Rev A Brandram No.19
Tobago, Feb. 23, 1833.
My Dear Friend,
I mentioned to you in my last, dated Demerara, 6th instant, that I should leave that colony on the following day. I was, however, unexpectedly delayed till the 12th. On that day I sailed, and, after a pleasant and quick voyage of less than three days, I arrived in Barbados. My touching in Barbados on this occasion was merely as a stepping-stone to reach the island where I now am, as my purpose was to leave that island for this by the first mail-boat that should sail. Five days after my arrival in Barbados I left that island, namely, on the 20th instant; and on the following day I disembarked in Tobago.
The directions of the mail-boat in the present trip are, to stop three full days here, and then to proceed to Trinidad. My visit to this island I have limited to these three days; for should I extend it beyond that time, the chances are that I should be delayed here three weeks, and not less than a fortnight, waiting for the next mail-boat; and this is a longer period than I think I can spare in this island, considering what lies before me.
How to get any thing effective done here in the short period of my stay was the question I endeavoured to keep in view. Mr. Briddon, the Wesleyan missionary, who kindly lodges me, has done all he can to aid my purposes; and some other friends, to whom I was introduced by letter and otherwise, have done the same. On the morning after my arrival I paid a visit to the governor, General Blackwell, whom I found very friendly, and willing to give his countenance and support to the formation of a little Bible Society for this, island.
Preparations being thus made, a meeting was held to-day in the Court-house, at which several respectable persons were present; and we had the pleasure of having in the chair the President of his Majesty's Council in the island. After some statements made on the nature and single object of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and what it had accomplished, and what it had still to accomplish, we came to a general agreement to form an Auxiliary Bible Society in this place. This was forthwith done; rules were adopted, and a committee and office-bearers appointed. Lastly, a subscription passed round among those present, commencing with our chairman; and I have no little pleasure in adding, that the subscriptions put down on this occasion exceed what has been obtained on any other similar occasion during this tour in the West Indies. Thus has Tobago made itself stand out more prominent, among its fellow islands, than its geographical position and size or its population would have led us to expect. The subscription referred to amounted, at the close of our meeting, to £27 sterling; and now, in the evening of this day, it amounts to 40 pounds.
From Barbados I brought some Bibles with me of those sent up from Antigua, and one case of New Testaments from the Barbados depository. With part of these as stock a public sale has been commenced here, and under the direction of one of the Members of the Committee of the Society now formed., a gentleman who takes much interest in the circulation of the Scriptures here, and in the general objects of the Society.
I should not omit to mention, before closing this letter, that one of our subscribers, and a member of the committee, is an individual of that once and to-be-favoured race to which were committed "the oracles of God." To this gentleman I brought a letter of introduction from Barbados, I have met with every friendly attention from him during my short stay here; and he has, besides, furnished me with an introductory note to a gentleman of his own kindred in St. Thomas's.
Trinidad, 26 February 1833.
I arrived here last night in the mailboat, and as I find there is a ship to sail for London tomorrow, I got this sheet finished to send to by it. My time as yet on this island on the present visit is so very short that I have nothing to say of my operations or even what prospects I have of doing anything.
On my arrival in Barbados from Demerara I found three letters for the from the Spanish Main. These were from the governors of the provinces of Guyana, Apure and Barcelona, in reply to my representation or circular formerly mentioned to you in my letters from Venezuela. My proposition has been favourably met by these three provinces, one will take 100 copies of the Four Books and the same number of Luke & Acts, another will take 150 copies each of these same volumes, and the third has not yet fixed on the particular volume nor the number of copies having referred the choice and the proper quantity to the Bishop of the diocese. For supplying these two provinces therefore in the meantime and for other provinces that may be expecting to follow their example the best way I think will be, to send me six small cases, the having each 100 copies of each of the two volumes and the other three having 150 copies of these two in each. These cases should be sent to St. Thomas, and direct it to the care of the superintendent of the Moravian Mission in that island. I could wish you to send them as early as you possibly can, in order that they may be there for my arrival in June. My reason for wishing these books sent to St. Thomas is because there are vessels going frequently from that island to all parts of the Spanish Main, and their being in small cases will enable me to send the proper quantity direct to each place.
I could wish to also to send to that island at the same time some supply for my intended visit to Puerto Rico and Hayti. After ruminating a great deal on what would be best for these two islands, I have fixed on requesting you for a few Bibles only, a somewhat larger number of New Testament and some copies of the Psalter. Please therefore to send me one case with 30 Spanish Bibles in it, one case with the same number of French Bibles, one case with Spanish Bibles and Psalters of equal number (part bound separately and part together), and a fourth case with French New Testaments and Psalters done up in the same way. If your time permit, be so good as throw into each of these two latter cases some 20 copies of Bagster's New Testament and Psalter bound together in Latin. These are for the Catholic priests of the French and Spanish islands. If you could add a few of Bagster's Polymicrian New Testament in Spanish, it in French, and in Latin, bound separately of course, I should then think my stock of merchandise complete in regard to assortments though I have not in quantity. It would be desirable that Bagster's common and Polymicrian editions above referred to should be in better than ordinary bindings.
I received also in Barbados a letter from the Rev. Mr. Gilbert in Antigua. He says, "I have been most disappointed in not receiving the Monthly Extracts. These are very useful in England and I think would be very beneficial here. They supply what is most wanting to the negro, as constant stimulus." In one of your letters to me you said you would send 100 copies of these instead of the 20 I had requested. I find some difficulty in reconciling your letter with Mr. Gilbert's.
Believe me, My Dear Friend, Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.