Auburn October 10^th. 1837.
My dear Jennings,
Owing to some irregularity in the mails your
letters of the 4^th & 6^th, have arrived (in company.
There is no man whom I would so greatly desire to oblige as my friend
Mr Rumsey. But the arrangement I have made below for a general
settlement of all our debts and accounting for all our monies in Novem-
ber &. the commencement then to be made of a new system of accounts
put it altogether out of my power. Mr Rumsey will be convinced
that when I have had to spend three months this year in
an effort to raise money for ourselves I cannot be in a con-
dition to lend that for which I have to account.
And I add that after a delay of two or three weeks for notice
it will be necessary for you to close all the indebtednesses of
that nature left outstanding. That of J White I will myself
attend to when I get to Westfield. The others I wish you to
call for.
We will make an easy disposition of your note due the first
of January when we meet. The perilous crisis through which
we have passed has been full of disappointments for me
in all my expectations in this quarter, but we shall be able
to weather the storm as I trust, and that without inconvenience
to you.
I do not suppose that I am acquainted with all the
facts in Gen Farnsworth’s case. But I know I am acquainted
with some which render it impossible that he can in law
or equity compel me to convey to him the property in ques-
tion upon any terms. Nor do I see any justice in his preten-
sion to do so. Yet I am conscious that it would be an act of

oppression on my part to take advantage of the position in which he
has placed himself in the vain hope of strengthening a groundless
claim. To do justice to my associates and myself and no in-
justice to him is the point to which I have directed all my
h care in the matter. I still remain of opinion that the offer I au-
thorised you to make to him is just and liberal. You are there-
fore authorised again to say that if he will execute his bond
and mortgage payable in five years ^equal instalments^ with interest semi an-
nually for $200, the lot will be conveyed to him, if he declines
he must prosecute his suit, and no offer will be made
or accepted while the suit is pending.
If there were no objection to my conveying to him upon his
terms other than the fact that it would embarrass me in
other cases that would be sufficient.
I wish it distinctly impressed upon your mind that we
have now an arrangement whereby when we have $650,000
in good bonds and mortgages We cut loose from the Holland
Company, and release from all lien and divide among
the other proprietors all the residue of the estate. The great
point then for our attention is to secure that amount safely
and upon the principle of paying semiannual interest punc-
tually with ten instalments of principal or annual interest
punctually with five instalments.
Wherever a Bond & Mortgage is extended by stipulation it will
be necessary to note it in red ink in Mr Young’s book.
I wait with some solicitude to hear your opinion
touching my new place for avoiding ay Money &c
I incline to the belief that I shall go next week to attend
the Railroad Convention at Elmira, but you will write
here as usual.
We are all very well. I hope you found time to make

your visit to Buffalo and Batavia.
Yours affectionately
WH.Seward
B.J.Seward Esq.
I shall in fact be with you immediately after the election but
it will be as well to hold out that my return may be earlier.
I find as yet no opportunity to forward the education addresses.
I send a few by mail. The rest will go as soon as opportunity
offers.

Benjamin J. Seward Esq.
Chautauqua Land Office,
Westfield
Chautauqua Co.
Auburn N.Y. Oct 11
October 10. 1837