Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to Samuel Sweezey Seward, April 28, 1825
xml:
Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to Samuel Sweezey Seward, April 28,
1825
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:nrs
student editorTranscriber:spp:keh
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1825-04-28
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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to Samuel Sweezey Seward, April 28, 1825
action: sent
sender: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
location: New York, NY
receiver: Samuel Seward
Birth: 1768-12-05
Death: 1849-08-24
location: Florida, NY
transcription: nrs
revision: crb 2017-01-10
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Page
1
Dear Father
I have the pleasure to inform
you that our little Augustus
and begins to talk largely of going to the
country for his health. For two or three
days past he has been allowed to play
a little while in the yard – when the weath-
er is fair – his cough though equally
severe is less frequent. I think he gains
strength as fast as could be expected.
Of the contemplated cashiership, of which
I communicated something in my last, I
have further to say that a gentleman of
the same place has been selected by a
country board, contrary as I understand
to their agreement with gentlemen here – This
result was announced to me last night –
accompanied by a request that I would
Page
2
hold myself in readiness to accept the ap-
pointment after the first election in autumn
next – probably this was by way of saving
my feelings thinking that I had made
calculations upon it – (which by the way
I really had not.)
But our President
blow yesterday almost – in saying to a Gen-
tleman introduced by Commodore Chauncy
as an applicant for a birth here – with
powerful backers – to him our President
said that their sallaries for all but one
or two officies would be 5 or 600 dollars –
& not to exceed this. I cannot promise
myself the best office – and is it so that
I must waste my days & spend my strength
for a sum which will not enable me
even to take the fresh air when my
health requests it, or that will not
Page
3
afford the country breeze to my child
when his life absolutely seems to depend
upon it, & this too accompanied with
the reflection that I am most indeed
hourly engaged in making money for
others, who are rolling up wealth by
the thousands? – Perhaps I may do all
this, byut yet my present
impression is that I
will not.
Washington
well – his health is better. He is very attentive to his studies
Your affectionate son
B.J. Seward
Page
4
Hon. S.S. Seward
Florida
Orange Co
N.Y.
Dear Father
I have the pleasure to inform
you that our little Augustus
Birth: 1820-05-18 Death: 1889-05-08
is mendingand begins to talk largely of going to the
country for his health. For two or three
days past he has been allowed to play
a little while in the yard – when the weath-
er is fair – his cough though equally
severe is less frequent. I think he gains
strength as fast as could be expected.
Of the contemplated cashiership, of which
I communicated something in my last, I
have further to say that a gentleman of
the same place has been selected by a
country board, contrary as I understand
to their agreement with gentlemen here – This
result was announced to me last night –
accompanied by a request that I would
hold myself in readiness to accept the ap-
pointment after the first election in autumn
next – probably this was by way of saving
my feelings thinking that I had made
calculations upon it – (which by the way
I really had not.)
But our President
Birth: 1777-04-04 Death: 1854-12-19
struck me a death blow yesterday almost – in saying to a Gen-
tleman introduced by Commodore Chauncy
Birth: 1772 Death: 1840
as an applicant for a birth here – with
powerful backers – to him our President
said that their sallaries for all but one
or two officies would be 5 or 600 dollars –
& not to exceed this. I cannot promise
myself the best office – and is it so that
I must waste my days & spend my strength
for a sum which will not enable me
even to take the fresh air when my
health requests it, or that will not
afford the country breeze to my child
when his life absolutely seems to depend
upon it, & this too accompanied with
the reflection that I am most indeed
hourly engaged in making money for
others, who are rolling up wealth by
the thousands? – Perhaps I may do all
this, byut yet my present
impression is that I
will not.
Washington
Birth: 1808-08-26 Death: 1888-12-07
is progressing & I believe
verywell – his health is better. He is very attentive to his studies
Your affectionate son
B.J. Seward
Hon. S.S. Seward
Florida
Orange Co
N.Y.