Rev A Brandram No 64
Kingston, Jamaica 26th September, 1837
My Dear Friend,
In my last letter I intimated to you my purpose of setting out for Carthagena. My intention was, to go first to Santamarta, where I expected to see Dr Estevez, who, as I had learned in the Havannah, was Bishop of that place, and whose name you will find recorded honourably in the history of the Bogota Bible Society, in the formation of which he took an active part. From Santamarta I purposed to proceed to Carthagena, to meet there with Mr Watts, and also to see Dr Sotomayor the present Bishop of that place, and who, like Dr Estevez took an active part in the Society above mentioned. ―Upon making enquiries about Santamarta, I learned, that the Bishop had died a few months ago. I learned also, at the same time, that the communication between Santamarta & Carthagena was more uncertain and expensive than I had thought it was. These circumstances, combined with the necessary loss of time, the expense of the whole movement, the slender advantage which my personal interview with Mr Watts would have over my writing to him, and sending him letters of introduction, induced me to change my intention of going to the Spanish Main at the present time. ―I have written to Mr Watts, noticing those things that seem to lie most in the way as to his work and our intercourse, and I have enclosed him a number of letters of introduction from myself and others which I trust will be useful to him in the different places through which he may pass. The advantages he already possesses in the knowledge of the country and of the language render, of course, any help I might be able to give him personally or otherwise less necessary.
I intimated also in my last, that after a furlough enjoyed, it being of course previously granted, it would be best to proceed to Mexico. Since writing so, a letter from the Trelawny Bible Society has come to hand, mentioning the number of Bibles lately arrived there, which with some formerly on hand, augments their stock above what they expect soon to dispose of. This, and the more or less similar circumstances of one or two other places, have led me very closely to reconsider your interests here. The truth is, that these Bibles referred to were ordered on the supposition of my remaining longer on this Island, than is supposed in my notice of going to Mexico contained in last letter. Well, what is to be done, and what should be done, that is to say for the best in the case? To Mexico I am most ready and willing to go, and at your call, even at the hour you bid. But, I think it would altogether be better previously to employ some months in Jamaica, to stir up and strengthen and increase the Bible Societies among us, but more especially the Bible Associations, that so the quantity of Bibles now on hand may be taken up as early as possible. In this view of matters, I would propose to you, humbly and respectfully, that your Agent should not leave Jamaica for Mexico till about this time next year. ―Having thus discharged by this representation my duty and my conscience to Jamaica and to your interests in it, I again say, with perfect sincerity, that I am most willing to set out for Mexico at your bidding, , and to start, if you will, a few weeks after your answer to this arrives, should that letter say to me ―Go.
I therefore now wait your instructions; and in the mean time I set out without delay for the West End of the Island where most of our supplies are in waiting, and I trust we shall soon have a good account to give you of the transference of your goods from the parish societies' depots to the houses and hands of the Negroes.
An enquiry was made of me some months ago in a private & friendly manner and as from one of your Committee, whether some or several of the higher classes of men who have become office bearers in our Jamaican Bible Societies were not persons living in the open concubinage which unfortunately is so common among us here. The reply I made to that inquiry, and which I now here openly repeat for the satisfaction of you all, is, that our Rule has been not to number such persons among our office bearers on any account; and this rule, as far as I am concerned, and as far as I am aware respecting others, has been uniformly attended to since my arrival in this Island. And further I would add, that in different occasions we have deprived ourselves of help and patronage because of this Rule, as we could easily have had persons of rank and riches with us but for this defect in their character and practice which kept us from asking them. In three parishes at least we passed over the Custos, the chief personage in the place, solely because of this, and at the expense too of giving offence for overlooking them.
Nearly a year ago I sent you some of our local Reports through the Colonial Office, and afterwards you mentioned that you had learned that it would be better not to send through this medium. I had however a letter from Lord Glenelg himself, saying I required no apology for sending a communication to you through him. His letter was written immediately after the little packet passed through his hands, in November last, but I neglected to notice it to you before. I shall therefore not scruple to send in this way on rare occasions in future.
Yesterday I received a very pleasing letter from Mr Wheeler, and a Barbados newspaper with Bible Society articles in it. His visitations in these islands will I think be truly useful.
I remain, My Dear Friend, Very truly Yours,
James Thomson.