eWashington Sep 23^d —
My dear Son,
I came home from Baltimore
Saturday night and was greeted by your
welcome letter from Glasgow — You seem
to me to have accomplished much traveling
in three weeks — I can hardly realize
how much the facilities have increased
in 16 years — Your letter was sent from
Auburn by Mr Blatchford without taking
it home which greatly disappointed Aunty
& Grandpa — however I am going home so
soon that I can take it with me — This
is the last week of this very long session
of Congress — The members are diligently
engaged in endeavouring to retrieve lost time.
The Senate meet at ten and six late —
The weather here continues very pleasant
Aunty writes that it is cold and rainy
at home — She also writes that Cousin
Frances is to be married as soon as we
come home – We leave here next

week Tuesday the 1^st of October your
birth day my dear child — How long it
is since you have spent one with me —
Auburn seems quite gay just now — Aunty
said there had been 6 parties the last
week or two — One was given by Mrs
Goodwin — Miss Sheather’s bridal party —
Mrs Wright was to have one the next
day — Frances and Henry had come from
Canandaigua to be present — Marianne Mott
is at home — Frances is to stay a week
Henry was to return the next day –
Aunty thinks she must leave Grandpa the
week before I go home — I wish Fred could
go to him but your Father cannot [ spar ]
him — Your Father is better but not
well — he will probably stop at Goshen
and stay a week or two before going
home — Caroline has not come yet
we have been looking for her for some
time — I am afraid her father will
not bring her back — he has never
quite approved of her being at Georgetown —
It would be much better for her to complete
the year she has commenced at the convent —

I think I shall go home by the way of Florida
but shall only be able to stop one night —
I have a letter from Mary saying they are
all well there —
The Democratic Convention assembled at
Syracuse last week — The Barnburners and
Hunkers united after some opposition — John
Van Buren disclaimed his Free Soil principles
and is a candidate for the U.S. Senate —
Dickenson was not supported — though
a portion of his party in the City of
New York are still loudly claiming
his seat in the Senate for the next
six years — It will all be decided
in November — The Whig Convention
comes off next Thursday the 26^th —
The Democrats nominated Horatio Seymour
for Governor — I suppose there is no
doubt but Washington Hunt will be the
Whig nominee — Fanny is well and wishes
me to write a little letter for her on a
fancy sheet of paper — I shall put
it on the next page — she is busily
engaged in learning to read —

I continue to direct letters to London as you say
nothing to the contrary — Father says if you or
Clarence find it necessary to have any more
money he wishes you to draw upon him —
Love to Clarence — God bless you both
your affectionate
Mother

Lt. A. H. Seward
Care of Baring & Brothers
London
England
WASHINGTON, D.C.
SEP
24
hMessr Maquay Pakenham Co
Florence
LONDON, PAID
11 OCT 1850
ANGL, CALAIS
12 OCT 50
VIA DI
PtBEAUVOISIN
CORRISP
EST
DA GENOVA
hWilliam H Seward

AC 1850
OC
FIRENZE
18 OTT