Rev A Brandram - No 104
St. John, New Brunswick, 12th June 1841
My Dear Friend,
By last packet your letter of the 18th came into my hands, and a few days earlier I received yours of the 19th April, returned from Montreal. The one dated the 15th of March was received in Montreal on the 24th April.
I find by your two last letters that you are waiting my answer to yours of the 15th March concerning the West Indies: whilst I on the other hand was waiting your notice of my items as contained in my letter of the 24th February.
The case stands thus. In your letter of the 20th December you inquired whether I was willing to go to Spanish America. I said, yes. Before my letter with this reached you, you mentioned propositions about the West Indies, without referring to the previous proposition you had made, the answer to which was on the way. The letter that contained my answer, contained also some hints of some wishes I had of a private nature, and I thought I would wait till I should see what you would say to the whole of my letter of the 20th February, as respected South America and my private wishes. Now however that I see we are waiting for each other, I proceed immediately to treat on all that is pending between us.
Before however I commence, I would notice that the Resolution of the Committee respecting Mr. Howe and Mr. Lessel. The letter which contained Resolution was forwarded to the Parties by last mail the other day, and there is not yet time for a reply. For myself I thank you much, and all the Committee, for the kind manner in which you have attended to my suggestion. Something was due in the case, and you have done it, and gracefully.
In your letter of the 19th April you say, in reference to mine of the 20th February, "From that letter I learn that your thoughts are turned more decidedly to the South." I do not see how you gathered anything of a decision in preference from that letter, for there was only one object before me, and the whole of what I said on it was as follows: – "As to the question, Is your agent willing to go to South America, I would answer readily in the affirmative".
Now however there are two objects before me, and I think the Committee wishes me to express a decision in favour one of them. Since I wrote what I have quoted above in reply to your letter of the 11th of December 1840, I have often turned the subject of a visit to those distant countries in my mind, considering that the finger of God was directing me again to those quarters. In these late contemplations, as well as in some former ones, I have tried to see a field of Bible labours which might perhaps prove right and extensive. The field I referred to is as regards the native tongues. In Mexico there are almost half a dozen languages which are very extensively spoken, say by Three Millions of people; besides which there are from ten to fifteen other languages and dialects spoken perhaps by other Two Millions, making in all Five Millions. This alone is no mean object of attention, and would justify considerable effort on your part, if the door open, and whether it is fairly open or not can only be ascertained on the spot. I am inclined to think something could now be done to give the Scriptures to these Five Millions in their own tongue, if things were well managed. In Guatemala also the native languages are extensively spoken. The two great languages which chiefly prevail over the Western parts of the Southern Continent are the Peruvian and Araucanian.
In directing your efforts to these countries, it appears to me, you must chiefly look to work in the native languages; for probably the circulation of the Scriptures in Spanish would not be very extensive; although as respects the New Testament perhaps a good deal might be done, say in schools. And further, the system of colportage should be fully tried, and it may do much. In my letter No.70, of the 24th of May 1838, you will see that I have treated on the subjects particularly, and I beg you would look over what I have their said.
Very recently and unexpectedly this object of the native tongues has come before me anew, and I may say, with fresh encouragement. On my late, and I may say in truth, unwilling visit to New York, in going down to that city from Albany in the steam boat I met with a gentleman a native of Yucatán, and just come from that place. He informed me that Yucatán had broken off from Mexico, and was independent. With the political merits and demerits of this act and change I have nothing to do, but its bearing on our concerns may perhaps be very favourable. The new Constitution they have just promulgated grants religious liberty to all foreigners, which hitherto has nowhere else been done in Spanish America except in Buenos Ayres: and my informant intimated to me that this step was a forerunner to general religious liberty in the country. Now no part of the Mexican territory is more interesting than Yucatán as respects what I have here considered as the main object of your present agency in those countries, I mean in regard to the native tongues. The whole of that Peninsula speaks one, called Maya. I had always considered its population to be about half a million, but this gentleman says there are 700,000 inhabitants in it. Here then is an important field to try in the work in question, and probably under the new state of things I have mentioned there would be considerable facility for obtaining not only a translation of a portion of the Scriptures, but for getting it into use also, and perhaps under the sanction and encouragement of the new government, for they will be anxious that their people should become intelligent and great, and I will tell them should I go there, and with all my conscience that the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures will raise these people, and higher than any other means could. – I may here add also, that the other subdivisions that seemed to be going on in Mexico will most likely be in our favour in like manner, and that both as respects the languages, and the general circulation of the Scriptures, for there will be a rivalry among the several little nations in the way of liberality, etc.
As to whether I should go to Spanish America or West Indies, I am inclined to think the indications of duty are in favour of the former, under all the circumstances of the two cases at the present period. I shall therefore consider that I am to be led back again to those countries by the hand of Providence in due time. These countries are already associated in my mind with many strong impressions; and why should I hesitate to return to them after all the mercies I experienced there during ten years, and in the midst of many difficulties and dangers.
Having made this statement of my views I would beg leave to the refer you to my letter of the 20th February, and particularly to my special request for leave to spend the ensuing winter season in Montreal, in order to pursue the objects of study there mentioned. Please therefore to read those parts of that letter I here referred to when this is read.
This finishes all I have to say in regard to myself, and I shall now proceed, agreeably to your request, to say something about the West India Agency generally. You will probably recollect my having written you pretty fully upon the subject, I think towards the end of 1834, or beginning of 1835. Be so good as look up that letter, as it contains, I believe, the same views I now hold in regard to this matter. I then recommended two Agencies for the West Indies, and the reasons for this arrangement are not lessened by occurring and intervening circumstances, civil or biblical, but increased. One at all events certainly you ought to have, and the West Indies ought to be the post of a continued agency, not a casual one. Do you ask me whom, of those I know, should you send? I would reply, Is Mr. Bourne willing to go? He is a better West Indian than I.
I have thus treated on all the subjects in suspense, and I now look out with interest for your notices of the whole in reply, praying earnestly that God may guide you to what is right, and to the best in all that is before us.
You noticed in your No.10, that you might have to open a subscription for Mrs. Wheeler, but in No.11 and 12 you say nothing further of it. If you should make a subscription for her, as I suppose is most likely, put me down for Ten Pounds.
May the Lord prosper you, My Dear Friend, in all your affairs public and private: and please ever to believe me,
Affectionately Yours,
James Thomson.
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