Rev A Brandram. - No.27
Mexico 31st October 1828
My Dear Sir,
I have the pleasure of acknowledging the receipt of your letter of the 19th August, and thank you for your kind attentions in writing, and for the comfort you thereby afford me. The friends of missions and of missionaries in England I think are at times somewhat more selfish than they should be. They are glad of good news from far countries, but whilst they enjoy the cooling draught which refreshes their soul, they too seldom think of the poor solitary missionary who in parched and thirsty lands needs also refreshing draughts in the form of letters from his friends in his native land. I thank you again for your kindness, and not the least for your assurances of remembering this place and your agent here when you bow your knees at the throne of grace.
I have not much good news to tell you this month, but I have more to say in this way than I had in my last letter. In the first place, I have pleasure in informing you that your subscribers here have not diminished but increased. Last year about this time I sent you three subscriptions of one guinea each, and now I send you five. Three of these are from the same three individuals you had last year. The fourth is a countrymen of our own residing here, and whose initials only (B.B.) I am allowed to give. Your fifth subscriber is a Mexican and a senator in the general Congress of this country. His name is Don José Maria de Yrigoyen and, and he represents in the Senate the State of Chihuahua. This gentleman is I think a real friend of your objects here in this country. I mention as a proof of this, that when the edict was issued in the city in June last he was so kind as offer me the liberty of selling the Bibles in his name, by way of affording greater security. It was not judged necessary to make use of this offer, but it can still be had recourse to should circumstances require it.
The second thing I have to say that is good is regarding the Bishop of Puebla. I forwarded Lord Teignmouth's letter to him by the first post after it arrived, with a few accompanying lines, and yesterday by return of post I had a letter from him, of which the following are the contents, "I cannot write you with my own hand, because during these six weeks past I have been unwell owing to a severe bruise I received in my right leg in stepping out of the carriage. On account of some mistake in the post office I received your two letters, of last month and this, almost at the same time. I have received the letter you enclosed me from the Right Hon. Lord Teignmouth, President of the Bible Society, to whom I shall have the honour of replying by next packet, and hope by that time I shall be able to write him with my own hand. With respect to the assay I promised you to make of translating one chapter of the Old Testament, and one of the New into the Mexican language, you may rest satisfied that it will be carried into effect. For this object I have named a commission consisting of the Rector of San Sebastian of this city, the Rector of San Pablo del Monte, and the Rector of San Juan Epatlan. All these three are thoroughly acquainted with the phraseology of the Mexican language. In order that the translation may be as perfect as possible corresponding to so delicate a matter, I have directed that each of these translate separately, and that they should afterwards meet to confer together as to what alterations their respective versions may need. When the translation of these two chapters is finished I shall take care to remit you a fair copy of it, that you may forward it to the Society, and to which in the meantime you can communicate this notice. Have the goodness to honour me with your commands, and believe me to be with great respect, Yours &c (signed) Antonio, Bishop of Puebla."
I have no doubt but that Lord Teignmouths's letter has come opportunely, and it will I trust be productive of beneficial effects. If we can succeed in getting a translation of the New Testament into the Mexican language, and can have it printed with the Bishop's sanction affixed, it will be a great matter. An easy way will then be opened for procuring versions of the same volume into the other dialects extensively spoken in this country. I feel no little anxiety about this first attempt, and my fears will not be laid asleep until I see this work safely through the process and advertised for sale.
The third thing I have to say of the nature of good is that the effects of the edict begin to wear away, one proof of this is that during the last ten days I have again seen the Bibles and Testaments of a hawking about the streets of the city, the sight which I did not enjoy for the first three months after the edict was issued. Besides, a Bible or two, and two or three New Testaments are sold at the bookseller's in the course of the week. A few days ago I was speaking to an extensive bookseller, a native of this country, and one who has hitherto not sold Bibles for me, and upon asking him about the edict and whether he could yet venture to sell Bibles, he said he had no difficulties upon the subject. We then agreed that I should send him some, and next day I put about 100 dollars' worth into his hands for sale.
I had lately a letter from Tampico from the house of Watsons & Co. there, formerly Watson Davidson & Co. as before mentioned. After noticing the safe arrival of the books sent them from Vera Cruz they say, "We have in conformity with your instructions opened cases No. 1 and 2, and have placed the books in one of the most extensive retail stores in this town. We have made the sale generally known, and some avidity has been shown to purchase by several respectable inhabitants." I give you another paragraph and one which bears upon a subject noticed in a former letter. "The books appear to be well packed, although the cases are rather heavy for these roads. Our muleteers are very averse to taking any packages exceeding seven arrobas, and hardly any price will induce them to exceed eight. The arroba is 25 pounds Spanish weight which is nearly 24 3/5 English. You will no doubt give orders to keep the contents of the above paragraph in view when packages are prepared for this country.
