Mr John Jackson
Montreal 19th February 1841
My Dear Sir,
Your lot of Invoices reached me here on the 20th December, accompanied by your own note, short and kind as usual. In looking over the Invoices I observe that that of the Books for the Abbé Sigogne says 20 Bibles and two French and English Testaments, whilst the main thing is wanting, namely, 100 De Sacy's Testaments. I am inclined to think that this is an oversight merely in writing out the Invoice and not in making up the case and sending it. I should be very sorry if the main part, the 100 New Testaments, have been forgotten. Write me about this.
I have another request to make. In August last when in the district of Pictou, I met with the Scotch Minister of the name of Stewart who had formerly been master of the school attached to Dr. Andrew Thomson's church. He has a story about a case of French Bibles, with the Apocrypha in them, being found among the cargo of a vessel which was wrecked, I think in 1832 or 4, and which Bibles, it was alleged, had been sent out of your depot about that time, and of course after the anti-Apocrypha resolution of 1826,7, and hence you here in broke your rules openly. This W.S. had from hearing Dr. Thomson state it publicly in Edinburgh. Be so good as inform me particularly what this matter was, for I do not recollect hearing anything of it before. I had a summary answer to it, but I want a more specific one, especially in view of returning to that place in April ensuing.
There is another matter also I wish to inquire about, and as bearing on a person in place adjacent to the one above named. In St. Ann's Cape Breton there is a Mr. McLeod, the Minister of the Scotch Church, who also has some old scores against the Earl Street body. One of these is their having "imposed on the public by false Reports under the mask of judicious faithful services." Some years ago I read Mr. Wilkes's statements, but forget whether he meets this case, or not, or how. If he does not, please to let me have the cream of this matter, as I intend to see Mr. McLeod early in the ensuing summer.
On arriving here in the end of November last, I found a parcel containing Annual Reports of our and some of your London Societies, and with them some Bible Society Pamphlets. The latter I have read over carefully, and find them of considerable consequence. The two on the Baptist case are much required in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and may be of much use to me in moving through these parts next summer. Please then to send me if you have them 100 copies of "The Bible Translation Society of the Baptists shown to be uncalled for and injurious, by a Baptist." Also 100 of Dr. Henderson's letter to Mr. Brandram.[1] I should like also to have say 10 or 20 copies of "Statements presented to Judge Erskine," and as many of Mr. Wilkes's "Letters to Bishop Burgess" published, I think, in 1832. 10 or 20 of "Remarks on a Pamphlet, by T.H." will likewise be acceptable. Pray who is T.H.?
Another request. Would you have the goodness to lay by for me one copy of every Bible Society Pamphlet already published, so far as you can obtain them, and keep one for me of each that may be published? These I do not wish you to send, but to keep for me till some convenient time when I made bind them together in volumes.
These Pamphlets, with a few copies of your last year's Annual Report, say 20, with any parcels that may be lying in Earl Street for me, and one that Mr. Nisbet, Berner's Street, will send you, have the goodness to put into a case together, and send them by the first vessel for Pictou, addressed to the care of our friend Mr. Dawson there. Should Mr. Nisbet not send the parcel, please inquire after it. – Put in also a few copies of the last years Abstract, the Brief View, and the Anniversary Speeches.
Excuse another request, and the last, at least in this letter. I saw an advertisement some time ago of "Palmer & Co. of Sutton Street, Clerkenwell," mentioning a "Patent Candle Lamp, with 2, 3, or 4 burners, at10½ d. or 11d. the lb." Be so good as purchase for me, of these candles, 4lb with two burners, 3lb with 3, and 2lb with 4 burners. These you will be so good as put into the same case, and very carefully packed up so as not to receive any injury by the way, Mr. Hitchin will give you for me the sum required.
Your kind attention to the various items of this note, will, My Dear Sir, very much oblige.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
P.S. Address to me by mail to Halifax, and so till further notice.
[1] Note (BM)--the letter dealt with the meaning of the Greek word for baptism.
Rev A Brandram - No 99
Montreal 20th February 1841
My Dear Friend,
I begin this letter mournfully. We have recently heard from Jamaica, and have learned that our fellow labourer Mr. Wheeler is no more, that he died at Buff Bay on the North side of the island on the 30th November. This notice came upon me like a shock, and I have grieved much on his account. Alas! for my brother! taken away in the midst of his services, and towards the approval of which he look forward to with hope and anxiety! He told me, in reference to his family that he left behind, but after he had laboured, say seven years, in the West Indies, you would allow him to go home perhaps employ him in England, where he would be with or near his family. But, at the close of Five years he is taken away, and his earthly hope is perished. He has however, I believe, realized a better hope, even the blessed hope of the Gospel of Christ, and he has now, I trust, entered into the heavenly rest where there is no travelling, no anxiety, no care, no trouble; but joy only, the joy of the Lord. – He was a diligent and faithful servant of the Bible Society.
The death of our Brother Wheeler has forcibly turned my thoughts back to the West Indies, in which the Lord mercifully preserved me, and my dear wife, for a period of seven years. We feel a fresh sense of gratitude for our gracious protection in these climes of more than common danger, and desire to be awakened to a new and more powerful sense of our duties, that God our heavenly father may be glorified in us. Again the same subject draws me still farther, and to more distant countries, where I spent ten years, and wherein pursuing the same tract, our Brother Matthews fell, and not by the climate, but by the hand of the assassin, as we have too much reason to fear. – My Dear Brother, and all my dear Brethren, give thanks to God with me, and pray yet more earnestly for me, that I may serve the Lord humbly and faithfully, and wherever he may be pleased to send me.
