Lima,1st June, 1824.[1]
In the conclusion of my letter of the 1st of March, I noticed that this city had been, taken possession of by the Spanish army. It is still in their possession, and there does not appear, at present, any immediate prospect of a change in this respect. You will not expect from me political news under present circumstances, and I pass on to note what little affairs have come under my observation during these two or three months past, respecting that kingdom which cannot be moved by the strifes of men, nor the clangour of war.
My letter to Mr. H. of 25th March would inform you of the protection which the Spanish General granted to our schools. In consequence of that encouragement, I resolved to remain here some time longer, in order to put our establishment upon as sure a footing as possible. Nothing material occurred in our school upon the arrival of the Spaniards, except the losing of some of our scholars. The cause of this was the dread their parents were in, lest their children should be seized on their way to and from the school by the recruiting parties, who not unfrequently take some of the bigger boys as they find them in the street, in order to make drummers of them. Our number, in consequence of this, is less than it was about three months ago. In these times, when party spirit runs high, we endeavour in our school to maintain a strict neutrality in words and actions. We found some difficulty during the first days, after our change of rulers, to establish this neutrality among the children themselves. They would, from time to time, be forming themselves into sides, and calling each other respectively Patriots and Goths. We have in the school, children whose parents have taken opposite sides in this contest, and as might naturally be expected, the children on the one hand and on the other have imbibed the sentiments of their parents. We succeeded at length in putting an end to these strifes among the children, and we now all live in peace and unity. The government holds out to us no immediate encouragement, and on the other hand, it never in any shape interferes with our operations. On the whole, this school is going on very well. The children are making progress in their learning, and advancing in moral dignity; and some are lisping out, and some are reading with readiness, the gracious words which proceeded out of the mouth of our blessed Saviour, as they were taken down by the Holy Spirit. I may add, that we are not losing the estimation of our friends here, but on the contrary, if I mistake not, we are gaining more friends in both parties, and making advances in public confidence.
About three weeks ago I was on the eve of leaving this place, and had, as on a former occasion, everything packed up with that intention. I had indeed resolved to sail for Guayaquil with the first ship, and was inquiring for a passage. My reasons for doing so were quite solid. My salary, as I suppose you know, is paid by the government. Under present circumstances, the payment of the troops is the first thing attended to, and to procure funds sufficient for this purpose, requires great exertions in the present exhausted state of this place. To obtain this supply, all the ordinary sources of revenue are laid hold of, and pretty heavy contributions also are laid on the inhabitants to make up deficiencies. This being the case, there was no prospect of my obtaining any supplies, more especially as persons in the immediate employ of the government, and who have salaries assigned them, could obtain nothing. To make certain, however, I made application, and found it impossible to obtain anything, on account of the circumstances mentioned. As you know I have no supplies but what my own hands provide me with, it became an imperative duty to remove when my usual resources were dried up. These were my reasons for going, and I suppose you will consider them sufficient, especially if you take into consideration the high price of all kinds of provisions in this city. Sugar for instance, which grows and is manufactured within a few miles of the city, is now selling at twenty-pence and two shillings the pound.
Being ready for setting off, as above mentioned, and having given notice to the children to that effect, I waited only till the following day to send my luggage down to Callao, and to follow it immediately. Whilst I was thus prepared, my good friend the clergyman, whom I have frequently mentioned in my former letters, called upon me, and said that he believed I would not go away yet, notwithstanding all my preparations. I smiled at what he said, and replied, that my going appeared very certain and very near too, for I intended to send my luggage to Callao next morning.—Well, I do not think you will go away for all that, said he.—Upon my asking him what reasons he had for saying so, he stated, that he had been speaking with some of the parents of the children, and that they had expressed to him their concern at my going, and said they would very willingly contribute what they could, and would speak to some others who had children in the school, and that they "hoped by that means something might be raised, which might, in a great measure, remove the reasons I had stated for my going."
Whilst my friend and I were talking to this effect, a person came in who had a son at school, and repeated the same things. I replied, that I felt very much obliged by the confidence they reposed in me, and for their friendly interference for my continuance in this place. I noticed also that I had candidly stated my reasons for going away at this time, and that though they had kindly proposed a way of removing these difficulties, yet I felt a delicacy in calling on the parents of the children on my own behalf. They replied to this by saying that they would speak to some of their friends upon the subject, and that in fact they had spoken to some of those of most influence who were very cordial and anxious in the matter; and my friend the clergyman proposed to write notes to others of the parents, in his own name, to remove any delicacies I might have as to the application. Upon seeing so much interest taken in this matter, I recognized the hand of God in it, and agreed to their proposal. Their plan has been carried into effect, and thus has the Lord opened, as it were, a window in heaven, and let down before me a sheet full of supplies. In this same manner, I may say, has the Lord provided for me during the years of my pilgrimage in this foreign land. He has set a table before me, he has anointed my head with oil, he has made my cup to run over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and O may I dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
[1] Letter to BFSS. James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 146-151.