Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-06-03

An associated Press dispatch TO
Z The Gazette last week described the
ceremonies incident TO the presentation
OF the famous Log of the Mayflowern
to the State of Massachusetts by former
Amhassatior Thomas F. Bayard. and
gave resume OF the historical address
delivered by Senator Hoar. At the con
clusion OF this address Mr.. Bayard was
presented to the meeting.
In bis brief address, Mr. Bayard ex-
pressed his great pleasure that be had
been able to execute his trust and de-
liver the document TO the representative
of the people who are entitled TO its
\ custody. He added that the action of
the city of Philadelphia some 100 years
ago in returning to England certain
documents relating to the reign of
James |. had great weight in securing
the return OF this valuable document,
In closing, Mr.. Bayard SAID TO Gov.
Wolcott
Your excellency, have fulfilled the
trust which was committed to me, and
now place in your hands the manu-.
script OF Gov. Bradford. | commit this
book 10 pursuance of my obligation to
the Bishop OF London and which was
gladly undertaken under the decree of
the court May it find fitting resting
place in this commonwealth. y
The Governor, after thanking Mr..
Bayard for the faithful manner in which
be had executed the trust imposed upon
him by the decree of the consistorial
and episcopal court in London, and re-
ferring to "the gracious act of inter.
national courtesy, which is now COM
pleted." spoke of the esteem in which
+ the document is held by the people of
Massachusetts,, and pledged "the faith
of the commonwealth that for all time
the manuscript shall be guarded in
accordance with the terms of the decree
under which it was delivered into her
possession as one Of her chiefest treas.
ures. "
MIR. BAyARD TALKS ABOUT THE LOG.
Boston Transcript, May a5,h.
Wilmington, Del. May 90. Il called
upon Mr.. Thomas F. Bayard this even
ing to talk with him about the coming
presentation of the Bradford manu-
script. in which he will take mart.
Mr.. Bayard is just setting his house in
order on his return from four wears,
residence in London, and beginning
again to get acquainted with his old
neighbors. His beautiful old Colonial
Z mansion in this city is one of the few
houses in the land which President
J. cleveland especially likes TO visit. Here
MIR. Cleveland came for few days'
visit, before Mr.. Bayard took up his
Ambassadorial duties, and be is likely
soon to come again. The walls of Mr..
Bayard's house are ornamented princi.
pally by portraits of famous Americans
Of the early period and by the painG.
lnes of historical interest. Mr.. Bayard
10 the last four years has lost none of
that courtly graciousness which ALWAYS
characterized his bearing and manner,
While | am deeply interested in the
exercises in Boston on Wednesday, ,.
said Mr. Bayard to your correspondent.
<" have not thought it hest to take a
very prominent part myself, especially
in the speech- making. The day will be
q Massachusetts one. The Governor,
the Legislature in both branches. and
the senior Senator will appropriately
voice the sentiments of the ccnmon-
wealth. Senator Hoar has made yery
careful study of Pilgrim history. He
will be the orator of the day. have
been merely an agent in the matter.
although very willing one, and nv
purpose is simply to relate somewhat
Informally few of the circumstances
connected with the return of the famous
book. One thing in particular must
stand out in everybody's mind when
the story of the return Of the Bradford
manuscript iH related, and that is the
courtesy and good will on the rart of
the English government anu people, of
which this is an evidence. There has
been no instance before where England
has given away any of these cherished
relics. occasionally a will has been
allowed to go to another country to
settle disputed property claina-the
VIII OF Napoleon Bonaparte, for instanre.
but as a rule England guards yery
tenaciously her precious trophies.
The first letters written to England
90 this subject asked for thu return of
the ioebook as right, on the grounds
OF law. This. felt, was mistake. If
the government should once establish
the precedent that these historical
papers and originals should be returned
10 their natural owners, there is no
telling how severely the British Muss,Im
itself might be depleted. Possession 10
the legal warrant back of such thinps
So l took this course--.I merely asku,l
that, in looking over the old family
papers this 6ne might 90 to the one
child to whom it particularly BELONGED.
, This book did not concern England, II
did vitality interest Massachusetts ii
was the work of one of her sons and
. Describes her beginning. Therefore. as
a FAMILY affair, she was the child WIN
should possess it.
The English people were entirely
sympathetic with this point of view
At first Lord Salisbury thought and
thought that special act of Par.
lament would be necessary. IT Was
the property of the government of Enc.
land, not of the Bishop of London, ar
the Archbishop of Canterbury, or the
Cnurch OF England, for there is none
but OF the English nation. But they
iound that there was in existence nm
episcopal and consistoria court. which
hao jurisdiction over this matter. Hnw
long since the court had had a case he.
lore l do not know. But it had a chan.
cellor and a register, and | was asked
10 appear before il by counsel, and
other Claims were set forth, With the
result that decree was handed down
granting this book to Massachusetts.
and was summoned to appear before
tne court and comply with the con-
ait'ons imposed. had gone to Italy
Tor few weeks vacation, but on nv
return vent to the court, on the eotb
OF April, and there met the legal re
quirements. | deposited two fac s.mile
copies With the Bishop Of London. and
attested to their genuineness. / also |
agreed to deliver the book in person IN |
the Governor Of Massachusetts, and he |
is given an alertinn of t,.o ,,i,a, - = |