Rev A Brandram
Quito, 8th November, 1824.[1]
My Dear Sir,
Through the tender mercies of the Lord I arrived in this city yesterday morning in health and safety. The same gracious hand who has guided me hitherto has provided for me a lodging in this place, in the house of the Marquis de San José, where I enjoy all the comforts that kindness and plenty can bestow. My last letter to you was dated the 31st ultimo, from Riobamba, and detailed the various circumstances that occurred in my journey from Guayaquil to that place. It now remains for me, therefore, to state the particulars of my journey from Riobamba until my arrival in this city.
Early on the morning of the 1st current, I set out for Ambato, and arrived there safely in the afternoon. Ambato is a larger town than Riobamba, and may contain 5,000 people. In this place I found myself comfortably lodged in the house of the Governor. My luggage, along with the New Testaments, did not arrive till the following morning. Upon the arrival of the New Testaments, I showed them to the Governor, and told him of my intention of advertising them for sale, and inquired in what shop or store I could conveniently do so. He answered me, by saying, that his own house was at my service for that purpose. I accordingly stated in the advertisement, that the New Testaments were on sale at the house of the Governor, and that the sale would continue but one day. It afforded me much satisfaction to see the interest taken in this matter by the Governor and by his lady, both of whom took great pleasure in showing the New Testaments to those who came to buy, and when I had to go out to pay or return a visit, they kindly supplied my place until my return.
ou cannot but have observed the liberality, kindness, and encouragement I have met with from the Governors of Guaranda, Riobamba and Ambato, in the service of the Society. These circumstances are very encouraging as to your future labours and expectations in this quarter, and are circumstances of which you will not fail to take advantage. The three individuals mentioned, will be most ready, I am persuaded, on any future occasion, to forward in the most obliging and effectual manner the holy object of your Society. They will also readily lend their influence for the establishment of Bible Societies in their respective districts, as soon as a Society of a national character shall be formed in the capital, to which they may become auxiliaries. Of this Society in the capital, which I have much in view and at heart, I shall inform you afterwards, should it please the Lord to conduct me safely to that place.
That you may not, however, lose the advantages already gained by the acquisition of these gentlemen, as co-operators in your work, I shall here give you their names and addresses in the style of the country. "Sr. Coronel Carlos Araujo, Gobernador de Guaranda; Sr. Ambrosio Dávalos, Gobernador de Riobamba; Sr. Nicolás Báscones, Gobernador de Ambato." In the preceding addresses, I have given you verbatim what you should write in addressing any letter to them. The best manner of communicating with these gentlemen will be through Guayaquil, as that is the nearest port, and with which there is constant intercourse. During the time I remained in Guayaquil, I stopped in the house of Messrs. Robinet and Wheelwright, and found there every facility afforded me in forwarding the work of the Society. If you would communicate with that house in your transactions with Guayaquil, Guaranda, Riobamba, and Ambato, you will find, I am persuaded, all attention paid to your concerns.
I mentioned above, that my advertisement stated the sale to last for one day only. I was, however, detained another day, and thus gave an additional opportunity for purchasing. The whole number sold amounted to forty-seven copies; but a small number, indeed, yet great as a beginning, and as an encouragement. I may mention, also, that the rector and several clergymen bought copies, and that I heard of no opposition.
In one of my letters from Guayaquil I told you, that the 200 Bibles you had ordered me had not arrived in Lima when I left that place, and to my no small regret. I have, however, regretted that delay a thousand fold in the course of my journey. I mentioned to you at the same time, that I had bought one Bible in Lima to carry with me, by way of a specimen, and to excite an interest to purchase when a supply should arrive. All my expectations in regard to this have been fully realized. The many offers I have had to purchase this Bible, have filled me with pleasure and with pain; pleasure to see so great a desire for the word of God, and pain in not being able to satisfy that desire.
Of the many occasions in which I have been so placed, none was so pleasing, on the one hand, nor so painful, on the other, as that which I experienced with the Rector of Ambato. He had been to visit me, and I went to his house to return his kindness. After experiencing much attention from him, he in a very formal manner urged me to sell him the Bible. I stated to him, upon this occasion, what I had been called on to state upon so many other occasions, namely, that the Bible I had was a kind of common property, that my object in carrying it with me was to show it to all, and to encourage all who wished for it, by informing them that a number of copies were coming, and that their desire would be realized in the possession of this precious volume.
