Rev A Brandram No 95
Halifax, Nova Scotia, 3rd August 1840
My Dear Friend,
Towards the close of my last letter to you, dated the third ultimo, I referred to a newspaper I sent for a sketch of prospective operations for one month. These then prospective labours, are now past labours. I have just returned from my tour, and now proceed to give you some account of occurrences in it. You will see in the list that there are 14 places marked. Meetings have been held at all of them, and all of them what encouraging meetings and well attended, except in two or three cases where the notices have not been properly given out. At Horton, Cornwallis, Yarmouth, Liverpool, and Chester societies existed, though most of them had well nigh fallen off, or ceased to act altogether for some time. Cornwallis and Yarmouth were in action, and had not ceased their labours. Perhaps the existence of the Ladies Bible Association in Yarmouth, and its active labours headed by Mrs. Fletcher who is warm and zealous in our cause, has contributed not a little to keep things alive in that place. Mrs. Fletcher has now retired from the Society, as she is going to Boston to reside. Her place is supplied by Mrs. Kelly, in whose hands I trust the Association will flourish, and this judgment I form from conversations I have had with her, and with her coadjutors. When this office fell into Mrs. Kelly's hands several ladies sent messages to her, each saying, "Be sure you keep a district for me in your arrangements." This feeling, message, and expression indicate a good state of things in our Bible cause among the ladies of Yarmouth, and I mention it to their honour. Their further praises they must proclaim themselves by their further deeds. – At Windsor, Aylesford, Bridgetown, Annapolis, Digby, Weymouth, Barrington, Shelburne, and Lunenburg new societies were formed, and all of them in connexion with the Nova Scotia Bible Society at Halifax. The other societies that were dormant, have been reorganised, if not new formed.
In all the places visited there was a very strong expression and feelings towards you for sending a visitor among them, and they responded readily to the call made to them to cooperate earnestly with you in your great work. The ministers of the Scotch Church whom I met with, and also the Baptist and Wesleyan ministers gave us in every instance their warmest support. The ministers of the Church of England were also all of them friendly to us, but only a few of them gave us their active assistance, the major portion of them adhere closely to the Christian Knowledge Society, and see it to be their duty to give all the means they can afford, and all their active labours to that institution. In all cases however they attended our meetings, and were courteous to your agent, and wished us success in our great general purpose of diffusing the Scriptures over the entire world in all tongues. Opposition to us, or obstacles thrown in our way were not met with, but friendliness instead. This is a subject for our gratitude, and we may be encouraged by it to hope that the only remaining step in our favor will in due time be taken, and we shall yet see, I trust, all united in this divine operation of giving the Holy Scriptures to all everywhere.
The Society in Liverpool has ceased to act as an auxiliary, and has become a branch of the Nova Scotia Bible Society. The Society at Yarmouth still retains its position as an auxiliary.
Between Weymouth and Yarmouth there is a pretty large settlement of French. These people were found there at the conquest of this country by the English. They still speak the French language, are all Roman Catholics, and in most respects resemble the French Canadians. You may be sure that I would feel some interest in such a people, and that I would try to induce them to get and to use the Holy Scriptures. With these views I called on the Priest, the Abbé Sigogne, who is an old man of 76, a native of France, and who came here at the French Revolution. He received me with French courteousness, and was very frank in his communications. He told me that several copies of the Scriptures were in the hands of his people, and that one person at least in each house in the settlement was able to read. The number of families is about 600. Some time ago Mr. Dawson of Pictou sent him some French Bibles and Testaments, but he was not willing to distribute them among his people, because they were of a Protestant version. I mentioned to him that we had De Sacy's version which he could have. He was much pleased when I stated this, and at once signified his readiness to put copies of these into the hands of the people, and expressed a wish for some. I asked him how many he could wish me to send him, and he said 100 Testaments and 12 Bibles. All these, he thinks, he will be able to sell to his people at a fair price about equal to the cost. He expressed the same objections to the general use of the Old Testament that the French Canadian priests did; but is not unwilling to put copies of the whole Bible into the hands of such persons as are somewhat advanced in Scripture knowledge.
I am not sure whether there is in the depot here supply of the De Sacy version equal to meet this order, as I am only just returned from my tour, and have not time to make the proper inquiries as the packet sails today. But I rather think there is not a supply. I would therefore beg of you to make up this little order at Earl Street where you can do it more exactly as to the kinds I shall mention. Say then 100 De Sacy's French Testament 12mo ― 10 De Sacy's Bibles in 8vo and 10 ditto 12mo, and if you have them at hand 5 ditto 18mo. I think I have seen all these kinds of Bibles among our Montreal stock, though they are not mentioned in your Report. I would send this additional supply of Bibles and of the different kinds as an inducement to the Priest and the people in regard to their circulation. You might put in also been Testaments of a smaller size as a kind of attractive, and I think it would also tend to advantage if you would put in 10 Testaments in French and English. I am not aware of what version of the French your French and English Testament is. But it if it is not De Sacy's then a couple will be enough.
These books you will please pack up in a small case, and address them to Abbé Sigogne, Clare, to the care of a Amos Baker Esq. Yarmouth. Mr. Baker is Treasurer to the Yarmouth Bible Society. If you can send them out to direct to Yarmouth it will be better, otherwise they can be sent through Halifax.
I should not omit saying that the Abbé Sigogne, who lived six years in London, was not at all satisfied with you London people for always saying that the Catholics are opposed to the reading of the Scriptures. In his father's house, he said, in France there had always been a Bible open to all in the house. As to himself, he noticed that he reads one whole Bible through every year, and the New Testament twice; and this he has done ever since he was a priest, a period of 55 years.
On the whole of this tour I have been accompanied by Mr. Richardson, Agent of the Colonial Church Society, who was ever ready to plead our Bible cause either in public or private. Our travelling together in most cases lessened the expense of conveyances by one half. But we had some difficulty at times in procuring conveyances; and through the misfortune of a restive horse we had one hot day to walk 10 miles, and from a similar cause on another occasion we had to make our way for some miles in a cart drawn by a couple of oxen.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. On my return to Halifax I found your letter of the 20th of May, and am cheered by its cheering strain: and pleasing strains, I trust, will be our future eternal enjoyment in our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore let us now run with patience and joy the race appointed for us in this world of sin and trouble.