Rev A Brandram
Guayaquil, 5th October, 1824.[1]
My dear Sir,
I arrived in this place a few days ago, and seize the earliest opportunity to state to you the cause of my being here. You already know that the single object which I have in view in South America, is the promoting of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are, of course, various ways of doing this, and I have thought it best to allow myself to be guided in the manner of doing it, by the various circumstances and occasions which the providence of God opens up to me from time to time. The two things to which I have more particularly given my attention all along are, the education of youth, and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. In regard to the latter, with which you are more immediately connected, I have stated to the Society, at different times, my desire of forwarding their work in this quarter, in every way which lies in my power.
I have also informed the Society, on various occasions, as to the progress of their work in this continent. It has afforded me much satisfaction to observe the interest taken by you all for supplying South America with the sacred volume, and to read the repeated assurances you have communicated to me of your desire to carry forward this object in the most extensive and effectual way possible. The confidence I reposed in the Society in regard to this country, induced me to commence the translation of the New Testament on your account into the Quichua, or ancient language of Peru, and the answer I received from you some time ago, has shown me that I was not mistaken in regard to your views.
The same confidence as to the views of the Society, and a hope of being able to do something in the way of circulating the word of God, in places not yet visited, or but very partially, by this messenger of peace, has induced me to come to this city at the present time. It is my intention to set out from this place in two or three days for Bogota, the capital of Colombia. In my way I shall pass through Riobamba, Ambato, Tacunga, Quito, and Popayán, all of which are populous cities, and where I expect to sell a considerable number of copies of the Spanish New Testaments.
The present state of the war in Lima renders abortive every attempt to forward education there, and very little can be done in the circulation of the Scriptures by sale, on account of the very great pressure of the war, which has reduced the city to much distress. Under these circumstances, I thought the best time I could find for visiting the quarters above mentioned, and perhaps for visiting my native land, was the present. I set out then from Lima with this intention, and to perform the part of an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. I am not sure, but I may feel myself under the necessity of petitioning you for my travelling expenses. I never intended to charge you for any services I might be honoured in doing for your Society, if possible to avoid it; but the low state of my funds at present, on account of the war here, may urge me to do what otherwise I should not have done. I mention this at present, only in case it should be necessary. The prosperous turn the war has lately taken in Peru, encourages me to hope that what is due to me by the government of that country will be paid in due time, and in that case my little services shall cost you nothing.
I left Lima on the 5th ultimo, and at that time the supply of New Testaments, and of the four books of the Old Testament, printed with a small type, of which you wrote me, had not arrived. I had anxiously looked for their arrival for some weeks before my coming away, as by the date of your letter, I thought there was sufficient time for their reaching that place. I was very sorry in not having been furnished with this supply before entering upon my present journey, as I think the volumes printed with the small type would have been very acceptable, and the whole Bible also would have been equally so, as it has been often sought for.
I have just one Bible with me to show as I go along, by way of specimen, in order to incite curiosity, and a desire to possess it, when it may be supplied to all those places. This copy I bought in Lima for this express purpose, and hope it will serve the end in view. I have brought about 800 New Testaments with me, and in this place I have found the supply you sent by the Grecian to Mr. Lynch, and which I thought had gone to Chile. I am glad at finding these here, as it enables me to send a quantity to Guatemala by an opportunity which offers from this place in a day or two. The rest I will dispose of otherwise. I mentioned to you some time ago, that I had sent two boxes to Guatemala of those which came to me by the Grecian. I have however learned, that the vessel in which they were sent had changed her destination, and that they have not yet arrived at that place. The accidental finding, in this place, the cases brought by the Grecian, enables me now to supply this deficiency, and also to send by the same person a supply to California. As to the boxes formerly sent, though they did not arrive at the destination intended, I entertain no doubt of their safety, and of their being profitably disposed of somewhere, and of which I expect to hear in due time.