He however renewed his request, besought me to let him have it, and urged his claim in the name of all his flock, for whose use he said he particularly wished it. My difficulty here was great, yet I considered my reasons for not parting with this volume still greater, and was thus obliged most unwillingly to withhold what, under other circumstances I would most gladly have bestowed. He said, among other things, to induce me to yield to his request, that I would be able to find a copy in Quito, for he had learned that some had been sold here some time ago, as was actually the case, for 40 copies of the 500 sold in Lima were brought here. I told him that there were some doubts as to my obtaining a copy in Quito, but that I would make inquiry when I should arrive there, and in the event of finding one I should send him my own copy, and at the price at which I purchased the other. Upon these terms we came to an agreement, and he remarked that I should not make any hesitation in regard to the price, for he would willingly pay what should be charged.
On the 4th current I left Ambato on my way to this city. There is a town called Tacunga or Latacunga about 20 miles distant from Ambato, and on the straight road to this place. From the consideration of having been much detained in my journey from Guayaquil, I wished to reach this city as quickly as possible, and on that account I intended not to stop at Tacunga, but to push on to a village called Mulaló, and to pass the night there, in order that I might reach Quito on the following day. I was the more inclined to do so, as I understood that Tacunga was inhabited almost wholly by Indians, none of whom could use our books. Another arrangement, however, had been determined on by a higher authority than mine, and for a purpose which you will presently see.
I had scarce left Ambato, when a Friar travelling for Quito, came up with me upon the road. As he was accompanied by a servant only, and unencumbered with luggage, he could get faster on his way than I could, accompanied as I was by the loaded mules. We, notwithstanding, rode together for some time, and fell into various conversation. He urged me to go forward with him, and to leave the loaded mules to follow us, which, after some hesitation, I complied with, and we went on together at a gentle trot. His intention was to stop all night at Tacunga, as he had some concerns to arrange there. He kindly invited me to stay there also during the night, in order that we might go on together next day towards Quito, offering me a hospitable lodging in the convent of St. Dominic, to which he belonged.
I still, however, thought it my duty to push forward, so as to reach Quito next day, and which I could not do if I stopped all night at Tacunga. Before we arrived at the place, in passing a river, my horse, upon reaching the bank, which was rather difficult of access, stumbled, plunged again into the river, and nearly threw me into it. I got safely out, though considerably wet. This circumstance determined me to stop at Tacunga till I got my clothes dried. Upon reaching the town, I went with my friend to the convent, where I got myself comfortably dried, and prepared for the journey. Before I was ready to set out, there came on a thunder storm, and by the time the weather cleared up, it was too late to set out. My good friends in the convent strongly urged me to pass the night with them, and which I consented to do.
I found this town larger than I expected, and as I was to pass the night in it, I was anxious to seize the opportunity of offering the word of God to them, although I had not much confidence as to the success I should meet with. In carrying this purpose into effect, I found myself rather embarrassed. I was lodged in a convent, and knew not what disposition the friars might have to the distribution of the Scriptures, especially to their being sold in the convent. I wished myself lodged elsewhere, and indeed anywhere else, but could not with any decency remove, as my friends loaded me with kindness. Had I known, upon my entering the town, that I was to have a sale of the New Testaments there, I would not have gone to the convent, more especially as I had a letter of introduction to the Governor and to another gentleman in the place.
After some hesitation, I resolved to make an attempt where I was. I went pensively to the case in which the New Testaments were, took out one, and went direct to the Prior to show it to him, praying all the while as I went, that the God of heaven would dispose his heart and the hearts of the rest to befriend the circulation of his holy word. My prayer was heard. The Prior was much pleased with the New Testament, and bought it. He showed it to one of the rest, and recommended it, whilst I did not fail to put in a word to the same effect, pointing out the advantages of the Scriptures to all, and how more immediately it concerned them, as ministers of religion, to possess it, and to recommend it to others. Yes, said one of them, it is the very book which concerns us, and we would gladly encourage others to receive it. I then told them that I had a number of copies, and that I wished to expose them to sale in that town. I showed the Prior the advertisement, and said, I should be glad to have the sale in the convent, if it were agreeable to him. By all means, said he, and immediately he filled up the blanks in the notices with his own hand, and sent a person to fix them up.
The advertisements were scarcely up, when one, and another, and another came tripping in to purchase a New Testament. In a little, the buyers thickened, whilst all the friars stood around enjoying, the sight, and warmly recommending the sacred volume to all who came, and assisted me in the sale when occasion required. The result was, that in two hours and a half, that is, till the night came on, I sold one hundred and four copies, which was more than I had sold in Guaranda, Riobamba, and Ambato taken together, although I remained two days in each of these places. You see, by this time, I dare say, why superior arrangements called me to stop at this place, contrary to my own intention.
