Rev A Brandram No.44
Jalapa, June 11th 1830
My Dear Friend,
In the few lines I wrote you from Mexico, on the 5th instant, on the morning of my leaving that city, I promised to write you again by the same packet, should I arrive in Vera Cruz in time for that purpose. I now find that I shall not arrive there before the mail from Mexico reaches the coast; but being anxious that you should know, as early as possible, the immediate cause of my leaving this country, I write you from this city, and forward my letter by the express, which carries down the English mail to Vera Cruz.
In my last letter, I mentioned, that after very mature deliberation, in regard to whether I should stay in this country or leave it, I had resolved to stay for a while longer, that I might make a last endeavour to get the Holy Scriptures circulated here, and that I might make such arrangements, that their sale and distribution might go on to as great an extent as possible, under existing difficulties, after I should leave the country.
I have now resolved, as you see, on the contrary side, in regard to my staying; and the cause of it is this. In using my endeavours to get the eight cases out of the Custom House, which I mentioned to you as being detained there, I found I could not succeed; but, on the contrary, on applying to the judge appointed for such cases, he ordered that the books should be remitted to the coast, and sent out of the country. My recourse, in this case, was an appeal to another court; and I made arrangements for this. I then endeavoured to collect what I might expect in my favour by this appeal; and I was enabled to do this the better, as I was personally acquainted with the judge to whom I had appealed. I was given to understand, that the utmost I could expect in this case was, that the sentence might be altered to the sending the books out of the limits of the diocese where the edict had been issued, instead of their being sent out of the country altogether. It thus turns out, that the ecclesiastical authorities in the diocese of Mexico have, at length, completely succeeded in the object proposed by their edict. In the dioceses of Oajaca and Guadalajara there have been edicts issued of a similar nature, as you are already informed. This success, therefore, gained by the Dean and Chapter in Mexico, and, no doubt, be communicated to the rulers of the two dioceses now mentioned; and if the judges in these quarters be equally illiberal with those in Mexico, our books will be stopped in the custom-house, and condemned to be sent out of those dioceses in like manner. Nor is this all, for other dioceses will be informed of these matters, and will be stirred up to issue edicts after the example given; and in this manner would the books of the Society be excluded from this country altogether.
From the combination of circumstances now mentioned, I have thought that my retiring from this country would be the most effectual means of preventing the farther, or, perhaps, entire prohibition of your books. I, therefore, retire; and when it is known that I have left the country, it is likely that less zeal will be manifested in the prohibition of the books, from a belief that they will cease to be introduced into the country and circulated in it, when the Agent of the Society is no longer here to foment, as they would say, the evil.
Nevertheless, I have carried into effect the arrangements mentioned in my last letter, as far as the time I have had has permitted. The Bookseller I referred to has been intrusted with the sale of the Scriptures throughout this country. The prices of the books have been lowered, and I hope we shall learn something gratifying respecting their sale from half year to half year, that being the term agreed upon for periodical settlements. I have had a good deal of intercourse with this bookseller, and have much confidence in his uprightness and activity. Further, I have recommended the concerns of the Society generally to the care of our friend, Dr. Mora, who is very desirous of having the Scriptures circulated in his native country; and I think he will use every means in his power for this end. I have requested him to correspond with the Society, and to inform you of all that goes on here. He is also intrusted with the carrying into effect a translation of one of the Gospels into the Mexican and Tarasco languages, which are at present in progress through his means, in conformity to the instructions I received from you upon the subject.
I have now been three years in this country; and, in reviewing all that has passed, I am not aware that any thing has been left undone that could have been done in the Society's concerns; and, on the other hand, I am not aware that I have prolonged my stay in this country beyond what should have been done by your Agent, in furtherance of your work. Had I left the country at any earlier period, I should not have been satisfied that all had been done that could have been done. I am now satisfied upon this point, and I retire under a full conviction that such is my duty as your Agent.
Many hindrances have been met with in circulating the Scriptures in this country. We should not, however, regret the efforts that have been made in this matter; but should rather rejoice that so much has been done. Some thousands of copies of the word of God have been circulated here, and over a very considerable proportion of the territory composing this nation. Now the word of God will not return unto him void, but will accomplish his will; and the people of this country will certainly be more or less illuminated by the rays from heaven, which have thus fallen upon them. Those who have got the word of God in their hands will necessarily enlighten those around them, as well as seek more light for themselves. The word of God, therefore, will be more and more sought for, and your volumes will, in spite of all opposition, circulate in this land, and will prove a blessing to its inhabitants in this present world, and in the world to come. Let us not, therefore, regret what has passed here, on account of the hindrances met with, but let us rejoice that we have been permitted to sow in this land some grains of the incorruptible seed which liveth and abideth for ever. At some future day will come the reaper, probably when the sowers are laid in the dust, and his arms shall be filled with sheaves and his heart with joy, as the result of your labours in this land.
I conclude my epistolary correspondence from this country by notifying to you a circumstance which I think will be agreeable to you all. A few individuals in the city of Mexico have, for some time past, regularly assembled on the first Monday of every month, to make supplications at the throne of grace, on behalf of all nations, that the light of the Gospel might shine upon them; and more especially, that the Lord would have mercy on this country, and make his name glorious in it. At these meetings, some mites were dropped, from month to month, into a box prepared for this purpose. On opening this box, a few days ago, it was found to contain fifty-five dollars; and this sum I am requested to present to the British and Foreign Bible Society, under the denomination of "The first emptying of the first Missionary Box in Mexico." You will please therefore place this sum to my private account. Its amount at the present rate of exchange being Ten pounds, five shillings and one farthing.--I add on the same head B.B.s subscription of one guinea, and Mr. John Stanley's of £1:17:3½ have been paid me within these few days, for the current year, and these sums you will please also to place to my account.
I know, My Dear Friend, that yourself, the Committee of the Society, and its Members generally, feel much interest in the spiritual welfare of this country. Let us all, therefore, join in unison with the little band of supplicators above mentioned, in praying that the will of God may be done here, as it is done in heaven.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.