The supplies now on hand, with those on the way will I think last me a good while, I am afraid too long. There is however one book I shall be deficient in, that is, in proportion to the rest, I mean the volume containing Luke and Acts. The 1000 copies sent me by the Robert Fuge have all gone to Tampico, so that for this place and eastwards I have none or but a very few, and your vote of a supply for me of 2nd June contains no copies of this little volume. From these circumstances, I beg you will send me 2000 Luke and Acts by the first opportunity after this comes into your hands. I am not without hopes that the two epistles formally requested to be joined with this volume will come along with it, but I shall be glad to see it, come as it will.
The matter mentioned in my last as pending with the government respecting the edict issued in this city and diocese is still undecided. I have done what I can to procure a decision and a favourable one, but the minister takes it easy and will have his own time to form a judgment. The same minister has written to Guadalajara respecting the edict issued there, not to annul it, but to prevent the seizure of the books; and he tells me that in any case the seizures of books by ecclesiastical authority to come to him, and that I shall be sure of speedy redress. This so far is favourable and in regard to the annulation of the edicts he says that something of a general nature must be done which shall apply to all the country, and this he adds requires time and consideration.
I said to you some two or three months ago that I would write to Guatemala to see if anything could be done by way of putting the Bibles into circulation which are now lying at Belize. I had scarcely written you when news reached us here, that the civil war had again broken out there, and that all kinds of business were in consequence nearly at a stand. For this reason I have not written, and think it better to delay a little to see if any favourable change will take place.
I find I made a mistake in my last in stating that a six months' journey through the parts then mentioned would cost £300. I should have said, somewhat more than £200.
Mr. Jackson in his note regarding the edition of Scio's Bible you print from, says it is the second. I have seen a third edition which I believe received the corrections of the translator. You had better inquire of Dr. Villanueva about this, as it is desirable you should print from the last edition corrected by Scio. As to Torres Amat's version, I think it was well it was not adopted at the time it was treated of by the committee. You will perhaps give the more weight to this opinion when you recollect that I was strongly for its adoption at that time. That it should be adopted ultimately, and that too probably before long, I have no doubt, but before its adoption by the Society and must become somewhat familiar in this country. Which is not the case at the present time. When that takes place I shall advise you of it, and you can then take the matter and you into consideration, and resolve as you may judge best.
Proposals were made some three or four years ago to the Government of Mexico by Don Antonio Puigblanch, a Spanish emigrant in London to translate the Old and New Testaments from the Hebrew and Greek originals into the Spanish language. These proposals were not accepted here, probably on account of the expense. It might I think be worth your while to converse with Mr. Puigblanch upon the subject. You will perhaps recollect that he attended the Committee on the day Torres Amat's version was treated of. I believe he is well qualified for this undertaking, for in addition to his knowledge of the original languages of the Scriptures, he is considered one of the most classic writers of Spanish of the present day. I shall be glad to hear your opinion upon this matter, and to learn the result of the conversation with him should you think of consulting him upon the subject.
I am glad to hear that you have resolved on printing the Septuagint, particularly from the principles which that decision involves, and I hope I may now dismiss the fear expressed in my last upon subjects connected with this decision.
What you noticed in your last letter and in some others, respecting the pleasing friendly godly feelings with which subjects are discussed in the Committee, is truly gratifying. O how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Long may peace and harmony prevail among you, and long may you be, as you now are, the messengers of peace to all nations.
I remain Very Sincerely Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. Please advise Mr. Tarn that Messrs. G.F.Angus will present him a draft of yesterday's date for seventy pounds to be paid them, and placed to my account of salary.
You will much oblige me by requesting Mr. Cockle to get be the following books (as cheap as he can) and to send them along with the 2000 Luke & Acts above mentioned.
Schmidt's Greek Concordance to the New Testament. London edn. 8vo. bd in calf.
Parkhurst's Gk. & Eng. Lexicon to the New Testament. Last edn. 8vo bd in calf.
Matthiae's Greek Grammar trand. by Bloomfield, bd calf.
Elsley's Annotations on the 4 Gospels & Acts. 3 vols. 8vo bd calf.
Slade's Annotations on the Epistles. 2 vols. 8vo bd calf.
Macknight's Harmony of the Gospels. 2 vols. 8vo bd calf.
Ernesti's Biblical Criticism transd. by Stuart & edited by Henderson half bd.
Missionary Register for 1828, boards.
Pullen's Pestalozzi's Grammar, half bd.
" " Intellectual Arithmetic, half bd.
Evenings at Home, the late improved edition, half bound.