Auburn June 21. 1824
My Dear Father & Mother
I will grant to you that I am very undu-
tiful in my long neglect of writing to you — But it is
owing to a wayward temperament I have — Dozens
of letters like (Crawford documents) lie suppressed in
my bureau — Some never sent because they told too
much and others too little and many more because
they told nothing at all — But I beg you to under-
stand that it has been owing to no want of interest
in your happiness with that of the rest of the family
that I have written nothing — By letters from others
as well as from my Father I have learned of his
restoration to health — And I have not been ungratef-
ul for it to him who sends us health and all
other blessings —
I have felt much anxiety lest you should fear
that some misfortune or disappointment had
stifled the current of my confidence — It has not
been so — Our business seems to advance respectably
and I begin to entertain some hope of a good
and successful establishment in life — My system
is formed and I trust that with success I may
enjoy a competence of this World’s good things
In politics circumstances have rendered it
necessary that I should abandon the Albany
Junto and I have done it — My motives and my

are of course a subject of free comment but it is
of little consequence and will pass off with the mo-
ment — I am preparing an Oration for the next Inde-
pendence and find that it engrosses most of my leis-
ure — You will therefore excuse me for proceeding
directly to a close by starting the object of this letter.
An early day in October next is fixed for the
celebration of my marriage and as I have some
preliminary arrangements to make I deem it
advisable to visit the East before that time —
I have therefore concluded to visit you early in
the next month and shall with your permission
come attended by Miss Lazette M. who will
stay at your house until she returns with such
of my friends as may deem the important change
in my manner of life of sufficient importance to
honor it with their presence — Lazette has been unfor-
tunate in her attachment and has become mellowed
in a temper which bears sometimes too much of in-
dependence — her intrinsic worth you know and appre-
ciate — I commend her to your hospitality — My stay
will be short (not to exceed) three or four days but
it will suffice to have much conversation on that inter-
esting event which is about to take place — I pray you
be prepared to advise me feelingly on the subject —
I ought perhaps to add that my acquaintance with
the woman I am about with your leave to introduce
to your family has since I saw you afforded assurance

of such an affection as well as of such a temper and
character as will make me happy as poor hu-
man Nature may expect— The object of my visit
to Albany & perhaps to New York is to attempt a
compromise between a Merchant ^of this village^ & his Creditors at
those places — This will probably engross most of
the time I might allot to the Journey —
It is my wish that my good Grandmother may
be informed of the purport of this letter — It may be
like mine a childish partiality that she felt toward
Frances when she was at Florida but I cannot help
remembering it — All but the time I will trust in her
confidence — To my Brother & Sister it may be communi-
cated with freedom as we calculate much on their
company here — I shall write again
Commend me to all whose esteem I value
and believe me to be as ever
Your affectionate Son
Wm Henry —
S. S. Seward & Lady
P. S. I have consented to accept a Commission as Adjutant
of the Regiment here on condition that you will
furnish me the equipment —
H

Hon. Samuel S. Seward
Post Master
Florida
Orange Co
N. York
Auburn
N. Y.
June 23
hW. H. Seward.
Letter 23 June 1824