colorable
evasion of uncle's wishes as expressed to
me in Fred's letter. Uncle will probably
be at home this week and we can then
have the benefit of his better judgement.
If he thinks I can render any assistance
I will cheerfully do so at any time &
in any way.
I saw Auntie Worden and went
with her and Miss Clark to the Depot
in Jersey City. She has promised to
come and see how we live on her re-
turn.
A friend gave me to read the other
day James' Nature of Evil, being a review of
and an answer to Beecher's the Conflict of
Ages. Like the Conflict of Ages it essays
to reconcile the presence of evil in the
world with the goodness of the Creator

and though not perfectly successful in so doing,
for no human book can be, if it approaches
nearer to a solution of the problem than the
abused hypothesis of the existence enunciated
by Mr. Beecher, I have read it with, I hope,
some profit, I know, with much interest,
and though portions of it require to their proper
understanding a mind versed with the more
remote and abstruse distinctions with which
Metaphysical Theology abounds, I think I correctly
gather his meaning and idea. There is certainly
much force, almost a fearful force in his
idea that the sin which a man is is the
sin which taints his inner character and
unfits him for an appreciation or enjoyment
of that higher and nobler state of existence
which awaits those who are found worthy.
I will send the book to you by Express and
after you have read it I will be gratified
if you will tell me what you think of it.
Carrie is not very well having been
suffering from the prevailing influenza – Allie
grows and wakes father every day. She enjoys
this spring like weather which is far from
disagreeable to children of an older growth.
I shall probably be in Auburn in May or
June and will come directly home thankful
that such friends and such a home awaits
me there.
Pray excuse my lawyer like writing

which annoys me as well as perplexes others by
its illegibility.
Mr. Blatchford declines the judgeship on
personal and precedential grounds.
Ever gratefully your nephew
Clarence A. Seward
My Auntie Mother.

hMarch 6^– 1855
Clarence