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Scottish Quaker (1648–1690) who was titular governor of the East Jersey colony in North America, although he never lived there. ALS signed “Barclay,” one page both sides, 8.25 x 12.5, October 9, 1685. Handwritten letter to William Penn ("Dear W. P."), the founder of the colony of Pennsylvania, acknowledging his letter of September 23rd and opening with expressions of religious friendship. In part: "I travel daily to grow in ye which overcomes the cares of the world, and wherein the true fellowship ye is in the truth is much more valuable," and sending his father's "dear love." Referring to his own letter to the Proprietors in which he was "plain with them ye they might not grow in there mistaiks concerning me, and might be made sensible ye the vast paines and troubles I have been at…may at least clear me of being shewed there debtor."
Barclay continues by advising Penn that since East Jersey is of importance to him and may "staff off the blow from thy greater concerne at present," he should follow a conciliatory policy toward the King, "ye will be very obvious and cannot miss observation, ye there is greater reasone the King should have some government within the bay of Delaware depending upon himself to overlook the rest there [than] have E jersy added to New York since NY in ye bay is sufficient to secure his interest, so ye methinks in prudence thou art concerned to concur (though thou had no particular property in E jersy) ye some equal capitulation for all be made now in the beginning. Ye may prove a future security for the whole."
The letter continues a discussion of the possible means of averting the royal effort to vacate the charters of the private colonies by denying the proprietors' right to govern, on the grounds that in the original charter from Charles II to James (then Duke of York) it had not been alienated from the crown. New York was at the same time disputing the proprietary colonies' rights of free trade. On July 17th, the Lords of Trade had recommended that writs be issued against the Jerseys and Delaware, and the Attorney was instructed to begin proceedings against Pennsylvania the following spring.
Barclay, apparently writing in some annoyance with the Proprietors who seem to have been complaining at his absence from their meetings in London, recommends a pragmatic and placatory course, with a view to pre-empting further demands upon the colonies later on: "As thou will doe neighbourly in not sacrificing thy share in E jersy to render thy partners caise harder," which will not serve Penn's interests with James, for "such complements to Princes are often forgott & seldome have desired effect and it losses it quit[e] so for to put them in mind of it." But he is not opposed to Penn's suggestion of propitiating ("salvating") New York by an exchange of land upon the Hudson for land further back: "I do not dislike it, providing it were therre proposal to us & yt wee had our priviledges confirmed to us so as might probably put us beyond the reach of further trouble." Penn's negotiations with Lord Baltimore are also mentioned. In very good to fine condition, with scattered light stains, and very old repairs to rough edges and some paper loss.
