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CONTENTS OF VOL. I.

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.PAGE Xiii

The Seward Family-Removal of Samuel S. Seward to Orange County,

New York-His Marriage with Mary Jennings-Birth of WILLIAM H.

SEWARD HIS Early Habits and Love of Learning-Narrow Escape from

Drowning-Enters Union College, Schenectady-Visits the South as a

Teacher-Returns to College-Position among the Students-Graduates-

Studies Law with John Duer and Ogden Hoffman-Removes to Auburn-

Character as a Citizen and Lawyer—Opinions on Slavery-Political Pre-

possessions-Prepares the Address of a Republican Convention-Chosen

President of the Young Men's Convention at Utica in 1828-Tendered a

Nomination as Candidate for Member of Congress-Elected Senator of

the State-Position and Speeches in the Senate-His Course in the

Presidential Election of 1832-Visits Europe-Returns and Resumes his

eat in the Senate-Member of the Court of Errors-Nominated for Gov-

rnor-Appointed Agent of the Holland Land Company-Misrepresenta-

ons of his Course-Letter to Citizens of Chautauqua, and Complete

Indication-Advocates the New York and Erie Railroad-Second Nomi-

ation for Governor, and Election-His Efforts while Governor in behalf
f Agriculture, Education, Law Reform, Election Reforms, Militia Re-
orms, Free Banking, Abolition of Imprisonment for Debt, Adjustment
Anti-Rent Difficulties, Improvement in Prison Management, Removal
Lateral Canals, of Last Vestige of Slavery, Enlargement of Erie Canal,
Construction of New York and Erie, Hudson River, Northern, and other
Railroads-His Course in the M'Leod Case and Virginia Controversy-
Reasons for Refusing to Pardon Benjamin Rathbun, John C. Colt and
Others-His General Course as to Pardons-The Case of James Watson
Webb-His Exercise of the Veto Power-Madame D'Hauteville's Case-
Suppressed Veto of the New York Registry Law-Slavery and its Incidents

Virginia Controversy-Retires from Office-Mr. Clay's Nomination—
Resumes his Profession-Libel, Law of-Freeman's Trial-Fugitive Slave
Case-Patent Causes-Detroit Case-Constitutional Convention-Gen.
taylor-Elected Senator-State of Parties-President Taylor-Review of
his Speeches in the Senate-Conclusion.

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Freedom in the New Territories-Admission of California-The Com-

promise Bill-Freedom in the District of Columbia-Freedom in New

Mexico-Indemnities for French Spoliations-The Public Domain-Wel-

I come to Kossuth-Liberation of the Irish Patriots-Freedom in Europe-
Intervention-American Steam Navigation-The Collins Steamers-Sur-
vey of the Arctic and Pacific Oceans-The Whale Fisheries-American
Fisheries-Newfoundland, &c.-Contested Seat of Hon. Archibald Dixon.

BIOGRAPHICAL MEMOIR

OF

WILLIAM H. SEWARD.

MEMOIR.

THE ancestors of WILLIAM HENRY SEWARD were of Welsh extraction. The first of that name in America emigrated from Wales during the reign of Queen Ann, and settled in Connecticut. A branch of the family, from which Mr. Seward is descended, removed to Morris Co., N. J., about the year 1740. His paternal grandfather, John Seward, resided in Sussex Co., in that state, where he sustained a high reputation for enterprise, integrity and ability. On the breaking out of the Revolution, he became a prominent leader of the whig party, and on more than one occasion during the long struggle, was engaged in active service. He died in 1799, leaving a family of ten children. His son, Samuel S. Seward, received an academic and professional education, instead of a share in the paternal inheritance. Having completed his studies, he established himself in the practice of medicine in his native place, and soon after became connected in marriage with Mary Jennings, the daughter of Isaac Jennings, of Goshen, New York.

Removing to Florida, a village in the town of Warwick, in Orange Co., N. Y., in the year 1795, he combined a large mercantile business with an extensive range of professional practice, each of which he carried on successfully for the space of twenty years. He retired from active business in 1815, and devoted himself to the cultivation of the estate, of which, by constant industry and economy, he had become the owner. Dr. Seward was a man of more than common intellect, of excellent business talents, and of strict probity. After his withdrawal from business, he was in the habit of lending money to a considerable extent among the farmers in his neighborhood; and it is said that no man was ever excused from paying the lawful interest on his

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