Westfield March 8th. 1837.
My dear Augustus,
I have been so much engaged since your letter came
to me that I have not until now been able to answer it. I am
very much obliged to you for writing to me. It is very lonesome
here, without your Ma, yourself or Frederick. I think that when
I go to Auburn next time you will all have to return with
me. The snow is gone off the roads here, but there is fine
sleighing yet over the ridge to Mayville. The ice on the Lake
is very strong. Persons travel on it to Buffalo.
There is nothing new here. The young gentlemen of your acquain-
tance are I believe all very well.
On Monday evening there was a Gentleman from Philadelphia
here who had appointed to deliver a lecture on Poetry and
Polite Literature in the Baptist meeting room over Mr Lowrys
store. There chanced also to be strolling about the streets
a very old man who was what is called a Christ-ian
preacher, and lives at North East. These Christ-ians are
very ignorant, superstitious and deluded men who differ
from all Christians and profess strange things. Some bad
boys told the old man that the meeting room would be
open and he was expected to preach a sermon. Ac-
cordingly when the Audience assembled, the old man
took his seat in the pulpit, called for a lamp and
prepared to commence his sermon. The bad boys after
laughing at the deception practised on him whispered
to him that another preacher was to preach first

and he would be at liberty to preach a sermon in reply. The
old man was content. The lecturer went through a long
oration on Poetry and Literature. The old man disturbed
the assembly by sighs and groans all the time. At last
he was called to account for it. He said he never heard
such a discourse (meaning a sermon) in his life. At the
end of the lecture the professor asked those who were
in favor of continuing his lectures to rise. All the People
rose. He then asked those opposed to rise. The old
man rose, and said if he stood all alone, he would
be in the opposition. He had nothing against the sermon
except ‘that it was not of God.” Poor old man, it
was very wicked in the boys to deceive him so.
Your affectionate Father
W.H. Seward
Henry Augustus Seward.
Wednesday
My dear F. your silence had lulled
my fears in relation to Frederick, I have
just read your letter of Saturday.
I wait with great impatience for
the letter you promised to write on
Sunday—
Yours faithfully
H.