Rev A Brandram No.3[1]
St Kitts 15th February 1832
My Dear Friend
My last letter to you was written from this island two days after my arrival in it. I have now been here somewhat more than a fortnight, and proceed to state what has been done in our Bible Society concerns.
I formerly noticed to you that there was to be a district conference of the Wesleyan missionaries held here at this time, and that I wished to be here on this island at its sitting in order to profit by the communications of the missionaries from various islands, in respect to our immediate object of the circulation of the Scriptures in this quarter. This arrangement will I think turn out profitably. I have, as I expected, derived much useful information from the missionaries as to the wants of the Scriptures in their respective stations, and have received from them every friendly offer to forward our objects. There are 17 missionaries assembled here, and they are from the following islands: Dominica, Antigua, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Eustachius, St. Barts, St. Martin's, Anguilla, and Tortola: in all ten islands.
When I came to this island I was not sure whether it would be proper at present to visit the small islands lying to the north of this. From the missionaries I have learned much respecting their present state, and judging from all the information received respecting them I think it will be best not to visit them at this time. I avail myself however of the return of the missionaries to these islands to send a supply of Scriptures for each according to their circumstances.
The supplies I have laid out for sending to these islands are as follows:
to St. Eustachius 60 Bibles, and 86 New Testaments
Saba 60 Bibles, and 85 New Testaments
St. Barts 60 Bibles, and 114 New Testaments
St. Martins 80 Bibles, and 85 New Testaments
Anguilla 60 Bibles, and 83 New Testaments
Tortola 70 Bibles, and 74 New Testaments.
Of these islands, to our English, one Swedish, two and a half Dutch, and a half of one French. It is however a singular circumstance that in the four of these that are under foreign governments the English language is generally spoken. That a missionaries in each of these foreign islands, except Saba, and all their ministrations are in the English tongue. Accordingly the above supplies of Scriptures are in the English language with the exception of 20 French Bibles and nine French Testaments sent to St. Barts and St. Martins where a proportion of the inhabitants speak French.
I have requested the missionaries who return to these islands to use their best endeavours to get these copies of the Scriptures into profitable circulation as early as they can, and three months hence to let me know by letter to Barbadoes what may be the results of their efforts in this way. By the information I may receive I shall be able to regulate future supplies to them should they be required, and I shall also learn whether or not it would be profitable to visit these islands at a future time in order to form little Bible societies among them.
To the islands lying to the South of this, from which also there are missionaries assembled here, I do not send supplies of the Scriptures as I intend to pass through each of them as I move southward. The information however which I have received from the missionaries respecting these will I expect prove very serviceable to me when I visit them.
In this island I have been able to form a little Bible society. The chief object to be obtained by a society in such a place as this, is not, I conceive, the raising of funds, but the searching and finding out such persons as need the Scriptures, and the inducing of these to supply themselves with them at cost or reduced prices according to their circumstances. Our St. Kitts society has accordingly laid down this as a main object of its commencement and in conformity with this arrangement this town of Basseterre is already laid out in districts, and visitors are appointed to each, to go from house to house to find out all who can read and are without the Scriptures, and to exhort such to procure the said volume for themselves. The whole island is also parceled out and for the same purpose. I am glad to see such progress made by this little society before I leave the island. The amount of subscriptions to already obtained is pretty fair, and on the whole all seems at present to promise well; and I hope much progress will be made, and that much good will be done to this island, by the society now formed in it. When their rules and regulations are printed I expect to receive a copy of them to send to you.
I have with this society two cases containing 70 Bibles and 341 New Testaments. I am also to send them an additional case from Antigua containing Bibles and Testaments of all the different sizes which I have brought out with me.
I am desired by Mr. Cox the missionary from Dominica to inform Mr. Tarn that there is lying for him at No. 77 Hatton Garden the sum of £5:14:10, received by Mr. Cox for Bibles and Testaments sold in the above mentioned island.
In visiting the Moravian missionaries in this island I found that one of them, Mr. Hock, had been several years in Surinam. On learning this I was anxious to ascertain his opinion of the Negro English version made for that Colony. Mr. Hock has a copy of this version, and gave me his decided testimony as to its being the language spoken by the Negroes of that place.
Should I extend my tour to Surinam, as it is not improbable I may, I shall in that case make special inquiries respecting this version on the spot. By the way, it has occurred to me that the name or title of this version has not been well chosen. It should I think be "Negro Surinam," and not Negro English, as the latter name seems to refer to the corrupted English spoken in the English West India islands. And indeed it was a gentleman here so taking it up when mentioned to him that led me to think upon the subject. It would be easy to change the title page I suppose, but at all events you might have the matter considered should you print another edition.
