certainly was also a will and a way to give the book, and that way
was discovered by the legal custodians of the book itself.

At first there were suggestions of difficulty, some technical questions;
and following a very safe rule, the first thought was, What is the law?
and the case was submitted to the law officers of the Crown. Then there
arose the necessity of a formal act of permission.

There could be entertained no question as to the title to the manuscript
in the possession of the British government. There was no authority to
grant a claim, founded on adverse title, and the question arose as to
the requisite form of law of a permissive rather than of a mandatory
nature, in order to be authoritative with those who had charge of the
document.

But, as I have said, when there was a will there was found a way. By
personal correspondence and interviews with the Bishop of London, I soon
discovered that he was as anxious to find the way as I was that he
should find it. In March last it was finally agreed that I should employ
legal counsel to present a formal petition in the Episcopal Consistorial
Court of London, and there before the Chancellor to represent the strong
desire of Massachusetts and her people for the return of the record of
her early Governor.

Accordingly, the petition was prepared, and by my authority signed as
for me by an eminent member of the bar, and it was also signed by the
Bishop of London, so that there was a complete consensus. The decree was
ordered, as is published in the London "Times" on March 25 last, and
nothing after that remained but formalities, in which, as you are well
aware, the English law is not lacking, especially in the ecclesiastical
tribunals.

These formalities were carried out during my absence from London on a
short visit to the Continent, and the decree which you have just heard
read was duly entered on April 12 last, consigning the document to my
personal custody, to be delivered by me in this city to the high
official therein named, subject to those conditions which you have also
heard.

Accordingly, on the 29th of April last I was summoned to the court, and
there, having signed the receipt, this decree was read in my presence.
Then the Bishop of London arose, and, taking the book in his hands,
delivered it with a few gracious words into my custody, and here it is
to-day.

The records of those proceedings will no doubt be preserved here as
accompanying this boo