Florida 17^th Dec 1836
My dear W^m Henry
Mr Thomas A Cummin of New York
who is now in business for himself and a very
sensible fine young man is on his way to Chicago
will call at Westfield and deliver you this.
You will confer a favor on me by receiving him
kindly and rendering his stay with you as
pleasant and comfortable as possible.
Nothing very material has transpired
Since you left Florida Religious anxiety
and attention is the all absorbing business
in all this region of Country at present.
I think it commensed at Eden Ville about
the time you left this, and has been spreading
Ever since and in every direction. That district
fearfully alarmed are preparing to receive the prize
few are left that do not publicly declare it
is good for them to have been there.
Edwin declares that 6 or 8 weeks ago old
things were done away and all things
had become New. He is a usefull mem-
ber of society and his deportment has
entirely changed. A protracted Meeting
has been going on for Ten days past in this
place and you can have no conception
of the thorough work that is going on. The
[ Clergemen ] are from the Methodist Epispocall
Church. They are Sober still and [ indefatacable ]
in their work. Some of them are well educated
and handsome Speakers.
My [ heath ] continues much as when you left
except a few very ill turns when I suffered so
much that I would gladly have bid [ adiu ] and
gone home to be no more When these afflict-
ing scenes arive I cant but lament your
distanse and absence but still I know it is
right and I wish to be resigned

I am fully sensible that my stay here is but
short and can cheerfully say Gods will be
done. I think however when this change comes
your presense will be desireable as soon as
Convenient. I often reflect on the weight
of business my departure will devolve on
you, but even in this I have consolation
was I about to place a [ distetute ] family and
connections on your hand for support my
heart would [ ake ] for you but thanks be to
a kind providence the reverse of this is
the case. There is enough to place every branch
of the family who are dese ^r^ ving and to
whom you will be bound to distribute it
well off, and to remunerate yourself for
all your trouble and fatigue. I have
selected a man in whom I place great
Confidence to assist you in this arduous
business. I have no doubt but you will be
pleased with him. My outstanding demands
are now in a [ wholsom ] plain and safe course
of opperation. On this part you can have no
trouble. On the distribution you and your
friend will have my [ expliset ] directions
which I shall expect by you strictly to
attend to. The material difficulty will
arise from the necdussety necessity of your becoming
Guardians of those who need the kind
assistance of a brother and a friend.
I have spent much of my time in years
past in this arduous but consoling course
A man never is nor ever ought to be so
happy as when he is [ concious ] he is doing right
The most impressive object that presents it-
self to my mind is your Caire attention
and Love to your dear mother. I hope I have
amply provided for her but she will still
require kind supervision and advise.

The Methodist [ Epislocal ] society have
agreed for a lot, get nearly enough
subscribed and intend building
a church in Florida in the spring
D^r Pitts and C^o are up from New York
and actively engaged in [ m ] aking
preporations for starting their factory
and Mills as early as possible.
Gentlemen from New York are
looking out for farms in the [ vicinty ]
of Green Hill
The Creditors of our
tenant at Summervill
fall on him last week with
out mercy which compeled
me to take legal measures
to save what I could of my
stock on the farm and rent
I employed Monell to relieve
myself of the burden but found
him a [ mear ] baby in these thing[ s ]
we shall be very extensively the
loosers. In such cases I regret your
absence. Not that I regard paying
others but because I find them so
totally deficient. We have not
heard from GWS since you left
us. Neither have we heard a word
from Auburn. Will you write
as often as possible, it is always a
great pleasure to hear from you
and your dear family. Your
Affectionate Father
Sam^l S Seward
W H Seward

I had made up my mind to make
it an object to Thomas A Seward to come
and live with me and assist in my
business. But E. present standing if
sustained will prevent the [ necdussety ]
of this. Oh! That a kind providence
may suport him. As I find my strength
daily declining and my passage to the
[ toom ] very short I think it not improper
to say that it is my wish that my remains
be placed in a good M. coffin That enclosed
in a lead one and plased in a dark
cellar untill a good vault worth say
from $500 to a $1000 can be built
Your kind letter from Albany was Recd
The remarks you made on the wishes of
ETP will become fully weighed and attended
to. You know he and some others have now
been inclined to come out front with their
Father. Therefore anything you may
draw from them and suggest to me
may be of use.
William Henry Seward Esq
Westfield
Chatauqua C^o
New York
Politeness of T.A.
Cummins
Esq^r
Chicago Ills.
Jan 27
hS.S.Seward
17 Dec 1837