Rev A. Brandram No.6
Basseterre, Guadeloupe, 19th April 1832
My Dear Friend,
You are well aware that my commission extends to all the West India Islands, British and Foreign. My preceding letters to you have all been from British Islands. I now however address you from a foreign one, and foreign in many respects I find it. The language in the first place is foreign, for it is French; next the religion is a foreign one, for it is Roman Catholic; and thirdly, the state and circumstances of this island, as respects religious knowledge and education, and very foreign to what I found in the island I was last in.
In Antigua there is a noble, and not a small band of holy gospel ministers who are labouring with all assiduity to build up the temple of God with living stones: but here, alas! of this class of men that are – none. In Antigua there are the many Sunday schools, and the numerous day schools on the estates in all of which the Holy Scriptures are read and taught: but here, even one school of this kind is nowhere to be found. In Antigua the day of rest is kept holy: here, it is the most unholy day of all the seven. In Antigua the word of God is in the hands of hundreds who can read it and who do read it and understand the great salvation which it contains: but here the word of God is not to be found I believe at all, and what adds to the evil, the people do not know nor care about their loss.
This last circumstance you will say of the want of the Scriptures is what makes this island a proper place for me to be in: where should an agent of the Bible Society be but where the Bible is needed? All this is true, and yet I shall be able to do but very little here at least at this visit. For, although my expectations were not very high as to operations in this place, yet I find that even these my moderate calculations have been disappointed, and chiefly by an unexpected circumstance that has occurred. The case of French Bibles and Testaments which I brought with me has been seized at the Custom house. I was surprised at this, as I considered that books of all kinds have free entrance into all the French dominions. And so I believe they have, but our predicament here is this, the Bibles are a prohibited article because they are of English and not French manufacture; and again, the Testaments are a prohibited article in the colonies, because though printed in France they were not brought here in a French ship. Thus you see we stand entrapped on all sides. Our enterprise however is not hopeless, for we can so arrange things in future as to keep clear of all these nets, and fairly bring the Scriptures to the island so as to ensure them an entrance.
I had thoughts that the Governor would be kind enough to interpose in our behalf, and break through the trifling formality in this case. He was so much taken up during the two days after my arrival with holding councils and other public business that I could not see him till yesterday. When I had an interview with him, I presented him the introductory letter with which Sir Patrick Ross had favoured me. He read it, but I suppose he could not take in the nature, or could not see the need for, our biblical labours, for he did not show any readiness to remove the existing difficulty. On the contrary, I should think from the tenor of this conversation that he was rather pleased that it had occurred. Here again I was reminded that I was in a foreign part, as I found this Governor in his way of thinking and acting so foreign to what I have found in Sir Patrick Ross the Governor of Antigua.
Finding myself thus circumstanced, and forbid to preach the gospel here by distributing the word of God, I wished to leave the island immediately, but no vessel offered. Upon considering the matter further I have resolved to go to another town in the island which is a great resort of vessels, in expectation of finding a passage from thence to Dominica more readily than from this place. I have another object in going there. The town referred to is a town of much greater population than this, and I am told there is at least one bookseller in it. I have often found it the most convenient and at that advantageous way for procuring a good circulation of the Scriptures to make arrangements with booksellers for their sale. This object I hope to accomplish in the town to which I go, and the means of getting there is easy, as there is a steam boat running twice a week between the two places. I leave this place tomorrow for the town I have noticed.
Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe, 24th April 1832
The preceding line will indicate to you the name of the town, or as it is called city to which I have now come. But after I arrived here I found what I was in quest of, namely, a vessel going to Dominica, and we are to sail this afternoon.
I have found here two booksellers shops, things of a very rare occurrence in the West Indies. With one of the booksellers I have got acquainted, and I trust he will prove serviceable to us in our future operations. We must now have some books of French manufacture, sent direct here from a French port, and in a French ship, so that all may be truly French. From Havre there are vessels almost every week for this port. Be kind enough therefore to direct Professor Kieffer to ship for this place one case containing 50 French Bibles and 50 French Testaments, and let them be consigned to "Monsieur P. Cairon, Libraire Pointe à Pitre, Guadeloupe." It would be well for Prof. Kieffer to write a note to this Bookseller mentioning the price he should sell the books that. The price I think should be fixed at some point above the cost, so that I might be able to give them to the Bookseller of the cost price giving him something in the form of profit for himself. I can lower them afterwards should it be necessary.
Previous to leaving Antigua I had taken out one of the French Bibles for my own reading by way of familiarizing myself with the language. This copy I fortunately had among my other books, and thus escaped the fate of the rest. I took this to the Bookseller the other day and begged him to dispose of it. Next day when I called I found there had been a person at the shop who having seen the Bible was anxious to purchase it. This person returned when I was there and I sold the Bible to him for 12 franks. I desired this person to let as many of his friends see his Bible as he could, and to tell them that more would be here before long. The way you see is thus prepared for us to a certain extent for future operations, and I trust my visit to this Island will prove not altogether in vain.
Roseau, Island of Dominica, 2nd May 1832
In the Providence of God I have got on one step more, as you perceive, in my tour through these tropical Isles. I am sorry to inform you that there are many circumstances in this island that remind me, not of Antigua, but of Guadeloupe. The majority of the inhabitants of this island speak French, and are Roman Catholics. Still the happy effects of a connexion with England are distinctly perceptible in the island. Here there are some missionaries, and some schools, and some Bibles; and the present day too is better than the past; and again the future promises to be better than the present.
I called on the Governor the day after my arrival, and found him very well disposed to our objects. I told him I was desirous of forming a little Bible Society here, and begged him to allow me to place his name as Patron, to which he readily and cordially assented.
I then spoke to several other persons pointed out to me as likely to befriend us. Today we had a meeting, and formed "The Dominica Auxiliary Bible Society." You will find further particulars upon this subject in the newspaper which you will receive either along with this letter or by the following packet.
I am kindly and hospitably entertained in this town in the house of the Rector, the Rev. Mr. Clarke, but I cannot prevail upon him to join our little Society, as he thinks the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, with which he is connected, is sufficient for supplying the wants of the island. The two Wesleyan missionaries give us their very cordial assistance. There are no Moravians here.
Tomorrow I intend to leave this island for Martinique. My object there will be to find a bookseller with whom to make arrangements for a sale of the Scriptures. I shall afterwards inform you of what may be done that you may send Bibles and Testaments to that island also direct from France and of French manufacture.
I do not forget, far as I am removed from you, that this day is the first Wednesday in May, and consequently your anniversary. I have prayed for you all again and again, that the Lord might be manifestly present with you. I shall anxiously look for your letter telling me of all that occurred.
I remain, amidst very warm weather,
Warmly and sincerely yours,
James Thomson.