The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-05-26
,EI-Ambassador Bayard Delivers the
Precious Bradford Manuscript
Great Event In the History
Of Massachusetts.
Eenator Noar Orator Of 0ccasion--Ceremony
at the Capitol.


at the capitol today was
an incident of more than ordinary in |
tereet. That the occasion sstpuld be |
incorporated in the history or
the state the ceremony was conducted
IN the presence OF the legislature in joint
Sc ssion and the state officials.
At IL o'clock, according to Governor
Wolcotts program. the ceremonies be-
gan. Thomas +. Bayard, ex-ambassa-
dor TO the court of ST. James, fulfilled
the trust imposed upon him by the bishop
of London and delivered to Governor
Wolcott as the representative Of the
state of Massachusetts,, the manuscript
history of Plymouth colony, which for
many years had been as good as lost,
Governor Wolcott received the trust with
a short but particularly fitting address.
Senator George Frisbie Hoar the prin-
cipal orator of the occasion, then fol-
lowed with an interesting history Of
William Bradford and his work.
Besides the members Of the legisla-
ture there were present many prominent
Bay State men. including the state Off
GERS.
Mr.. Bayard. In presenting the manu-
script to the state, made a short speech
in which he said he was only an agent
in the matter, although a willing one.
IT have not thought II best to take 4
very prominent part myself. especially
I'm the speechmaking. The day Is a
Massachusetts, one. The governor, the
Legislature In both branches. and the
senior senator will appropriately voice
the sentiments of the commonwealth.
Senator Hoar has made a very careful
study of Pilgrim history. He will tell
you the story of Bradford. One thing
in particular must stand out in every
body's mind, and that Is the courtesy
and good will on the part of the English
government and people. OF which this
10 an evidence. There has, been no
4,Stance before where England has given
away any Of these cherished relics. Oc-
sas&onaily q will has been allowed to 60
TO- another country to settle disputed
lroperty clalms-the will OF Napoleon
&1naparte. for instance. but as rule
8hslAnd guards very tenAeiously her
precious trophies" Mr.. payard then
tsid the details Of the proceedings lead
Ag mp to the return Of the manuscript.
st Senator MoaS's Speech.
Senator Hoar's address was in part as
follows:
The flrst American AMBASSADOR to
Great Britain, at the end Of his ofllcial
serYfce. comes to Massachusetts, on an
Interesting errand. He. canes to de-
nVSr to the lineal successor Of Governor
Bradford. In the presence Of the repre-
Sentatives and rulers OF the body polite
formed by the compact on board the
a hA ulx
thentic history OF the founding of their
commonwealth; the only authentic his
Tory of what we have q right to consider
the most important political transaction
mat has ever taken place on the face Of
the earth.
IT has long been well known that Gov
ernor Bradford wrote and left behind
him a history of the settlement OF Ply
mouth. II was quoted by early chron-
iciers. There are extracts from it in
the records at Plymouth. Thomas
Prince used il when he compiled his an
halls. Hubbard depended on 1t when
he wrote his history of New England
Cotton Mather had read ii or a copy Of a
portion OF ii when he wrote his Mag
nalia. Governor Hutchinson had it
when he published the second volume
Of his history in 1867. From that time
II disappeared from the knowledge of
everybody on this side of the water
All of our historians speak of il as lost.
and can only guess what had been it's
fate.
In 1914 Samuel Wilberforce. bishop of
oxford, afterward bishop of London,
one Of the brightest of men, published
one Of the dullest and stupidest Of books.
1t is entitled The History of the Prot
estant Episcopal Church in America"
n contained extracts from manuscripts
which he said he had discovered in the
library of the bishop Of London at Full
ham. The book attracted no attention
here until, about II years later, in 1856,
John Wingate Thornton, whom many
of us remember as an accomplished an
tiquary and a delightful gentleman,
happened to pick up copy Of it while
he was lounging in Burnham's bookstore
He read the bishops quotations and
carried the book to the house of his friend,
Mr.. Barry, who was then writing his
History of Massachusetts" Mr. Barry
was not at home. Thornton left the
volume with passages marked, and with
a note which is not preserved. but which.
according to his memory. suggested that
the passages must have come from
|
the claim for Mr.. Thornton. On the
other hand, IL is claimed by Mr. Barry
that there was nothing of that kind ex-
pressed In Mr.. Thornton's note, but in
leading the book. when ne got back. an
hour or so later, the thought struck him
| for the first time that the clue had been
bund to the precious book which had
been lost so long. He at once repaired
Ito Charles Deane then. and ever since
down to his death as President Eliot
Ifelicitously styled him, "the master OF
historical investigators in this country"
mfr. Deane saw the Importance OF the
discovery. He communicated at once
with Joseph Hunter, an eminent Eng
ltsh scholar. Hunter was high author
by on all matters connected with the
settlement of New England. who WIS.,
ted the palace at Fulham. and estab-
ished beyond question the identity OF
lhe manuscript with Governor Brad
eord's history. an original letter OF Gov
kfnor Bradford having been sent to Mr..
Nunter for comparison OF handwriting.
4ow the manuscript got to Fulham
hobody knows
The delivery OF the manuscript was
\ k,ada I'm iofut seseion of the legteia ture