Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 19, 1840

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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 19, 1840
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transcriber

Transcriber:spp:msr

student editor

Transcriber:spp:obm

Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive

Institution:University of Rochester

Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections

Date:1840-12-19

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Letter from Benjamin Jennings Seward to William Henry Seward, December 19, 1840

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: Albany, NY

transcription: msr 

revision: obm 2017-06-30

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Page 1

No 774 Broad Way N.Y. 19 Dec. 1840
Dear Henry
Mr Duer
Birth: 1782-10-07 Death: 1858-08-08
, I understand has received
further intelligence, tending to confirm his hope, that
Genl Harrison
Birth: 1773-02-09 Death: 1841-04-04
designs to restore discarded incumbents
as I mentioned in a former letter: & further that
Mr Green Pendleton
Birth: 1804 Death: 1874-07-16
, a personal friend, will inter
-est himself in his behalf. I know not who
favours his views here—he speaks of "gentlemen
interested"—& "those with whom he has conversed."
(the Robinsons
x Birth: 1779-05-26  Death: 1857-08-14  Birth: 1784-09-02  Death: 1849-05-05 
, Tallman
Unknown
&c very likely) but mentions
only the names of Danl Lord Jr.
Birth: 1795-09-23 Death: 1868-03-04
of whom he
has spoken several times.
Mr Duer "defines his position" by saying
that he is not an applicant—& from party
usage, could have no expectations: but if the
principal upon which he understands Genl H
is likely to act is carried into practice, it
may be essential to him, to have it un-
derstood in the right quarters, that his
restoration would give satisfaction to the
public and the bar. In this he supposes
you may give him "very great assistance"
Page 2

and he bade me ask you for your support.
To this appication, I replyed that it was
my understanding of your views, that you
purposed to ask nothing from Genl H. either
for yourself or for others—that the voraciousness
of office seekers had among the Whigs, had
given you uneasiness & given occasion as you
suppose for disgust in the mind of Genl H.
I also assured him of the pleasure it
would give you to promote his views if con-
sistently with your rule of action you could
do so: of which he seemed not to doubt.
He spoke of the probability of your being
under pledge to Hoffan
Birth: 1787-10-11 Death: 1848-09-27
—(to which I dissented)
and said that even if it were so, he saw
no impropriety in your saying for him
that there exists no inhibition in his case
to the application of the principal of Gen H
above referred to. This is I believe—what
he expects from you,—put forth in your own
way. He thinks it probable that Hoffman
may be called to the Navy department:
—& considers himself under no obligation
to that gentleman, as he has never com-
municated with him upon the subject.
If successful Mr Duer would bring
Page 3

his son William
Birth: 1805-05-25 Death: 1879-08-25
to the city to reside: and
he further mentions, that the office would
be extremely convenient to him on several
personal accounts, to which your mind
will readily advert.
I am to meet Mr Duer & his board
to day—of you my success with them, you
shall be informed in my next communication.
appearances are alltogether favourable
The Kindest regards to sister
Birth: 1805-09-24 Death: 1865-06-21
—from
whom I have a letter & will answer
without delay. The Lord preserve
you & continue your usefulness.
Your grateful Brother
B.J. Seward
Page 4

Wm H. Seward Esq
Albany
Single.
NEW YORK
DEC 19
x

Stamp

Type: postmark
Hand Shiftx

William Seward

Birth: 1801-05-16 Death: 1872-10-10
B.J. Seward
Dec 19. 1840