From Mr. Thomson, dated Lima, May 26, 1823[1]
Dear Sir,
A considerable time has now elapsed since I last wrote you. I confess I have acted wrong in delaying so long; but I know that yourself and the committee of the British and Foreign School Society are ready to forgive. The truth is, I have had no heart to write to you – I have had nothing encouraging to communicate, and I am never fond of being a messenger of evil tidings. I have been bandied about these many months, without being able to make any progress in those highly important affairs in which you feel so deeply interested. I have been more than once on the eve of leaving this part of South America, but one little encouragement or other called me back just as I was going to embark, and flattered to me into a belief that all would go well. I shall not detain you with a long list of grievances, but pass at once to the more pleasing task of calling on you to join me in rendering thanksgiving unto Him, who comforteth those who are cast down, and who hath turned my darkness into light. Blessed be his name! the prospects of something being done here brighten daily, and I hope yet to communicate to you something gladdening from the land of the Incas.
We have at length got our School fairly begun, and under very favorable auspices. I formerly mentioned to you, that the Governor had given us, for our School, the college belonging to the Dominican friars. The whole of the edifice is at our disposal, for school objects. We have fitted up, for our present school-room, a large apartment, formerly the college dining-room, which will contain 300 children. The number of children actually attending is upwards of 100. We intend to increase it gradually rather than rapidly, as we might do, were we inclined. The experience I have had has taught me the necessity of this. It is an easy matter to tell what the System is, and to say, things are to be managed in such and such a way; but the great difficulty consists in reducing it to practice, in training the children to method.
The Congress and Government are decidedly in favour of education. Their object is not merely the education of the few, but the education of the many, namely, of every individual in Peru. The attention of the Congress is at present engaged in drawing up a constitution for the nation. One of the articles already sanctioned is, that no person can be a citizen of Peru, unless he can read and write. From the consideration, however, of the neglect in promoting education in this country, these literary qualifications are not to be exacted until the year 1840. Time is thus given for every individual to qualify himself in these matters; and the anxious desire of Congress is, I am fully persuaded, to carry forward education with all rapidity.
You are aware I suppose that the inhabitants of Peru do not all speak the Spanish language. The descendents of the ancient Peruvians are very numerous, and most of them speak the language of their ancestors. In some parts of the country they have assumed the manners and the language of their conquerors and oppressors; but in other parts, and these are by far the most populous, their ancient tongue is their only medium of communication. I have long had my eye on this part of the population of the country. I have at length obtained a fair prospect of being able to plant schools among them, and also to hand to them the Word of God in their native tongue. An officer belonging to a regiment called the Peruvian Legion, and who thoroughly understands the Quichua language, has taken a great liking to our system, and is extremely desirous of benefiting his countrymen by communicating instruction to them. He is at present attending our school for this purpose, and I entertain a pleasing hope regarding the future results of his operations. I have got acquainted also with another gentleman who speaks the Peruvian language, and who also feels deeply interested in the present and future welfare of this people. This individual is at present engaged in translating a portion of the New Testament into this ancient tongue. As soon as one of the Gospels is translated and thoroughly revised, we intend to get it printed with all speed, and to put it into immediate circulation.
The types and the lessons came to hand all safe about two months ago. All the articles mentioned in your last letter came to hand in due time, and I shall notice them more particularly in my next.
I beg to express to your Committee my sincere respect and gratitude for the very obliging manner in which they came forward in aid of education in South America.
I remain, dear Sir,
Yours sincerely,
James Thomson.
[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 80-82; New Evangelical Magazine, Vol X, 1824, pp. 58-59; Nineteenth Report of the British and Foreign School Society (1824), pp.152-153.