6 Red Lion Square
16th June 1853
Dear Sir,
I return you the letter from Valparaiso having now written today to Peru on the subject contained in it.
I received your note of the 13th and perceived by it that you could not immediately supply the copies of the Scriptures for Gibraltar which I had requested, and that the matter must stand over till Monday. I am glad to say that in the mean time I have received from the Christian Knowledge Society a supply of their improved version of the New Testament and which will be sent off today to Southampton along with other books for the object in question.
In regard to the Scriptures sent out two years ago to Gibraltar and Malaga, they were placed under the care of Mr. Bracebridge for the purpose proposed, and he is the party to put the inquiry to to which you put to me in your note.
Again, as to the upshot of the Hebrew Scriptures sent out to Barbary, I think notices must have been given you long ago. I have sought out the letters that I received on the subject, & they are now before me. By these it appears that Mr. Tapiero, the person in Tangier who was entrusted with them, had sent a large quantity of them into the Interior of the country, and that in passing a River they got quite wet, and this with the delay on the journey rendered them entirely useless. Secondly, that other copies that he had were sold to pay the costs that had been incurred in sending the Books into the interior and otherwise.
Neither myself nor Mr. Benoliel through whom part of this affair was inquired about, are quite satisfied in regard to Mr. Tapiero's conduct. But we have both done all we can in the matter with Tapiero; and having done so, and of course communicated this to you verbally or otherwise, it is not quite in order that acriminations, and more than one, be aired concerning it.
On Monday I shall hope to see you, and in the mean time, remain,
Yours Truly,
James Thomson.