I shall now state to you what has occurred n the part of my journey already performed. The first object I had in view, was to visit Truxillo, where I expected to find my good friends who take so much interest in the Peruvian translation of the New Testament, and who had laboured so diligently to accomplish it. I accordingly embarked on board a vessel bound for that place, and where I safely arrived in due time. I was sadly disappointed in not finding my friends there as I expected. Not one of them was to be found, nor could I ascertain with certainty where they were, but heard that one had been seen going to one place and another to another. The suddenness of their leaving Lima prevented us from making any arrangements about our translation, and we had not even time to bid each other adieu. The abruptness of our parting, rendered more severe my disappointment in not finding them in Truxillo, where I intended to make arrangements with them for carrying forward this work during my absence.
I had brought from Lima the manuscript of the whole New Testament in the Quichua language, together with the Gospel of Luke, thoroughly revised and prepared for the press. I mentioned to you in my last, that I would endeavour to carry your resolution into effect regarding the printing of 1,000 copies of this revised part. I mentioned also that all the printing presses had been removed from Lima but that two were to be found in Callao, and that I would ascertain whether the work in question could be done there. Upon enquiry, I found it could not. In consequence of this, I wished to get the Gospel of Luke printed in Truxillo, and for that end carried the MS. to that place, that it might be carried through the press there. And in regard to the MS. of the other parts of the New Testament, I expected that our friends, in their exile, might go on revising and correcting it. All these plans, as you see, have been frustrated.
I therefore carefully packed up the whole MS. and addressing it to one of our translators, gave it into the hands of an English gentleman going to Lima, to be delivered according to the address, when the expulsion of the Spaniards from Lima (which is soon expected) would 'enable' our friends to return. I also wrote a few lines explaining my wish regarding the revising of the MS., and regarding the printing of the part already revised. The English gentleman of whom I have spoken, has kindly offered to advance all the money that may be necessary for carrying this into effect. From these arrangements I expect that the work will be set agoing again in the course of two, or at most three months from this date; for according to the present aspect of the war, the Spaniards will not be able to continue longer in possession of Lima, although they may, and probably will, retain the fortresses of Callao till a later period.
Having touched upon this subject of the Spanish cause here, I cannot forbear mentioning to you the singular interposition of Providence on behalf of the cause of liberty in this quarter. On the 6th of August last the two armies came in sight of each other at a place called Junín, between Pasco and Tarma. The consequence was, that a battle took place between the cavalry of the two parties. There were 1,200 of the Spaniards and 800 of the Patriots. An eye witness says, "The concussion was tremendous, as they came up to each other at full gallop. In a quarter of an hour, upwards of 400 men lay dead upon the field, more than three-fourths of whom were Royalists. All this havoc and slaughter was caused by the lance and sword, principally by the former. Not a shot of any description, was fired." In a short time victory began visibly to declare for the Spaniards, and the General at the head of the patriot cavalry was made prisoner.
At this critical moment, by some scarcely explained movement, the Spaniards got somehow into disorder, and began to give way. This was followed up by the Patriots, and in a very short time they obtained a complete victory. The whole of the Spanish army was, in consequence of this defeat, struck with a panic, and by forced marches endeavoured to get out of the way of the enemy as fast as possible. Bolivar immediately advanced, and the Spaniards continued to flee before him with all speed. On the 22nd August, only 15 days after the battle, the advanced guard of the patriot army entered Guamanga. Five of the finest provinces of Peru thus fell into their hands in the short period of about a fortnight. The Spanish army has been sadly reduced and dispirited by their rapid retreat, and the army of Bolivar has increased in numbers and in strength. I consider this to be a deadly blow to the Spanish cause in this quarter of the world, from which I think and hope they will never recover. With this cause will terminate, I trust, the reign of oppression and violence, of ignorance and fanaticism in Peru, and by which it has been borne down for these three hundred years. So perish all tyranny and ignorance from the earth!
I should perhaps beg your pardon for having drawn your attention so long to the concerns of war and of politics, as you are men of peace and of no party, and your only occupation is speaking peace to them who are far off and to them that are nigh. Still, however, you will remember that the book whose circulation we are engaged in, detains our attention in many places with the account of wars and revolutions. But you will say that all these are related there merely from their being connected with the grand moral and religious revolution of the world through that great prophet who was to come. This is certainly a right view of the subject; and motives of a similar nature, I trust, and not party nor malicious principles, have induced me to detain you a moment upon the wars of this quarter of the world. I firmly believe that the deliverance of this country from bondage and oppression, and the mental emancipation of its inhabitants, depend upon the success of this revolution; like the deliverance of the Jews upon the conquest of Babylon, and the possession of the land of Canaan by the people of God upon their enemies. The Spaniards, as is well known, have greatly impeded, not to say prohibited, the progress of knowledge and of true religion in America. It is not easy therefore, nor is it proper, to remain indifferent as to the issue of this struggle.
