New York 15 August 1833
Dear Brother
Dear Mother & Washington
have each handed me a letter for
Father and I will try & scratch off a
line for you. - We collected yesterday
in mothers back room & perused your
second and third royal octo sheet of
Journal, to sister Frances, after read-
ing; and tracing your route on the map
& consulting the gazetteer for about two
hours, dinner was announced & a breathing
spell was thus afforded us – after this, we
took up your journal by way of desert
and in this way made out our three
hours repast (the fashionable length of
time I learn, to dine in, in England)
At three, your double letter was deposited
in the Post Office & will soon, I doubt
not be as rich a feast to Francis, the
Judge "and all them" as it was to us.
Thanks my good brother a thousand ^thanks^ for
this detailed account of your progress –
We have read "Carter" & "Sprague" and
"Esperilla's" tours in Europe; but we
are in a fair way of learning more
of that country from you , than from they
all.

I hope you will write on & continue to
send us your journal. I have made
arrangement to take a "vacation" when
ever a royal blue sheet shall come; &
I shall promise myself their reception
quite frequently. I have traced your
route & read your descriptions with intense
interest: and have exceedingly desired to see
the old world – but not I hope with a covet-
ous disposition that would appropriate what
more properly belongs to you to my own ben-
efit. – I have been long cantering round the
world while you have been toiling in your
office, earning the very money that has
furnished my family with the aparatus
with which we keep house – surely it
would be selfish & mean in me to desire
these rich pleasures, (unquestionably they are)
at your expense: far be it from me – on the
contrary I am thankful that the opportunity
is allowed you.
I scarcely know what, of news to write
you – dear mother & Washington I suppose have
told you all. Her letter, I dare say will be
regarded as a rare treat (so I used to re-
gard a line from her when in the western states
and it ought to be highly prized – for it has
been made at immense cost. – Mother is feeble
- unused to the pen and it almost broke
her neck to bend over the desk while writing
- beside, her eyes & her fingers felt them

selves sorely taxed by the operation. Mother
has been as dilligently employed and in as
much of a hurry ever since you went away
as you & father appear to have been. – Every
day - every day – has brought with it new
cares and new wants – & I never go up into
her room without finding her up to her ears
in business. – If she is now & then prevailed
upon to leave these affairs & seek relief by
going abroad, her mind is oppressed that
her pockets & caps are still unmade &
time is too precious to be wasted - & she seems
uneasy till she returns. – On Wednesday next
she proposes to go up to Auburn
& will have the company of
Augustus & James Jackson.
She promises herself much
comfort in that visit - and I do hope she
will ^find it^ : for she was somewhat disappointed in the
pleasures, she expected in her visit to Cornelia.
- Cornelia did every thing that an affectionate
daughter ought to do & that was in her power
to do, mother was better pleased with the people
& with the country than she expected, but after
all she was a little unhappy. – Poor Cornelia!
Washington set off this morning to see his sister
with high hopes of pleasure there: & I think
he will enjoy himself much. He brings us
wretched – wretched – wretched accounts from
poor Pollydore. Oh I could not sleep after
hearing about his mismagement by which he
lost a field of corn – and quantities of hay
& of his miserable work at a mowing bee. It is
more than probable, W. thinks that Lockey will go

home to her Fathers, before your return.
Elections in Kentucky have gone all
for Clay – two Con. districts only for Jackson – these
barely so, one Col R M. Johnsons. – The south
seems nonplussed – they evidently wish to rally
- unite - & get back lost power – but VanB. &
Jacksonism is in the way. – It seems strange
to me that you see, or report nothing about
the Ancient "Hand Maid" in England. Has it
no foothold there? -- Judging from 4^th July
Foats & Newspaper paragraphs, Webster stands fair
for a fair standing candidate for the Presidency.
Your affectionate Brother B.J. Seward
Hon Wm H. Seward
Mess Hottinguer Co
Paris

x

Paris, France

Care Baring Brothers & Co
London
hB.J. Seward
Aug 15, 1833