Rev A Brandram No.31
Port-au-Prince, 10 June 1834.
My dear Friend,
In my last I told you I was about to sail for Jacmel, and to proceed from thence to this city, the capital of Hayti. I reached Jacmel on the 5th ultimo, where I was detained about a week, and arrived here on the 14th following.
One of my objects in this city was to dispose of the remaining part of my stock of French Scriptures brought from Saint Domingo. The other, and the chief object, was to see the President, and to encourage him to introduce the Scriptures into the schools of the island, and among the soldiers, after the example of the French and the Prussians. I accordingly drew up a representation to him upon the subject, after consulting his secretary, and indirectly himself. I had afterwards an interview with him, at which he told me that he had carefully read over my representation, and fully approved of the objects pointed out in it, in regard to the supplying of the schools and the soldiers with the Holy Scriptures, and that his principal secretary would arrange with me as to the number of copies necessary for these purposes. I had offered him the Scriptures at a reduced rate for the use of the schools and the military, following your example with the government of France and with the Prussians. He begged me to thank you for your friendly assistance, and to say that he would have pleasure in co-operating with you in the benevolent purpose you are pursuing.
Subsequently, I conversed with the President's secretary, according to his suggestion, and the number fixed upon for the purposes mentioned, is 3000 New Testaments and 200 Bibles. These are to be all in the French language, and sent direct to the government. I have offered the New Testaments at a quarter of a Spanish dollar each and the Bibles that one Spanish dollar. Be so good therefore as get these packed up as soon as this comes to hand, and send them by the first ship sailing direct to this sport.
(It would be better I think to send the Bibles in cases of about 100 pounds weight, or not exceeding 150. The specimen of the New Testament I have shown to the president, and his secretary is the edition or impression you sent me to St. Thomas, and the Bible is the 12mo , both of Ostervald's translation. It would be well perhaps to include in the order some copies of your other editions also. You can address the cases G.I.H. and the consign them to Messrs. John Herne and Co., requesting them to receive for you from the Government on delivery of the books, 950 Spanish dollars, or their equivalent in Haytian currency.)
General Inginac, the President's chief secretary, tells me that the government would willingly lend its aid to the formation of a Bible Society here, and contribute also to extend such institutions over the island at some future day, when the Scriptures now ordered are come into circulation and use. Though, therefore, the supply now requested from you will be issued from your stores at a loss to the Society, yet there is a prospect of that loss being fully made up on a subsequent day, when a Bible Society shall be formed in this Capital, and Auxiliaries to it in other parts of the country, under the auspices of the government. But, important as it is for you to get a proper return for the books you issue, in order that your benevolence may extend the wider, and more early supply the whole world—the field of your labours—yet you will look forward, I am persuaded, to the formation of Bible Societies in Hayti, in reference to a more particular and interesting purpose. Nothing, you are aware, is so important in making the Scriptures to be spread and read as the forming the very people to be benefited into Bible Societies and Associations. If you are able, therefore, to get Societies formed here on a subsequent day (and may it be early!), you will make sure of the Scriptures spreading over the island, and also of their being pretty generally read. Means, too, in all probability, will be obtained by these Societies and Associations for effecting this desired circulation ; and perhaps, also, some aid will in due time be sent you from this island for your great general purposes. "Ainsi soit-il," you will say, in the language of this place; "and so be it, and soon be it," I would reply.
I would now suggest, with all deference and respect, as a means for bringing about these hoped-for objects, that a few lines should be written by Lord Bexley to the President of Hayti, recognising his kindness in procuring the circulation of the Scriptures in the schools, and among the military under his government; and at the same time hinting at further measures in this way; and particularly noticing the advantages that would arise to the island, directly and in various ways, by the formation in it of Bible Societies and Associations. Such a letter, from such a quarter, would, I am certain, be very well received, and would greatly tend to advance the object which Lord Bexley, I am sure, has much at heart.
You see by the preceding paragraph that I am apprised of the demise of him who has so long and so worthily headed your Society. He rests, I doubt not, with the Lord; and may we rest there, when our Saviour has served himself of us here below. I learned the death of Lord Teignmouth by the New Monthly Magazine, which I found in a friend's house on my arrival at Jacmel. That Lord Bexley would succeed to Lord Teignmouth's place, was, I thought, a matter of course, as no other individual, of his rank and character, has taken so deep and practical an interest in the concerns of the Society. I have learned his election by the English newspapers just arrived in this city. It is thus in directly that I have obtained these notices, having received no letters from you since I left St. Thomas. In Jamaica I expect to find waiting for me at least two or three notes from your hand.
