eSan Francisco Aug. 26
My dear Sister & children ,
You know without explana-
tion why I groupe you together in one letter instead
of writing to you separately – We arrived safely
at San Francisco yesterday at 3 — Though I tried
often to drop some letters by the way I was preven-
ted doing so by the occupation of myself or the fa-
tigue of my willing amanuensis – We made the journey
of thirty one hundred miles by railroad in fif-
teen days, only doubled the shortest period occu-
pied by those who, with the advantages of full
health & vigor, allow themselves neither rest
nor diversion. We found Mr. Weed and Harriet at
Rochester with many other friends – We parted
with them at the Suspension Bridge on the sec-
ond day of our journey – We went through
Canada in the simple language of D. Watts
"Alike unknowing & unknown"
Freeman proved himself very expert with
Judge's newly invented footstool –

we passed a short but undisturbed night
at Detroit and on Friday we were whirled through
Michigan & Indiana without leaving the cars – We
rested there two days in very pleasant private
apartments at the Fremont where we happened
to meet the President who seemed as much trav-
el worn and a great deal more office worn
than myself – Many friends made arrange-
ments for a pleasant continuation of our
journey and the Risley cousins who seem to
have found pleasant, though humble homes all
along our journey "round the world" thus far
received me as the patriarch of their family
We left Chicago on Monday morning and "put
it through over the Northern Central Rail Road
by night and by day to Omaha – Our friends gath-
ered in groups & showed us in pleasant excur-
sions the magnificent scenery of the River–
Gen. Augur was abroad but the staff and
field officers of his command favored us with
a spirited military reception at the Baracks
and telegraphed our progress to the different
military commands across the continent and

thus far "aroused the world' – We began our ascent
of the base of the Rocky Mountains on Wednes-
nesday and on Thursday noon we alighted
from the cars at Cheyenne on a plain 7000
feet above the sea, standing ready to confront the
snow mountains on the left and the black mountains
on the right but a cold north east storm had come
up and the mountains failed to appear –
The Governor and civil officers of Wyoming Territory
received us with marked courtesy. We were lodged
fed & warmed with elegant hospitality by the officers
among whom the "Risley cousins" reappeared – After
a public reception – with the thermometer at 36
(which obliged me to put on my Chinese coat) we
took our departure the next day – We had a plat-
form car from which we studied the sterile scenery
of the second level 8000 above the sea – and then
rapidly descending surveyed the wonderful peaks
of nature on the Wasatch Mountains – The people
of Salt Lake had a special car ready for us
at Ogden and at 7 oclock on Saturday night
my excellent friend of the Townsend House received us
with a warm supper and snow white linen in the city

2d
of the Mormons – We drove about that singular
place so beautifully embosomed in the moun-
tains until eleven o'clock when we attended
Divine Service in the Episcopal Church—a con-
gregation of Gentiles – At two we repaired to
the Tabernacle where we declined privileged
and elevated seats and occupied a pew
in the midst of the grand congregation – Ten
thousand worshippers were there – The Communion
was administered by the elements of bread & water
in which I joined regardless of the religious and
political differences which alienates that strange
community from the Christian world. A very
modest & pleasant speaker defined the aim
of Jesus Christ and the Latter day Saints to be the
establishment of the kingdom of God upon the
earth—and the chief means by which the church
expects to effect that great object to be the re-forma-
tion of the marriage contract into a contract not
merely for time but for time & eternity also - Brigham
Young preached a long sermon with much originality

of views and excentricity of doctrine and exag-
geration of rhetoric— in which he seemed to go through
with the entire body of faith as it is held by his
peculiar people – In his discourse he modestly re-
ferred to some of his experiences in Auburn with
allusions very kind to me. After service he came
down & took us very kindly by the hand and
solicited an interview at our hotel in the evening
He came at six o'clock and with him a body of
the Elders and three of his grown up sons – and
remained until nine – He came again on
Monday morning with two magnificent coaches
and conveyed us to the houses of his several families –
Some of these homes grouped together as in a Harem
& others isolated in different parts of the city –
He counted his wives, (exclusive of those who were sealed
to him at sixteen) and of these he introduced us
to tene – He counted his children forty ninee
and ^of^ these his wives presented to us in neat and
clean attire & modest deportment about thirty –
apologising for the absence of the remainder –
Three of Brigham Youngs sons are married sever
ally to two , threee and six wives whom we also saw –

Refreshments – native fruit and wine were offered
to us at all these places – The President with the
male & female members of his family accompanied
us to the cars and we left Salt Lake City
Two nights & two days sufficed for a descent from
the Salt Lake barrens into the Humbolt Valley
We arrived at eleven oclock at Sacramento having
been joined on the way by Gov. Stanford and
other citizens who put extraordinary cars & every
luxury at our service – Eminent citizens of
Sacramento received & entertained us at their
houses completely guarding against public demon-
-strations unsuitable to persons like myself of
shattered health and dilapidated political rep-
-utation. The guns nevertheless welcomed us in
token that the people did not altogether ac-
quiese in the modesty of our pretensions
A magnificent dinner party and an equally
magnificent supper party, let us off at a late
hour not exceedingly improved in health and
vigor – and yesterday morning the same good cit-
izens brought us in a special train to this place
misleading the people of Oakland & San Fran-

3d
cisco as to the time of our arrival and thus se-
cured us ^a^ quiet passage to an elegant home at
the house of an old friend – Judge Hastings who
accompanied me last year to Alaska – George
F. Seward with his wife – who is very amiable and
accomplished, met us with the Sacramento party
and came with us to this place. Col. Evans is kindly
busy in consulting all our wishes. I have stood
the fire of an interviewer with commendable patience
and according to the reporters account, with exem-
plary modesty – I learn from his account that
my friend Mr. Risley has been promoted Col and
that the name of the family has been changed to
the more ambitious one of Ridgley – that I am
not bald but that my hair has grown thin and
like the tail of a camel – scattered – Olive Risley
has been sick five out of the fifteen days but
upon the whole is as well if not better than at
Auburn – Mr. Risley has been sick and is
now suffering with a cold contracted in coming
over the mountains – I have had two prostrations

but I seem to myself to be as well and to
have as free use of my limbs and faculties
as I enjoyed when I left home – We expect
to sail the 1st of September but it seems diffi-
cult to dodge and decline pleasures and
excitement which I am well aware would unfit
me for the voyage Hattie Risley has had
one sick day – Mrs. George F. Seward desires
to be cherished in your affectionate remembrance
As yet we hear nothing from the Randalls –
Affectionately
W H Seward

Col. Augustus H. Seward
Chief Paymaster U.S. Army
Charleston
S.C.
AUBURN N.Y.
SEPT 19