1.74 to Julia Scott
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-108- 1800 1.74 To Julia Scott 3rd January 1800 My dearest Julia, I write only to wish you a happy New Years-and to tell you if the news of our Misfortunes' has reached you that you must do as I do, Hope the best-My Seton is in a distress of mind scarcely to be imag ined partly from the shock he has recieved which was altogether unex pected' and partly from the necessity of immediate Statement of Accounts etc. which is necessary for his personal honor and the satis faction of his Friends-the Directors of the Banks and all the principal Merchants even those who were concerned with him recommended and strongly advised his suspension of Payments as soon as he had recieved Mr. Maitlands' letters-You may suppose how much it has cost him both in Mortification and the uncertainty of the Event-What is to become of his Fathers Family' heaven only knows for his Estate has the first claims as he was the principal Partner-for himself he could immediately be in a better situation than before, for so great is the confidence in his integrity that he has had three offers of Money to any amount he would name but he has determined to leave every thing at a stand till the Partnership is expired next June twelve month and for the Girls I must do as usual use Economy and in cases of unnecessary demands appeal to their reason- 1.74 ASJPH 1-3-3-6:30 'The Seton family business reversals ' Head of the London branch of SCIOn, Maitland and Company. The London branch of the firm fa iled due to the loss of a ship carrying coined money. The insolvency of the London office contrihuted to the downfall of the New York branch of the firm. Many New York merchants suffered seriolls losses at this time because of the contlict between the English and the French which affected trade on the high seas. 3Aftcrthe death ofWiJliam Seton, Sr.. William Magee and Elizabeth assumed responsihility for William' s younger half-hrothers and sisters. -109- --dear dear Julia how long I have been tired of this busy scene, but it is not likely to mend, and I must kiss Dick and be thankful for what remains from the ruins of Wall Stred-Anna and Will are very much improved and yet talk of Aunty Scott, John, and Maria-how are your children and how do you support your new character of managing for yourself. Bless you little Soul I fear you will not find it very easy-Col[onel] G[iles] is to send my letter, it is now nine Oclock, and I fear I shall be too late-My love to Charlotte and Brother [Sam uel] Heaven grant you all a happy century if it is but a happy one Yours most truely-E.A.S. 1.75 To Rebecca Seton 3rd January 1800 Have you recieved my letter of the last of December? I forget the day. 1 Have you seen A[braham] O[gden] Heaven bless him-his at tentions to my William can never be equaled or forgot. 2 Dear Rebecca The tears flowed fast over your letter-the thoughts of your present state of mind compared to that it described hurt me a thousand times more than if you had not obtained that tranquility and resolution you have so long struggled for-but things are going better than we had at first Imagined and you must keep up good Hopes-you know Willy's disposition sometimes he says he will work it out, at others Nothing but State Prison and Poverty,' nor can we know with any certainty how it will go until Maitland 4 has arranged finally with his creditors. but as I said before we must Hope the best, for Myself I fear nothing but tremble at the hold these crosses take on Williams Spirits-for one intire week we wrote till one and two in the morning "27 Wall Street. where Elizabelh and William Magee had lived before William's falher died 1.75 ACS Seton-Jevons #464-467 lThe letter to which Elizabeth refers is either undated or not extant. 2This opening sentence is written above the salutation at the left of the date on the letter. 3The possible outcome of her husband's business reversals "Head of the London branch of Seton, Maitland and Company -110- and he never closed his eyes till daylight and then for not more than an hour-but when things are at the worst they must grow better, and since he has arranged the Statement of his Accounts etc. his mind is more composed, tho' he is really very unwell- to change this distressing subject my Father sent me twenty pound New Year Cakes and Honey casings with a Box of raisins and Keg Biscuits to be divided between Helen' and our Girls which with the addition some Almonds has made a nice Box for them or rather Trunk for with their stays and a few other little things it completely filled their trunk they left at home-they took the large one in your room as the other would not hold half their cloaths now they wear white, and were to have had a Chest of Drawers to hold their small things but as it was not yet purchased, and it is not absolutely necessary I have sent the other Trunk, without saying why, for it would only distress them without understanding it-I had a letter from Charlotte two days ago-they are well dear little Souls, they say they passed Harriets" Birthday merrily- Think how many thoughts came on New Years day, Willy, George Bush,7 and Ann and Will was all our party-William and I each trying to make each other think we did not reflect on past days, for to have touched on the subject, would have knocked up the little pleasures we yet possessed-tho' between you and I, it was not the most unpleasant New Years day I ever passed, for where there is Affection and Hope there is a great [page torn] ·-Christmas day I passed with my Father and Sister and Willy at Home with the children, can you believe it. but I had promised ago, and nothing could persuade him to go, or to let me stay, he insisted in the most positive manner-and I went "like a wretch" for so I felt-we dine at James' next Monday-poor Eliza' is in a great deal of trouble at Nurse's staying so long, but she is well and so is dear old Kate, I have not heard from the Boys since I wrote you-I again repeat 5Helen Bayley, Elizabeth's half-sister, and her husband's younger half-sisters attended the same school in Brunswick, New Jersey. 6Harriet Seton had her eleventh birthday. 7 A friend of William Magee Seton. 'Probably James Maitland, Elizabeth's brother-in-law, and his wife, Eliza Seton Maitland -111- make yourself as easy as possible-and think it for the best that you do not witness this bustle and distress for it would do no good-Kiss my Cecilia a thousand times for me-and the dear little girls who I am sure you must love almost as much as you do her-Dick is fat he can hardly March to Bill's singing- he sings Hail Columbia9 as well as I can, and Anna says her Book constantly for fear God-mother should ask her to read and she not know how- Yours most affectionately E.A.S. '0 1.76 To Julia Scott New York 16th January 1800 "only one line will be a Gratification" so said the friend [Colonel] Giles as he closed the door after him, another proof of his Mild and amiable temper for he has been running every day to the Post office for a promised letter from you-I have but two hours before my letter must go, and I to Craig's' to dine therefore I at first refused writing but there is no resisting when assured it is to please you- "the Storm is past" and my poor Seton accomodating himself to what cannot be altered-Ogden goes in the Packet to settle as far as possible all difficulties with Maitland, and if it can be done to dissolve the Partnership2-until we know the Event, every thing remains quiet except the Pen which as you may suppose has little rest, and keeps us up till one and two Oclock instead of the old regular hour of ten which I dare say you have not forgot-My Sweet Children have perfect 9The melody of " Hail Columbia" is taken from "The President's March" and was supposedly composed by Philip Phi Ie (d. 1793). It was first performed by a band stationed at Trenton Bridge when George Washington passed over to his inauguration in New York in 1789. lO"fhis letter is addressed to Alexandria, Virginia, where Rebecca was visiting her brother John Seton. 1.76 ASJPH 1-3-3·6:31 'Elizabeth's half-sister and brother-in-law, Charlotte Amelia Bayley and William Craig 2Abraham Ogden, a business associate of William Magee Seton, was sailing to London to resolve dimeulties with Seton, Maitland and Company. -112- Health, and my Fathers redoubled attentions and affection keep my mind more anxious to please him than to attend to itself- Mrs. [Mary] Wilks has been at the point of Death apparantly for a fortnight I sat up with her two nights and was so intirely overpowered at seeing Mr.