The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-07-20
LOG OF THE MAY
FLOWER"

For more than century past,
an old volume, known by the above
title, was missing and supposed to
have been destroyed in some way.
1t was an account of the voyage
and arrival of the New England
pilgrims, who landed in Plymouth
Bay in 1920, written by William
Bradford, the first governor of the
colony. Quite recently, Mr.. Bay
ard, then American Ambassador
at the Court of st. James, learned
that this missing volume was in
the library of the Episcopal Palace
at Fulham, England. 1t is sup
posed to have been taken from
Boston during the revolutionary
war and carried to England, but
by whom, or how it came to that
library, no one living knows. On
learning the fact of its existence,
he sought and received permission
to examine it, and found that it
was indeed the long lost treasure
the original volume is in the
hand writing of Governor Brad
ford, and apparently in perfect
condition. He then said to the re-
sident bishop, who had charge of
the library and the premises, that
he thought it ought to be returned
to Boston where it belonged. The
bishop replied that it could not be
given up without the consent of
the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The latter prelate readily consent
ed, provided permission was OBJ
tanned from Queen Victoria. This
was finally secured, and on his re
turn recently from England, he
brought the precious manuscript
volume with him. Although
called ''The Log of the Mayfow-
er," it is really a history of the de-
parture of the pilgrims in the May
Flower, their arrival in Massa-
chusetts Bay, and subsequent his
tory for twenty-five years. Con
sequently it is priced very highly
as an original record.
Recent Boston papers are filled
with reports of the proceedings
which took place in the hall of
representatives in that city, when
ex-minister Bayard delivered the
volume to Governor Wolcott, in
the presence of a very large as
semblage. After narrating the
circumstances attending the find
ing and recovery of it, he refers, in
his address, to a similar incident.
not generally known, of valuable
old records returned to the British
Government, where they be-
longed:
At the close of the last century
library in Philadelphia voluntarily re-
turned to the British Government GER
tain documents and records which
dealt with happenings in England dur
ing the reign of King James. The re-
turn of this book to you is an echo of
the kindly act of your countrymen in
the city of Philadelphia 100 years ago.
1t is that action which, more than
anything else, brought about your joy
in having this book returned to you to-
day. My ancestors were French Pro-
testants who were compelled to seek
safety for better lives and consciences
in Holland. Fifty years afterward a
little party from England under the
leadership of John Robinson, was also
forced to seek the same asylum. Time
passed on, and both parties sought
'soul-freedom" in the new country, and
the Huguenot family from which 1
draw my name found that which they
sought in what was then New Amster-
dam. And is it not fitting that I, who
have in my veins the blood of the per-
secuted Huguenot, should present to
your Government the log of the Eng
lish emigrants who left their country
to seek here peace and freedom?
Governor Wolcott, in receiving
the volume on behalf of the State.
said:
In this precious volume which hold
in my hands-the gift of England to
the commonwealth of Massachusetts
is told the noble, simple story of the
Plymouth plantation. In the midst of
suffering and privation and anxiety the
pious hand of William Bradford here
set down in ample detail the history of
the enterprise from it's inception to the
year 1e47. From him we may learn
that all great and honorable actions
are accompanied with great difficulties.
and must be both enterprised and
overcome with answerable courages."
L., a..