British Friends' letters

Letters of English Friends containing information on Quaker history as well as religious and cultural activities.

The collection includes many letters sent to John Barclay in regard to his 1833 publication of The diary of Alexander Jaffray ...; letter (1820) of Isaac Braithwaite (1781­-1861) which discusses his strong objections to the position of Elias Hicks; 14 letters(1844­-1884) of John Bright (1811­-1889) on political matters; letters and papers relating to John Broadhead (1762-­1830) on the Seneca indigenous peoples and their visit to England in 1818; 18 letters (1853­-1854) of John Candler to his wife while he traveled in America; eight letters (1817­-1854) of Josiah Forster (1782­-1870); five letters (1754­01757) of Robert Foster telling of Friends' visits; seven letters (1765­-1782) of Ann Fothergill (1718­1802); letters (1826-­1842) of Elizabeth Fry (1780­-1845), sister of Joseph John Gurney; papers, including circular letters (1896) of James Rendel Harris (1852­-1941), telling of Friends' work in Armenian relief; letters of Mary Botham Howitt and William Howitt; letters (1881­-1901) of Henry Stanley Newman on publication of works documenting Friends' missionary activities; and 23 letters (1806-­1851) of poet Amelia Opie (1769-­1853).

The collection also includes letters relating to the activities of early Friends, including a 1690 letter from Robert Barrow (d. 1697), telling of the death and burial of George Fox; an epistle of William Caton (1636-1665); two letters (1661) of William Dewsbury (1621-­1688), written while he was imprisoned in York castle; letter (1654) from Richard Farnsworth (d. 1666), to Jacob Bottomley; letters and papers related to Margaret Askew Fell (1614­-1702); letter (1687) to Friends in Holland from Robert Sandilands; letter (1664) from William Smith (d. 1673) to George Fox, written while imprisoned; arrest warrant (1716) for Thomas Story (1662-­1742) for preaching in Kilkenny.