Chautauque Land Office
Westfield March 31. 1838
Dear Henry
The close of the week has oc-
curred and I think to give you a re-
port of our labours since Monday
morning. We have taken 11 mort-
gages, renewed one article ^&^ , recieved
the full sum of $280, most of which
in safety fund. So much for cus-
tomers. We have prepared 40
deeds for Batavia, done some little
posting, requested a number of
deeds & prepared to call in de-
linquents, not having signed B&M.
or articles. A miserable weeks work.
The cause on the part of customers
doubtless is, the weather is fine for
ploughing in the part of Clerks
1st it has been the last week of
Mr Humphreyshere & at Fredonia [ , ]
2^d Mr Haight has been absent

[left Margin] I shall send a few hundred dollars by Mr Humphreys
to Batavia, & [ s ]

x

Supplied

Reason: 

ome deeds on Tuesday.

more than 2 days surveying for Pendegast
& others in repley.
3^d, The last ball for the season has
been held this week for which Mr Smith
took part of a day to prepare & more
than a day to recover from & has
been absent a good deal beside.
and On Monday Mr Smith has leave
of absence to go to Erie & unless he
alters his hand after a sound talk
which I have in store for him
after Humphrey leaves, he will have
have to be absent altogether. I am
meditating the writing of a letter to his
mother, and if I write shall refer
her to you. I have never heard of
so much absolute drunkenness among
the young gentlemen of the place as is
spoken of during the past week.
I ought to have done more work
this week than the whole now reported,
but I am unable to do much, nor dare
I leave the office, fearing ^that^ nothing at
all will be done.

On the subject of a rent I have been
exceedingly embarressed. If I take the office
to the house & ink up the floor & walls, it
may be the means of must preventing a bar-
gain to stay there, if I should wish. If I
put it in an upper chamber, it may be
only to remove it to some other village
at so short a date that the removal &
cleaning will cost more than the rent sa-
ved. I am disposed to take any other
comfortable house I can find / leave Mr Clary who is daily expected here.
[hole] uish past to get gently out of
[hole] hands & sell him any fur-
niture, and I know not what
would be your preference as to
location if I obtain no accommodation
here. Pray write & give me your
mind: or any suggestions you may think
useful.
Jo White was sold out, that is, one
half of his cattle, horses, utensils &c were
sold & bid in: the other half was secreted
& the sherriffis much provoked about it.
He beleagured me sadly for several days
for several hundred or even one hundred
but I refused him, kindly as I could &
still he abuses me sadly. There are

executions and suits it is said for $4,000
& many think he must go down.
Lewis bought his sheep, a great bargain
and as he felt bad at having our service
& looked sour, & could get the money no where
else, I loaned him $44.— This is the last
of my loaning money. Lowry & others apply
but I shall now & then ease off where I can
not help it, by referring them to you. I need
not say that you are not expected to accommodate
anyone, at all the sooner for me.
Mrs Hurd is sick, Osborne reads in your place.
Your grateful Brother
B.J. Seward.
W.H. Seward Esq
Auburn
New York
Westfield N.Y. APR 1 B. J. Seward
April 2^d 1838