NOTES AND DOCUMENTS I The History of a fetter On March 20,1833, the Secretary of the Council of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania included this note among the minutes for the day: "Mr. Fisher 1 read the following interesting papers in the hand-writing of the Founder, procured from John Penn,2 during his recent visit to England, an essay of an address designed for King James I on his accession to the throne, two letters to the Founder's father, Sir W. Penn, a letter addressed to the D. of M. dated 22 of 3 mo. 1709; also copies of letters from W. Penn to his father in 1670, a copy of a letter to the Zarr of Muscovy 3 3 mo. 2. 1698, a copy of a letter to Algernon Sydney...." 4 Although John Penn and his younger brother, Granville Penn, were elected honorary members of the Society on May 18, 1825, it is doubtful whether they took much interest in it before Mr. Fisher's visit to them. At that time John Penn became sufficiently interested to give Fisher several Penn documents and allow him to copy others, including the letter to the "Zarr of Muscovy." If Fisher stimulated John Penn's interest, he fully aroused Granville's who became a great patron of the Society. The fact that early in 1833 he pre- sented it with the famous portrait of William Penn in armor, painted in Ireland in 1666, can not be disconnected with Fisher's visit to him.5 Throughout the remainder of his life he was constantly send- 1 J. Francis Fisher, member of Council of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. 2 John Penn (1760-1834), son of Thomas Penn, grandson of William Penn. He is well known to Philadelphia for his residence at "Solitude." His principal homes were Stoke Park and Pennsylvania Castle in England. 3 This is a mistake, the 3 should be 10. 4 "Minutes No. 1. Council of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania," March 20, 1833. 5 Granville Penn (1761-1844) was a well-known scholar and copious writer. He attained the reputation as the best informed layman of the Church of England on Church history. The H.S.P. owns a large and handsome portrait of him. 94 i942 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS 9f ing items of interest, including "fragments" from his own pen, to the Society. This visit probably also started Fisher's collection of copies of the unpublished letters of William Penn. These he transcribed diligently during the next few years before he met with a misfortune —the loss of by far the greater part of his collection. In order to safeguard the remainder he turned it over to The Historical Society which published it in 1840.6 As a copy of the letter to the "Zarr" is not to be found in this publication, it is evident that it was among the copies lost. In 1834 Granville succeeded to the estates of his wealthy brother.7 Consequently, he was now the owner of the early papers which Fisher had examined and from which he had made copies. An old man when he inherited wealth, Granville Penn never had a full opportunity to enjoy it, more especially as many of his latter years were clouded with illness. In the late summer of 1841 his son, Granville John,8 at his father's request wrote the following letter to General Thomas Cad- walader,9 of Philadelphia: My dear General, The long interval which has elapsed since I had last the pleasure of com- municating with you has been caused by the indisposition of my Father, who has since that time frequently intended writing to you himself, but circum- stances have from time to time prevented him. He has had three attacks of illness within the last three weeks, but notwith- standing, he is far better than we could have ventured to expect at his period of life, & after such severe visitations of illness, & he is able to enjoy in moderation the occupation of literary pursuits, tho' those are for the most part confined to subjects in unison with the feelings of his mind at his advanced age. One severe blow he has lately sustained, as have we all, in our domestic circle, in the loss of my eldest & beloved sister,10 whom it pleased God to remove from amongst us on the 27th of May last, after a long & painful ill— 6 Memoirs of The Historical Society of Pennsylvania. IV, Part I. 169-212. 7 John Penn died June 21, 1834. 8 Granville John Penn (1802-1867), a studious, widely-read man, made two cele- brated visits to Philadelphia, in 1851 and 1857. At his father's request he was elected an honorary member by the H.S.P. in 1833, and later proved to be a generous patron. He presented the Society with the famous Wampum Belt given William Penn by the Indians at Shackamaxon in 1682. 9 General Thomas Cadwalader (1779-1841) was the agent for the Penn family in the United States. He was the only son of the Revolutionary General, John Cadwalader. 1° Louisa. 96 NOTES AND DOCUMENTS January ness of six months duration. This he has felt a great deal; expecially as it suc- ceeded a severe attack of illness; but is calmly resigned to the Divine Will. He now desires me to write for him & say that he finds it inconvenient to attempt writing, but charges me to express to you, & every individual of your house, his most affectionate regard & attachment. He leaves to your kindness & judgment to dispose of the contents of the box forwarded by this present occasion, containing various fragments from his pen. The accompanying in- closed original letter of William Penn he intends for the archives of the Historical Library, & a copy or two of the Printed Memoirs is destined for the same. My Mother, & the rest of my family are pretty well, & unite with me in kindest remembrances to yourself, & all the member of your family; & I particularly beg to be most kindly remembered to your son George, to whom I intend writing by an early opportunity, & remain My dear General, with sincere esteem & regard Yours most faithfully Granville John Penn. This letter with its precious little inclosure crossed the Atlantic and was delivered, presumably, to General Cadwalader's house at Ninth and Arch Streets on November 25, 1841. But the General himself was not there to receive it; for the past month he had lain in old Christ Church burial ground.11 His son, George,12 Captain of the Cadwalader Greys and the family business man, opened it in his stead. Carefully cutting around the seal, a handsome half figure of a lion surmounted by a scroll reading "Pennsylvania" stamped in black wax, he removed the contents from the cover. After reading Granville John Penn's letter he turned his attention to the inclosure. It was folded up in a sheet of mourning paper on which was in- scribed in old Mr. Granville Penn's determined hand, "To the charge of General Cadwalader, Philadelphia. For the Historical Library from Gr. Penn. Stoke Park, 1 Aug. 1841." Removing this cover Captain George Cadwalader came upon yet another, also of mourning paper and bearing in Granville Penn's hand the following inscription, "Copy of William Penn's letter to the Czarr Peter of Russia, 1698." Upon removing this protective layer, the original cover of the ancient letter was revealed. On the outside of this was written in William Penn's own hand, "a lettr to ye Zarr of Mos- 11 General Thomas Cadwalader died October 26, 1841. 12 General George Cadwalader (1806-1879), second son of General Thomas Cad- walader, was a distinguished military and social figure of his times. Upon his father's death he took over the Penn family business. 194^ NOTES AND DOCUMENTS 97 covey by W. P. 1698." When this last cover was laid aside the Cap- tain retained in his hand the original letter of the founder of Penn- sylvania. What his thoughts were one cannot tell, at all events he carefully returned it to its multiple wrappings, and, laying it aside with his client's letter, turned his attention to affairs of more pressing concern. Doubtless he would have acknowledged Granville John Penn's letter sooner, had it not been for the necessity of attending his father's estate. It was not until January 1, 1842, that he was able to answer it fully. As he took his pen in hand he realized rather rue- fully that he had so far neglected to turn the original letter of William Penn over to the "Historical Library." Why offend old Mr. Granville Penn with this confession? Certainly he could not get rid of the relic on a holiday, but perhaps tomorrow, or anyway the first opportunity— He wrote, "The original letter of William Penn intended for the archives of the Historical Library and two copies of the printed memoirs after having been shown to several citizens who take an interest in such matters were handed over to the His- torical Library where they will no doubt in—future ages add much interest to the objects of the association."13 Time passed and Captain Cadwalader forgot about the little mat- ter. The letter, still enclosed in all its original wrappings, was placed with other letters from the Penns. It was moved from one place to another and, finally, sometime after his death found its way with the rest of his papers to the Cadwaladers' office building, 263 South Fourth Street.