Montreal, 22nd January 1842

Rev A Brandram - No 114

Montreal, 22nd January 1842

My Dear Friend,

Time is running on, the winter advances, and by and by Spring will be at hand. Permit me then to trespass a little on your attention in regard to my prospective movements.

My medical studies will close at the end of April. But the proper certificate of my attendance on these, with the necessary authority to act on them, if attainable by me at all, cannot be had till the 24th of May, that being the day fixed by the statutes of the College for the same. I would humbly propose therefore that I should leave this city for Toronto in the end of April, so as to be present at the Annual Meeting of the Upper Canada Bible Society which is held on the first Wednesday of  May, the day on which you yourselves meet. I would therefore propose the visiting of several societies between Toronto and this on my way back so as to occupy the first three weeks of May, returning here, as above hinted, by the 24th. Please to say if this meets with your approbation.

After the 24th of May I would be in entire readiness to leave this quarter, and to proceed direct to whatever place you may wish. Be so good therefore as say, whether I should go home on a visit to England, go forthwith to Mexico, or go previously to some part or parts of the West Indies. I express no wishes of my own, I know not which of these three is the best, though perhaps going direct to Mexico would be so; I wait in prayer to learn the course of Providence by your Resolution and Letter.

            I remain,

                        My Dear Friend,

                                    Truly and Affectionately Yours,

                                                James Thomson.

Mexico City, 25th May 1843

Rev A Brandram:  No.132

Mexico, 25th May 1843

My Dear Friend,

Towards the close of my last letter I said I was preparing to leave this city for Veracruz and the Havannah. I had accordingly my things packed up a few days after sending off my letter in order to go before me by the muleteers to Veracruz. But about the time for sending them off we received accounts from Yucatán of such a nature as to lead me to delay sending on my luggage, believing that the changes going on there would enable me to go direct from Veracruz to that place instead of going by way of the Havannah. I therefore delayed in this city till another packet in order to hear for the accounts from Yucatán. Things that are not yet quite clear, but we are daily in expectation of something of a decided nature. If some favourable adjustment of matters do not take place in Yucatán, I will have to go from the Havannah to Belize, and from thence to Guatemala. Could I have liberty of disposing of books by the way, I would go by land, although it is a very long horseback journey of some 1200 miles. But my chief obstacle in this case is the fear, or rather perhaps the certainty of having my Books detained in the Customs Houses on the way as they have been in this city. I am in some perplexity as to what is best to be done, but hope I may be guided to what is most advantageous.

I shall write to the Havannah to have my letters that may arrive there the beginning of next month sent on here. It will be best I think for you to continue sending my letters to the Havannah, under cover to the British Consul there, until I otherwise direct. From thence they can be forwarded to me either here, or to Belize and Guatemala as my movements may require, and I will accordingly so arrange with the British Consul in the note I am about to write him.

I am glad, under other circumstances of darkness and discourage­ment, to have once more something to say about the general circulation and use of the Scriptures here, though not directly through our hands. There is a supply daily expected in this city, of 1,500 copies of Torres Amat's second edition; and these will be sold at a considerable reduc­tion in price—a circumstance which will carry them more rapidly into circulation. They are the remnant of a large edition published in Paris. I have no doubt but you will all personally, if not officially, rejoice in this additional diffusion of the Scriptures in this place. And you may do this, too, officially, as you have been the means of bringing on here the desire for the Holy Scriptures; and, furthermore, you may do it officially, inasmuch as all this circulation of these larger and annotated Bibles will, as formerly hinted, most assuredly bring round a greater diffusion of your more simple and cheaper volumes. The booksellers gladdened my heart the other day, by telling me that there is a decided favour in the public mind in regard to the Scriptures, which was not formerly the case. Irreligious books were then in favour; but now the scale is turned—and, I may say, you have turned it.

Another favourable circumstance I may mention, and one of no small account: it respects the instruction of the Indians. Measures are now being taken by the Government Education Board here, for setting up schools among the Indians generally, for teaching them to read in their own native tongues, similar to the plan adopted in the Gaelic schools in the north of Scotland. Those produced happy effects, and so I trust will these native schools in this land. Thus extensively, you see, is the way preparing for versions of the Scriptures into the Indian tongues.

I hope you had a noble day at Exeter Hall in your annual congregation. I shall anxiously look for a confirmation of this hope, through your communications. I, I suppose your utmost post on the West, prayed for you on that occasion, and many did so no doubt far in the East, and many and more between. May the Lord other direct and prosper you, for his own glory, the good of his church, and the good of the world.

We have again been disappointed in the arrival of our packet, and her bringing no English mail.

            I am ever, My Dear friend,

                        Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson

London, 30 April 1847

Rev A Brandram

Goswell House

Friday morning, 30th April 1847

My Dear Friend,

            On the other side of this sheet you will see Mr. MacLeod's answer which is that he is not to be in London at this time, and hence cannot take part in the B.S. public meeting.

