Auburn 13th April 1828
My Dear Father
I have received yours of the 7^th instant which expressed much solicitude
about the state of George’s health and my own. Previous letters written by
me will have relieved your anxiety. We are both entirely well except
that our strength is not fully regained. As for me I have been
able to resume completely my business habits and no longer ad-
mit myself an invalid. George grows rugged every day. The
day assigned for his departure is next Monday the 21st. He will
reach Albany on the night of the 22d. take the Steam boat
on the night of the 23d. the stage next morning to Goshen
and the evening if no accident intervenes will find
him once more under your roof. I need not perhaps add
that I hope he will be able to divide some of your cares, lessen
much of your labours and afford you and our mother much
happiness. For himself I can frankly say I have ever
found him honest honorable and of good principles and good
morals. Happy will it be for him if he can devote his
talents with the same good name to the discharge of the duties
which will fall upon him now that the rest of these
children have forsaken the “homestead”.
Polidore has once more taken upon himself the charge
of himself under auspices the most favorable
and I trust with principles more firmly established
and resolution which cannot be shaken
When George returns you will have three of your children
near & with you – for New York is in your neighbourhood

and Jennings & his little family are as much at home under the
parental roof as under his own. The other two are far distant
nor does the improvements in canals stages boats & rail
roads bring them within such distance of their home as will enable
them often to visit and enjoy it. For her who is of her own ill-
advised choice and ^by^ the machinations of weak friends the
covert enemies thrown out of the endearments of home and ban-
ished to the sands of the sea coast and to the society of fish-
erman Heaven send that her fortune may be more propitious
than we all have reason to fear it will be. You have for-
bidden me to speak of her and I would not give you pain by
doing so. But in adverting to the state of the family it is impossible
to avoid the painful association. It forces itself upon my mind
and in the warmth of writing is transferred to the paper. I will add
only that in the language of herself and her officious friends. I who
have loved her as truly as ever brother loved a sister am a cruel
and unnatural brother & she no more writes to me or mine – Yet
I cannot dismiss her from my affection & would not if I could—
I would not interfere with your wishes and feelings on any sub-
ject but I commend her to your kindness & blessing and I cease not
to pray that the hour of her delusion maybe short and that a way
may be opened for her restoration to your favor. You know the
warmth of my feeling on every subject of this kind. a trait in
my character in which I often flatter myself I resemble you
and I hope will excuse me for this expression of it
As for me the most distant of all from the scene of my youth-
fuldays I hope that you will not when enjoying the society

of my Brothers & their families forget me & the little
family which God hath given me. Distant though we
are the name of our home is dearer to me than any association
I can form with the world around me. You will write to
us often as of late you have done — and when others are
around your table and your fireside you will remember
that there is far distant one who however wayward in
his youth he may have been both honours & loves his parents
and will teach his offspring to reverence you—
We have nothing new here of importance except that
the Bill authorising the construction of a rail road
at the expense of the State from the State Prison to the
Canal has passed the Assembly and will doubtless pass
the Senate.
The publication in the Cayuga Republican
signed by N.D. Strong on the subject of freema-
sonry is exciting a great deal of interest here.The Author is
a Clergyman and until lately the principal of the
Auburn Academy for ten years past. We are all becom-
ing anti-masonick. and in this region of the Country
the delusion which has blinded the people of all con-
ditions on the subject of freemasonry has passed
away forever. It is curious to see how foolish the
brethren of the craft look when the subject is mention-
ed. Make my love to the family & believe that I
remain as ever
Yours truly
W.H. Seward.
Hon S. S. Seward

Hon. Samuel S. Seward
Post Master
Florida
Orange Co
AUBURN N.Y.
APL
15
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