by CLAYTON, John
(FORCE HISTORICAL TRACTS) CLAYTON, John. A LETTER FROM MR. JOHN CLAYTON RECT OF CROFTON AT WAKEFIELD IN YORKSHIRE, TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY, MAY 12, 1688;.... (Washington: Peter Force, circa 1836-1846). 8vo. Sewn self-wrappers, stitche 45 pages. 1836-44 reprint of original seventeenth century pamphlet part of Force's Collection of Historical Tracts, volume 3, no. 12. Peter Force's greatest achievement came as a collector and editor of historical documents. He published Tracts and Other Papers, Relating Principally to the Origin, Settlement, and Progress of the Colonies in North America (4 vols. Washington 1836-1846). This early seventeenth century document was originally published the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London, 1694-1695 and later reprinted by Edmund Halley from the Miscellanea Curiosa 1750-1707. Joh Clayton, Anglican priest and scientist, traveled to Virginia in 1688 "giving account of several observables in Virginia, and in his voyage thither, more particularly concerning the air." He was not impressed with the original settlement of Jamestown "Jamestown Island is rather a peninsula...Now they ha built a silly sort of a fort, that is , a brick wall in the shape of a half-m at the beginning of the swamp." He had other ideas about the location of a fort "If they would build a fort for the security of the town and country, I conceive it should be on Archer's Hope Point" near present day Williamsburg. His son and grandson were significant scholars and clergymen in the colony. Very good. (Inventory #: 40645)