Mr J Thomson to Mr J A Haldane[1]
Lima, 11th July, 1822
My Dear Brother,
Through the unceasing goodness of God towards me, I have now arrived safely in this city. On the 18th of last month I sailed from Valparaiso, and after a pleasant passage of ten days we cast anchor in Callao bay. Callao is an excellent harbour, the best I have yet seen. It will hold almost any number of ships riding in great safety. It is well defended from all winds except the north, but it scarcely ever blows from that quarter. In consequence of an order from the Government that no passengers should be allowed to land until they receive a licence or passport from Lima, I had to defer my coming here till the day after our arrival; I got permission, however, from the captain of the port to go on shore. After viewing Callao, I went to take a view of the place where the former Callao stood, which was destroyed by the earthquake, of which of course you have read. Its site is about half a mile from where the present town stands. The destruction seems to have been complete. Not a house is now standing; but walls of houses of considerable thickness are to be seen scattered all over the place. Some of these are lying flat, and others are half turned over. How weak is man, and all his works, when God arises to shake the earth!
On the day on which I arrived in this city, I called on San Martin, and delivered him the letters of introduction which I had brought from Chile. He opened one of the letters, and observing its purport, said "Mr. Thomson! I am extremely glad to see you;" and he rose up, and gave me a very hearty embrace. He would not, he said, be lavish in compliments, but would assure me of his great satisfaction at my arrival; and said, that nothing should be wanting on his part to further the object which had brought me to Peru. Next day as I was sitting in my room, a carriage stopped at the door, and my little boy came running in crying, San Martin! San Martin! In a moment he entered the room, accompanied by one of his ministers. I would have had him step into another apartment of the house more suited to his reception; but he said the room was very well, and sat down on the first chair he reached. We conversed about our schools, and other similar objects for some time; and in going away he desired me to call on him next morning, and said he would introduce me to the Marquis of Truxillo, who is at present what is called the Supreme Deputy or Regent. I called on him accordingly next morning, and he took me with him and introduced me to the Marquis, and to each of the ministers.
From all the members of the government I have received great encouragement. On the 6th current an order was issued relative to our schools, and published in the Lima Gazette of the same date. I am going to write Mr. Millar[2] to-morrow, and shall give him a translation of this order or decree, a copy of which will of course be sent you. By this order one of the convents is appropriated to the schools, and is now in our possession. I believe the convents here will decrease in number as the schools multiply. There is no contest or balancing of powers between the civil and ecclesiastical powers in this place. The former has the latter entirely at their nod. The case in regard to this convent is a proof of what I have said. The order for the friars to remove was given on Saturday, on Monday they began to remove, and on Tuesday the keys were delivered up.
From all I have seen during the short time I have been here, I cannot doubt of the great benefits which this country will derive from the new state of things. San Martin and his first minister, (and also the others) seem truly anxious to characterize the times by improvements—by solid improvements. They wish to encourage foreigners, and to improve the state of the country in every point of view. I have already mentioned to you my representation made to the Chilian government just before leaving that place, regarding the bringing out of tradesmen and farmers. I showed a copy of this representation to San Martin; he read it very carefully over, and concluded by saying, "Excellent!" He then told me what was his opinion on the subject, and proposed a plan for carrying it into effect, much more likely to succeed than the one I had stated. I am to draw up this plan in order, and to present it to him, that it may be sanctioned and carried into effect. I therefore consider this matter, so far as regards Peru, as fairly begun. The particulars of the plan I may send you afterwards. In the mean time, that you may see that in these matters I am not losing sight of my chief object, I shall mention to you one sentence of the representation referred to. It is this, "The men who will be most useful to South America, are men truly religious and of sound morality." The minister of Chile, upon reading this sentence, said, "That is very true;" arid San Martin expressed himself in a similar manner upon my stating the same thing to him.
What an immeasurable field is South America; and how white it is to the harvest! I have told you this repeatedly, but I have a pleasure in telling it, to you again. I do think that, since the world began, there never was so fine a field for the exercise of benevolence in all its parts. The man of science, the moralist, the Christian, have all fine scope here for their talents. God, who has opened such a door, will surely provide labourers.
My present intention is to continue here about six months, and then to move on northwards. I may, however, be kept longer here than I intend, but I am anxious to get to England as soon as possible. My stay here will depend much on the facility or difficulty of obtaining good masters for the school. This I find, from experience, a matter of so great importance, that I intend to pay every attention to it; and I have it now in my power more than ever to do so, having represented to the government the necessity of encouragement, by offering employment and a good salary to those who thoroughly study the system, and are able to put it in practice; and this encouragement I am authorized to give.
Regarding our brethren coming out, I scarcely know what to say. If I should say, come out to Lima on receipt of this, and I will wait your arrival, I might be detained here longer than I could wish, and after all have to leave here before their arrival, despairing of their coming. I have said, in some of my former letters, that they may come to Mexico, I would meet them there on my way home. I scarcely however expect any of them there. From this uncertainty regarding their sailing for Vera Cruz at the time referred to, I do not think it indispensably necessary to pass through Mexico in order to meet them, as was proposed. I mention this more particularly on account of something which I have in view here, which if it succeeds I will not go by way of Mexico, but through Santiago de Bogota. On the whole, I think our brethren had better go on with those preparatory studies in which they are engaged until I see them, if it should please God to preserve me till that time. You will of course counsel them as to the things they should attend to, and advise them to improve to the utmost, the time and opportunities they enjoy. I beg that they may bestow a considerable share of attention on the English language. There are good teachers in Edinburgh, whom they may attend for this purpose. No progress in Latin and Greek can in my opinion compensate for the neglect of English.
[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp.33-37; New Evangelical Magazine Vol IX 1823, pp.188-9.
[2] BFSS--letter written 12 July 1822.