Rev A Brandram No.37
Spanish Town, Jamaica, 5 November 1834.
My dear Friend,
Since I last wrote you I have received Mr. Jackson's letter of 21 August, and two from your hand over the 6th and of the 16th September, the letters came to hand by the Mexican packet yesterday. – I am very glad that Lord Bexley has so kindly acceded to my request in wishing that he might write a few lines to General Boyer, the President of Hayti. In suggesting that it would be profitable to do this, I felt that I was making a kind of demand upon Lord Bexley's time and attention, but the thing suggested seem to me so likely to promote our object that I could not do less than notice it; but on the other hand, being fully sure that are worthy President's grand object in life is to promote the Kingdom of Christ, I felt that it would be a pleasure to him to have this opportunity of serving the Lord in the hope of thereby extending his kingdom. The President and chief men in Hayti, as might be expected, have their feelings fully alive to what the people of Europe, and more particularly of England, think of them, and say of them. And I have been well assured from different quarters the most effectual way of working on Hayti for its good is through the expressed opinion of the great ones and of the public in Europe and mainly in England. Be kind enough to keep this point in view, and keep blowing by degrees gently and more strongly the dying embers of Hayti until they rise into a flame.
The two cases of books sent to Jamaica Bible society some time ago, and which were missing, I have sought for from place to place, and at last have found them. The case of Reports notwithstanding all inquiry after it, is still missing. – I have opened the Spanish cases at a venture to find Reports, and have found few. It is really very wrong not to mention in the invoice when Reports are put into cases. Be so good as noticed this to the warehousemen.
I have within these few days past removed my tent from Kingston to pitch it for a little at Spanish Town. This is the nominal capital of the island, but the virtual one is Kingston. The population of this place is about 6000, whilst Kingston may be reckoned at six times that number. Here the governor resides; and here the legislative and the chief law courts are held; but Kingston holds the sway numerically and commercially.
You will see by the newspaper I sent you by last conveyance, that we are getting on somewhat in our work. The plan arranged, as I think I noticed to you before, is to get up, if possible, a Bible Society in each parish of the island, as Branches of the Jamaica Bible Society. Again, as far as practicable, we wish to form Bible Associations in each parish, so as to cover, if practicable, every spot, and to include every soul. I say soul, for it is souls we want, and for souls we labour; and may the Lord give us many souls as a reward in his grace—grace to us and to them.
The Kingston Parish Bible Society is, then, as you see by the newspaper, already formed and formally installed by a public meeting. Our Committee is formed with some care, and I trust it will work well: it is of all colours, from white to black; and we meet, talk, and act, as brethren, and brethren in unity. The first work of the Kingston Parish Bible Society was to arrange and commence operations for forming Bible Associations. Things being thus on the way, I have removed from Kingston for awhile, in order to try what can be done for establishing a Bible Society in this town and parish. The Council and Assembly are now met in this place, and we wish to turn this circumstance to advantage for the better accomplishing of our purpose.
In regard to the Jamaica or Island Bible Society, it is our intention to hold the annual public meeting about the end of the year; and at that time we purpose to re-model and extend it. Towards this we have already taken some steps. I have applied to the Marquis of Sligo, our Governor, to have the goodness to become the Patron of the Society ; and he has kindly and cordially condescended to do so, expressing in letter, and in italics, that he does it "with much pleasure." We have also received from him a donation of £10. The patronage of the Governor will, no doubt, be of considerable service to us. Another step taken and succeeded in, is to make our Society embrace, more formally and fully than before, all denominations among us.
Our letters from the country continue favourable as before, in regard to the excitement among the negroes to learn to read, through the stimulus of your books, and other circumstances. I give you a few extracts :—
"We had as noisy a Sunday yesterday as the preceding; but I assure you, you would be surprised to find how fast our pupils are getting on. They have been learning only three Sundays, and among them all they get through both alphabets, without my having occasion to tell them a single letter; and yesterday I put them into an easy reading lesson, which appeared to please them very much, and they learned several words so well as to be able to point them out whenever they saw them, and could spell them also. It is astonishing that their memories can retain what they learn from one Sunday to another so well; but the secret is, that most of them are very anxious to learn, and I suppose they make use of the least opportunity that falls in their way through the week, of practising what they learned on Sunday. But there is, very likely, a better reason — it may be the work of the Lord."
Another:—"I am preparing my lists to send you for the Testaments ; and as I visit twelve different estates, in each of which the people are learning to read, you may expect my lists to be pretty extensive. I am frequently asked by the negroes if the Testaments are come yet; which shows their anxiety to obtain so precious a boon."
Another:—"The negroes on an adjoining property have continued to evince, since the 1st of August, an insatiable desire to learn to read ; and it is to us quite surprising, how those very people, who, till this now period, were not allowed to attend a place of instruction, have made progress in their learning. Numbers, who on the 1st of August knew not a letter, are now, with ease, spelling words of three, four, and five letters; and have learned hymns, &c. The negro-houses are not above ten minutes walk from our residence ; and to our evening family worship they have been in the habit of coming in numbers since the 1st of August, from which they go to the school-room, and are taught in classes, for an hour or two; and, indeed, it is sometimes with difficulty they will give up."
I hope your books will be here in time. The disappointment will be truly great if we are not able to give them out on Christmas-day. I begin to fear a little; and should have liked to have been now in possession of an account or notice of their shipment. Your last letter does not give any information upon this point. I hope now, whilst I write, the books are all half-way across the ocean that intervenes between us. By the way, what a pretty sight it would be to have a bird's-eye peep at all these ships now bestudding the seas, and flying with outspread sails, with their precious cargoes, on their mighty errand! One hundred thousand copies of the Holy Scriptures, in numerous ships, thus moving along, sent with such motives, and sent to such a people! Did the ocean ever exhibit such a sight before? Certainly not. Is not the Kingdom of Heaven now coming, think you, with observation? O Britain! how has the Lord favoured thee, to have thy ships and thy sons employed in such a work as this! Blessed art thou in giving, and blessed shall we outcasts be in receiving: and let God only be exalted !
Believe me Most Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. I shall write Mr. Tarn soon, but cannot do it now as the documents needed for writing him are in Kingston.
I beg leave to advise a bill drawn this day at 60 days sight for fifty pounds sterling, in favour of Thomas Groom Esq. of this place. Be so good as to notice this to Mr. Tarn and desire him to place this sum to my Salary Account.