The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-07-20

have been destroyed III 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 E'The Log of the Mayfow-
err" 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
sequentIy 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
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
n having this book returned to you to-
lay. My ancestors were French Pro-
.estants who were compelled to seek
safety for better lives and consciences
n Holland. Fifty years afterWard a
little party from England, under the
leadership Of John Robinson, was also !
orced to seek the same asylum. Time
passed on, and both parties sought
soul-freedom' in the new country, and
he Huguenot family from which /
RAW my name found that which they
ought in what was then New Amster-
am. And is it not fitting that I, who
ave III LILY fS1uS Tie DlOOu VI Tie per
ecuted Huguenot, should present to
our Government the log of the Eng
sh emigrants who left their country
D seek here peace and freedom?
Governor Wolcott, in receiving
ne volume on behalf of the State,
nd:
In this precious volume which 1 hold
l my hands-the gift of England to
lie commonwealth of Massachusetts,
told the noble, simple story of the
lymouth plantation. In the midst of Z
lffering and privation and anxiety the =
ous hand of William Bradford here 9
It down in ample detail the history of
e enterprise from it's inception to the
ear 1647. From him we may learn