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No 120 West 25^th St.
New York Nov 30, 1864
Frederick Seward Esq
My Dear Friend.
You will recollect
my wish, expressed in our pleasant
conversation last June, to paint a
picture (Daniel Webster fishing in his
native river) for one of the panels in
either the Senate chamber or the Chamber
of the H.R; and that you said Congress
might grant my wish this Winter.
I have reason to fear they will
consider it inexpedient to give me
that commission on account of our
public debt which indeed appears in
appalling dimensions.
By reason of several causes I met
serious reverses, and struggled with
Giant Poverty for mastery, and I must
confess I have not prevailed. I am
literally under his thumb. I sought
to obtain a situation as a teacher of
deaf mutes, at some Institutions, but, as

the mute teachers, as a general rule,
receive half.—in some places, one third,
of what is paid to their speaking
colleagues, I was told I could not be
received on the equal footing with the
hearing teacher. The distress of my
poor dear wife—God bless her—drives
me distracted, and desperate, of course. So
you will excuse my liberty of seeking
your father’s favor. The reason why I
address you instead of your father is
that he is so much occupied in his
State affairs that I do not wish to
buttonhole him even for one minute; but
I believe you can read my letter to
hime at home and beat the bush
whether I shall get what I ask for.
I would fain drive my quill in any of
the Federal Departments, more especially the
State Department for $1200 or 1600; but,
considering the increased prices of all
things in New York, where it is necessary
for my family to reside, my wife will
expect to receive at least $1200, and

I shall have to pay my board— $8.00
per week in Washington—I don’t
see how I can raise the wind for
the last necessity. So I deem it
advisable for me to remain where
I am and attend my duties at some
establishment belonging to the U.S.
Government, and that in company with
my eldest son,—a bright hearing boy,
of excellent morals, whom I wish to see
placed in a manner conducive to his
welfare.
The question I have to submit to you
is: — Is it not possible that your father
as well as yourself, will exercise his
influence on Hon Fessenden so that
I and my son may be invested in
the Custom House, Sub Treasury, Post
Office, Material Bank or Internal
Revenue Office?
And the answer thereto on your
part will, I venture to hope, be
encouraging, to say the least; and Iwe
shall feel relieved, in some measure, of

the pressure of the Giant’s thumb.
Enough of this delicate matter.
I am rejoiced at Lincoln’s
reelection. Hope your father will
still hold ^retain^ his office. I am
curious to know how Brazil will
be satisfied when she hears of the
sinking of the Florida. When shall
I see the fulfillment of your jocose
invitation to feast over the fall of
Richmond?
My kindest regards to Hon Seward
and his Lady.
Yours, sincerely
Mr Carlin
A word in your ear. I confess that the
idea of my being employed as Special
Bearer of Dispatches, to any part of the
Earth, tickles me, for it would give
me ample opportunity to write a book
of Travels with illustrations &c.

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Frederick Seward

Birth: 1830-07-08 Death: 1915-04-25

Jno Carlin
Nov 30. 64
New York