Among others, whom the sound of our horn brought together, came the Vicar of the town in propria persona. Upon learning who he was, I made my obeisance, and entered into conversation with him, as to the advantages of the word of God, and the duty of making it known to all, and to my great joy I found in him also a friend to this object. At an early period of our sale, I brought out the Bible, of which I have spoken above, and for the purpose there mentioned. It had the desired effect. It arrested the attention, and could have been sold many a time. I told all who wished to purchase it, that there would arrive in a few months a number of copies, and that all would be supplied. None being able to obtain it, a little circle resolved to improve the occasion to learn what it contained, while a friar in the middle kept reading aloud for a considerable time. There was another attractive, namely, the Brief View of the Bible Society. This also drew the attention, and was eagerly read. Their approbation of the object of the Society, and their wonder at the effects already produced by it, alternately drew forth corresponding expressions.
You need not be told that I relished the scene before me, and enjoyed a high entertainment. I could not refrain from silent thanksgiving to the God above, as I brought out another and another parcel of New Testaments, to which I joined a fervent prayer, that on this occasion the word of God might be sown in good ground, and might produce in some thirty, in some sixty, and in some a hundred fold. I felt also my heart warm within me, whilst the contemplation of the British character, which was thus brought under review, called forth the just praises of my native land. O favoured isle! Garden of God! Where the fruits of righteousness grow more abundantly than in all the world beside. Peace be upon thee! In thee may the will of God be done—as it is done in heaven.
By and by the night came on, and our sale closed. After which we retired to one of the cells, and entered into general conversation. We were all pleased with each other. My friends, on the one hand, seized every opportunity to show their kindness and attention, and I, on the other hand, in return for their kindness, amused them with my mountain barometer, thermometers, and pocket compass, all of which were perfectly new to them, and highly entertaining. At a proper hour the friars retired to their cells, and I also retired to mine, where I passed part of the night in contemplating the scene which had just passed before me, and the rest in repairing the fatigues of the day.
I told the Prior of the convent and the others, that the sale which had been effected in that place, so much greater than in the other places I had visited in their neighbourhood, did great honour to their town. I took occasion also to return them my sincere thanks for the very active and friendly part they had taken in this matter, and told them I should have great pleasure in communicating the same to the Society in London, and which I accordingly now do. The Prior said that he should be very glad, upon any future occasion, to forward the objects of the Society as far as he could, and that in regard to any other supply of the Scriptures destined for Tacunga, he would most readily take charge of them, and dispose of them according to the directions which might be sent with them. The other Friars heartily seconded the Prior in all these matters. In conversing about the Bibles that were to come to them from Guayaquil, it was agreed that not fewer than fifty copies would be required for Tacunga, and I promised to write to Guayaquil in order that this number might be sent to them upon their arrival there from Lima. At the same time I write to Lima to forward a sufficient supply to Guayaquil of your second edition, which must, I should think, be already in Callao, or near it.
In the preceding part of this letter, I gave you the names and address of some persons who would gladly carry forward your object in the places mentioned. I now add to this list another, namely, the Prior already mentioned, "El R. P. Fr. Manuel Peñaherrera, Prior de Santo Domingo de Latacunga." The person just named, as well as all his colleagues, will be most ready to establish an Auxiliary Bible Society in that place, when the proper time comes for doing so. I give you also the names of some others belonging to this convent, as my duty and my promise require of me, and could wish that in some corner of one of your monthly extracts or annual reports their names might be recorded, for I think they are worthy of it; and in seeing their names in any of these publications I shall feel myself as discharged from what nearly amounts to an obligation, and which my feelings of respect and gratitude towards my friends led me into.
The names are as follows: Padre Mariano Quintana, Padre Narciso Molina, Padre Matías Granja. To which I add, as the last, but not the least, my travelling companion, Padre José Celio. I now conclude this letter, the writing of which has been the means of my enjoying over again the encouraging scenes which I have endeavoured to describe, and which I lay before you that you may comply with the pleasing duty of rejoicing with those that rejoice. I only add, may God Almighty prosper you most abundantly in all your undertakings; and unto whom in all things be glory for ever: Amen.
Yours Very Sincerely,
James Thomson.
[1] BSA-D1-2A. Also in James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. London: James Nisbet, 1827, pp. 203-215.