Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-05-27
LOG OF THE MAYFLONER
Presented to Commonwealth Of MaSSa-
chuSettS by Mr.. Bayard.
CEREMONY DEEPLY IMPRESSIVE
Largo and Distinguished Gath
Ing Present.

Boston, Mass, May 26.-The Brad
ford manuscript history of the New
Plymouth colony, the document for the
possession Of which Massachusetts had
long been anxious, was formally pre-
santed to the Commonwealth of Massa.
chusetts by Hon. Thomas #. Bayard,
former Unitad States Ambassador to
England. before joint convention OF
the Legislature to-day. The ceremony
of delivering the manuscript took place
in the spacious chamber OF the House
of Representatives, and was of a most
impressive nature. Besides the mem
bers OF both branches of the
General Court many prominent Off
Gals Of the State and other dis
tinguished citizens we're present,
while the galleries of the House were
filed with spectators. After President
Lawrence had called the Joint con.
ventIon to order CIV. Wocott, accom-
panied by the Legislative Council, Mr..
Bayard, Senator George #. IIoar and
several Massach usetts Congressman,
entered the chamber. Formal proceed
ings were opened by Clerk Coolidge Of
the Senate, who read the decree Of the
Consistorial Convention Of London,
entrusting the manuscript to A mbassa-
dor Bayard to he delivered by him in
person to Gov. Wolcott. The presenta-
tion was prefaced by an address by
Senator Hoar.
Senator Hoar spoke 10 terms Of high
appreciation of ex-Ambassador Bay
ards efforts towards establishing upon
broader foundation The feeling of
brotherhood between Americans and
Britons. The Senator gave in detail the
story Of the Bradford narration and of
the many upeuccessful attempts which
had been made to secure it for the
United States. He continued:
ION the 21st OF December, 1895, /
was appointed to deliver an address at
Plymouth, on tho occasion OF the 275th
anniversary of the landing of the Pill
grims upon the rock. In preparing for
that duty / 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 he in no other
custody than that of their children.
But the case seemed hopeless. found
myself comp ,lled by serious physical
infirmity to take vacation and to get
rest from public cares and duties,
which was impossible while stay ed at
home. When 1 went abroad 1 deter
mined to visit the locality OIL the
borders of Lincolnshire and Yorkshire
from which Bradford and Brewster and
Robinson, the three leaders of the Pill
grims. came and where the first church
was formed. and the places in Amster-
dam and Delft Haven where the colon
lists spent ID years, and especially to see
the manuscript of Bradford at Fulham,
which then seemed to me, as it now
seems to me, the most precious manu-
script on earth unless We could recover
one of the four gospels as it came in
the beginning from the pen of evange-
lists.
But the desire to get it back grow
and grew during the voyage across the
Atlantic. did not know how such a
proposition would be received in Eng
land. A few days after l landed /
made a call upon John Morley. l asked
him whether he thought the thing
could be done. He inquired carefully
into the story, took down fiom his
shelf the excellent though brief life of
Bradford in Leslie Stephens biographi-
cal dictionary and told me he thought
that he should be glad to do anything
in his power to help.
About a week before I sailed for
home i went TO Fulham in the hope of
seeing ths manuscript. I had supposed
that it was a quasi public library, open
to general visitors. But / found the
Bishop was absent. / was told very
politely that the library was not omen
to the public. 1t happened the Friday
before l sailed for home that 1 dined
with an English friend. He asked me
If there was anything more he could do
for me. said: No. unless you hap
pen to know the Lord Bishop of LON
don. L should like to get sight at
the manuscript of Bradford's history
before 50 home.' He said, Il do not
know the Bishop myself. but Mr..
Grenfell, at whose house you spent
few days ia the early summer, married
the Bishops niece and will gladly give
you an introduction to his uncle. Sun.
day morning brought cordial letter
from Mr.. Grenfell, introducing me to
the Bishop. wrote note to His Lord
ship, saying | should be glad to have |
an opportunity to see Bradford's his |
tory. In reply he said il / would call |
un Tuesday he would be happy to show |
me the log of the Mayfower, which |
is the title the English, without the /
slightest reason in the world, give the |
After looking at the |
and reading the records on the |
fly.leaf said my Lord. am going
TO say somsthing which you may think
rather audacioua, think this book
ought to go back to Massachusetts,.
Well, said the bishop, did not know
you cared anything about it. Why
said !. il there .aaRre in existence in
England hist of King Aifred's
reign for 80 year kitten by his own
hand it would not " more precious 10
,he eyes of Englshmen than this manu-
script is to U.S. WE'LL said he. Il
.hink myself it ought to go back. But
suppose ought not to give it up on my
,wn authority. 1t belongs to me in my
,fficial capacity, and not as private or
PERSONAL property. | think | ought to
consult the Archbishop of Canterbury.
indeed, l think / ought to speak to tbs
Queen about il. We should not do such
! thing betd Her Majesty's back. 1
aid: Very II. When GO home l
will have a"proper application from
ome literary societies and ask you to
five IL COZ federation.
Senator lIoar then recounted the part
which Mr.. Bayartl. as Ambassador of
he United States had taken in secur-
ng the consent of the Britain authori-
les to the transfer of the manuscript,
nd addressing him said: "You are
led, sir, to the gratitude of Massa-
setts, to the gratitude of every lover