The Saint Paul globe., 1897-05-27
BRADFORD MANUSCRIPT
Formally Presented to Massachu-
setts by Ambassador Bayard.

Formally Presented to Massachu-
setts by Ambassador Bayard.
BOSTON, May 26.-The Bradford
manuscript history Of the 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
today The ceremony of delivering the
manuscript took place in the spacious
chamber of the house Of representa-
tives, and was Of most impressive
nature Besides the members of both
branches of the general court many
prominent officials of the state and
other distinguished citizens were pres
ent After President Lawrence had
called the joint convention to order,
ecutive council, Mr. Bayard, Senator
George F. Hoar and several Massa-
chusetts congressman, entered the
chamber. Formal proceedings were
opened by Clerk Coolidge, of the SEN
ate, who read the decree of the con-
Sistorial convention of London entrust-
ing the manuscript to Ambassador
Bayard to be delivered by him in per-
son to Gov. Wolcott, of Massachusetts.
The actual presentation was prefaced
by an address by Senator Hoar, who
spoke in terms Of high appreciation
of ex-Ambassador Bayard's efforts to-
wards establishing upon broader
foundation the feeling Of brotherhood
between Americans and Britons. Ihe
senator gave in detail the story of the
Bradford narration, 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 Ply
mouth, on the occasion OF the 275tn
anniversary Of the landing OF the FL
grims upon the rock. In preparing for
that duty I read again, with renewed
enthusiasm and delight the noble and
touching story, as told by Gov. Brad
ford. l 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. I found
myself compelled by serious phys
ical infirmity to take vacation, and
to get rest from public cares and
duties which was impossible while I
stayed at home. When I went abroad,
I determined to visit tht locality on the
borders of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire,
from which Bradford and Brewster
and Robinson, three leaders of the Pill
grims came, and where the first church
was formed, anu CIl6 pldC6S III AHiStcA
dam and Delft Haven where the colon
lists spent thirteen years, and espec-
tally to see the manuscript Of Brad
ford at Fulham, which then seemed
to me, as it now seems to be, the most
precious manuscript on earth, unless We
could recover one Of the four Gospels
as it came in beginning from the pen
Of the evangelist.
But the desire to get it back grew
during the voyage across the Atlantic.
I did not know how such a proposition
would be received in England. A few
days after I landed, I made a call on
John Morley. I asked him whether he
thought the thing could be done. He
inquired carefully into the story, took
down from his shelf the excellent
though brief life of Bradford, in Leslie
Stephens biographical dictionary, and
told me he thought it ought to come
back to us and he should be glad to do
anything in his power to help"
Mr.. Horr then recounted his own eff
forts while in England to merely get a
sight Of the precious manuscript, and
told how he first viewed 1T in the library
Of the lord bishop of London, and
made the first request for its return
to the United States. He referred in
complimentary terms to Mr.. Bayard's
success in securing the volume after
so many others had failed and assured
him that it was an achievement for
which the country would ever hold him
in grateful recollection.