Goshen December 16^th 1851
My Dear Henry
Mr Grier has handed me your letter
of the 12^th inst, I have read it and given to it some thing
of the consideration it demands. You have requested him
to advise you of my determination on the points it
embraces, It has occurred to me that it would be
proper and more agreeable to you for me to do it
The great point is now I suppose settled that a
share of my Fathers estate is to be given me and
with it the more vital question to us both that
our relations are to be that of Brothers, I could not
consent that any other should exist between us
and it gives me far more satisfaction than most
any thing else could, I will not stop now to enquire
who was in the wrong and will only say that when your
letter is carried out in its spirit and letter I shall be
abundantly satisfied.
In reply to that part of your letter respecting
the settlement of my debts and your willingness to en-
counter a storm in my behalf I answer that while
I thank you for your good will yet I feel able to meet
the storm and the ability to adjust them myself, the
question as to whether there should be a compromise
or not I believe I should determine and I feel a just and
honorable pride in doing it myself, it behooves me more
than others that it should be done justly and without

sacrifice and when the way is opened for me to apply
my means I can do it and you could not without
my assistance,
My debts I wish settled and as we all wish to
know our true position and condition, I certainly
believe that it is best that my share should be re-
linquished and the one twentieth of the real estate
under a relative valuation should be set off to me
in such a portion and place that I may settle upon
it or dispose of it and go elsewhere as may be ad-
visable,
Desirable as I feel it to be and important as I
know it to be that this business should be settled yet
I am far from desiring that you should hazard de-
fault in court or political default and suffer less
by it in any way, I would much rather add my
might to aid you regretting only that it is not more
I have some just idea of your laborious life and I
have often felt and now feel that if my own affairs
were straitened out and arranged I could do a some-
thing more effectively, does not this view commend
itself to your approbations,
As you may know I have been engaged with
Grier in arranging his accounts, if it his and your
wish I will continue to devote my time to it untill
it is finished, but I conceive that there are questions
which you are to decide prior to making a distri-
bution and that you may be relieved of any sacrifice
of time I am willing to go to Washington to submit

them for your decision. I allude to Grier, your own and
my accounts against the estate,
I have also a question to ask and to be settled
in relation to the method of administering to the
mantainance and education of my children I do
not feel that I should relinquish control right and
duty which I owe them as a Father and ^in^ which
I feel their interest as well as my own is involved
I have thus answered your points, I have done
so candidly and as I feel and wish, I trust that
this long [ deffered ] business will now be adjusted
to our mutual satisfaction and benefit
Truly & Faithfully Your
Brother G W Seward
PS on reading the above I think proper to say
farther that if Grier should be authorized to advance
me fund on any distribution share as I may need
them there will be no necessity fo far as I am
concerned for you to come on here, until convenient
for yourself as you hear from us

hG.W Seward
Dec 1851