Rev A Brandram No.136
Mexico 26th September 1843
My Dear Friend,
At length I am on the eve of leaving the city, and of proceeding onwards in the course of my journeyings. My luggage is already on the road moving towards Veracruz, as it requires longer time to perform its journey on mule back then I shall do going by the stage.
I mentioned in my last that in consequence of a difficulty occurring between the Commissioners of Yucatán and the Government here as to the bases for their negotiations, one of the Commissioners had gone to Yucatán to see if the Government there would agree to the bases wished for by the authorities here. He has now returned, and we learned that the Government of Yucatán will admit of no alteration in the bases they formerly proposed for negotiation, nor any diminution in the exemptions and privileges they have sought and fought for. In consequence of this determination the negotiations were at once broken off, and orders have already been issued here for fresh in full preparations for a vigorous attack and warfare on Yucatán.
The commissioners leave this for their home in a few days. I intimated to you that I purposed to go with them on their return. This purpose I fully made known to them, and they very kindly gave me the benefit of going in their company, which I expect will be an advantage to me in several ways.
Some two or three months will probably elapse before the war grows hot there. Most probably an attack will be early made on Merida the capital, and it will most likely be taken unless that is a general battle fought before, and ending in favour of Yucatán. Happily my movements from Yucatán to Belize are Eastward, whilst the main part of the war will be on the West. I shall therefore leave Merida for Belize as the circumstances of the war may direct.
I am sorry for the breaking up of this negotiation on more accounts in one. First, because I think it will make the circumstances of this country much worse than they are, and they are already bad enough, and on the other hand war is always horrid and destructive. In the next place, I am grieved of the unsuccessful termination of this negotiation for peace and union, because it will greatly act upon, I fear, and hinder our operations there, from the general agitation which the war will create. But as a counterpart to all this, let us hope that this war will be overruled for good and I humbly trust it will, and perhaps only through war could go would be brought about under our actual circumstances.
I mentioned in my early communications to you from this country, on my present visit, the publication here of a new edition and a new version of the Bible, in 25 volumes, with a volume of plates; and stated, that, in addition to all the other subjects of interest connected with this publication, was the fact of its being the first Bible printed in all Spanish America. It is befitting that you should have in your library a copy of this first Spanish-American edition of the Bible, from this peculiar and interesting circumstance; and it is befitting also that you should have it, because of its being a new and a valuable translation of the Holy Scriptures. I have therefore purchased a copy for you. I have procured for you, likewise, a copy of Scio's Bible, which was published here, and is contained in eleven volumes. Some parts of this Bible were printed before any portion of the other appeared: it was published in numbers, and the other in volumes. But the new version, from that of Vence, had been in preparation for about two years before any of the parts, or even the prospectus, of Scio was issued; and a large sum expended on the same. And, besides, it was finished before the other; and, therefore, in several senses it has the just claim to be the first Bible printed in Mexico, or in all Spanish America. These two Bibles, I beg you will accept from me as a little present for your Library. They are now on their way to Veracruz, and will be shipped there on the first vessel for London.
Hoping for your prayers in this new movement, and in the exposures of war, and in other dangers.
I remain,
Truly Yours,
James Thomson.