Letter from Mahlon Dickerson Canfield to William Henry Seward, July 18, 1850
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Letter from Mahlon Dickerson Canfield to William Henry Seward, July 18, 1850
transcriber
Transcriber:spp:cnk
student editorTranscriber:spp:smc
Distributor:Seward Family Digital Archive
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1850-07-18
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Letter from Mahlon Dickerson Canfield to William Henry Seward, July 18, 1850
action: sent
sender: Mahlon Canfield
Birth: 1798-11-26
Death: 1865-01-05
location: Succasunna, NJ
receiver: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
location: Washington D.C., US
transcription: cnk
revision: tap 2019-02-04
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Page
1
Succassunny, July 18th, 1850.
My dear Sir
I had anticipated with much
interest a visit from Caroline
vacation now near at hand, but to my
great surprise I learn by her letter just recd
that she may not come on but remain at
Georgetown which I am given to understand
you prefer she should do I am at a loss for
your reasons for this choice, but whatever they may
be I must ask you to yield them in favor of
a matter of duty as well as deep feelings which
I have long had at heart, that of bringing my
three children together under my own
eyes
for the first time in nearly six years.
They have been too long separated, & as a
necessary consequence are to a painful
degree, estranged from each other. It is a great
evil, a cruel injustice to them (for which thus
far neither you nor I can be held responsible)
which it is my fixed purpose to remedy as far
as at this late hour, it can be done
Caroline must come over to see her brothers & be
Page
2
with them as much as possible until her school
recommences — If I could come to Washington for
her I would but that I cannot do now without
serious loss. If no good opportunity should offer
very soon, I wish you would send some person with
her as far as Newark where I will meet her if you
will let me know She should come from
Philad” by the morning’s train so as to be at Newark
by about noon.
Very respectfully Yours,
M. D. Canfield
Hon. W. H. Seward
Succassunny, July 18th, 1850.
My dear Sir
I had anticipated with much
interest a visit from Caroline
Birth: 1834-07-25 Death: 1922-02-28
during thevacation now near at hand, but to my
great surprise I learn by her letter just recd
that she may not come on but remain at
Georgetown which I am given to understand
you prefer she should do I am at a loss for
your reasons for this choice, but whatever they may
be I must ask you to yield them in favor of
a matter of duty as well as deep feelings which
I have long had at heart, that of bringing my
three children
Birth: 1832-02-20
Death: 1876-01-14
Birth: 1829-12-04
Death: 1867-10-25
for the first time in nearly six years.
They have been too long separated, & as a
necessary consequence are to a painful
degree, estranged from each other. It is a great
evil, a cruel injustice to them (for which thus
far neither you nor I can be held responsible)
which it is my fixed purpose to remedy as far
as at this late hour, it can be done
Caroline must come over to see her brothers & be
with them as much as possible until her school
recommences — If I could come to Washington for
her I would but that I cannot do now without
serious loss. If no good opportunity should offer
very soon, I wish you would send some person with
her as far as Newark where I will meet her if you
will let me know She should come from
Philad” by the morning’s train so as to be at Newark
by about noon.
Very respectfully Yours,
M. D. Canfield
Hon. W. H. Seward