Mr Ronneberg
Lima, 16th August 1823
Dear Sir,
Your letter of the 20th February last came into my hands a few hours ago. I haste and to make a reply to your query, regarding the reception the Spanish Bible might meet with here without the Apocrypha. Before however I go further; permit me to condole with you all the heavy loss you have lately sustained in the lamented death of Mr. Owen. He was indeed a man of worth, and none are more able to bear testimony to this than the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society. O that we may be all imbued with such a spirit as he had, in forwarding the Noble Cause of the circulation of the Holy Word of God throughout all the earth.
I return to the subject of your query. Immediately upon receiving your letter, I went to consult with some persons regarding the matter in question, and I am happy to say the result of all my inquiries was favourable. I called on two highly respected clergyman who are members of Congress. I stated the matter freely to them without concealing anything. I showed them a list of the books which would have to be omitted, and then asked their opinion as to the sending of the Bibles with these omissions. They had once replied: let them be sent with these omissions. In the course of conversing further upon the subject, I mentioned to them that the parts committed might be printed by themselves that those who chose might have them. They both thought that this would do very well. Now although you cannot print the Apocrypha from your own funds yet you might recommend the matter to some bookseller, and if it were printed and bound in the same way as the Bible it would sell along with it, and might perhaps turn out of profitable speculation to the person who might take it in hand.
I have now answered your question, and I hope satisfactorily. You will therefore have the goodness to send us an ample supply as soon as possible. I think you may send us two thousand by one vessel, and three thousand by another vessel a month or two afterward. You will please make your consignments to Mr. Lynch as formerly. I recommend you to forward, whatever you may have to send to this quarter, overland to Liverpool, as there are a great many more vessels from that port for Lima than there are from London. Everything you may have to send direct to me, please forward to Richard Hancock Esq. Liverpool, who is instructed to ship all my little concerns to this place by the first opportunity. You will also please address me to the case of Messrs. Cochran & Robertson, Lima. I believe my stay in this place will be much longer than I had first anticipated, but on this subject I shall write you more fully in my next, which shall be immediately upon receiving the 5000 New Testaments you have mentioned.
I have already signified to you in former letters that it would in my opinion be prudent and not unprofitable to bind the Bibles and Testaments in many instances somewhat extra. I think they should be all lettered neatly on the back, and I think the Bible would be better bound in two volumes or even three. These things will create to use some more expense in the first instance but less in the end. The price is very low even after all the additions I have spoken of, and nobody here would grudge the increase. You will please excuse my frequent notice of the subject. I understand that some of those you sent to Mr. Jerauld last, are bound in the manner I requested. I have written for the whole of that supply, but they have not yet arrived.
I have just one thing more to state to you for the present. It is a request that you would print in Spanish a brief and interesting view of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and of other kindred Institutions, together with some interesting and instructive letters from your reports. The whole might be comprised in two sheets or less. I am sure this would greatly contribute to forward the object of the Society. I beg therefore that you would endeavor to get this ready as soon as possible. You will keep in mind in drawing up this abstract that you are preparing it for a Catholic country. You will please also to get it well translated, and carefully printed. Mr. Lynch thinks the abstract referred to would do much good, and he is very anxious to have it, to put into the hands of his friends, to let them see what mighty efforts you are making everywhere, to put the Holy Scriptures into the hands of all. – Wishing you every success in your Holy Work, I bid you for a while, adieu, and remain,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
Ref.: BSA-D1-2-A