Rev A Brandram No. 29
St. Thomas, 22nd March,1834.
My Dear Friend
My accompanying letter No.28 being finished, and being still in my hands unsent off to you, it has pleased Providence that its doleful strain should not reach you without its proper antidote. ―In coming from St Kitt's in October last to Tortola, I sailed in the vessel belonging to a gentleman whom I knew in Antigua. This vessel after landing me at Tortola was to proceed to Crab Island,[1] lying not far from the Eastern Coast of Porto Rico. I had a case of Spanish Bibles and Testaments on board, and I thought this was a good opportunity of sending them to that Island, if peradventure they might make their way to the larger island westward. I saw this gentleman on his return, previous to my going to Porto Rico, and he told me that he had left the books in the house of a friend there. Fearing that no good result would follow from leaving them much longer in that place, I left a letter here for that gentleman, on my going to Porto Rico, begging him to bring the books to St. Thomas at his earliest convenience. On my return to this island, I found he had not been here to get my letter. But this very day, I was agreeably surprised by meeting him unexpectedly in the street, just as he had arrived from Crab Island. He told me that he had sold the case of Bibles, and that they were purchased by a person from Porto Rico, and carried by him into that Island for sale. You may be sure this was very gratifying news to me. I had been labouring to introduce God's holy word into that Island, and praying earnestly that now at length God would be pleased to remove every hinderance to its introduction, and that it might have ample course and be glorified. yet I had returned unsuccessful, and discouraged. Scarcely however had I left that Island and arrived here, when I learned, as above, that our object had been accomplished, and our prayers answered in another quarter of the Island, and at the very same portion of time.
Crab Island is, as above stated, near the Eastern Coast of Porto Rico, I think about 7 miles distant. It is a small island, and nearly uncultivated. It is claimed by the Spaniards, and it is claimed also by the English. In consequence of our claim to the island, the British will not allow of any interference with goods carried by them into it, nor that any duties should be charged on them. On the other hand, in consequence of the Spanish claim, when goods of any kind pass from Crab Island to Porto Rico, they are considered as merely passing from one part of the Spanish dominions to another, or rather from one district to another, as the places are so near. It so happens therefore that all articles have free ingress and egress into Porto Rico, and from it, through means of this channel.
This channel then now being open to us, it becomes a duty to turn it to good account. The gentleman who sold the Bibles is about to establish a sugar estate in Crab Island, and is going and coming frequently between it and Antigua. He carries with him on his return to Antigua, timber and other articles the produce of Crab Island and Porto Rico, and these articles he receives in barter for goods of British manufacture. Thus were the Bibles brought to a sale, and they were paid for in timber. This timber is to be sold in Antigua, and the produce of what was received for the Bibles will be paid to Mr Garling, who will remit the same to you.
In consequence of the foregoing circumstances, I would advise, that one case of Spanish Bibles, Testaments, Psalters, and Luke, assorted, should be sent to Peter Walter Esq., Antigua, accompanied by a letter requesting him to have the goodness to take them to Crab Island, and to dispose of them there as he had formerly done, and to inform you of the result. Perhaps, it would be better to send two cases, desiring him to take them one by one or otherwise as he may judge best. ―You desired me once, I recollect, to say what I meant by a case. I always mean by this expression, except otherwise stated, a case of the size sent out to Mexico, and which can be easily ascertained by a reference to the quantity put into those cases.
We shall require a case half the size of the above for this Island. Let it be of Bibles and Testaments only, and sent to the Rev. Mr. Labagh, stating to him that it is for the sale at Mr. Lindeman's in connexion with the St Thomas Correspondence Committee of the Bible Society.
Another encouragement arises to us from a consideration of the position and circumstances of Crab Island. The Cayman Islands lying off Cuba on the South, are I suppose, in the same predicament respecting Cuba as Crab island is to Porto Rico. If so, there is then an opening for the Scriptures, through that channel, into the large and populous island of Cuba, in the event of the Ecclesiastical Authorities there shutting upon us the direct door as they have done in Porto Rico. It would be well therefore to forward me to Jamaica one case such as is to be sent to Mr Walter, in order to its being sent to the Cayman Islands. ―But, as the Havanna is next to an open port for all goods, and less under ecclesiastical influence than Porto Rico, another case or two will be required for Cuba direct through the Havanna, should it be proper to visit that port. Please therefore to forward me 3 cases of Spanish Scriptures to Kingston; nor should I think 4 cases too many, let it therefore be four.
The printed letter of the Committee respecting Mr Hughes came into my hands immediately on my landing from Porto Rico. May our life be like the Righteous and our death as theirs!
I remain, My Dear Friend, Very Sincerely Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. I have just taken a passage in a French Brig, for the city of Santo Domingo in Hayti. We expect to sail in a couple of days.
[1] Vieques (BM).