Rev A Brandram - No 96
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 12th August 1840.
My Dear Friend,
On the eve of setting out on another tour, I write you a few lines, and leave my letter to go with the first steamer on the 3rd September.
You know that the period of two years assigned for the completion of these British American Provinces is now near an end. The burthen of this letter therefore is, – What am I to do? Am I to continue in them for another season? Or am I to return to England towards the close of this year? Or, what ought I to do?
Having made these inquiries, allow me humbly to state what has been passing through my own mind up on the matter. I have thought that if the Society would allow me to lie by in the ensuing winter for four months to attend to some little business of my own, and then in the months succeeding to commence my visitations, I should be able to get pretty well through the whole by the fall season of the year. This plan I submit to you with all respect and deference, and beg you to give me your verdict and decision upon it. The four months leave will be at my own cost, by a deduction of salary of the time. – Probably this letter will reach you about the middle of September; and if it were not to hurry you too much, I should feel glad you would write me as to what I should do by the mail of the 3rd October.
I lately received a letter from Mr. Poinsett, Secretary of War, Washington, stating that my petition for leave to pass Bibles and Testaments through the States duty-free to Canada might likely not be attended to during the present session of Congress. At the same time I had communications from Montreal to say that the Governor General had refused to remit duties on Bibles as former Governors had done. These circumstances combined have induced me to write to Messrs. Goodline & Co. to ship for London the French Testaments in their hands. They will write Mr. Jackson when they send them.
At our meeting of the Bible Society and Liverpool on ... ultimo the sum of £28:10:0 was put into my hands to remit to you, being the windings .... in Auxiliary on their commencing as a Branch of the Nova Scotia Bible Society. It is somewhat difficult to send a bill for this sum, and the easiest way therefore will be to charge it to my Private Account. Please to communicate this to Mr. Hitchin. At 13½ premium on our par (it is 109 for 100,) which is the market rate, this sum will be £22:11:11 sterling. I should like, for particular reasons, that this amount with inserted in your books into two items, thus: –
-- the Liverpool Bible Society, Nova Scotia, £12:13:9
-- ditto by Mr. Barry 9:18:2.
Our friends in Liverpool were ashamed of having done less for you, and the more so because you have liberally supplied them usually with reports etc. As a sort of acknowledgement for the Reports Mr. Barry collected this sum of £9:18:2 from those who received them.
I remain, Truly Yours,
James Thomson.