BARCLAY, Robert (1648 - 1690). Autograph letter signed ('Thy affectionate friend and brother, Barclay') to William Penn, Ury [Scotland], 'the 12 of the 7th Mo: [September] 1685' saying that he has replied to Penn's letter 'writt at the desire of the other proprietors', sending his answer to 'W[illiam] D[ockrwa]' least Penn is away, expressing his regret that their meeting (in London) was too short, explaining his preoccupations with his family which 'with the other circumstances of my affaires are such as renders my comeing to London at present impracticable', and in the second part of the letter commenting on Penn's difficulties and particularly the relationship between East Jersey, the King and New York, concluding with a religious subscription, one page, folio (340 x 210mm), integral leaf addressed to 'Philip Fford' at the Hood & Scarf in Bow Lane Cheapside London' and at lower left 'To W Penn', endorsed in a different hand 'R. Barklay [sic] 12: 7mo. 85', red wax seal (seal tears, splitting in creases, both leaves repaired and strengthened at folds on verso). '... I am wholy against the project of selling to the Crowne, which appears to me impracticable to many of the most industrious purchaisers who have hazarded there stocks there. The only medicin to me is to yeald to the L[ord]s opinion of having a neerer dependance upon the crowne, by some charter in the nature of some of the corporations in England & lett the K[ing] and his councel model & restrict the government as to its circulation as they please providing wee be Independant from any other.' William Penn had returned from America in October 1684, chiefly in order to settle the issue of the disputed title to the West bank of the Delaware to which both he and Lord Baltimore, the Catholic proprietor to the South, laid claim. Simultaneously, Governor Thomas Dongan of New York was in communication with James II (who had succeeded to the throne in February, 1685) concerning East Jersey's rights to free ports. Letters from New York congratulating James on his accession also complained of the falling off trade in New York City since the Jerseys and the Delaware basin had been separated, and of the inconvenience of having two governments on the same river. In July 1685 moves were first initiated to eliminate the proprietary and non-royal colonies and consolidate them under the crown. It is to the predicament in which this placed Penn and his fellow-proprietors that Barclay refers in the present letter. The Lords of Trade and the Plantations recommended on 15 July that writs of Quo Warranto be issued against the proprietors of East and West Jersey and Delaware, questioning their title to govern in the provinces. Barclay here advises Penn against any surrender of his share in East Jersey, 'but rather to stave of[f] any anexation from N[ew] York at all, y. that topick may never taik place, otherwayes the same unjustt appetit will [? recur] again and E jersy [sic] will not satiat it'. The reasons for the failure of the New York trade might persist, and the claims upon the Jerseys be advanced at a moment more difficult for Penn to resist. To prevent their ruin, the proprietors eventually requested that East Jersey not be annexed to New York but made a distinct government or joined with West Jersey since they had proprietors in common. Over the next two years the arguments between the different parties continued, until in April 1688 the proprietors offered to surrender the governance of East Jersey to the Crown and the viceroy of New England, Sir Edmund Andros, received a new commission extending his authority to New York and the Jerseys, thus terminating Barclay's governorship in East Jersey. Philip Ford, to whose address the letter is directed, was for some years William Penn's steward and in the 1680's managed his business affairs for him. William Dockrwa, one of the Proprietors, acted as their registrar and secretary.