Rev A Brandram - No 115
Montreal, 19th February 1842
My Dear Friend,
This is the time for ordering Books that should comes out with the Spring ships, and accordingly I give you a note of what is wanted for your General Depot in this city. The kinds and quantities are as follows:―
300 Pearl Bibles, Medium 24mo sheep, Inferior Paper, 1/6.
500 Nonpareil Bibles, Crown 12mo sheep, Inferior Paper, 1/6.
100 Pearl Testaments, 24mo coloured calf, Fine Paper, 1/6.
500 Brevier Testaments, Crown 12mo sheep, Inferior Paper, -/8.
1000 Nonpareil Testaments, Crown 12mo sheep, Inferior Paper, -/6.
The order for the Books for the Montreal Auxiliary will go also with this Packet, and a Bill for £200.
I have often wished during the last twelve months and more to draw your attention to a re-issue of your Bible Society Reporter, but I was afraid of being troublesome to you. This work ceased with the number for April 1840, and the reason assigned to its discontinuance was the change in the postage of letters. This change applied to England fully, but only partially to the Colonies. You can there send a letter for one penny, but the same sent here costs a shilling. It was, I had understood, for the benefit of the Colonies chiefly that this Periodical was got up, and I could not see why it was dropped our postage being as it is. Be so good therefore as to allow me to make, on the part of the Colonies, a very earnest Petition for the revival of this Publication, or of something akin to it. Such an arrangement would prove very serviceable to your cause here, and would be very gratifying to your numerous friends. Perhaps you will take the subject into close consideration, and I hope you may begin your new series in May next. So anxious are many in these Provinces for such a work coming into their hands monthly with post office regularity that they have offered to subscribe a dollar a year for it, in addition of course to their usual subscription to the particular Bible Societies they are connected with. There are about 200 Societies in these provinces, and I would suggest that a copy be sent free to the Secretary of each, and to all others who should subscribe to it at Half a Dollar annually. The secretaries to furnish you with a list of the names and the post offices of all subscribers, so that you could properly address each copy in London, by which arrangement all would receive them direct and without delay. Taking all the Colonies into consideration, the circulation of this monthly visitor would be considerable. The Secretaries should collect the subscriptions and account to you for them, apart from their general accounts. The Half Dollar should, I think, be paid in advance.
I have often also received another petition to be mentioned to you, namely, that you would bind a few Blank Leaves in all your Quarto Bible, between the Old and New Testaments. These Leaves would enhance the value of this Family Bible to every family. This subject was noticed to you some two or three years ago, requesting that the words "Family Register" might be printed at the head of each page. You objected to this. The present Petition has reference on to Blank Leaves without any printing.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.