Agreeably to the intimation in my last letter to you of the 3rd November I came on to this city through the United States, and arrived at the close of the month just named. I found on arriving that the quarter where I intended to visit had been gone over officially by one of the officers of the Montreal Society. My Bible business has in consequence been confined to miscellaneous matters as they have arisen from time to time instead of formal journey through a part of the country as I originally intended.
On the 27th ultimo the Montreal Bible society held its Anniversary Meeting. It was well attended, the speeches were all of the superior kind (my own excepted), and a very general gratification was experienced by all present: and interesting and gratifying as were former anniversaries, yet this the latest, not the last, was classed by all as superior to its predecessors. And this, I may say, is as it ought to be, for every additional year should witness in our Bible movements something new and in advance. So I trust it will in general be, and future years will unquestionably witness the greater things than any of us can now anticipate, however sanguine may be our hopes.
The meeting was held in one of the Scotch Church, and all the three Scotch ministers were present, and all officiated. One of them commenced the meeting by reading a portion of Scripture and prayer, and the other two delivered truly Biblical addresses which gave general satisfaction. This was a step in advance, for we never had had the three with us on any former occasion. Another visible step in advance at this Anniversary was the presence on our platform of two ministers of the Church of England. Other denominations among us were also represented, and the Catholicity of the Bible society was fully held forth. For further notices I send you a newspaper in which you will find an account of the meeting. The Annual Report will be soon ready, and will be duly forwarded to you. – Since the public meeting we have had a meeting of the Ladies' Committee, and I am happy to say, that there were more ladies present than on any former occasion; and arrangements were made to fill up all the districts with collectors, which had not been done before, from lack of a sufficient number of willing and able agents. All these things are encouraging, and blessed be God for the same; for of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things, to Whom be glory for ever, Amen.
Your letter of the 11th December was received on the 2nd instant. I observe what you say about the present difficulty, for it should seem that there must needs always be some difficulty present. Such things however, like all other afflictions, though not for the time joyous but grievous, will produce the fruits of righteousness in more ways than one, though of course we cannot well see the clearness beyond through the cloud that is present. Perhaps I may by next packet give you my own little views upon the Printing question now before you. In the meantime I pray, and more earnestly than common, that the Lord may direct you to what may be most agreeable to his will, and most for his glory.
I am glad to see by your letter how much cause you have to rejoice in many things in your great work. To God be the praise. May God prosper you a thousand fold, and that early. Oh the greatness of this work! Oh how slowly we move!
The particular reasons for my preferring Montreal to Halifax during the winter I did not mention to you in my last, neither did I then mention, or previously, the special object for which I had begged a furlough from you. When I wrote out my petition for the furlough I coupled it with the reasons that induced me to seek it. But on second thoughts I suppressed these, thinking it better not to involve the case, but simply to beg a few months leave from you for something of my own. I now state these reasons, and add something to them by way of bringing all connected with this before you at once.
During my wanderings, particularly in foreign countries, I have often seen cause for regretting that I had not a full knowledge of the subject of medicine, and I have therefore often had a desire, if ever an opportunity should offer, to make efforts to gain this object. In this city there is a good Medical College, and it is the only one in these Provinces. After much meditation and prayer, it appeared to me the opportunity I had often looked for was present. I therefore resolved to petition you for a furlough, which you kindly granted, and as a consequence I am now in this city, and my occupation is in medical studies.
In your letter of the 11th December now before me, you intimate your wish that I should prosecute my Bible tours in Nova Scotia and places adjacent until the whole has been visited. I shall therefore return to these parts as soon as the navigation opens, and shall arrange to finish the whole during the ensuing summer. – Summer being ended, and the Lord preserving me still in life and health, I could wish to return once more to this city, and to pass a succeeding winter also in medical studies. This would finish all I had to do in this way, for I formerly started some branches of this science many years ago, and have long kept in my library a few of the best medical works.
You say further in your letter above noticed, "And when that [the North American business] is done, the inquiry will arise, is the South open, and is our agent willing to turn his steps thitherward." You also add "We shall be glad of your own views upon the point." Whether the South will be open at the time referred to, or say at the close of the succeeding winter, will of course be a proper object for you to consider as the Bible Almoners of that and every portion of the world. As to the next question, Is your agent willing to go further, I would answer, and readily, in the affirmative.
Naturally enough, I should like to see you all in Earl Street for a short time before I should set out for Spanish America. But I make no conditions on this score, nor shall I consider it wrong in you to deny me. My request indicated above for leave to spend next winter here to complete my medical studies you will please to consider. And should I yet wander for you through Foreign lands the knowledge I should thus possess would probably be in your favour, and to the full amount of any previous disadvantage. But this I leave also in your hands unconditionally. May the Lord direct you to what is best in this case, and may he afford me direction through you. I would not hurry you for a reply bearing on these points, but the sooner I learn your views the better shall I be able to make my general and prospective arrangements.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Truly and Affectionately Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. Address to me at Halifax.