N.Y. Christmas 1833
Dear Brother
I have your kind long letter
and am thankful for the frankness it
manifests. – It did not occur to me
that your Grover & Gunn business hung
over your head, still: and I wonder
that it did not: and if it had I should
not have written you. – Indeed I should
not at any rate, if it had not been
to escape an annoyance that goes near
to deprive me of my sweet temper.
The truth is, my friends have made
a free use of me this summer – and
not only of me but of my purse and
of my house and my family. – They
were glad to see us once more in the
land of civilization & we were pleased
to have them with us to enjoy a home
we had long desired & suffered much
for want of. We have seen no in-
dividual soul that has not given us
pleasure to see – none that we have
not invited – none that we do not love
& none that we should trust differently

if it were to do over again – and yet
it had been easier and cheaper for us
to have had three steady boarders for
nothing in our house than to have
entertained so much company as we
have had. – I mention these things
merely to account for the circumstance
of being short: list you might think
me prodigal or wanting in ordinary
calculation. – But never mind it, we
do not – (unless when demanded.) – I do in
my inmost soul believe we are a
thousand fold happier in debt as we
are, than those who close thier doors
against the slams of hospitality. But
I have done with this doleful story.
If you will excuse me for troubling
you with it, I will forgive the ne-
cessity for doing so & we will quit
even on that score.
Augustus has returned from Florida
prety well cured of all fondness for a
farm. He thinks he can make head-
way in his books now without loss of
time & is deeply engaged in his latin
From him I learn that all are

well in Florida. – Father & mother it is
said have not had better health in
15 years & mother is in business up to
her ears as ever. Cruel. Cruel. Cruel.
Cornelia has had a sick baby for
some time – we have invited her to take
schooner & bring it up to our city & stay
with it awhile – and we expect her
soon. Oh how delightful it would be to
have you and Frances & the little boys
here at the same time. – We thought
this all over – & supposed that such a
thing might be possible in
the spring after the opening
of the river – but then our
little dwelling would not
so pleasantly contain us all – but still
if Cornelia does not come now we shall
hope to see you all in April or May.
Do write & tell me what is Anti-
vanburenism doing as soon as there is
a moving of the waters. Give my kind-
est regards to sister Frances and a
kiss apiece for the little boys – and
remember me very Respectfully to your
friend Mr Tracy: and if you find
no love about these pages from Marcia
it is be cause she is not here to furnish
it. Your Brother B.J.S.

Hon Wm H Seward
Albany
NEW YORK DEC 26
BJ Seward
Dec 25, 1833.