Rev A Brandram - No 70
Kingston, Jamaica, 24th May 1838
My Dear Friend,
My last letter was nearly all taken up with Colombia, or rather New Grenada, as that section of Colombia amounting to about one third is now called. This letter also will be up on Spanish America, on a part farther west, namely, Mexico and Guatemala. From your Resolves and from my Duties connected therewith, these countries have been full before my mind for many months past as I have hinted to you in more than one of my letters. The plan to be adopted respecting these countries that might prove the best has been the subject of my meditations. I think I have now come to a clear understanding of what I should do in the first part of my descent on those lands, and I here proceed to lay the same before you in anticipation, in order that you may, after considering my views and statements, confirm me in them, or alter them, as may seem best in your judgment, considering the objects you pursue, and the long and varied experience you have had, and daily have, in all countries over the globe.
Whilst I was meditating on these subjects, a letter came very unexpectedly into my hands from Belize, and from an individual their entirely unknown to me. It was from the Rev. Alexander Henderson the Secretary of the Belize (or Honduras) Bible Society. The letter was written by him at the request of the Committee to make some inquiry how to do things best in Bible Society matters, as the subject, they said, was new to them all. I wrote an early reply to that letter, stating my views regarding the objects of their inquiries. At the same time I made my inquiries in turn, bearing upon the situation of Belize with Mexico and Guatemala, and wishing to know what connexions, relations, and intercourse there subsisted among them. My questions bore very particularly on the relations between Belize and Yucatán. Yucatán, you will recollect, is one of the States of Mexico, and it is one of those parts to which I formerly drew your attention in regard to the native tongues spoken throughout that extensive country. I think I stated to you the population of that peninsula amounted to about half a million, and that one native tongue is spoken over the whole, and so generally as almost altogether to exclude the Spanish language. This native dialect is called the Maya. The same language is spoken also I understand in the smaller neighboring state of Tabasco. Some inquiries and efforts were made whilst I was in Mexico to get one of the Gospels translated into that tongue, but which proved ineffectual from my leaving the country. No part of Mexico appears to have stronger claims than Yucatán in regard to the rendering a portion of the Scriptures into the native families everyday and acceptable language of the people at large. I had thought therefore of making special efforts in regard to this part on my return to Mexico, and of visiting it for that end, if it could conveniently be done. I wished to know from Mr. Henderson, if I could easily get a conveyance from Belize into the state of Yucatán. ―About a month ago I received a reply to my letter from Mr Henderson, and got valuable answers from him to all my inquiries. He says in regard to Yucatán, that there is very frequent intercourse between it and Belize, and that it would be easy to get a conveyance from the one to the other.
This being the case I would propose, when I leave this island, to go direct to Belize. There I would stop some little time to encourage and help our friends in their Bible Society in which they seem to take a good deal of interest. This would put a finish to my West India tour. I would then proceed to Yucatán, and should there direct the main part of my attention to the procuring the translation of a portion of the Scriptures into the Maya language. The circulation of the Scriptures in the Spanish language would also of course be attended to as circumstances might direct. It is probable that to accomplish the translation referred to, and to get it into proper circulation and use, would require my stay there for a considerable time, at all events long beyond the time required for a visit. Tabasco also might have to be visited for the same objects, or rather for the latter portion of them. ―These are my views regarding Yucatán, and its native tongue, and your Agent's visit to that part of Mexico. Be so good as take them into full consideration, and let me know what you think I should do.
One of my inquiries to Mr. Henderson was respecting the quantity of Spanish Scriptures which they had in their stores in Belize, and my object in making that inquiry was, to see whether it would be necessary to request you to forward me a supply to that place for the use of Yucatán and Guatemala. From the reply which I have received, I should think it will not be necessary to send any more there for the present.
From Yucatán it would be easy to pass over to Veracruz and from thence to the heart of Mexico. Would you have me to do so, and by that means see at once how our cause stands in the city of Mexico itself and over the country generally? Or, would you have me to return from Yucatán to Belize, and then pass into Guatemala. There are frequent conveyances from Belize to different parts of Guatemala. In case of going into that country, it would be best, I should think, to proceed at once to the capital, where of course most could be done both directly and indirectly. There are several native languages, and spoken extensively, in Guatemala as well as Mexico. The population of the whole nation is about Two Millions, whilst Mexico may be considered as containing Eight Millions: the two countries together Ten Millions; that is about the same as Spain.
As I have just been speaking of Guatemala, I may mention a circumstance that I might have noticed earlier, but it was desirable to make some delay to see a greater certainty in the case. I mentioned to you a good while ago that I sent a case of Bibles to Nicaragua a part of that country. A portion or the whole of them were disposed of and the proceeds were remitted by the hands of a brother of the person who sold them as he was coming to Jamaica to purchase goods. The vessel in which he was did not arrive at the time expected. Weeks passed on and there was no appearance of it, so that now it seems fully confirmed that the vessel was lost and all on board.
