The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-05-27

LlAS SSuAAAAWSlAe-A hss-AAS e.ASe
turI's Age.
BOSTON, May 26.-Ths Bradforl
manuscript history OF the New Plymouth
colony, the document for the possession
OF which Massachusetts had long been
anxious, was formally presented 70 DE
commonwealth OF Massachusetts,, by
Hon. Thomas F. Bayard, former United
States ambassador TO England, before
Joint convention Of the legislature to-day.
The ceremony OF delivering the mauuS-
cript took place in the spacious chamber
of the house Of representatives and was
OF a most impressive nature. Besides the
members OF the both branches Of the
general court, many prominent ohiosals
OF the state and other distinguished cid
zens were present, while the galleries Of
the house were filled with spectators.
AFTER President Lawrence had called ths
Joint convention to order, Gov. WolcFt,
accompanied by the executive council,
Mr.. Bayard, Senator George F. Hoar ana
several Massachusetts Cungressmen en-
tered the chamber. Formal proceedings
were opened by Clerk Coolidge, OF the
senate, who read the decree OF the con9is-
torlal convention Of London. entruHdng
the manuscript to Ambassador Bayard.
to be delivered by him In person TO Cow
wolcott, OF Massachusetts.
The actual presentation was pretaeed
by an address by Senator Hoar.
senator aoar's Address.
Senator Hoar spoke in terms OF high
appreciation of fex-Ambassador Bayard'S
efforts towards establishing upon q
broader foundation the feeling Of
brotherhood hETeen Americans and
Britons. The senator gave in detail the
story of the Bradford narration and OF
the many unsuccessful attempts which
had been made to secure IL 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 2iJth anni-
versary Of the landing Of the Pilgrims
upon the rock. In preparing for that
duty. / read aEaln, with renewed enthu-
slasm and delight, the noble and touch-
Ing story az told by Gov. Bradford.
felt that this precious history OF the PIE
grims ought 10 be in no other custody
than that OF their children. But the case
seemed hopeless. ] found myself COM
PEELED by a serious physical inhrulity 70
take n vacation. and to get rest frum
public cares and duties. which was Inn
possible while stayed at home. When
went abroad determined to visit the
locality on the borders OF LincolnShlre
and Yorkshire, from which Bradford
and Brewster and Robinson, the three
leaders OF the Pilgrims, came, and where
the first church was formed and the
places in Amsterdam and Delft-HGVOn
where the col0nistB spent thirteen yoaTl.
and especially to SEQ the manuscript OF
Bradford at F'Ilham which then Oeemod
to me, as il now seems to me, the most
precious manuscript on earth unless We
could recover one Of the four gospels a. Il
came IN the beginning from the penoftha
evangelist.
grew during the voyage across the At
lantic. did not know how such pro
position would be received in England
A few DAYS after I landed made can
on John Morley. asked him whether
he thought the thing could bs done. ae
INQUIRED carefully into the story, took
down from mis- shelf the excellent though
brief life of Bradford in Leshe StephenE
Biographical dictionary and told me he
thought the book ought TO cuIne back to
US and that he should be glad to do any
thing In his power to help,
Mr., Hoar then recounted his own e2-
forts while In England tn merely Get .
sight OF the precious manuScipt and tod
how he first viewed Il 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 tn Mr.. BayRrd'B success In oeCur-
ing the volume after 20 many otherS had
failed and assured him that It Wa1 en-
achievement for which the country
would ever hold him IN grateful recolleo-
tion.
Mr.. Bayard's Presentation.
President Lawrence presented Mr..
Bayard to the convention. Mr.. Bayard
expressed his great pleasure that he had
hean able 10 execute his trust and de-
liver the priceless document to the reps
resentntIve OF the people who are en-
titled to It's custody. He added chat eha
action Of the city Of Philadelphia some
one hundred years ago In returning 20
England certain documents under the
reIgD Of James l., had great weight IN
securing the return TO US OF thls Velu-
able document.
In closing. Mr.. Bayard said to Gov
ernor wolcot:
your Excellency:-I have fulhlled
the trust that was committed to mo
and now place in your hands the man-
uscrIpt OF Governor Bradford. COM
mil this book in pursuance OF my Oh.
legations to the bishop OF London ana
gladly undertaken under the decre9 O
Inc court. May It flnd q hitting resting
place in this commonwealth"
Governor walcott. after thanklng
Mr. Bayard for the faithful manner In
which he had executed the trust impoa4
ed upon him by the decree OF the cone
sIstorlnl episcopal court in IDonden, ana
referring 10 tho gracious act OF Inter
national courtesy which Is now COM
pieted," spoke OF the esteem in which
Inc document iS held by the people o.
Massachusetts, pledged "the faith OF the
commonwealth that for all time the
manuscript should be guarded In &C.
cordance with the terms OF the decree
under which II was delivered into her
possession as one Of her chIefest treas
utes."
..,--.--..-N. H,0.v.a 1ntnnR