There is another subject respecting this island which I would now notice as bearing upon our concerns. The language is spoken in this end of Haiti is French; but proper or good French is spoken only by the better classes of society, whilst the great body of the people, both in the towns and in the country, speak a kind of Patois called here Creole French. I have endeavored to ascertain the difference between the pure French and this Creole dialect, and I find it is considerable, perhaps sufficiently great to justify you in procuring a translation into it of one of the Gospels, or even the whole New Testament. I have got the parable of the Prodigal Son translated into Creole to enable me to judge, and you can be furnished with this when the subject comes more immediately before you.
Your report for 1833 I have been looking for for several months past, and as you may suppose with some interest. It has at length come into my hands, and only in this city. I have found one copy here in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Baudry the Wesleyan missionary. I considered it a very providential circumstance to find it here, as it enabled me to present this document to the President along with my Representation; Mr. Baudry having kindly granted it to me for this purpose. Be so kind as to forward along with the books, a copy of your report for 1834 to the President, or accompanying the solicited letter, which would be preferably, and also a copy to General Inginac. I hope I shall find a supply of the report for 1833 waiting me in Jamaica; and begged you will forward to me there, as early as you can a proper supply of that for the present year.
Mr. Baudry whom I have noticed above, is connected with the Wesleyan Mission House, No.77 Hatton Garden. He has had copies of the Scriptures on sale here for some time, which were received from you either directly or in directly through Hatton Garden. He has sold a good many and has paid me some money for you to account, which will be duly noticed in my quarterly statement to the Finance Committee at the end of this month. He tells me that he remitted you through Hatton Garden, two sums, one of £6: 5: 6 on 6 March 1830, and the other of £3: 14: 3 on 30 September 1831. He has got no acknowledgment of receipt of these sums, and of course wished to know whether or not you received them. Be so good as notice this to Mr. Tarn, who I dare say will lose no time in supplying the notice requested.
Before I leave this island, I would beg you to send a case containing 50 large Spanish Bibles, no small ones, to the city of Santo Domingo. Consigned them to I.F. Dupons Esq. of that place, and desire him to sell them, or procure their sale, at three Haytian dollars each, and to advise you of the result, remitting the proceeds direct or through Thomas Lawrence Esq., an English Merchant established there.
I forgot to tell you in my last when writing from Santo Domingo, that the chief Ecclesiastic of that place was kind enough to introduce me into the only remaining Nunnery of that city. I took occasion at the interview to recommend to the mountains the study of the Scriptures, and offered to bring them a New Testament next day if it would be acceptable. As I concluded this recommendation and offer, I looked to my friend who had introduced me for his consent to what I had said and proposed. I obtained it, and consequently that of the Prioress and her family. I called next day accordingly and presented my New Testament, which was well received.
I have now finished my business in this Capital and island; I leave this city, therefore, in a day or two, to return to Jacmel, there to await the English packet to take me to Kingston, Jamaica.
Jamaica appears to me to be now close at hand, and, consequently, my thoughts often turn to it. I know the interest you and your associates feel in respect to that island, from what you formerly wrote me. Be assured I fully participate with you all on the subject. I hope a large and open field is being prepared for us there of the Lord. Kingston will first need to be cultivated, then the other towns in the island, and then the estates. I am rather sanguine in my expectations of Jamaica results in our cause and concern, and I hope and pray that they may be verified. You know I have already written to you for specific instructions as to the time I should spend there. I look for these on my arrival at the post-office in Kingston, and you may be sure to find me, in regard to them,-- Your Most Obedient Servant.
But, in the meantime, not overlooking Jamaica, but looking over it for a little, and beyond it, to Cuba, I think you had better send me to Jamaica, for the last-mentioned island, two cases of 50 large Spanish Bibles each, in addition to those already ordered. Either Cuba or Guatemala will, I think, require these; and I should be sorry that our work were impeded or time lost through want of supplies at hand.
One paragraph more, my dear friend, will conclude this letter; it will chiefly bear upon yourself. Allow me to thank you most sincerely for your request at the annual meeting, and in the Report, of the prayers of all our friends in behalf of your poor agent in the West Indies. This is the greatest favour you could possibly have done me, and for which again I thank you, and most cordially and affectionately. I feel, in truth, a new help and a new strength from this circumstance: it comes to me like a new and large reinforcement to a giving-way army. Often have I prayed for you, my dear friend, individually, in return for this act of kindness; and I pray also for all who may have been stirred up to remember me at the Throne of Grace, the refuge of the weary and heavy laden; and such we must needs always be in forcing our way through this evil world into heaven. The Lord bless you, My dear Brother,—the Lord bless you all! Farewell.
James Thomson.