Rev A Brandram
London 4th July 1831
My Dear Friend
I beg leave to communicate to you the contents of a letter I have just received from Dr. Mora in Mexico. He says: –
"In my former letter I mentioned to you that the translation of the Gospel of Luke into the Mexican language was finished. I would have sent this to you before now but have delayed in order to have a copy of it taken to remain here lest any action should befall the original on its way to you. A translation of the same Gospel is also being made into the Huasteco and Tarasco languages.
"By the documents which I have received authorizing me to claim the books belonging to the Society, the pretext for withholding them has been removed, but as yet I cannot say anything certain upon this matter, as the Government increasingly labours to support the Clergy in their pretensions and religious prejudices. The public at large however are dissatisfied with these measures, and in consequence the Government has recently received a check of some consideration. This has come about by the circumstance of Mr. Rocafuerte having published an excellent pamphlet on religious toleration. The Government used every effort to procure the condemnation and prohibition of this work. But the Public generally took alarm at their doing so, and the whole city being stirred up, every means was used to prevent the condemnation of the pamphlet and its prohibition. On the day of the trial the court was crowded to excess. Twelve jurors were impaneled to judge the demerits of the tract in question, and out of the twelve eleven gave their judgment in its favour.
"Thus you see Public Opinion makes rapid progress, and it has done so more particularly since the cessation of the revolutionary measures in the South which have come to a favourable close.
"In the following month will commence the publication of Vence's version of the Bible, the prospectus of which I formerly sent you."
The above letter is dated the 3rd of May last. The circumstance that has occurred regarding Mr. Rocafuerte's pamphlet as mentioned in Dr. Mora's letter is very encouraging. It will not indeed tell immediately on your operations there, but it promises before long to open the way anew for the circulation of the Scriptures in that quarter, and to place things on such a footing as to prevent the recurrence of future prohibitions of your books. You have two warm and powerful advocates in Dr. Mora and Mr. Rocafuerte, both of whom I am sure will do everything in their power to serve you, and to promote the circulation of the Scriptures among their countrymen. I would therefore advise that a friendly correspondence should be maintained with these two individuals.
I remain My Dear Friend
Sincerely Yours
James Thomson.