Rev A Brandram No.42
Mexico 25th March 1830
My Dear Friend
Ever since my writing you by last packet I have been revolving increasingly in my mind whether I should stay in this place or leave it. Under these circumstances, and whilst asking counsel of Him who has promised to direct our way if we acknowledge him in all our goings, it has afforded me no little comfort and encouragement to think that you and my other esteemed friends in the Committee are also addressing the throne of grace that my way may be made clear on to me. Well, the result of my meditations in this matter is, that I stay for some time longer. The business in hand of which I wrote you in my last is not yet decided, nor have I much hope that it will be decided favourably, yet still I intend to do everything I possibly can fairly and legally to bring this matter to a favourable issue.
One of the reasons which induces me to stay longer is this. I am in treaty with a bookseller in this city who has extensive connections in the interior, and am arranging with him for selling the Scriptures on commission in the different parts of the Republic, and as well as in the city. I intend to lower the prices as before mentioned to you, and hope by these arrangements a considerable number of copies of the Scriptures may be brought into circulation, and even in spite of the edicts. It would require some time to carry this plan into full execution, and there will likely be some difficulties to remove which may require me to be on the spot. Should this plan succeed, the circulation of the Scriptures here will be placed on such a footing as probably to make it unnecessary for you to retain an agent in this place. What time may be required for putting things on this permanent footing so as to be managed direct from Earl Street, it is of course difficult to say, and will necessarily depend on the circumstances that may occur, and especially considering the great extent of this country. Perhaps until the end of the current year may be sufficient, but most I think twelve months from this date.
You will observe that however rigidly the edicts already issued may be carried into effect, yet still they have no direct influence beyond the dioceses in which they are published. By the sale of the Scriptures in the quiet regular way of trade as above noticed, there is less likelihood that more edicts will be published than if I were to go from place to place selling the Scriptures as I did on the first journey. On the whole I am not without hopes that at the reduced prices, and in the manner proposed, something worthwhile may be done to spread the holy volume over this land. At all events it is our duty to try every means on every hand for the furtherance of the holy work committed to us. May the Lord direct us in all our arrangements, and may he be pleased to crown our feeble labours with abundant success.
I remain as always,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. Be so good as say to Mr. Jackson that I shall write him by next packet in answer to this letter, as I have not had time sufficient since it arrived to make the inquiries he refers to.