I now return to our work of peace, and to Truxillo. I wrote the Society some time ago, of having found a useful and zealous co-labourer in that city, and that I had forwarded to him from Lima a supply of New Testaments. At the first he met with some difficulties, owing to the ecclesiastical authorities of the place. These were at length overcome, and he was allowed to commence the sale of the Scriptures publicly. When he had obtained leave to do so, he printed an advertisement, and posted it up in the public places of the town, intimating the sale. The consequence was, that he had sold when I was there about 100 copies. He had also written to his friends the Vicars in the provincial towns, but he had not then, from the shortness of the time, received the answers to his letters. When these arrived, he expects several orders for New Testaments to be sent to the various towns in the department of Truxillo, which contains a population of upwards of 300,000. In addition to this mode of circulating the Scriptures, my friend informed me that he was about to put in practice a method of lending the New Testaments in the different houses which he is in the habit of visiting, and in others which he intends to visit for that purpose.
Our friend's medical duties give him a facility for carrying this into practice. He intends to lend the New Testament for a day, or for two or three days, as circumstances may direct, and to call again for it himself at the given time. Upon calling for it, he says he will ask them if they wish to purchase it, and if so, he will sell it at a price corresponding to the circumstances of the individual; and if they do not wish it, he will take it with him and lend it to some other, to whom in turn he will put the same question, and thus sell it or take it with him, as circumstances require. You will easily see that this way of doing will cost him a good deal of labour and care, but he seems to count nothing of these, if in this manner he may be the means of circulating the word of God, and of drawing the attention of the people around him, to its all-important contents. As he makes all his rounds on horseback, he will, I hope, be enabled fully to verify his benevolent purpose. He showed me a pair of saddle-bags, which he told me he had got made for the very purpose of always carrying about with him a supply of New Testaments. He gave me one hundred dollars to account of sales, which was rather more than what he had received.
The next thing I have to notice in Truxillo, is, I conceive, of some importance, and will prove, I trust, the means of greatly extending the operations and diffusing the blessings of the British and Foreign Bible Society. What I refer to is, the finding of an additional agent who takes a lively interest in the diffusion of the Scriptures, and in every other means by which his countrymen may be benefited. The individual in question is a clergyman, and a man of rank in that order. He is Vicar-general to the army, and possesses a considerable influence. His residence, at present, is at Moche, a little village about four or five miles from Truxillo, and of which place he is rector. This, however, is only a temporary residence, during the occupation of his home by the Spaniards, and from which, in consequence, he was obliged to flee. The place of his nativity and of his permanent residence is in the province and near the city of Arequipa, towards the southern extremity of Peru. It is this circumstance in particular, that will render his services valuable, as we have already an active agent in Truxillo.
He intends to return to his native province as soon as the course of the war will permit. Arequipa is in the centre of a populous country, and he will have an extensive field of operation. Another circumstance renders the acquisition of this gentleman very valuable, and that is his thorough, knowledge of the Indian or Peruvian language, which is very extensively spoken in that quarter. To this I add another feature in his character of yet more importance, which is, his compassion for the oppressed and degraded state of the indigenous population of Peru, and the lively interest he takes in ameliorating their condition, by his representations to the government upon the subject, and by his personal labours. No individual I have yet met with in these countries, has offered himself so decidedly and so heartily to promote, the cause of your Society, as this gentleman; and from all the circumstances I have mentioned, you will see that his good will and his services must be considered a great acquisition.
I considered the time spent in visiting Truxillo abundantly recompensed in meeting with this fellow-labourer, and I found, in this circumstance, some relief from the disappointment I had met with in not finding there the friends I had expected. My falling in too with that individual was perfectly accidental, for I had no knowledge of such a one being in that place. But then again we must remember, that "all chance is but direction which we cannot see." Blessed be God who leadeth us by ways we know not, but which he knows, and which will lead us to the glorifying of his name, when that is our object. I must not omit to give you the name and address of our fellow-labourer. It is "Dr. Don Manuel Fernández de Córdova, Vicario General del Ejercito del Perú, y Cura de Salamanca del Obispado de Arequipa." I have given you this address in Spanish to enable you to write direct to our friend, should you feel so inclined.