After this unpleasant digression, I return to my immediate objects, namely, as to where I should make my first descent on Guatemala and Mexico, and as to how I should direct my journeyings there, and what should be the main object of my attention. Should you wish me neither to go in the first instance to Belize, to Yucatán or Guatemala, but direct to Veracruz and the city of Mexico, be so good as instruct me accordingly that the proper arrangements may be made. To the spot to which you direct me by your finger or your pen to go, I go, as it respects the first instance or movement, the second, third and the rest. You perceive I am doing in the present case what I have different times done before, that is, I have anticipated my movements to you, in the form of thoughts and purposes as they appear to be best in a prospective way; and my object in doing so was that I might either obtain your sanction to the same before hand, or your better directions as to my movements plans and purposes. Have the goodness therefore to weigh the several things stated in this letter, and let me early know your mind frankly and fully regarding them all.
One of the things I would have you weigh fully in regard to your Agent's work among the ten millions of souls in Mexico and Guatemala, is, what portion of his attention should he gave to the rendering of the Scriptures into the native languages spoken in those parts. That, and the general circulation of the Scriptures in the Spanish language, form the only two branches of your work there. But, what is the proportionate attention to be given to each of these branches, is the object of the present inquiry. It might be, for instance, that not much could be done in a given quarter in the way of circulating the Scriptures in the Spanish tongue, whilst in the same quarter something could be done towards procuring a version of some parts of the Scriptures into one of the native tongues. What is your Agent to do in such and similar cases? Again, it might be, and probably enough will happen, that the Ecclesiastical hinderances will impede, and to a great extent, the circulation of the Spanish Scriptures. Is your agent to turn his attention to the native dialects in such cases, or to leave the country or portion of it as it may be? And further, interdicts might be preseen, and perhaps partly prevented, by attending for a while rather to the versions into the dialects than to the other branch of your work.
In both Mexico and Guatemala the native languages are extensively spoken as already intimated. By far the major part of the inhabitants of those countries are at the present day, the descendents of the people found there at the discovery of the New World. These nearly all still speak their original dialects, though many of them in market towns, and where there is much intercourse with the Spaniards, speak also the Spanish tongue. So much is this the case, that in all the small towns and villages even in the immediate neighborhood of the city of Mexico the capital of the country, the native dialect is spoken generally by the people in their daily intercourse with each other, although most of these from their proximity to Mexico speak the Spanish language likewise. But farther from the centre of the country there are many who understand nothing of Spanish, and cases of this kind came under my immediate observation in my journey from Mexico to Oaxaca in 1828. ―The question then is, and it is an extensive one in regard to these countries, what should be done to bring the Scripture message home to these peoples, differing in language, as they do, from the leading patrician body of the country, and greatly differing also from each other in their several tongues. What is to be the measure of your benevolence towards them? Whilst the Scriptures are spurned away in a considerable degree by those to whom they were first sent, namely, those speaking the Spanish language, perhaps it is an intimation to pay more especially attention to the others who form the more numerous and poorer body. Thus did the Apostles in regard to the Jews and the Gentiles. Your success in the Catalan language in Spain is very encouraging.
You have means, I understand, of communicating with Dr. Mora. I should be glad if you would learn from him, who is the person or persons engaged in the translations with which he was concerned. He did not notice these names in his letter of which Mr. Jackson sent me a copy, but rather said he wished to keep them concealed. It becomes however now absolutely necessary, if I may so speak, that he should either give their names, or afford a clue by which they may with certainty be found out; or otherwise your Agent's work there will be much hindered, by his being obliged to act without the knowledge of what has already been done. Further, you should get from him, a statement of your monies expended in these translations, and otherwise, as a note of the same would be of great service to me, and indeed is essentially required.
Lastly, in regard to the mission in view, I should be glad to have a note of the number of Bibles in Mexico at the present time, and where lying, in Veracruz, Mexico or elsewhere. Mr Graydon's address, and some notices regarding him would be acceptable, and likely very useful. The names of the gentlemen who may have latterly corresponded with you from Mexico, and a little notification of their services, would prove a useful remembrance of, and would enable me to treat, and treat with, these gentlemen in the view of these things.
Now let us pray, that God himself may direct us to the best arrangements and workings for the advancement of his Kingdom among the Ten Millions to whom your agent is now sent.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Most Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. ―Since my last I have received a little tract published in Bogotá containing the Archbishop's letters to the Lord Bexley and Mr. Watts, including theirs to him. The Archbishop's reasoning is fair and cannot be answered; but his premises are wrong. What, as a Bible Society, it becomes us to show, is, that we do publish God's Bible only and entirely, and faithfully. I have some thoughts of writing a letter to the Bishop of Carthagena saying and showing so, which I think we can do with good proofs.
On a reconsideration I find I asked you for too much when I begged a copy of Sixtus's Bible. It is an only and rare edition, and of course scarce and dear. You need not mind Korholti and Ward mentioned in my last. The latter I am sending to the United States for, and the former I shall do without. James's work mentioned, and a subsequent one on the same point, I should like to have. Be so good as verify for me, and most carefully, all the differences between Sixtus's Bible, and Clement's as noted in Horne, and write me if they are absolutely correct. You have both Bibles in your library. J.T.