Rev A Brandram No 35
Kingston, Jamaica, 18 August 1834.
My dear Friend,
I am still in the city, having made a longer stay here than I at first contemplated. There are two reasons for this. In the first place the arrival of your resolutions and circular respecting your gift to the emancipated Negroes at this all memorable time, has induced me to remain in the city to form and forward measures for counting your benevolent purpose into effect. And in the second place, I have prolonged my stay in Kingston, is not considering it wise to commence my operations in the interior in the beginning of August, when another subject than ours most fully engrossed the attention of all, and when to navigate between Scylla and Charybdis would have been perhaps more than usually critical and dangerous. I wish to give no offense in anything, and that my ministration of your concerns may be on blamable. Even as it is, and in the city, I have not escaped the notice of a couple of editors; one of whom is pleased to inform his readers that "there is an individual here of the name of Thomson seeking whose money he may pocket on behalf of the Bible Society. And "it is a good joke," he says, "to persuade our Negroes took part with their money to translate the Scriptures for the Chinese." He therefore advises in these words, – "let him go as he came, and let those at home who can afford it, contribute to his object." Thus you see is verified what I said in my last letter but one, "that we stand here on more delicate ground than elsewhere in the West Indies." But on the other hand, to editors have taken a different view of the subject and the person referred to, so that we have made a balance of it, and hope henceforth to keep even and clear.
Well, our Great Transition Day here has come, and has gone by. The First of August, and the few beginning days of that auspicious yet critical month, have passed over our heads under most merciful circumstances. We have had scarcely any untoward occurrences, and these very few are now at an end. The whole population, I may say, are working peaceably as before. The jubilee day, and the Sunday following, were festivals in religion rather than in common rejoicing. The negroes on these days flocked to hear the Word of God, and filled every place of worship open to receive them. On these occasions much instruction was given, and many prayers were offered ; and to those means, and to the prayers of our good friends in England, we owe it, in the hand of God, that all has passed off so very favourably, so mercifully, and graciously. I am not a foreboder, yet I had my fears and doubts of the working of things on our critical days. Monday, the 4th, was the great trial day, being the first day of working for our new apprentices ; and from what I have said above, you see how happily things have turned out. Glory be to our God for these his mercies to us. May we be truly thankful; and may his mercies be continued to us. I think there is a very good general feeling among the planters, respecting the changes in operation; and I look forward, with good hopes, for great and happy advancements among us in all that is good. Many British eyes are no doubt fixed on us here at the present time, and only withdrawn from us at intervals, to be raised to heaven on our behalf. We are forcibly taught the power of prayer in temporal salvation, in Abraham's intercession for the cities of the plain. God is still the hearer of prayer, and his modes of acting are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. And now, dear friend, pray for our spiritual salvation. A great spiritual work is, I do think, in operation in this place, and throughout all these colonies. Help us on in it by fervent, frequent prayer; and by and by you will see how our wilderness will blossom, and it will shed its fragrance abroad, till it reach your isle, and prove a sweet savour in Christ unto you all.
Your offered gift has come upon us opportunely, and has helped on our general rejoicing: there is a good deal of stir created by it, and many are learning to read, who never learned nor thought of learning before, in order to get one of your books on the ensuing Christmas-day. Whilst I write this sentence, I hear the sound of spelling and reading among our servants below; and sometimes, when I awake in the night, I am cheered with the same sounds; and the doling out of the letters and syllables resemble the tick-ticking of the clock in the dead of the night. We have had some letters from the interior of the island in answer to our circular; and there, too, it appears, the same stir and interest are at work.
Soon after my arrival in this island, I went to Spanish Town, and paid a formal official visit to the Marquis of Sligo, our Governor, who received me with his usual courtesy. I noticed to him our Society and our West Indian operations, and did not forget to tell him of the friendship we received from the Governors there. I intend to return to Spanish Town in a few days; and hope to see the Governor again, and to state to him more fully what is wished to be done here, and what part we could wish him to take in our operations.
I paid an early visit also to the Bishop, but had not the pleasure of seeing him, as he is now residing in the mountain district during the present hot months in Kingston, I addressed a few lines to him respecting your gift to the negroes, and as to the preliminary operations necessary for properly distributing the books; and to the note I received a friendly and courteous answer. I shall make a point of seeing him as soon as we are properly within reach of each other.
I have visited the different chapels here, with a copy of your Gift-Book in my hands; and, showing it, have stated to the large negro congregations your kind and liberal intentions, and have fixed their eyes on Christmas day next for the verification of this giving and receiving. All were highly pleased, and full of gratitude for your kindness. You will be pleased to hear that your Gift has been announced in the Roman Catholic Chapel by the priest, who tells me that he will cheerfully help forward your generous object.
On the 1st of September I intend to set out on a tour round the island; and on finishing it, I shall most likely be able to state to you what prospects there are for our operations in this Colony.
Believe me, Very Sincerely Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. I here advise a bill drawn by me on the 15th instant in favour of Messrs. Atkinson Hosier & Co. of this city, for £90 at sixty days sight. - To be placed to my Travelling Account.
I have been under the necessity of purchasing a horse and Gig for my journeyings over the island. I have done so reluctantly, but by the advice of all my friends here, as my only mode of doing, and ultimately the cheapest. To hire a conveyance for one journey only would cost more than purchasing; and further, on closing my operations in this island, I hope to get a considerable part of my purchase money back again, by then selling what I have now been obliged to buy.
A note will be presented to Mr. Tarn by Mr. William Jones.