Rev A Brandram No 65
St Ann's Bay, 25th November 1837
My Dear Friend,
In my last letter to you but one, I mentioned certain things which showed that I was under some circumstances of danger in Cuba, and that I considered myself as having made a providential escape from that island at the time I did. The statement I then gave was not exaggerated, for I could have added an item more to strengthen it but which I withheld. Since I wrote I have had a communication from that island stating "on undoubted authority that the Captain General had given orders to put me into prison". But his order came a post too late, for I was then out of his jurisdiction.
By the same conveyance I received notice that a case of Spanish Bibles which I had ordered when in Principe to be sent from Montego Bay to that city had been seized at the Custom House. This I considered an illegal proceeding; and accordingly after consulting with the Attorney General of this Island, a gentleman who has always been most friendly to me, I made out an affidavit, and a representation on the subject, addressed to our Governor Sir Lionel Smith, and gave him the same to be forwarded to the Governor General of Cuba in the form of a reclamation of British goods unlawfully seized.
In the beginning of September I learned that the house of Fesser Picard & Co. of the Havannah had suffered some inconvenience in the form of suspicion on the part of the Governor General on account of what had occurred to me in Santiago, as that house had given me letters of introduction to that place. On hearing this I wrote to the house in question, and also to Mr Schenley one of the Commissioners under what is called the Mixed Commission. As Mr Schenley was on very intimate terms with the Governor General, I begged him to have the goodness to call on him to explain matters, and to make him sensible that I was true man and no spy, and that my object in Cuba was bona fide to circulate the holy scriptures, and not to interfere with nor overthrow the orders of things there established. About a fortnight ago I received a letter from Mr Schenley, of which the following is an extract: ―"Your letter of the 20th September reached me yesterday. The subject of it was not new to me. For some weeks since the idle reports you complain of so justly had reached me, I then took occasion to contradict them in every quarter. Since the receipt of your letter I have called twice at Government House, but I regret to say that our excellent Governor is very unwell and receives no one. My object was, if possible, to make you a satisfactory reply by the Pickle which leaves for Kingston tomorrow. You may however rely on my attending to your wishes, and it gives me great satisfaction to have it in my power to do so. ―Of course long ere this, you have forgiven these stupid Spaniards all the annoyance they caused you. The explanation shall be to the fullest extent. ―I shall have the pleasure to write to you on an early occasion. Until when as always "believe me, etc."
From the house of Atkinson Hozier & Co. of Kingston, the house that recommended me to Fesser Picard & Co. of the Havannah, I received a note the other day, of which I give you an extract, "We have had several late advices from Messrs Fesser at the Havannah, and as they do not again refer to the matter you mention it is only natural to presume that the whole has ended in nothing, and indeed it seems to have been and affair of nothingness altogether, only the officious suspicions of the Santiago folks were anxious to make it something."
I have now given you a view of our concerns on Cuba as they now stand. When I hear further from Mr Schenley, and learn the result of the claim made for the seized books, I shall turn again to the subject, and state what may occur.
Mr Schenley states in his letter, on a brighter side, ―"Have you heard of the Bible that is printing and publishingat Mexico!!? I am told it is to be extremely well executed. What an event!"
The Bible here referred to is I presume the one noticed to us some time ago by Dr Mora, the subscription to which was Fifty Dollars or Ten Pounds sterling. I am glad to learn that the work is going on. Every thing done in this was will facilitate the circulation of your cheaper volume among the people generally. And no doubt this magnificent publication as we may well call it in view of the place and the book itself, has been got up as the result of your labours there in former years. May the next course of your labours in that country be attended with still greater success than those of times past. I have my eye now full on Mexico, and not many days elapse without it passing through my thoughts.
I am now, as you see, thus far on my tour, my last one over this Island. I have visited several places in this extensive parish, the largest and perhaps the finest in the island. I am glad to be able to report favourably of the state of our Bible Society in this parish which was formed last year about this time, under rather peculiar circumstances as you will probably recollect. The person who figured conspicuously against us on that occasion is now in the grave. Further, a singular circumstance, and I may well say, an awful one has occurred during the year, and that has been made to act to our advantage. The circumstance I allude to was the upset of a boat in this harbour by which eleven persons were drowned, and not a vestige of them has ever appeared. The four daughters of the Rector of the parish were of the number. The Rector's name now stands at the head of the list of our office bearers in the St Ann's Bible Society.
Yesterday we held our public annual meeting in the Court House. The Clergyman now officiating for a while for the Rector was in the chair. This gentleman, the Rev Henry Brown, is a very warm friend of the Bible Society, and gives it his support in every way and most openly. The Court House was full n the occasion, and contained a good proportion of what we call respectability. Our business was all conducted, as we thought, with animation, and the assembly seemed gratified. The treasury of the Society is as full as could well have been expected, and as I think fuller. The circulation too of the Scriptures has been good and encouraging. Fifty Pounds sterling are to be remitted to you as soon as an expected reduction of the premium will permit. On the whole this Society has done very well during this its first year, and there is every prospect of its doing more in the year now entered upon. The Report will be published in the Falmouth Post newspaper, and I shall endeavour to send you a copy of it. You will be glad to hear that we have among our office bearers no less than Five Clergyman. This is the whole number in the parish, and it is a greater number than is to be found in any parish in the island except one. I hope by and by we shall be able to enumerate in the ranks of each of our Bible Societies here all the clergymen within their respective boundaries, and may you in England soon be able to do the same. Let us see whether the Colony or the Mother will attain to this proper state of things first.
I am, My Dear Friend, Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.