Rev A Brandram
Harpur Street 13th December 1849
My Dear Friend,
I write this letter preparatory to our meeting tomorrow, where will be formally discussed the subject of the translation of the Old Testament direct from the Hebrew into Spanish by the present Professor of Hebrew in the University of Madrid.
To aid you in finding the letters in which I formerly brought the matter before you, I would observe that there are two, and dated in Madrid, the 27th of October 1848, and the 13th of March 1849.
Since my return to this country I have had three communications from the Professor referred to, in each of which the subject in question is more or less noticed. In the first of these he enters at some length into the grounds and reasons which exist for desiring and executing a new translation of the Scriptures into the Spanish Language and direct from the Original tongues. In this statement he finds ample fault with the Vulgate, and points out defects in the present versions into Spanish made from it.
In the second communication he says, "I am resolved to fulfill my word, and to carry into effect my purpose of translating the Bible, if your Society would aid me in thus contributing to the great work in which it is concerned, namely, the extending of Bible knowledge by means of reading in its purity the immortal book of the goodness and wisdom of God. The necessity for such reading here in Spain becomes every day more sensible, because impiety increases among us from want of the reading of this precious book, whilst the reading of trifling and bad works abounds. It appears to me very desirable that you should return again to this country, and that the Society should improve the occasions that may offer for conferring a blessing of the greatest amount on Spain, even upon this unhappy country, by contributing to deliver it from the condition of religious indifference, and of practical atheism in which it now is, and into which it has been brought by our ignorance, and by wicked devices of the prelates and priests of our religion."
In the third letter, he says, "I have pursued my work of translating the Scriptures, and this day, (24th November) I have finished a clean copy of the Book of Exodus. I hope, with the help of God, to conclude Leviticus by the end of the year, and to finish the entire Pentateuch by the commencement of our vacations in June next. I should like very much previously to see you here that we might converse together, and that I might consult you on some points of difficulty which have occurred, and which I have in the meantime, rendered as God has enabled me." – "Have the goodness to propose to the Bible Society to favour me, should it not be inconvenient, with 1000 or more copies of the octavo Hebrew Bible in sheets, or slightly bound, and to say what would be the cost of the same per 100 copies. My object in this is, that I may publish my translation interleaved with the Hebrew, to facilitate the comparison of the one with the other, to all who might choose to do so."
In closing this communication, I would repeat, what I have above indicated, namely, that the prosecution of the work in question, and its publication would, greatly contribute to forward the Bible cause in Spain. I should be glad to find that the Society was disposed to give its aid to the Translator, as I fear that without some aid the work cannot be completed.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.