| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |
The Capital and the Bay: Narratives of Washington and the Chesapeake Bay Region, ca. 1600-1925
The Calvert papers, Vol INo. 22. WILLIAM PENN TO CHARLES, LORD BALTIMORE.
Page 328 { page image }
[Indorsement.]
6th of June 1683
Wm Penns L?? to the
Lord Baltemore
My Noble Frd
If vpon my arrival in this Province, I did immediately dispatch my Secretary with two other gentlemen to Salute the Lord Baltimore & assure him of my respects & frdshp's If so soon as I had pay'd my duty to my Royall Patrone the Duke, I did incontinently take a longe Journy in a cold and unpleasant season, tht I might personally give him the further Pledges, of a freindly agreement & neighbourhood. And if I did then therefore wave to press myn own Advantages, because I found it uneasy to him; And lastly, if in my after Correspondences, and especially as our last intervew, I have declined the rigour of my plea & both propos'd and prest some of the mildest & most healing expedients tht if possible, we might, be the last Arbitrators of our own affaires without the need of an other umpire, then the good will we ought to bear to a mutual & lasting union, The Lord Baltimore, I would think, will be so kinde as to lett me hope, he will pardon me if I stop here, & shall hold myself acquitted by the endeavours I have used, wth so much Industry & submission, for a freindly Issue. And if there were anything below what I have already offer'd besides Ruine to my Province, God is both my wittness & my Judge, I should be but too apt to encline.
My Noble Frd I am not mov'd by the power of Ambition or Avarice; It is Conveniency yea necessity tht bids me
Page 329 { page image }
stand. I deal freely. I have outrun all Councels, tht I might purchase peace, tho' with loss; but wth distruction, even nature & Reason forbid. What I seek be it myn own, & so my due; or the Lord Baltimr & as such, if he please, my Purchass, It is of tht minute Consequence to him & mighty moment to me, because to his Country the Tale or Skirt, to my Province the Mouth or Inlett, that the disproportion of the vallue & Conveniency tht it beares to either of us, will defend, at least, indulge my greater Importunity; And yet while the advantage seems to be mine, It is most manefest it will be greatly his proffitt to comply; since it will lay his Province between two planted Countrys, And the People transporting themselves to Pennsilvania in Ships consign'd to Maryland and thos ships yearly bringing such englesh goods as we shall want, will naturally draw our people into his Province to furnish themselves, & to make Maryland the Mark of english Trade, at least for many yeares.
What shall I say, My Noble Freind, if the powerfull charmes of interest, if the Love of good neighbourhood, if tht wch is always to be prefer'd, wth Persons of the Lord Baltimores Loyalty, I mean Duty to the King, prevale, I must yet promess myselfe an agreement in some faire & happy expedient, & lay by (wch shall be wth delight) the thoughts of an englesh voyage, tht else, the state of my affaires here, & of my famely there, will of necessity obleidge me to & tht speedely.
I shall end wth this assurance wch I have often Given, and shall most religiously observe, that I shall sincerely embrace all occasions by wch I may approve my selfe
My Noble Frd
Thy very Firme
& Affect. Frd & Neighr
Philadelphia
6th 4mo Jn 83. WM Penn
42
Information about SGML version of this document.
| PREVIOUS | NEXT | NEW SEARCH |