Santiago de Chile, 30th January 1822[1]
Dear Sir
As I know you, and your good friends of the B & F School Society take a deep interest in all things here relative to education, I send you an extract from the Chile Gazette of the 19th current, by which you will see that our endeavor to form a school society here have not been in vain.
"The surest method of promoting the happiness of any country is to make all the people in it well informed and industrious. An end has at length been put to the obstacles which prevented the natives of Chile from enjoying those blessings, which are enjoyed by other nations less favored by nature, but who have preceded us in the cultivation of literature and the arts. It is here necessary now to strain every nerve to regain that time which idleness and darkness have thrown away. We begin then by offering an opportunity of acquiring knowledge to all classes of the community without respect of rank, or fortune, or sex, or age.
The Lancasterian system of mutual instruction, now introduced in most parts of the civilized world, and to which many places already all an improvement in the habits, has been established among us, and in such a manner as prognosticates its beneficial effects. The propagation of this system holds out the surest means of extirpating those principles formed among us during the time of darkness. The government has resolved zealously to protect this establishment, and as the best way of fulfilling its intention, has resolved to unite with it in this object, those persons who have the same sentiments on the subject, and who at the same time possess that activity, zeal and energy which this important matter demands. In all places this system of instruction prospers and extends itself, under the fostering care of societies. This circumstance at once determines me to follow the example thus set before us, and immediately to establish a Society for this object. Of this Society I shall be the Protector and a member. My first minister of State will be President. The Solicitor general of the city, the protector of the city schools, and the Rector of the National Institute shall be ex-officio members of the committee of management. The other members of the committee will in future be chosen by the Society, but for the present I can nominate to this charge;
Brig. Gen. Don Joaquin Prieto.
The Vicar general of the Army Dr. Don Casimiro Alban
The Chaplain to the General Staff, Don Camilo Henriquez
Prebendary Dr. Don José Maria Argandoña
The Rev. Father, Ex-Provincial of the order of St. Francis,
Friar Francisco Xaviera Guzmán
The Prefect Don Francisco Ruiz Tagle
Dr. Don Mariano Egaña
Don Juan Parish Robertson
Don Felipe del Solar
Don Diego Thomson
Don Manuel Salas
Don Joaquin Campino
Don Franciso Huydobro
The Committee will hold its meetings in the room belonging to the Central School on such days as shall be agreed on at the first meeting, with no other formality than what is dictated by good order. The Committee shall form rules for the society and present them to the government for approbation; and shall name a Secretary, Accountant, and Treasurer either from their own number or otherwise. The object of this institution is, to extend in every direction throughout Chile, the benefits of education: to promote the instruction of all classes, but especially of the poor: to seize all the advantages which this new system of education holds out: and to open up resources by which it may be adapted to the circumstances and necessities of the country. In short this Institution will be considered a good of the greatest magnitude, and whose efficacy will we trust in some measure correspond to that great extension of which it is susceptible.
Signed (O'Higgins)
Torres: pro Secretary"
I trust this society which has thus been formed will be extremely useful in forwarding the great concerns of general education in this rising nation. There are many circumstances here very encouraging in regard to the future prospects and prosperity of Chile. It is probable our society will communicate with you before long, by way of claiming alliance to you in the grand work of Universal Instruction.
I remain,
Dear Sir,
Yours sincerely
James Thomson.
[1] Letter in BFSS Archives, Brunel University, London; Eighteenth Report of the British and Foreign School Society (1823), pp.123-125; James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. London: James Nisbet, 1827, pp. 26-28.