The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-27
HISTORIC DOCUMENT.
The Bradford Manuscript Presented
to the State of Massachusetts.

BOSTON, May 26-The Bradford manu-
script history of the New Plymouth colony,
the document for the possession of which
Massachusetts had long been anxious, was
formally presented to the Commonwealth
of Massachusetts by Hon. Thomas f.
Bayard former United States ambassador
to England, before a joint convention of
the Legislature to-day. The ceremony of
delivering the manuscript took place in the
spacious chamber of the House of Repre-
sentatives and was of a most impressive
nature. Besides the members of both
branches of the General Court, many prom
inent officials of the State and other dis
tinguished citizens were present while the
galleries of the House were filled with
spectators.
After President Lawrence had called the
joint convention to order Governor VOL
colt, accompanied by the executive coun-
ell, Mr.. Bayard Senator George F. Hoar
and several Massachusetts congressman,
entered the chamber. Formal proceedings
were opened by Clerk Coolidge. of the Sen
ate, who read the decree of the conSiStorial
convention of London, intrusting the man
uscript to ambassador Bayard to be de
livered by him in person to Governor VOL
cott of Massachusetts. The actual presen-
tation was prefaced by an address by Sem
ator Hoar, who gave in detail the story
of the Bradford narrative, and of the many
unsuccessful attempts which had been
made to secure it for the United States.
He continued "On the 21st of December,
1895, ! was appointed to deliver an address
at Plymouth on the occasion of the 275th
anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims
upon the rock. In preparing for that duty
i read again, with renewed enthusiasm and
delight, the noble and touching story
told by Governor Bradford. felt that this
precious history of the pilgrims ought to
be in no other custody than that of their
children. But the case seemed hopeless.
/ found myself compelled by a serious phys
ical infirmity to take a vacation and to
get a rest from public cares and duties,
which was impossible while | stayed at
home. When l went abroad / determined
to visit the locality the borders of Lin
conShire and Yorkshire, from which Brad
ford and Brewster and Robinson, the three
leaders of the pilgrims, came, and where
the first church was formed and the places
in Amsterdam and Delfthaven, where the
colOniStS spent thirteen years, and especial
~ to see the manuscript of Bradford at
Fulham, which then seemed to me as it
one of the four gospels as it came in the be-
ginning from the pen of the evangelist;
But the desire to get it back grew and
grew during the voyage across the Allan
tic. | did not know how such proposition
would be received in England A few days
after / landed l made call on John Nor
ley. l asked him whether he thought the
thing could be done. He inquired carefully
the excellent though brief, life of Brad
ford in Leslie Stephenss biographical die
tlonary ana told me he thought the book
ought to come gack to us and that he
should be glad to do anything in his power
to help
Mr.. Hoar then recounted his own efforts
while in England to merely get a sight of
the precious manuscript and told how he
first viewed it in the library of the lord
bishop of London and made the first re-
quest for its return to the United States.
He referred in complimentary terms to
MI Bayard's success in seeuring, the
assured him that it was an achievement for
which the country would ever hold him
in grateful recollection.
President Lawrence presented Mr. Bay
ard to the convention. Mr. Bayard ex-
pressed his great pleasure that he had
been able to execute his trust and deliver
the priceless document to the representa-
tive of the people who are entitled to it's
custody. He added that the action of the
city of Philadelphia some hundred
years ago in returning to England certain
documents under the reign of James l had
great weight in securing the return to US
of this valuable document