Auburn Sep 23^d- 49
My dear Augustus,
I have this morning your letter
of the 2 1^st of Sep – I am glad you have at
length received some of my letters – I have
been home from Florida one week which has
been chiefly occupied in entertaining Col. Webb
and his family – two daughters and two sons
the latter with the Col. slept at the Hotel but
spent their days here – Walty and Andy the
two fat little boys of former times have grown
to stout young gentlemen of 15 and 17 –
Walty enters Geneva College next week – Andy
will go to West Point as soon as he is old
enough – he already sports a tight coat with
Military buttons – They are both nice boys –
I love all the children for their Mother’s sake
The Col. has reter rented his fine place on the
Hudson river with expectation of having a foreign
mission – He wished that of Holland – then
Spain – none is now vacant but Russia
which I hope he may get but fear he may

not – He has always been a warm supporter of Gen
Taylor – will be a bitter opponent if he fails –
The two factions of the Democratic party have
at length united upon candidates for the
ensuing election – the Barnburners have done this
by sacrificing their pretended Free Soil principles –
They never were (that is the majority of them)
sincerely opposed to Slavery – That great principle
is again left to the support of the Whigs with
whom it emenated – The Whig State Ticket
will not vary materially from its present form –
the present occupants will probably be renominated –
Your Father and Fred are still at Florida
seeing no end to labour – He comes home for a
visit next week – He writes “Before I leave I shall
take into my own hands all the real estate
stock it with cattle and implements to make
it as productive as possible, at the common ex-
pense and for the common benefit of all the
parties interested. George M. Grier will assist
me – While this is the present arrangement we
shall make sales of the real estate whenever
a good opportunity offers – I shall be at home
a week from Saturday night leaving Frederick
a week longer to close up the vendue which is
postponed a week” –

Your Father also writes that the shares of which
I have spoken in a previous letter will amount
to about $12,000 each – Aunt Clara is not well
pleased that you and our other children were
not made direct heirs – The reason is too obvious
to require explanation – Your Father is the only
one of the children who is competent to take
care of an estate – The property of Uncle George
and Polydore as well as that of their respective
families is left in trust – they could not keep
it a year – You know how cheerfully your
father will divide with his children and how
invaluable will be his advice and assistance –
the $10,000 given to me was to make more equal
the division among the sons – George and Polydore
each having six ^shares^ including those of their families
while your father has but five – I suggested
to you last week in my letter – that you could
be useful to your father particularly if he took
the management of the real estate, which he
has done – Unless you have made up your
mind always to remain in the Army (which
I pray may not be the case) now is the time
to leave – I hope my dear child you will not
think me importunate – I believe I consult your
own interest as well as happiness in the advice
I give

When Mr. Blatchford found that Clarence was going
to Cambridge and that Frederick would perhaps
be a part of the time in Washington as a clerk
for your father he determined to take another partner
Mr. Griswold – this would exclude both Clarence
and Fred from the firm when they should have
completed their studies – In pursuance of
your father’s advice Clarence has concluded
to give up the Law school and remain in
the office – it is a great disappointment but
the advantage is so obvious that he does not
hesitate – Grandpa Miller refuses to accompany
us to Washington – Aunt Clara says she will
come and stay with him – Caroline Canfield
goes with us to Washington to attend school –
Frances Seward I think we shall send to Troy
for the winter – Uncle George’s daughter Sarah
will I think go with her – Mary Seward
is to be married soon and declines going –
Uncle Polydore has gone to New York to consult
a physician being seriously ill – Your Father
does not write what is to be done with the
old homestead – Uncle George comes home with
Fred for a visit – Aunty Worden is still here
but very unwell – If she gets no better Frances
will not be able to go with me to Washington
Willie and Fanny are well – All send love
God help you my dear child
Your affectionate –
Mother