New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-27
INSTRUMENTATION
FORMALLY DELIVERED INTO. THE Gus.
TOBY OF MASSACHUSETTS

IMPRESSIVE EXERCISES IN THE BOSTON srArs
HoUsE-HIsroRIcAL ADDRESS ny SENATOR
HoAR--MR. BAYARD DELIVERS THE
BRADFORD MANUSCRIPT TO
GOVERNOR woLcoTT.
Boston, May 8-The Bradford manuscript his.
tory Of the New Plymouth Colony. the important
document for the possession OF which Massachu.
sets has long been anxious. was formally pre-
scented to the commonwealth at joint convention
Of the Legislature to-day by Thomas r. Bayard
recently United States Ambassador TO England
Besides the members Of both branches Of the Gen.
erai Court, many prominent officials OF the State
and other distinguished citizens present
while the galleries OF the chamber Of the House Of
| Representatives were filled with spectators.
The Joint convention assembled at II O'Clock with
Pre- sident Lawrence in the chair. Soon afterward
Governor Wolcott. accompanied by the Executive
Council, Mr. Bayard. Senator Hoar and several
Massachusetts, Ccngressmen, entered the chamber.
The proceedings were opened by Mr.. Coolidge CLERK
of the Senate who read the decree OF the consis-
toral Convention OF London intrusting the manu-.
soript to Mr. Bayard TO be delivered by him In per-
son to Governor wolcott. The presentation was
piefaced by an exhaustive historical address on the
manuscript by Senator Hoar. who spoke In part -
fellows:
THE first American Ambassador to Great Britain.
chusetts on an interesting GRAND He comes 10 de-
liver TO the lin ,al successor OF Governor Bradfor1
in the presence Of the Representatives and rulers
of the body polite formed by the compact on board
the Mayfower on November II, 1870, the only au'
thentic history OF the founding OF their common
wealth. the only authentic history OF what we have
n right to consider the most important politica
transaction that has taken place on the race
Of the earth.
,,arJb aa fOhs m
country not 40 much the diplomacy the good VII
az the American people. n In this ANYBODY be tempted
10 Judge him severely, let US remember "hat h'
great predecessor. John Adams tho hrst Minister
at the same court representing more than any othcf
man embodying more than any other man. the spirit
OF Massachusetts, said 10 George III on the hrsi
day OF June 1885, after the close Of our long and
bitter struggle for independence: i shall esteem my
self the happiest Of men " can be instrumental IN
restoring entire esteem. confidence ana anecton,
or. in better words the old good nature ana the o!d
good humor between people who, though separa'ed
by an ocean and under different governments. have
the language. a similar religion and kindred OK
blood And let remember. too the answer rom
the old monarch who with all his faults must Rave
had something OF a noble and royal nature stirring
In his bosom, when he replied: Let the circum-
stances OF language. religion and blood have their
natural and full effect
1T has long been well known that Governor Brad.
ford and lef; behind him history OF the set
Element Of Plymouth. IL was quoted by early chron-
icers There extracts from II In the records a.
Plymouth. Thomas Prince used IL when ne COM
piled his annals Hubbard depended on IL when he
wrote his History of New-England.' Cotton Mather
had read it, a copy OF a portion OF IT, when he
wrote his Magnaa.' Governor Hutchinson had II
when he published the second volume OF his history
in 1867. From that time Il disappeared from the
knowledge Of everybody on this side OF the water
All our historians speak OF II as lost and only
hepn
pected that It destroyed when Governor Hutch
insons house sacked in 1865; others that II was
carried off by officer soldier when Boston
evacuated by the British Army in 1916"
Mr. Hoar spoke Of the discovery Of the manuscrlp.
at Fuham and described the efforts made TO get 4:
back Turning to Mr.. Bayard. he continued:
You are entitled. sir. 10 the gratitude OF Massa-
chIsetts to the gratitude OF every lover of Massa-
chusetts and every lover Of the country. You have
succeeded where many others have failed and
where so many others would have been likely 10
fail You may be sure that debt 10 you Is fully
understood and will not be forgotten
THE question OF the permanent abiding place OF
this manuscript will be settled after it has reached
the hands Of His Excellency. Wherever II shall 60
it will be object OF reverent There Is moth
ing like 1t In human annals since the story OF
Bethlehem These English men and English WON
en- going from their homes in beautiful Lincoln
and York wife separating from husband and moth.
er from child, in that hurried embarkation FOR
Holland pursued 10 the beach by English horse
men. the thirteen years OF exile the life at AM
sterdam. IN alley foul and lane obscure. the
dwelling a. Leydeu. the embarkaton at Delft
haven the farewell OF Robinson. the terrible mid
winter voyage across the Atlantic the compact In
the harbor. the landing on the rock. the dreadful
first winter. the deathroll OF more than half the
number. the days OF suffering and OF famine. the
wakeful night listening for the yell OF wild beasts
and the warwhoop of the savage. the building OF
the State on those sure foundations which no wave
tempest has shaken. the breaking OF tho
light. the dawnng OF the day. the begin
ming o the life. the enjoyment OF peace with
iberty-of all these things this is the original rec.
ord by the hand OF our beloved father and founder:
Massachusetts will preserve II until the time shall
that time shall come-never!"
Mr. Bayar1 sfSspsd ry fhe orms n
for 1t TO h bishop OF London and ne reading OF
senator G0PS q onrs Speech Mr lawrence then pre-
scented Mr.. Bayard to the convention.
had been able to execute mis- trust and deliver the
psos who ars entitled the M
wish 10 impress upon my countrymen ne said,
part ' of the snT mother aft co%n il no only
the people Of Massachusetts, but 10 the whole
Governor nvt wclcott: Your Exceilency have fui:
filled the trust which was committed 70 me ana
nor Bradforo | commit this book in pursuance
gladly undertaken under the decree OF the court
May i find fitting resting PLACE In TINS common,
wealth.! Mt Bayard resumed MS seat aiHIu sleAs
applause
Governor Wolcott. after thanking Mr.. Bayard Tor
the faithful manner in which he had executed the
trust imposed upon him. and referring 10 The
gracious act OF international courtesy. which is now
completed" said
lin this precious volume which hold In my hands
the gift of England to the Commonwealth or Mas
sachusetts-s told the noble. simple story OF the
Plymouth Plantation. In the midst OF suffering and
prtvation and anxiety the pious hand Of William
Bradford here set down In ample detail the hsiory
OF the enterprise from its inception TO the year 1877
The sadness and pathos which some might read Into
tha tive m m
OF a nohle cause even at n great price IL theme for
rejoicing and nor for sorrow. And the story here
tod is one OF triumph in the achievement ana NOT
defeat ,,,- 49,. <.,., -. A..
The Governor closed by pedging the faith OF tbs
commonwealth that for all time the manuscript
should be guarded in accordance with the terms OK
the decree under which II was delivered INTO her pos