Rev A Brandram No 82
Montreal, 24th April 1839
My Dear Friend,
I write you a few lines just on the eve of my setting out for the Upper Province. If the Lord will I start tomorrow morning. I intend to go on to Toronto without delaying much by the way. Some of the Societies intermediate I shall speak with, but shall leave operations of any extent among them to my return from the more and most distant parts of the country. Our waters are now open for vessels, and all roads are better than the worst, and a bettering daily. This campaign will not occupy I suppose less than three months, and maybe longer as circumstances direct. My intention is to make a thorough visitation of the parts to which I now go, so that I may not have occasion to return to them for some time, but be at liberty to visit other places when this tour is completed.
I forward to you the duplicate of a letter from Toronto, enclosing the second of exchange of a remittance to you of £318. The statement given in this letter of Bible operations within the sphere of the Toronto Bible Society is very encouraging considering all opposing and hindering obstacles. Blessed be God who causeth the Bible to triumph in every place. Partial are its triumphs now, it is true: but they shall be general and complete in due time, and that time hastens on apace. Truly we fight and labour not as one that beateth the air, but we move on with a certainty of gaining our object, which no casualties can hinder, which no powers can prevent. God has said that his word shall cover the earth and fill it, and we go forth as his messengers, not doubting nor fearing for our purpose. We may be slow, but we must be sure.
You will see what our Toronto friends have said about sending out here the Monthly Extracts. The subject is important, and you will duly consider it. It would indeed be of value that we could see and hear you in your vast movements once a month. I have made special inquiries at our Post Office, and they informed me that newspapers and printed papers like your Extracts pay nothing when they come to us by way of Halifax, but that all such pay twopence when coming by New York. The stamping or not stamping makes no difference in the matter. You can inquire at the London Post Office whether they will receive and forward the Extracts unstamped or otherwise, and on what terms. If you can manage to get them to Halifax, all the difficulty is over. The steam packets twice a month which are to run before long from England to Halifax, and from thence to Quebec, will give great advantage in the transmission of these extracts.
I have I believe in a recent letter begged you to favour me with a bound set of Extracts for my own use. It occurs to me that it would be well to send out several copies of these, in order that I might give one say to each Branch Society.
We have had several meetings of our Committee here since I last noticed the subject, and I am happy to say all goes on well. We have many coadjutors in this city, and they labour cheerfully.
Your well-known hand, My Dear Friend, that used to cheer me and so often in my movements through the West Indies, and in previous times, has not been even once seen by me since my arrival in Canada. This is colder than our Canadian winter still, and I thought that cold enough. Pray what is or can be the matter? Has your right-hand forgot its cunning, that it can write no more, what answer am I to make for you? But I wait further, and leave you to answer for yourself, well knowing that whatever answer you do give, it will be the true one, for though you err little, yet when by chance you do go at all to one side, you always frankly say it, which all the world, even the Christian world do not. You are guileless. Well then for your answer for yourself, if ever you should write me again. Further, nobody writes for you: not a line from Earl Street have I received since I came to Canada.
Whether I hear from you or not,
I am Yours Affectionately,
James Thomson.
P.S. I advise a Bill drawn this day in favour of Joseph Wenham, Esq. for fifty pounds, to be charged to my private account.