Nevis, 21st February 1832
I left St. Kitts on the 17th instant, and on the same day I arrived in this Island, and after a sail of not more than a couple of hours.
As my objects in all the islands are the same I set about inquiring on my arrival here whether a little Society might be formed. I found among those I conversed with a very friendly disposition towards the objects of our Society, and very grateful feelings were expressed for the supplies of the Scriptures formerly received from your depository direct or indirect. But great doubts when entertained as to the probability that there were any mites to spare in subscriptions to any new Society, as they feel themselves unable to keep up the few languishing charitable institutions already in existence among them.
This being the case I did not much urge the forming of a Society for collecting funds, but I showed to the friends with whom I conversed, that that was another purpose for which they could unite, and for which that labours were much required, namely, that of seeking out fit objects for the reception of the Scriptures. To this they willingly turned their attention, and a number of names were at once written down of persons desirous of cooperating with us in this important branch of our Society's objects. Much interest seem to be felt by all present in favour of this plan, and I hope good results will follow. The individuals thus associated intend to visit the Poor in their respective neighbourhoods, and will keep lists to take down the names of persons who wish for the Scriptures, receiving from them the small sums they may can contribute weekly towards the purchase of their Bible or Testament.
I have also stated to our friends that though annual subscriptions of the usual amount could not perhaps be obtained to any great extent owing to the circumstances they had mentioned, yet, that by small contributions of one penny from the many a larger sum could be collected than they would suppose. This plan was adopted, and I find it two ladies who are already part of the Association have already lists of subscribers of some extent, one I think has got 30 names and the other about 60.
I leave in this island under the directions of this Association one case of the Scriptures containing 56 Bibles and 94 Testaments. I have requested the Secretary to write me to Barbadoes three months hence as to the progress they make, and whether or not they may need further supplies of the Scriptures.
I should mention that here as well as in the two islands previously visited there are encouraging openings and prospects for an extensive and profitable distribution of the Scriptures at a future period in the schools that have been established of late in the towns and on various estates. That is in Infant school established about a mile from this town containing 80 children. The infants of five estates around meet at this school, and are trained up in the field of the Lord, and to read, by a pious man and his wife are placed over them. This school is entirely supported by Mrs. Ames of Bath who has some property on the island. Twenty four of these children already read the Scriptures, which is a pretty fair number in an Infant school of 80.
Montserrat, 24th February 183
On the 23rd I left Nevis, and in eleven hours after I arrived in this Island. I find things here much the same as in Nevis, and I have laid the same plans before those who take an interest in Bible Society concerns as I did on that island. The Rector of the principal parish, in whose house I am lodged, takes the lead in trying to carry these plans into execution. There is also a medical gentleman of extensive practice in the island who interests himself very actively in this concern, as he does also in all matters that tend to promote the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. There at only two clergyman in the Island and both of them lend us their very cordial assistance from the best of motives.
Today we have had a meeting of those desirous of promoting the objects above stated, and resolutions have been agreed on, embracing the formation of a Society auxiliary to the Parent Institution, and embodying such Rules and Regulations as seem best adapted to the local circumstances of this Island. We began our meeting, and closed it, with prayer to Him who is able to direct us and to make our labours profitable to ourselves and to those for whose benefit they are more immediately intended. May the Lord our God speedily answer the prayers here offered up for this Island, for all the Isles around us, and for the wide world, that in every place the word of God may have free course and be glorified.
Tomorrow I leave this for Antigua where I shall remain as few days as possible, my soul object in returning to that Island being to see the Society lately formed or re-formed there fairly installed by a public meeting. On accomplishing that I proceed to Guadaloupe.
Receive my kindest regards and remembrances for yourself and for all your associates. I trust our prayers for each other often arise to our Heavenly Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, that the Holy Ghost may rest on our souls individually, and may direct and prosper the work of our hands.
Believe me Affectionately Yours,
James Thomson.
Postscript.- It will be better I think in future to put my name in the Reports with the usual prefix of ministers, if you can conveniently alter it, as the reasons no longer exist which induced me on a former occasion to tell Mr. Tarn to place it as it now stands. This change will prevent that variety in my address which is sometimes inconvenient, particularly in the passing of letters through the post office.
[1] No 2 seems to be missing (BM)