I shall now leave Truxillo, but before I go on board, shall just notice a little incident. Truxillo is about six miles distant from Huanchaco, which is the sea port town of that quarter. In going down to this port, I happened to get a very bad horse, which soon becoming restive, I was obliged to leave it at a house upon the road, and to walk down under a burning sun. After I had walked more than half the way, a person came riding up to me and offered me a horse, which of course accepted. He told me he had observed me on foot from a distance, and had pushed forward to offer me assistance. Upon entering into conversation I found my obliging friend was a peasant, belonging to a neighbouring village, where he had a family to which he was returning. We spoke a little about education in general, and of his family in particular. I learned from him that he could read, and was anxious that his children should be well instructed. I asked him if he had ever seen the New Testament, to which he replied in the negative, and from less to more, he intimated to me that he would be glad to purchase one if he could find it, for the use of himself and of his children. When we arrived at Huanchaco, he would accept of no remuneration for his kindness, and as I found my luggage there not embarked, I brought him a New Testament and made him a present of it, in return for his unsolicited and friendly attentions. He received it most thankfully, and we parted.
On the 24th we sailed for Guayaquil, but as we carried a gentleman with us at the request of the government, we had to call at Paita to land him there. We cast anchor in that port on the 26th , after sun-set, and early next morning I went ashore to see the place, and took three New Testaments with me. I went into a store near the landing-place, and being invited, took a seat upon a bale of cotton. After some general conversation, I opened my treasure, and offered the New Testaments for sale at one dollar each, and in a few minutes they were bought. Some little time after, I was asked if I had any more. I replied that I had, but that they were in the ship. I immediately went on board, and just as we had got our anchor up, a boat came along-side, in which I recognized the person who had asked me for more New Testaments. He came on board and bought two dozen, for which he paid me eighteen dollars. As we were by this time under way, the boat had to return ashore without loss of time, whilst we, with a most propitious gale, made for this port.
On the evening of the 29th we cast anchor off the small town of Puná, on the island of the same name. You will remember that this island is famous in the conquest of Peru, by the Spaniards. According to the accounts of it that remain, it seems to have been very populous at that time. It is not so now. There is, on the whole island, only one little village, namely, the one I have mentioned, and which does not contain above 200 inhabitants. We landed at this little place for a pilot to conduct us up the river. I took with me, as I had done at Paita, three New Testaments. When we landed, we found some people on the beach, to whom we communicated intelligence of the rapid progress of Bolivar. We were invited into one of the houses, and after having talked a little upon various subjects, I opened my casket and presented my New Testaments, which they were all very curious to see. Whilst they were looking through them, one of the neighbours came in. "Here!" said one who was examining the New Testament, "here is a book that will tell you about the beginning of the world, and a great many other things." His friend replied, that he cared very little about the beginning of the world, but that he wished to know something about the end of it. Upon hearing this, I told him that the book he had in his hands was the very book that would suit him, as it would inform him particularly about the end of the world. I sold the three New Testaments in this same house, and as our captain had by this time made arrangements with the pilot, we got on board again, and set sail. On the following night (the 30th) we arrived at this place, at eight o'clock. Before we cast anchor, an English gentleman came on board, to whom I had a letter of introduction. He kindly invited me to his house, where I am comfortably lodged, and from which I now write you.
I intend to stop in this place only a few days, during which I shall endeavour to dispose of as many New Testaments as I can, and in the way that may be most profitable. I now close this letter, and shall inform you of the success I meet with here, in my next communication.
I remain,
Dear Sir,
Respectfully & Sincerely Yours,
James Thomson.
P.S. I shall take it as a particular favour your forwarding a copy of this letter to Mr Haldane, 10 George Street, Edinburgh as my time will not allow me of going over the same ground in a separate communication to that gentleman as my duty & my feelings require.
[1] BSA-D1-2A. Also in James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 161-176.