The Rev A Brandram No.9
Mexico 13th October 1827
My Dear Sir,
On the 22nd of last month I wrote you at some length respecting the state of our concerns here. Everything you would perceive was favourable, with the exception perhaps of the attack we had from an unknown hand through the public papers. I have said perhaps, because it is very probable, that this same attack will in directly come out in our favour, by making the Bibles more known and more sought after.
About ten days ago we had another attack in the same newspaper and from another hand. In the first attack we were gently handled, if we compare it with the length and strong language of the second. In this we had a whole column devoted to our case, and all the powers civil and ecclesiastic were conjured to stand up against you, not to try you, but to condemn you. Our friend Salazar, the priest whom I mentioned so particularly in my last, and who had offered to defend our cause by writing an article in reply to the first attack made upon us, fell sick when the promised article was due and has continued so since. The boldness of this second attack seemed to demand a reply, and without delay, if we had anything to say in our own defense. In the want therefore of a better respondent I took up my own pen, and gave our opponent a column in reply to the one he had favoured us with four days before. The result of this reply has not yet appeared so far as our antagonist is concerned, as he lives I understand in the interior and a distance of five days journey from the city. It is not unlikely that when the proper time is elapsed we shall have a rejoinder, and I regret that I shall be absent at the time it is likely to appear, as it may be necessary to attend to it, to answer some questions that may be proposed, or to correct any mistakes into which the writer may fall, upon the subject between us. The cause of my absence is that I set out immediately on my intended journey. Till my return, I shall recommend our cause in regard to the attack that may be made upon it, to our friend Salazar, who I believe is sincere in his proffered friendship. Dr. Mora also will stand by us, as a member of the Society.
The proper season for traveling in this country is just commencing though not officially set in. I go first to Querétaro, and shall probably remain there a week, as it is a large city, the capital of the state of the same name, and has a considerable population around it. From capital I go Guanajuato, also large city and the capital of the state. My next stage will be San Luis Potosí, a place under the same circumstances as the two preceding, and otherwise of considerable importance from it being the emporium of all the commerce passing through the port of Tampico. At least a week's stay will be required at that place just mentioned, to effect sales, and to make arrangements for a depository of the Scriptures there for supplying the populous country of which it is the commercial key. I shall afterwards direct my course to Zacatecas, and when there shall be able to decide on the propriety or not to extending my tour to Durango and places beyond it. On my return I visit Guadalajara, and Valladolid places of considerable note from their population and otherwise. This is the outline of my intended journey. I set out with a great deal of anxiety on the one hand, and with good hopes on the other. The Lord who protected me and prospered me in my former wanderings will not now I trust forsake me, but will hold me up with his right hand and make my way prosperous in his holy cause. I trust I may have something to write to you respecting this journey which made gladden your hearts, and fill your mouth with thanksgivings unto him whose counsel and blessing can alone give success, and to whom all the glory is due. Whilst we labour in the Lord's cause, let us not forget to be unceasing and earnest in our prayers, and when the answer to our supplication arrives, let us all join together in the sweet chorus, "Not unto us O Lord, not unto us O Lord, but unto thy name be all the glory."
Of yesterday's date I have drawn upon your treasurer for £200 in favour of Richard Hodgson & Sons for value received of R P Staples & Co., exchange at 44 pence per dollar. Of this sum you can charge to my account the salary due me, and the rest may be placed to the account of expenses on the Bibles and Testaments sent here. The whole amount of charges, are the two last supplies, including duties, commission, warehouse rent, carriage, &c. is about £400, of which I have cleared off one half by the sales effected here. My letter of credit was for £200, but you will see from what I have stated that it ought to have been for at least double that sum. By means however of the happy reception the Scriptures have met with here all things have been kept straight. Your credit should perhaps be extended, for it is a little awkward that the agent of so great a house as yours should be obliged to add to the credit given him, that of his own little name for one half of the sum charged to him on your account.
In my last I requested you, at your convenience, to replace some volumes consisting of versions of the Scriptures which I had parted with to Mr. Salazar. To this you may now add the Serampore version of the Chinese Bible of which I have made a present to our friend Dr. Mora. This latter gentleman is very anxious to purchase a collection of your oriental versions, and Mr. Salazar wishes to add to those he has already obtained. I should think it advisable that you send me three or four sets of all the versions you have published both eastern and western, as these might be bought for libraries and by private collectors, and might contribute to the advancement of your cause here. Please to send with these 20 German and 20 French Bibles with the same number of New Testaments.
I remain,
Most Truly Yours,
J. Thomson.
P.S. About an hour after finishing my letter I had a visit from our friend Salazar, who is now so far recovered as to go out. He brought with him the article in our defense already referred to. It is very well written, and will I hope tend to undo the prejudice which unhappily still exists in the minds of many in this country in regard to the reading of the Scriptures. Just while we were conversing a newspaper was brought in with a fresh article against us from the hand of our first opponent, who lives in the city. This is intended as a reply to the article written in your defense. I am glad to see by it that the opposition to the reading of the Scriptures has so little defensible ground to rest upon. Mr. Salazar read it over, and considers that it will be very easy to reply to it, and indeed his own article will meet nearly all the objections put forward. We are now you see truly coming in contact with the Apocrypha question, but our cause is good, and of God, and will prevail. Pray for me, that I may be what our Saviour enjoins: "wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove."
James Thomson.