Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, April 28, 1837
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, April 28, 1837
transcriberTranscriber:spp:gew
student editorTranscriber:spp:sss
Distributor:Seward Family Papers Project
Institution:University of Rochester
Repository:Rare Books and Special Collections
Date:1837-04-28
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Letter from William Henry Seward to Benjamin Jennings Seward, April 28, 1837
action: sent
sender:
William Seward
Person
Name: William Seward
Birth: 1801-05-16
Death: 1872-10-10
Person
location:
Auburn NY
Place
Name: City: Auburn
County: Cayuga
State: NY
Country: US
Place
receiver:
Benjamin Seward
Person
Name: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
Person
location:
Westfield NY
Place
Name: City: Westfield
County: Chautauqua County
State: NY
Country: US
Place
transcription: gew
revision: crb 2015-10-22
<>
Page 1
Auburn April 28th 1837.
My dear Jennings,
I have been somewhat disappointed in not
hearing from you since I left, but our mails are so irregular
that I am inclined to throw my censure upon the broad
shoulders of the Post Office department.
My eyes are, for the first, improving, to day, and afford
encouragement that I shall be able to go Eastward
on Tuesday or Wednesday next. I have had daily letters
from Rathbone
Name: Jared Rathbone
Birth: 1791-08-02
Death: 1845-05-13
, written in the most desponding tone, and
made constant expectation of having his note of $24,000
protested. He urges me to go to Albany
Name: City: Albany
County:
State: NY
Country: US
without delay.
In the meantime all the money is pouring in a flood
into the banks and is there detained, and all con-
fidence is gone. The Banks refuse to loan $50 to their
best customers, and all stand trembling before the
storm which threatens to sweep them all by the
board. To add to my discomfort the mail has
failed us every day this week but one. There are
however reports which come by passengers which
give some hope of that the crisis is passed.
I have written to Rathbone advising what I think
Page 2
his best course, and I hope fearingly that his apprehen-
sions have proceeded from too great alarm.
I have a letter from our father
Name: Samuel Seward
Birth: 1768-12-05
Death: 1849-08-24
complaining of great-
ly increased debility and urging my haste to Flori- da
Name: City: Florida
County: Orange
State: NY
Country: US
. I am settling my little affairs here with all
the industry I can, in order to leave early next
week. We are all in usual health.
Frances
Name: Frances Seward
Birth: 1805-09-24
Death: 1865-06-21
desires to be remembered in your letter
when you write to Marcia
Name: Marcia Seward
Birth: 1794-07-23
Death: 1839-10-28
.
I shall doubtless hear from you when I arrive
at Albany.
In haste
WH. Seward
I have seen Dr Humphreys
Name: Erastus Humphreys
Birth: 1785-05-17
Death: 1848-03-09
, & Mr
Name: Walter Smith
Birth: 1800-03-21
Death: 1874-09-21
& Mrs Smith
Name: Minerva Smith
Birth: 1807-07-19
Death: 1855-02-25
. Their
families are all well. I have not yet been able to
call on Mrs Bradley
Name: Juliette Bradley
Birth: 1811-01-11
Death: 1888-06-19
.
Page 3
Benjamin J. Seward Esq.
Chautauqua Land Office
Westfield.
AUBURN N.Y. APR 28.
Type: postmark
Name: Benjamin Seward
Birth: 1793-08-23
Death: 1841-02-24
From W. H. Seward
Apl. 28 ‘37

Auburn April 28th 1837.
My dear Jennings,
I have been somewhat disappointed in not
hearing from you since I left, but our mails are so irregular
that I am inclined to throw my censure upon the broad
shoulders of the Post Office department.
My eyes are, for the first, improving, to day, and afford
encouragement that I shall be able to go Eastward
on Tuesday or Wednesday next. I have had daily letters
from Rathbone
Person
made constant expectation of having his note of $24,000
protested. He urges me to go to Albany
Place
In the meantime all the money is pouring in a flood
into the banks and is there detained, and all con-
fidence is gone. The Banks refuse to loan $50 to their
best customers, and all stand trembling before the
storm which threatens to sweep them all by the
board. To add to my discomfort the mail has
failed us every day this week but one. There are
however reports which come by passengers which
give some hope of that the crisis is passed.
I have written to Rathbone advising what I think
his best course, and I hope fearingly that his apprehen-
sions have proceeded from too great alarm.
I have a letter from our father
Person
ly increased debility and urging my haste to Flori- da
Place
the industry I can, in order to leave early next
week. We are all in usual health.
Frances
Person
when you write to Marcia
Person
I shall doubtless hear from you when I arrive
at Albany.
In haste
WH. Seward
I have seen Dr Humphreys
Person
Person
Person
families are all well. I have not yet been able to
call on Mrs Bradley
Person
Benjamin J. Seward Esq.
Chautauqua Land Office
Westfield.
AUBURN N.Y. APR 28.
Stamp
Person
Apl. 28 ‘37
Unknown
April 28, 1837date:
Friday, April 28, 1837
receiver:
sender:
year: