Rev A Brandram No.25
St. Kitt's, October 23, 1833.
My Dear Friend
My last letter would apprise you of my intention to continue longer in this island than the time properly due to it, from its size and circumstances, and would also inform you of the reasons which induced me to make this delay. I am now, however, about to leave it, and shall here give you some notices of what has occurred since I last wrote.
A good portion of the time which has elapsed between my last letter and this may be said to have been taken up by the weather; that is to say, its occasional storminess, wetness, and uncertainty, hindered me from doing what otherwise I might probably have done in the way of forming Bible Associations. I endeavoured to turn this vacuity to account, by printing in the newspapers some account of our Society, as you will see by the two newspapers formerly sent you, and by the two which accompany this letter. I found this useful, as the articles were pretty generally read, and tended to remove ignorance and misconception upon the subject, and thus prepared the way for forming Bible Associations, when the weather should well permit.
During the latter four or five weeks we have been tolerably active, and have held meetings on various estates, and under pleasing circumstances. The cheerful and active co-operation of some of the clergy has been very helpful in this work; and we are cheered with the hope that those Associations thus formed by their aid will be prosperous, having the constant superintendence of those who assisted in their formation. The Rev. Mr. Johnson, who has two small contiguous parishes under his charge, has been prominently active in our cause; and I trust he will continue the work he has so earnestly begun, until all his parishioners are in possession of the Holy Scriptures. For three successive days we rode through his parishes, visiting the proprietors and others in charge of the estates. We were cheered as we went along in finding that the planters we visited, with scarcely any exception, were friendly to our objects, and gave us full permission to hold our meetings and form our Associations, granting the people a quarter or a half a day's leave from work, to get themselves ready, and to attend our meetings. On the following days, therefore, several little Societies were formed in these parishes under Mr. Johnson; and, as I have already hinted, I have great hopes that much good will follow, as the gentleman mentioned purposes to keep up, by personal visits, a work which gave him manifest satisfaction to see begun, and under encouragements which he had not expected. The Rev. Mr. Perry, the incumbent of the adjoining parish, also visited with me the different estates within his limits, and gave me every assistance in forming our Associations. He promises to superintend these infant institutions in his parish, and to keep up the interest of the negroes in what they have entered into.
We have had a feature rather new in these Associations, in the greater number of those who put clown their names for Bibles and Testaments at the close of our meetings: at one time we had eight subscribers for Bibles, and thirty-six for Testaments. Formerly, we chiefly looked to the collectors for getting subscribers; but here we had to write long lists of names immediately after our recommendations to get the Scriptures were heard. This, no doubt, is the best plan, as it is striking the iron when it is hot, and thus producing greater effects. Amidst this gratification, however, we were discouraged by the circumstance that we had no Bibles at hand to supply the people. Had we had these at the time, we should have done more good, as several, in all probability, would have advanced the sum required, in order to get immediate possession of what was recommended to them, and what they wished to have. You already know my wants on this score by my last letter, and I trust not long time will elapse before the 200 Bibles written for shall reach this island. An extract from a note from Mr. Johnson which I received the other day will show you how desirable it is that this supply should arrive soon. He says, - "A number of applications for Bibles have been made, without my having the means of supplying the parties. I hope the feeling will not subside before procuring the books."
The whole number of our Associations in St. Kitt's amounts to 25. They might, I believe, be increased considerably, were I to make a longer stay in this island. But a sufficient number is already formed to give a fair trial to their working.
Some days ago I went over to Nevis, where we had a meeting of the Committee of the Auxiliary formed there, and also of the Committee of the Ladies' Bible Association. On three estates on that island new Associations were formed, and under the usual favourable circumstances. One of them was on an estate belonging to the Hon. Mr. Webbe, the chief justice of the island, and the President of our Auxiliary there. This gentleman did all he could to encourage the people to enter into the object we set before them. He also encouraged them to learn to read ; not by words only, but also by promising a quarter of a dollar to every one of them who should read him a chapter of the New Testament by the 1st of March next. At the close of this meeting we had thirteen subscribers for Bibles, and forty-six for New Testaments. On the next estate where we held a meeting, twenty-two had their names put down for Bibles, and thirteen for Testaments. On this latter estate there are more people who can read than on Mr. Webbe's, which circumstance accounts, perhaps for the greater number of Bibles in the one case over the other.
I am not sure whether I noticed to you in my last that there is a more than common desire among the slaves in Nevis to learn to read. They flock to schools when they are opened, are eager-to buy spelling-books, and snatch a lesson in reading whenever they can. It is by no means rare, when the people come in from field, to see a tall man sitting down and taking most docilely his lesson of A, B, and C, from a boy not half his length; whilst, at the same time, two or three full-grown persons are looking over the man's shoulders, to pick up what they can from this little master and his great pupil. This scene affords a fine subject for a drawing or a painting, and I should be glad to see it delineated, as it would form a cheering sight after the many dark ones which have beclouded this region of the world.
Yesterday I returned from Nevis; not because there were no more openings where Associations might be formed, but because I cannot, with propriety, make a longer stay in this quarter, but must now pursue my journey onwards and westwards. In confirmation of there being more openings in Nevis, I would say, that when I asked Mr. Webbe on what estates there was a probability of forming Associations, he began by naming this one and that one; and, after going over several in this way, he added, "In short, excepting a very few, I do not know where you would not be able to form them." This was very encouraging; but "move onwards" sounded in my ears, and my duty said "obey it;" and, under these circumstances and feelings, I left Nevis. There are there one Auxiliary and five Associations.
On my return from St Kitts I found waiting for me a note, of which I give you a copy, as it tends to characterize the state of things here regarding our operations. It is as follows, and is addressed to Mr. Patty before mentioned: – "Dear Sir, I only this morning received Mr. C's answer to my note respecting Mr. Thomson's visit to this estate. It appears that my note was not given to him until yesterday. He quite agreed to Mr. Thomson's wish, but I am afraid it is now too late. I now regret that I did not at once acquiesce." The latter expressions here evidently convey a strong wish that the thing in question has been done. This you see is a friendly feeling on our side, and this is by no means a solitary case. We have had more than permission to go upon the states, we have often had direct and much encouragement.
To-day I had a visit from a very respectable planter, and the object of his coming conveys the same encouragement as is noticed in the preceding paragraph. This gentleman had given us permission to hold a meeting and form an Association on a large estate under his care; but thinking our application referred only to that estate, he said nothing of another estate on which he himself resided. On finishing our operations in that parish, which is at the extreme end of the island, I returned to Basseterre. But it seems the people (alias the negroes or slaves) were in expectation of a visit and a meeting, as on the other estate; and, when day passed on after day, and no visitors came, they began to think they had been overlooked from something unfavourable in themselves. They accordingly spoke to their master upon the subject, and said, they supposed I had not come to them on account of their being "more wicked than others." Their master sympathised with them, and paid the visit in question, to signify his wish that a meeting might be held on that estate, if my arrangements would allow of it. Here, we see is a case in addition to the preceding, indicating that in leaving St. Kitts (as well as Nevis) it is not for want of more work to do, but for another reason, – I must be moving onwards.
To-morrow or next day I intend to leave St. Kitt's. I have found many individuals here who have showed me friendly attentions, on account of the object in which I am engaged. One of these it is my duty to mention, namely, Mr. M'Mahon, the Secretary to your Auxiliary here, and a respectable merchant and magistrate. This gentleman has not only aided us greatly, in facilitating the forming of our little societies, but has also very kindly entertained your Agent in his own house, during the greater part of my stay in this island. May the blessing of God rest on him and on his family, and may they be blessed in their substance, and with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus!
Tortola, October 31, 1833.
You see from the preceding line and name that I have obeyed the sound —"move onwards and westwards." l am now arrived at the last English island in this quarter. I left St. Kitt's on the 25th, and reached this in the middle of the following night. Things do not look well here: we are too far from Antigua in more ways than one. I have found it difficult to find materials enough and befitting for forming a committee for an Auxiliary Bible Society. Perhaps a longer stay than I can well afford would have pointed out to me what I wanted; but I must not now stay.
I have however formed what I may call a Committee of Correspondence, to see after your work here. That committee, though small, presents a very pleasing aspect; and you will find it efficient for your purposes here at the present time. There is one, and only one, clergyman in the island; and there are two Wesleyan missionaries. These three form your Committee of Correspondence for Tortola. It is very pleasing to me, and equally so to you, I believe, to see the ministers of Jesus Christ unite as one to further his kingdom. So do these three unite; and so may we all unite, of every name and in every place; and may the Lord only be exalted! The Rev. John Hutson, the Rector of this place, will be the organ of communication with you for the little committee mentioned.
I have received from the Rev. Mr. Cox, one of the Wesleyan missionaries, ten dollars, which he had received for Bibles and Testaments which I put into his hands last year at St. Kitt's, as formerly noticed. Mr. Cox paid, besides this, about eighteen dollars to Mr. Garling, in Antigua, at the beginning of this year, and this sum will appear in Mr. Garling's accounts. I have made arrangements for a more public sale of the Scriptures in this island, by pulling them into two well-frequented shops, to which all may come to supply themselves with the word of Life. Tomorrow morning I intend to sail for the Danish island of St. Thomas, which is not far distant.
St. Thomas, Nov. 5, 1833.
Here at length I have arrived, and now stand on foreign ground. The English islands in these parts lie behind me; but I cannot help taking a glimpse at them before they are quite out of sight. Forget them I never can, as circumstances) and occurrences not a few, during my nearly two years' peregrination among them, have, I may safely say, fixed them as a permanent part of my thoughts and of myself for ever. I carried out with me, you will recollect, 5000 copies of the word of God; all these have been put into circulation, and, I believe, some 2000 more. The greater part of these have come into the hands of those who "in time past were not a people," but many of whom are now the people of God, through his Son Jesus Christ; and many more are looking Zion-ward, and inquiring the way, by getting the word of God to see the directions it gives upon this great and important concern. The manner too in which our operations have been carried on in many places, of holding meetings in forming Associations on the estates and witnessing the interest felt by the hearers in respect to the reading of the Scriptures, has greatly added to the interest of the subject, and conduced not a little to make the impression left on my mind respecting these islands of a permanent nature. May the Lord prosper greatly the work which is going on among these islands, until every one shall have the Holy Scriptures in his hands, and shall know the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, and shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth!
You must not forget these islands; much may be done among them through your means. You should, I think, send some one to visit them again before long. My voyaging and work westward prevent the chance of my seeing them again; but, before I finally leave them I would anew recommend them to your care, and say, "send some one to visit them before long." The door is wide, and you may make it effectual.
In this island of St. Thomas, where I now I am, I arrived on the 1st instant. This and the two adjacent islands belong to the Danish government. I am quite uncertain as yet whether anything can be done here, but at all events I shall prolong my stay for a few days more, as this island is a stepping stone to several other places, and the medium of communicating with them.
I write this letter from New Herrnhut, an interesting spot, as it is the first missionary establishment for the slaves of the West Indies, and has led the way to all that is now doing for the religious welfare of the poor negroes. It was begun 101 years ago, and under circumstances of great interest, as the two first missionaries came out to preach Jesus to the poor slaves at whatever cost, and resolved to sell themselves for slaves, should there be no other way of getting access to the objects of their godly benevolence. May our God anoint us all with such a spirit!
I remain Truly Yours,
James Thomson.