Astor House Sunday June 21.
My Dearest Frances,
I slept on Friday night at the home of
Mr James a prosperous merchant an adopted
son and nephew of Capt Schultz who kindly
attended me – Mr James has his residence in
a magnificent farm two miles out of Burlington.
yesterday morning I went into Philadelphia and
proceeded directly to Asa Whitneys great
Manufactory of Rail Road Car Wheels – I
found him at home most fortunately,
and found him as I expected a very prudent
sagacious and successful man.
After I had explained to him the matter
in regard to Augustus, he quite approved of
my idea of his going into the Iron business
and gave me an account of the three or four
greatest Iron manufactory establishments in
N Jersey Pennsylvania and Maryland – & offered
letters for Augustus or myself to the parties
owning the establishments – It seemed just for-
tunate for my purposes that the largest one

is one that is located in New Jersey (Morris
County) near the old patrimonial seat of the
Seward family, and that William H. Talcott
who during my administration at Albany was
a state Civil Engineer is one of the principal
proprietors associated with others who are
political and personal friends – Mr Whitneys project
is that Mr Talcott is about the safest & most
reliable of the men engaged in this department
I left Philadelphia at 2 oclock, and
at nine oclock I was at Talcotts
House in Jersey City.
He received me most kindly and was
delighted with an opportunity to oblige me
and sanguine that in the belief that the best
wishes for Augustus which I indulged could
be realized. He told me the Directors of
the Company were to meet on the first Wednesday Thursday
of July in Morris County & I engaged that
either Augustus or myself or both should
be at his home in Jersey City on the Tuesday
preceding that day to go with him to the
meeting and examine the works &c

Here the matter must rest until that day,
If Augustus as I hope shall be allowed
to remain at rest until that day he can
then go and examine for himself – Which
is the best way If he cannot I will
go –
I have now to see what I can do
for the Paper mill prospect here – and then
go down by the way of Goshen –
Your letter was received. Please
retain the Paterson letter & papers till I
come.
I hope to be at home by Saturday night, a
day or two will suffice for my business here
Your own Henry