In May last I had occasion to consult the original manuscript of Gov.
Hutchinson’s second volume of the _History of Massachusetts_, which,
it is well known, is among the Hutchinson papers in the State archives
in Boston. I had never before seen the manuscript, and did not readily
find the passage of which I was in search. The first portion of the
manuscript seemed to be missing, and its place was supplied by matter
which belonged to the Appendix. My first impression was that the
missing sheets were those which Gov. Hutchinson did not recover after
the stamp-act riot of 1765. Finding the matter of the Appendix out of
place, suggested that the volume might have been carelessly arranged
for binding. On collating the manuscript the early portion was found in
another part of the volume. This was the copy used by the printers.
In my search I came to sheets which contained the subject matter
of the printed text, but expressed in different language. I saw,
on a closer examination, that this was an earlier draft, and the
identical manuscript which had passed the ordeal of the riot of 1765;
for portions of it were much defaced, and bore the marks of being
trampled in the mud. The copy from which the volume was printed was
evidently prepared at a later date. For the convenience of those who
may hereafter consult this manuscript, I made in folio 7 (following the
matter of the Appendix), the following memoranda:—
“There has been an error in binding this manuscript. The matter which
precedes this is Appendix No. 1 (printed pp. 449-481, edition 1767, and
pp. 404-423, edition 1795). The first portion of the history proper,
ending with manuscript page 28 (to printed p. 40, edition 1767, and
p. 43, edition 1795), has been placed in folios 92-100. Page 29 is
opposite. This is the manuscript from which the second volume was
printed.
“In folio 55 is the beginning of another manuscript, an earlier draft,
from which the author prepared the narrative which appears in the
printed volume. The earlier draft, ending in folio 91, carries the
substance of the narrative to the word “Boston,” on p. 313, edition of
1767, and p. 284, edition of 1795.
“These memoranda were made May 17, 1870 (with the approval of
Mr. Secretary Warner), at which time the earlier draft was first
identified.”
[SIGNED.]
Both manuscripts are wholly in the autograph of Gov. Hutchinson, and
they seem to be prepared with equal care. In form of expression and
phraseology they are quite unlike. Incidents and opinions contained in
the earlier draft are changed, abridged and sometimes omitted in the
later draft. In matters of fact the earlier draft is often more precise
and accurate than the printed text, for the author doubtless prepared
it with the original authorities before him.
The researches of Gov. Hutchinson into the early annals of
Massachusetts are of the highest historical value. He had opportunities
of access to original papers such as no person now possesses. He had
the tastes, the capacity for close application and research, the
judicial understanding and the freedom from prejudice and partizanship
which characterize the genuine historian. His style, if not always
elegant, is clear and simple, and singularly free from that sensational
and rhetorical method of statement which is the bane of much of the
historical writing of the present day.
Each of the several editions of Gov. Hutchinson’s _History of
Massachusetts_ has become rare, and a new and revised edition will
soon be demanded. In the preparation of that work the earlier draft of
the second volume, which has now come to light, will furnish important
materials. For the purpose of exhibiting the character and value of
this manuscript, and for contributing some additional information upon
a special subject, I have extracted for publication that portion which
treats the “Witchcraft Delusion of 1692.”
So far as a presentation of facts is concerned, no account of that
dreadful tragedy has appeared which is more accurate and truthful than
Gov. Hutchinson’s narrative. His theory on the subject—that it was
wholly the result of fraud and deception on the part of the “afflicted
children”—will not be generally accepted at the present day, and his
reasoning on this point will not be deemed conclusive. That there were
fraud and deception attending it, no one will doubt; but there is now
a tendency to trace an analogy between the phenomena then exhibited,
and modern spiritual manifestations. No man of any reputation who lived
in that generation, and saw what transpired at Salem Village and its
vicinity, doubted that there was some influence then exerted which
could not be explained by the known laws of matter or of mind. As these
men left the stage, the theory of fraud was gradually accepted by their
descendants; and at the period when Gov. Hutchinson wrote, it was well
nigh the universal belief among the educated classes.
For the information of persons interested in tracing the resemblance
between the abnormal manifestations of our time and those of the
seventeenth century, I have appended notes to the other cases mentioned
by Gov. Hutchinson, which may lead such inquirers to a further
knowledge of their psychological phenomena.
The author’s notes are indicated by stars, &c., and are signed H. The
editor’s notes are indicated by numerals, and are signed P.