N.Y. 8 Apl. 1825
My Dear Brother
I am barely able to inform
you that our dear little Aurelia is no more!
She died this morning at 5 OClock after an illness
of two weeks - the last twenty six hours of
which were wasted in violent spasmodic fits-
Her disease from being an inflamation on the chest
which we supposed for two day had been subdued,
became the dropsy in the brain. Few have
suffered more - none that I have ever known
either young or old, have borne their suffering
with more patience. After successive convulsions
for the last twelve hours, which agonized every
beholder, - how welcome the sound of the last
respiration. If a fond Parent might thus
rejoice in death as the end of suffering, how
much more the Philosopher that her disembodied
spirit has escaped from the crosses, afflictions,
& false friendships of an unsatisfying,
faithless world - but above all how may
the Christian rejoice in this happy deliverance

superadded to the hope of Glory -
Oh my dear Brother you know not our bereave-
ment - but our loss is doubtless her unspeakable
gain. Her Mama, suffers exceedingly. Every
neighbor that steps in, bears testimony - and ever
plaything & garment, which meets us at every
turn of the house, calls to mind the interest
of our child & the magnitude of our loss - But
Gods will be done. Tis ours to "be still".
Poor little Augustus is now quite ill
with threatning symptoms of the same complaint-
Perhaps the next you hear from him, may
be from your doubly & now deeply affected Brother
B. J. Seward

W. H. Seward
Auburn
N.Y.
B. J. Seward
April 8th
1825