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.

It was fortunate, too, that the application came in a time of cordial
good-will between the two countries, when the desire of John Adams and
the longing of George III. have their ample and complete fulfilment.
This token of the good-will of England reached Boston on the eve of the
birthday of the illustrious sovereign, who is not more venerated and
beloved by her own subjects than by the kindred people across the sea.

[Illustration: THE ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY.]

It comes to us at the time of the rejoicing of the English people at
the sixtieth anniversary of a reign more crowded with benefit to
humanity than any other known in the annals of the race. Upon the power
of England, the sceptre, the trident, the lion, the army and the fleet,
the monster ships of war, the all-shattering guns, the American people
are strong enough now to look with an entire indifference. We encounter
her commerce and her manufacture in the spirit of a g