Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, August 3, 1835
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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, August 3, 1835
transcriber
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Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1835-08-03
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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, August 3, 1835
action: sent
sender: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
location: New York, NY
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Eatontown, NJ
transcription: sss
revision: ekk 2015-10-16
<>
Page
1
New York City August 3, 1835
My dear Henry
Since I saw you, my mind has been
much upon the Cincinnati proposition.
Some of the difficulties which appeared to be
in the way, prove, on nearer inspection,
to be less than I had supposed. But
what has affected me most, is the con-
templation of the merits of the object itself:
which now seem more important ^greater^ than I
had at first supposed them. From the
beginning, the importance of the object, has
had weight with me – but the love of
home and kindred – led me to hope that I
might find it duty to remain. Of this
view of the subject, I said nothing to
you (except barely to remark, that my
employers were anxious to have me go &
if all other things were equal I should
like to oblige them:) – but I have not
failed to feel a personal obligation
growing out of the nature of the duty
assigned. Whatever were the hindrances
Page
2
I wish now, I had overcome them, &
mentioned to you, more fully my mind
in this respect. I would be sorry
to have the impression upon your mind
that I intertained the proposition only
as a measure of good to myself – & view-
ed it only to see how far it could be
turned to my own account: this would
not be true; although the manner of
my conversation, would lead to such
a conclusion – & this I regret.
At this time the bias of my
mind is decidedly in favour of going
out – although there are points of ex-
ammntion ^to be examined^ – which may prevent it.
If I go this fall, I have no time
to lose – one of the points to be
settled relates to affairs in Florida
– another in Phil. I shall therefore
as soon as I can compass certain
necessary matters here, proceed to
Phil Florida – leave Marcia
Page
3
and then to Phil and may not
see you till I see you on my
westward route[ . ]
Reason:
Hoping that dear Sister Frances
may be greatly benefitted by the
Sea Bath & be restored by her
protracted stay, I pray you pre-
sent her my sincere & affectionate
regards. May the dear
Lord of our lives & our
health and our hopes be
the guard – the strength &
the exceeding great reward of
us all
Your loving Brother
B.J. Seward
I am so oppressed with the want of time &
you are so flush, that I believe I will not
spare time to send you the 2.50
Page
4
Hon. Wm H Seward
Eatontown Monmouth Co
New Jersey
New York Aug 3
Type: postmark
h
B.J. Seward
Aug– 1835
New York City August 3, 1835
My dear Henry
Since I saw you, my mind has been
much upon the Cincinnati proposition.
Some of the difficulties which appeared to be
in the way, prove, on nearer inspection,
to be less than I had supposed. But
what has affected me most, is the con-
templation of the merits of the object itself:
which now seem more important ^greater^ than I
had at first supposed them. From the
beginning, the importance of the object, has
had weight with me – but the love of
home and kindred – led me to hope that I
might find it duty to remain. Of this
view of the subject, I said nothing to
you (except barely to remark, that my
employers were anxious to have me go &
if all other things were equal I should
like to oblige them:) – but I have not
failed to feel a personal obligation
growing out of the nature of the duty
assigned. Whatever were the hindrances
I wish now, I had overcome them, &
mentioned to you, more fully my mind
in this respect. I would be sorry
to have the impression upon your mind
that I intertained the proposition only
as a measure of good to myself – & view-
ed it only to see how far it could be
turned to my own account: this would
not be true; although the manner of
my conversation, would lead to such
a conclusion – & this I regret.
At this time the bias of my
mind is decidedly in favour of going
out – although there are points of ex-
ammntion ^to be examined^ – which may prevent it.
If I go this fall, I have no time
to lose – one of the points to be
settled relates to affairs in Florida
– another in Phil. I shall therefore
as soon as I can compass certain
necessary matters here, proceed to
Phil Florida – leave Marcia
Birth: 1794-07-23 Death: 1839-10-25
thereand then to Phil and may not
see you till I see you on my
westward route[ . ]
Supplied
Hoping that dear Sister Frances
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
may be greatly benefitted by the
Sea Bath & be restored by her
protracted stay, I pray you pre-
sent her my sincere & affectionate
regards. May the dear
Lord of our lives & our
health and our hopes be
the guard – the strength &
the exceeding great reward of
us all
Your loving Brother
B.J. Seward
I am so oppressed with the want of time &
you are so flush, that I believe I will not
spare time to send you the 2.50
Hon. Wm H Seward
Eatontown Monmouth Co
New Jersey
New York Aug 3
Stamp
h
Hand Shift
Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10William Seward
Aug– 1835