Rev A Brandram No 140
Mérida, 19 February 1844
My Dear Friend,
Another portion of time has elapsed, and rather more than usual, since I last wrote you; and during the same, some good and some evil has occurred as to our cause: but do good is most, and the evil too we expect will prove a good.
I announced to you peace between Mexico and Yucatan, and in doing so little dreamed that this was a signal for war against us. Yucatán, by this peace, has lost its religious liberty, which it had established in its new constitution; and the Bishop took occasion from this to oppose the general use of our books. This opposition has been met in a spirited manner by some persons of standing here, and the subject has been freely discussed through the press, by which we expect that much light will be diffused regarding the Scriptures, and that an interest will be awakened for reading them. Both these were necessary in this place of slumbering and sleeping; and thus we believe that the evil which has arisen will really prove a good, and an extensive one. Of this sleeping and deadness in regard to the Holy Scriptures, I may give you a striking instance, and which only came to my knowledge to-day. A parochial priest in this city, attached to the cathedral, had never seen a Bible in Spanish till the other day, and did not even know that there ever had been a Spanish translation of it published. He now has one of your Bibles in his possession, and is much pleased with it. My informant also stated, that this priest was about as ignorant regarding the Latin Bible as the Spanish one, and that all he had or knew as the Bible was his missal. Through this controversy, and the press, what the Bible is, that it has come to this land, and that it is a high duty to read it, will be very generally diffused.
I felt anxious to get the New Testament introduced into the schools here, and a providential circumstance afforded an opening for the attempt. You will recollect, perhaps, that in the month of May, 1841, I met with a Yucatán gentleman, in the steam-boat from Albany to New York. Who should be elected first Alcalde, alias mayor, of this city, in the end of December last, but this very gentleman? Through him I made the proposal, and he introduced the subject into the city council, advocated it, and carried it. An order has, in consequence, been communicated to me for 200 Testaments.
This was the subject which awakened the Bishop. As soon as he learned the matter, he spoke against it, and indicated his purpose of frustrating it. He sent a message to the Alcalde to this effect, and he intimated to the Secretary of State, in conversation, that he would or might have to apply to the Government to sustain his object and enforce it. I spoke to the Governor, to know what were his intentions in regard to the matter, and he gave a most decided negative as to any aid being afforded to the Bishop in his purposes by the Government. On succeeding opportunities, I renewed the subject, and found him firm in his intention. The Governor's disposition on this point may be seen, and pretty clearly, by the fact, that the gentleman who has started up as our chief defender is the Governor's son-in-law, and living in the same house with him. This gentleman has rendered us a willing and an effectual service, and for which I pray that God may bless him and all his house. He is a member of the Government (or, as we should say, Privy Council), and has a high literary standing in the country.
A law was made by Congress here lately in favour of general elementary instruction, and the carrying of it into effect was committed to a Board of Education. One of the members of this Board died since I came, and our friend, as I may well style him, Mr. Calero, was elected in his place. Through him I made application to the Board as to our New Testaments, and 1,000 copies have been ordered.
When the Bishop began his opposition, and some of its immediate effects were perceived, we were struck with a sort of panic, and it was judged necessary to counter-order one-half of the supply we had requested from you for general sale. This was the reason of the note in Mr. Jackson's letter of the 27th ultimo. Our affairs now look better, and will be bettered, I am sure, by all that has taken place. Still, however, it will be more judicious to send only half the quantity ordered, until you have a communication as to sending the rest.
These 200 Testaments to the City Council, and the 1,000 to the Board of Education, are the duodecimo brevier size, and of Scio's version, bound in sheep. The price at which they are sold is a quarter of a dollar each copy; but I have intimated that a further supply to the same amount will be sent to the two parties free of charge, after you shall hear from them of the arrival of the books, the payment, and their being put to the intended use. The number of copies thus purchased is therefore, in effect, 2,400, and the price is one rial; this is about a third of the value at which they are priced in your list, and they are therefore afforded by you to this country on terms similar to those at which you supplied, many years ago, the French Government with 40,000 copies. I consider our bargain good in the view of our general object, and I shall be very glad to make many such contracts in my movements, and believe you also will be so.
You will be pleased to forward these two orders separately, with distinct invoices to Mr. Calero. The case with the 200 to be marked R.A.M., and the other R.J.E.
Since my last letter was written I have got acquainted with a blacksmith here, who promises to be of essential service to us, and you yourselves have prepared him for the same. This man travels through the country very extensively, selling blacksmith's implements, through which occupation he creditably supports a numerous family. In his travellings he purchased one of your Bibles for six dollars, of the first edition with the Apocrypha and all in one of the towns towards Belize, from whence the Bible intermediately came. This was several years ago. He has read this Bible carefully, and has a very extensive knowledge of its contents, and quotes it, and long passages too, very readily. He is all alive to the object proposed to him of circulating our books as he moves along in his general employment, and the opposition shown to the Bible has inspired him with new fire in favour of diffusing it widely over all the country. When your books arrive, this man will be supplied with portions, from time to time, by Mr. Calero, and will account to him for the sales. This useful coadjutor and colporteur was introduced to me by a Friar, who is a warm friend to our objects, and has taken a decided stand on our side. Another Friar, who lives in the interior of the country, but whose acquaintance I made in this city, will take charge of sales of our books in the place where he resides.
I send you a copy of the newspaper issued the other day, and which is almost entirely devoted to our cause. The first article is my little tract which our friends judged suitable to be published on the location. The second is entitled "Lectura de la Sagrada Biblia", and is by the gentleman referred to. The editorial, which enters largely into the subject, is by our friend Calero, who is the editor of the paper, the paper of our opponents is enclosed. I send you also the newspaper which contains the initiation of the controversy; and also one containing an article in part on our general subject, and which was first published in Mexico, but of which I did not, I believe, send you a copy. In this is contained a copy of my offer of New Testaments for the schools. You will see the subject favourably noticed in the Editorial.
I would have left this for Belize before now, but the opposition raised, and the controversy begun detained me. I do not write myself, but I furnish materials and arguments to help others the best way I can.
I am still without any letters from England.
I am ever, My Dear Friend, Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.