Series I: Correspondence

Containers:

Box 1-7

Scope and content:

The majority of the collection is the correspondence series. The letters of Thomas Barclay (1753-1830) concern politics, legal matters, family news, business and financial matters, observations on life in America and its citizens after Barclay relocated there from Canada, the escheating of his lands in Nova Scotia after his removal to New York City, and his service as a commissioner appointed to settle the disputed boundary between the United States and Canada. There is also a substantial amount of correspondence concerning the receipt of his pension from the British government. The letters of his son George Barclay (1790- 1869) concern family news and health, financial matters, the estate of his mother-in-law Matilda Lockhart Aufrere (1774-1850), and the sale of family lands in Nova Scotia. There is also correspondence of his brother Henry Barclay (1778-1851) containing family news and information on financial matters. Also included in this series is correspondence of William Cabell Rives (1793-1868) while he was serving as United States Senator from Virginia. The letters are written to his wife Judith Page Walker Rives (1802-1882) and his son Francis Robert Rives (1822-1891). Topics covered include the tariff, appropriations, the Webster Treaty, the presidential election of 1842, Virginia politics, Edward Everett's political career, his own speeches in the Senate, the resignation of Daniel Webster as Secretary of State, reorganization of President Tyler's cabinet, Democratic Party politics, his son's future plans, the annexation of Texas, his opinion of James K. Polk, the appointment of James Buchanan as Secretary of State, and the death of his father Robert Rives (1764-1845).

The bulk of this series, however, is the correspondence between Francis R. Rives and his wife Matilda Antonia Barclay Rives (1824-1888) and their son George Lockhart Rives (1849-1917) while the latter was a student at Trinity College in Cambridge, England between the years 1868 and 1871. Included are descriptions of his school, his classmates, and the city of London, his social and recreational activities, most notably sailing, his trips to the Continent, his finances and school expenses, the weather, family news, and his parents' trips to Europe. There are also letters written to him by Hamilton Fish (1849-1936) while the latter was serving as private secretary to his father who was United States Secretary of State.

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