Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation': From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to MassachusettsBradford, William
History
Bradford's History of 'Plimoth Plantation': From the Original Manuscript. With a Report of the Proceedings Incident to the Return of the Manuscript to Massachusetts
Bradford, William
Massachusetts -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
Meantime Bishop Temple, with whom I had my conversation, had himself
become Archbishop of Canterbury, and in that capacity Primate of all
England. His successor, Rev. Dr. Creighton, had been the delegate of
John Harvard's College to the great celebration at Harvard University on
the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its foundation, in 1886. He
had received the degree of doctor of laws from the university, had been
a guest of President Eliot, and had received President Eliot as his
guest in England.
He is an accomplished historical scholar, and very friendly in sentiment
to the people of the United States. So, by great fortune, the two
eminent ecclesiastical personages who were to have a powerful influence
in the matter were likely to be exceedingly well disposed. Dr. Benjamin
A. Gould, the famous mathematician, was appointed one of the committee
of the American Antiquarian Society. He died suddenly, just after a
letter to the Bishop of London was prepared and about to be sent to him
for signing. He took a very zealous interest in the matter. The letter
formally asked for the return of the manuscript, and was signed by the
following-named gentlemen: George F. Hoar, Stephen Salisbury, Edward
Everett Hale, Samuel A. Green, for the American Antiquarian Society;
Charles Francis Adams, William Lawrence, Charles W. Eliot, for the
Massachusetts Historical Society; Arthur Lord, William M. Evarts,
William T. Davis, for the Pilgrim Society of Plymouth; Charles C.
Beaman, Joseph H. Choate, J. Pierpont Morgan, for the New England
Society of New York; Roger Wolcott, Governor of Massachusetts.
The rarest good fortune seems to have attended every step in this
transaction.
I was fortunate in having formed the friendship of Mr. Grenfell, which
secured to me so cordial a reception from the Bishop of London.
It was fortunate that the Bishop of London was Dr. Temple, an eminent
scholar, kindly disposed toward the people of the United States, and a
man thoroughly capable of understanding and respecting the deep and
holy sentiment which a compliance with our desire would gratify.
It was fortunate, too, that Bishop Temple, who thought he must have the
approbation of the archbishop before his action, when the time came had
himself become Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England.
It was fortunate that Dr. Creighton had succeeded to the see of London.
He is, himself, as I have just said, an eminent historical scholar. He
has many friends in America. He was the delegate of Emmanuel, John
Harvard's College, at the great Harvard centennial celebration in 1886.
He received the degree of doctor of laws at Harvard and is a member of
the Massachusetts Historical Society. He had, as I have said,
entertained President Eliot as his guest in England.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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