Rev A Brandram No 100 101.
Montreal 22nd March 1841
My Dear Friend,
In my last letter of the 20th ultimo I mentioned that I might perhaps give you by this packet my little thoughts in regard to the subject particularly noticed in your last (of 11th Dec.), and which is now of pretty general notoriety with you, I mean the Printing Question. I have read in one number of the Record, which I arrived here at the same time with your letter, a general view of the subject. The Patriot I have not seen, nor any of its statements, except so far as they are quoted in the newspaper just noticed.
The intemperate and extravagant language of the popular opponents of the Queen's Printers, and of yourselves, I most entirely disapprove of: and the avowed intention of resisting and contravening the law of the land, which the same parties hold forth, is to be reprobated, I think, in the severest degree. Nevertheless, there are some things involved in this question that are of high moment, and which we ought not to avert our eyes from. If there is a system in action whose natural and unavoidable tendency will necessarily restrain the circulation of the Scriptures, and make the number diffused, say one million, or even a thousand fewer in a given time than would otherwise be the case, then this interfering system should unquestionably be removed, if it can properly become. Your Society is involved in this question in a twofold point of view. First, as a body of men feeling deeply the great cause of diffusing the Bible among your countrymen to the greatest possible extent: and secondly, as a body entrusted, on the part of thousands of contributors, to administer their bounty in the most faithful and judicious manner, so as to make it effectual for the greatest quantity of good in the way intended. On these two grounds you are so concerned and entangled with this case as to be obliged, in duty, in my very humble opinion, to take a share in the question, and not to turn away from it, as if it formed no item of your business.
I take it for granted, as a matter of needing no formal proof, that however reasonable your three printers may be, yet beyond all doubt they must have a considerable gain from their transactions with you from year to year; and this sum, whatever it may be, would, if you had it at command, cause an additional circulation of the Scriptures usually. Here then is a case, and a handle for your opponents, and by which they have, as I think, an advantage over you, so long as you stand aloof from the question.
But, what is to be done, you will say. The right is in the hands of the three printers, and they cannot lawfully be deprived of it. No certainly: but the door is not shut for all that. The right might be bought up by the Government, and this would be a fine opportunity, for the Parliament say, to give a noble contribution to the Bible Society: and as the measure, if introduced into Parliament, would most probably be popular, I have little doubt that it would be accorded. Now, it appears to me, that it would be quite justifiable and suitable that your Committee and Society as a body should make a petition the Government and Parliament on the subject, and if you did make this movement, you would show to all concerned your anxiety to have the Bible cheap for the millions of the Poor who need it, and are ready to receive it, if cheap, to a much greater extent than when its price is higher. – But should this boon be granted, I would not have the printing of the Bible thrown open to everyone, nor so loose as it now is in Scotland. Some wise arrangement should be made so as to ensure the utmost accuracy, and the lowest possible price.
I have thus endeavoured to solve the difficulty in its cost aspect first. But there is another way of solving it, and a better and easier one. The Crown that gave the right to three different parties to print the Bible, could give the same privilege to a fourth party. And who should that party be, but the British and Foreign Bible Society. This would clear the matter at once. By this means you would be able to give the Bible and more cost in the most advantageous way. Your opponents would be silenced and satisfied with this measure, and the Blessed Bible would have free course without any restraint.
Your object is to feed the Poor with the Bible, not the rich, and if you could print the Bible yourselves as a fourth Patentee, you might be satisfied with printing it only on inferior papers, and with issuing it only in plain bindings. This limitation might be laid upon you by the Crown for the 20 years of the right of the present Patentees. Under this arrangement the three Patentees would probably be satisfied. And they should be so, for your Society has put much into their hands, partly by your direct purchases, and partly by the very extensive demand which your operations have made for the Bible among the many who are not connected with, or do not purchase from your Society, but through the Booksellers. By the plan here suggested you would still leave with the Patentees this extensive sale untouched, and also the sales of Bibles by yourselves of the better papers and the better bindings.
Should the Committee look upon the question in this latter view of it, and should they agreed to apply to the Crown on the subject, I have little doubt that your President and Vice-President could easily procure the privilege that has been suggested.
Please, My Dear Friend, to forgive the freedom, and errors if you will, of these observations; and read them to the Committee, or not as you may think proper. But should you not read the letter in Committee, please show it privately to some individuals of your body.
I remain, my dear friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
Postscript, 6th April. ― This letter, precisely as you now have it, was written a few days after I received your letter of the 11th Dec. but it was detained when I found I had another and a longer one to send you. Since then I have received your Circular of the 8th of February. But nothing in it hinders or affects the arguments I have used. The question will not be settled by this arrangement and reduction. J.T.