My dear Son,
I have your second letter
from Washita – I suppose by this time
you are at your new Post – I wish I
could be with you for a day and see
just how you live – Are you in the region
of hostile Indians – I have had many
apprehensions on that subject but I try
to remember that "God is every where" —
We have just heard of the murder of Mr.
Blackmarr who you will reccollect went
to California about eighteen months ago –
He was shot while going from one town
to another on the public road & robbed of
the money he had with him which did
not exceed $50 — Sep. 8^th – It is a
week since I commenced this letter – I can
hardly tell how I have been occupied all the
time but I know I am in a continual
hurry – I hope you received some of my
other letters before your departure from

[top Margin] what it should be, it is more softening than constant
association with men – Do not forget that you have
a mother & sister to love and care for you
God bless & keep you –
your Mother –

Washita – they were, all but the one before
this, directed to Ft Gibson – Since I wrote
before, your father has been home for a few
days – the court adjourned for a week on
account of the illness of some of the prisoners –
two have since died, one of them, Fitch,
was a respectable, educated man, whom
your father has always considered innocent
of the charge for which he was imprisoned –
Other people begin to think so too, now that
it is too late to benefit the poor man –
This trial which has already occupied 12
weeks will probably be concluded about
the middle of this month – Your father is
very weary and the heirs of the Seward
Estate are very impatient – How impossible
it is for a man who has so many claims
upon his time to satisfy all. Frederick
has been to Rochester to be examined and
been admitted to the practice of the Law –
He did not feel at all confident that he
would pass an examination, nor I either,
he has studied so little. So he does
not return to New York –

He is undetermined where he will go but
waits his fathers advice – I think his father
rather inclines to have him go to Michigan
or Wisconsin – but nothing is settled as yet –
I wish it were possible for me to keep some
of my children with me without thwarting
their wishes or interfering with their interest
but it seems otherwise ordered – As for
Willie I shall not be surprised with his
love of adventure if he goes somewhere on
an exploring expedition before he is 21 –
Frederick dined with Catherine Henson at
Rochester and made a short visit at Can-
andaigua on his return – Frances & Henry
have just returned from a visit to Henry's
relations in Canada – where they have
been gone two weeks — Evelina Schooley
went home last week her health was too
infirm to fill the place of reader for Grandpa –
Joseph Young came Saturday to take her
place – I pay them by the month and once
there they soon get weary – I am glad
Grandpa is not averse to a change —
Fred 's throat troubles him some yet so I try

to keep him from reading as much as
I can but Grandpa will have him
read the Newspapers – Aunt Clara is well
she still attends the Spirit meetings –
talks much about you as we all do –
I suppose I must wait with as much
patience as I can for your next letter
which will be a long time coming – You will
have heard of the defeat & execution of Lopez
he seems to have made an entire miscalculation
about the Creoles in Cuba – A nephew of
Mr. Crittenden the Att. General was also shot
by the Spaniards – The Seward Whigs and
Silver Greys have compromised and will unite
at the coming election they have both
made concessions that are somewhat surprising
particularly the latter – It is a hard thing
for politicians to be honest — A fugitive slave
arrested at Buffalo and given over to his
master by Commissioner Smith has obtained his
freedom by Judge Conckling reversing the decision
of the Commissioner – The Judge has a good argument
he based his decision on the imperfection of the
evidence which only applied to such cases
as occurred after the passage of the act –
The slave in this case having escaped previous –
Willie & Fanny are well – The pony became fractious
and Willie has sent him home – I think I shall persuade
him to go to Washington with us – I fear you are
without the society of any women at your new post -
I regret this for though their influence is not always

hWilliam H. Seward
Senate US
hLieutenant A. H. Seward
5^th Infantry – U.S. Army –
Fort Washita
Indian Territory
Arkansas
AUBURN N.Y.
SEP 9