The following letter dated December 24, 1835 was written in New York by John F. Seaman to his brother Israel Seaman in St. Catherines, Canada. Dear Brother, We received a letter from home dated 6th Dec. and were very glad to hear that they were all well and that you arrived safe at your place of destination. After leavng you at High Bridge we proceeded t te canal and got on board a boat about dark. We passed through Utica the afternoon of next day and arrived at Schenectady Friday morning about three oclock. We took the railroad at 6 for Albany and arrived there in a short time. we stayed in Albany until 4 oclock in the afternoon when we went on board the Robert L. Steven for New York. We arrived at NY about 4 oclock on Saturday morning and found them all well there. Father aand I went around considerable in search of a situation. I had several chances of getting in. Isaac Simonson wished to get some one in his grocery. E & S Willetts also made me an offer in their crockery store, but they would nly board me the first year and the next year give me two hundred dollars and board myself which I thought would not do for me. Elbert Jackson also made me an offer of 8 dollars per month this winter, and if suited more in the spring which I should have accepted but his business did not suit. He kees a liquor store and my friends told me it was not in a very good neighborhood. I accordingly accepted the offer ofBlake and Frost to give me board until Spring and then if I did not like he would assist e in getting a situation. They are manufacturers and dealers in Tusdan and straw hats. They are not doing much business at this season of the year, their business comes in the spring.Father went up on the L.I. on Monday and I on Friday after. On Thursday I went to Hester St. meeting and saw John G. Seaman married to Ann R. Wall of this city. I went up with Zebulon's folks, stopped at Noah's and stayed all night found them well. M.J. had a son not many weeks old. Next morning I went to Jerusalem, called at Braddock's none of them knew me. Went to Uncle Williams' the boys wer4e out to work. I went to Father to South in a wagon, called at several places by the way. We went down by Solomon Jackson. We called at the ld place, went in the mill. You cannot think how different everthing appeared on L.I. from what it used to, everything looked so small and the distances so short. The mill looked hardly half as large as it formerly did. They are altering it into a grist mill. Henry Mullineau and John Southard were at work on it. They are going to have the two run of stones in it. They will not get it in operation befor Spring. I suppose you know that Aksa (?) James owns it now. The saw mill does no business of any consequence. The canal was dry. We did not go to the house. We then went to Samuel's store. We thought William was in Brooklyn but he is in partnership with Samuel and attends a store. We eat dinner at John Althouse and went over to te brick house to see the great house which David Jones is building. It stands back from the turnpike perhaps forty yrods. It is fifty six feet square and I believe forty feet posts. It makes a very good appearance. They are clearing off the swamp and they have made a dam from Thomas Jones land all across to the Brick house by the side of the turnpike for a trout pond. It has cost them a great deal. We than came back and called at Thos. Whitson. The man there has also dug a small trout pond. Called at Robert Powell just at dark and stayed a short time and then went to Jerusalem. Elbert & Townsend have grown very much. E is about as tall as I & T is a little taller and looks very much as David used to. The folks have many of them altered considerably, but all looked natural. Eleanor is in very poor health. Had I gone up unexpectedly not one in the neighborhood whould have known me. On first day I went to meeting at Jerusa. The meeting is small. Whitehead spoke a little. John Powell and Elbert Verity went to Uncle W. and stayed the afternon. The next day I went around some and in the afternoon I called at Willetts to see Aunt Amy. She looks very natural but is not so fleshy as she used to be and is ... very much. I stayed at Robert O. that night and the next morning started with R. Waters for NY. I only staid three days in the neighborhood. On Wednesday night we received a letter from home. Mother wrote that Bradley had run away and affairs were in a very bad state and wished father to return at once. He accordingly started Thursday night and arrived home the monday after. He found his affairs in great confusion. It seems they met that day to sell the hay but the sale was put to fathers return by the request of mother. They met again afterwards but oweing to some blunder it was not effected. Sarah wrote that father stated to them the agreement and they were in hopes it would not trouble them. At any rate father will not allow anything to be taken off the place that he can hold. I suppose that you have heard from home since I have though. Almy has not been up to L.I. yet she intends to go after New Years. On Wednesay night last the 16th inst. we had one of the greatest fires that ever happened in this city. About 30 or 40 acres in the lower and most business part of the city is now covered with a mass of burning ruins and property to the amount of 15 million of dollars has been destroyed. I suppose you see the papers if so they will contain all the particulars. Many of the insurance offices are broken. The fire commenced at about 9 oclock on Wednesday and was not got under control until Thursday afternon. Mother wrote tha you had started for Oswego to take lake and we thought that you must have been on the lake at the time of the heavy gale and we were very uneasy about you until we heard from you. John Gilbert Seaman was married to JAne Althaus since I was up there. We have had some very cold weather, but it is now quite moderate, no snow of any consequence. I wrote home a few days ago. Pray write soon. I am yours & c John F. Seaman Israel Seaman Direct your letter to 214 Pearl St. Care of Blake and Frost More next time. Would any one know whether 214 Pearl street in NY City still exists?