"
The Bishop said: "I did not know you cared anything about
it."
"Why," said I, "if there were in existence in England a history
of King Alfred's reign for thirty years, written by his own
hand, it would not be more precious in the eyes of Englishmen
than this manuscript is to us."
"Well," said he, "I think myself that it ought to go back,
and if it depended on me it would have gone back before this.
But many of the Americans who have been here have been commercial
people, and did not seem to care much about it except as a
curiosity. I suppose I ought not to give it up on my own
authority. It belongs to me in my official capacity, and
not as private or personal property. I think I ought to consult
the Archbishop of Canterbury. And, indeed," he added, "I
think I ought to speak to the Queen about it. We should not
do such a thing behind Her Majesty's back."
I said: "Very well, when I go home I will have a proper
application made from some of our literary societies, and
ask you to give it consideration."
I saw Mr. Bayard again and told him the story.
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