Rev A Brandram - No 117
Montreal, 25th April 1842
My Dear Friend,
Your letters No 16 and 17 have come into my hands, though in the reverse order of their dates. The subject connected with Capt. Gardiner's [1]letter is what immediately calls for attention. I have carefully read over and considered his communication to you, and according to your request give you my "candid opinion as to the propriety of my proceeding direct to Valparaiso, and ultimately to Mexico, or of visiting Mexico in the first instance, and afterwards repairing to the South."
As far as I can see from Capt. Gardiner's letter I do not perceive that there are openings for the Scriptures in Chile more than are to be found in all other parts of Spanish America. What he has said of that country, may I suppose be said of all the rest. There does not appear to be any reason therefore for passing by all the rest, and going at once to the most distant spot, and it is more natural that Chile should come in in its course which will be the last. Chile is also the least populous of all these countries, which is another reason on the same side. This is my "candid opinion" and is not dictated by any unwillingness to go to Chile, where there in one sense I should be more at home, than in other parts, as I happened to have the privilege of citizenship in that country.
Having thus given my views respecting your communication arising from Capt. Gardiner's letter, and receiving by your kind and generous statements that you leave me much at large as to my first place of descent to Spanish America, and subsequent movements through that extended field, I would humbly propose to visit Mexico first, because it is the nearest, and because it is the most populous. Soon after my return to this city from Toronto I shall set out for New York where I expect to be at or before the end of the first week in June. I shall remain in that city until I hear from you that I may fully know that what I have proposed is agreeable to you. Please therefore to address your letter to me at the Bible Society House, Nassau Street, New York, transmitting it by the Halifax and Boston mail steamer from Liverpool.
Be so good as read over my letter No 70, and write me what I have there said as to Dr. Mora and Mexican translations, and as to supplies of the Scriptures anywhere in Mexico.
Should you prefer my going first to Chile, I will cheerfully follow your directions.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
[1] Captain Allen Gardiner was in Chile 1838-43 (BM)