Rev A Brandram No.4
Madrid 12th October 1847
My Dear Friend,
I have the pleasure of informing you, that I have obtained an order from the Government here for bringing in six cases of Books from London direct to this city without there being opened or examined in the port at which they enter this country. When they arrive here we have a friend in the Custom House who will take care of them for us. Please therefore to ship two cases of large Bibles, two cases of small Bibles, and two cases of New Testaments, say equal quantities of your three sizes 8vo, 12mo, 32mo all Scio's. The order I sent you before for my friend here you will include as part of these. Of the large Bibles some 5 or 10 to be in superior binding, and so of the smaller ones independent of my friend's order: and please let two or three of the small Bibles be in morocco, with gilt edges and having besides black leather covers.
These cases you will please send to Messrs. Charles Hackett & Co. Ship brokers, Savage Gardens, Tower Hill, desiring them to consign them to D. Joaquin del Castillo, del Comercio, en Santander. The Spanish Consul in London whose sanction will have to be obtained, will receive of this day's date in order from the Government here to allow them to be shipped.
The Broker should communicate with the Consul, and not one from your house, and he should say nothing about the kind of Books in the cases, nor whether bound or not, and you had better keep him quite ignorant on the subject, and of your house also. I do not think the Consul can refuse his assent, but it would be well to be wise in the matter.
The cases to be addressed to Don Diego Thomson, Madrid. The size may be from 200 to 300 lb.
I have requested Mr Knolleke to get some 20 volumes for my friend here who has been so serviceable to me. Please have these put at the top as a layer over as many cases as they will cover, and let the Invoice say particularly in what cases they are put. I shall be glad that the Invoice be forwarded early to this city.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
P.S. Tomorrow morning early I start for Granada.