Westfield 29 Nov. 1838
Dear H.
So constantly have I been in doubt
about your being absent from Auburn, on a
visit here or elsewhere, ever since election, that
I have never thought it worthwhile to try
to send you my contgratulations. Now it
is too late to say more ^than^ that I rejoice
in common with your ^friends and our^ fellow citizens in the
result.
So you are gone to Albany to pre-
pare materials for your message. I am
glad of it. I feel the deepest solicitude
that it should be comprehensive, statesmanlike
and tasteful, and I know it will be so
if proper time & materials are at your com-
mand. I am glad Spencer is with you:
and I hope you will dismiss all anxiety
about matters here & give yourself, freed from
care, to the important object before you.
Yes, if possible, a full, detailed and
just account of your whole Agency shall
be prepared to your hand. When you left
I set at this job and made the debit
side of cash complete without much diffi-
culty: but to draw out a fair copy of

all Bradleys, payments, side entries & miscon-
ceptions, to the credit of Cash, I found not
so easy. After giving many days to it, the
excitements around the office, squesed me out
of it, a week or two since I took it up
again and have devoted all the time to
it I could & for several days past I have
devoted given ^it^ my whole time, morning noon
& night. To it. If possible, I will again re-
mark, it shall be done for you, complete
by your arrival.
Since now you are kind enough to say
that I shall be promoted to the Agency
I will say that I am ^shall be^ thankful for it, and
will promise you a faithful, an attentive
and an economical administration of
its affairs. I think I have some capa-
bilities for this service & you shall have
the benifit of them. Supposing that I can
do you no greater service, it will be my
great aim to turn everything to this
point, to make your interest in ^this^ estate
pay your debt for which it is pledged &
relieve you from personal responsibility.
My only fear of succeeding to in the
business generally, to your satisfaction, is
lies

in this, that you consider everything
done, in the main, whereas, in my judg-
ment, this only is accomplished, (& this is
to be sure a great point gained) settlements
are effected with all & terms of business
agreed upon by which, the punctual &
the paying, will be guided, but the idle
the unfortunate, the crooked & the fag-
end, all remain to be treated with as
though nothing had been done. But enough
of this till I see you: & I hope
[ that ] may be soon, for really we
[ have ] been obliged to defer many
things ^till^ we are in danger of the rep-
utation of slovenliness in business.
Tomorrow is our Whig celebration,
all things are ready, & great are the
pains with which their preparations
have been made.
The letter of Mr Spencer carries with
it, to us convictions of its propriety, & it
is received with abundant satisfaction.
Your own true grateful brother
B.J. Seward

W.H. Seward Esq
Auburn
New York
Westfield N.Y. Nov 30
BJ Seward
Nov 29. 1838