                        Yours Very Truly,

                                    James Thomson.

------------------------

Dalkeith

May - 1847

My dear Sir,

            As I do not expect this year to be in London I cannot have the pleasure of being at your great meeting.

            I was ....??.. they been truly wonderful. May God bless his Word!

                        Yours affectionately,

                                    M. McLeod.   

Madrid, 23th May 1848

Rev A Brandram No.18

Madrid 23rd May 1848

My Dear Friend,

I have been looking with more than common interest for a letter from you these some days past, and chiefly say to learn the mind of the Spanish Consul in our case. Yesterday or to day I made sure of a letter, but none has come. I delay therefore no longer in writing, as the time of my setting out on my journey is near, and some Books will need to be sent on to meet me.

I have now resolved to take the Eastern part of my journey first. But in going to Barcelona I shall go by way of Valencia. From Barcelona I intend making my way through Gerona and Perpignan to Toulouse, but I could wish to have a supply of Books ready on my arrival. Toulouse is the nearest town in France of a note bordering on Andorra, and for several reasons I conceive I could come with advantage on Andorra from Toulouse. From Andorra I descend into Spain, and go through the Basque Province to Yrun and Bayonne. Another, and say an equal supply of Books I could wish to meet with there. I have thought of the following kinds and quantities for each of these places. 50 Bibles in 8vo., 50 ditto in 12mo., 50 N.T. in 8vo., 100 in 12mo., 100 in 32mo., 100 of 4 Books and 100 Luke & Acts, making in each lot 450 copies, in all 900. You can diminish the quantities if you think better to do so. If you send these Books from England, Bordeaux will I suppose be the best port to ship them for. You can direct the cases for Bayonne to Mr. Pedezert the Protestant Minister there, and in Toulouse you have valuable friends to entrust them to, and for whom I should be glad of a note of introduction. It may be better perhaps to send the Books from Paris should there be all the kinds there. Of this you will judge. But as you say you have a large stock on hand at home, it may be better first to lessen that than send from Paris. Could you, without much trouble, let me have a note of all your Spanish stock?

I have got a printer here to print a new edition of the Basque St. Luke, which, as I mentioned in a former letter, had been carefully revised by the translator. The same individual has nearly finished a translation of the Acts. I hope you will not disapprove of these two little doings. I was anxious to have a supply of the Basque in going through these provinces, and glad too to obtain the services of the translator for the additional version. It will not be printed till you give your view on the subject, and what happens as to the circulation of the reprint may guide us.

I see the limitation of the Resolution in regard to printing, and it is a very proper one, but not applying to the Basque. In Andorra I may probably be strongly tempted to print, for all things manufactured there are free to enter Spain, and are even exempted from duty. Should Spain not open for our Books from England, and printing be still impracticable in it, we should probably avail ourselves of the advantage offered, which is a great one.

Mr. Bulwer you see is gone from this, and we shall have a new Envoy. I pray and beseech you to avail yourselves of his coming to get say ten cases sent by him.

I have been arranging to leave this on the first of June, or very soon after, unless our disturbances hinder, but times are delicate for Englishmen travelling here, or making any movements in our line, as trifling things may be made use of just now against the English. The Letter of Credit is not yet come. My address will remain as before, as arrangements will be made for forwarding letters. Afterwards I shall write on this subject.

Pray how were the 300 Testaments sent? And what others have these some years past made their way to this country as far as you know, for some half.

I have still my hopes of Spain, as you will see noted in Evangelical Christendom for April. Surely the present year will not go out as the last did, such at least are our hopes.[1]

I duly received the Record, and this morning the Reporter. The Atlas newspaper says your meeting "was, as regards numbers, rank and talent, the greatest religious union of the season." Is this perfectly correct as to the members? I shall be glad to learn this in the affirmative.

I now give you a quotation, and an advice, contained in a letter I had the other day from Mr. Mark our Consul in Malaga, though I fear you will not have the good sense to adopt the recommendation given. "A very useful object would be obtained by getting the Bible Society to procure a Bull from the Pope allowing the use of the Bible, or even enjoining the reading of it, as that would do away with the great barrier, and his liberal ministers might safely propose it to his Holiness."

I have meditated much, since the end of February, on the 93rd Psalm. Truly the floods have lifted up their voice, and continue, all around, to lift up their waves. All are setting to work to mend their Statutes, if not their ways. But the Code that occupies all our attention needs no alteration, and admits of no reform. "Thy testimonies are very sure." "The law of the Lord is perfect." What a consolation this is! And how ought we to be animated by it! Let us spread the perfect Code to reform the world, and nothing else will reform it. Also let us ourselves remember, that holiness becometh God's house, and work and servants forever.

            I remain, My Dear Friend,

                        Most Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

[1] "Spain is my present field, a country which the sun luxuriously shines upon, and blesses with his best gifts. But thick clouds intercept the rays of the Gospel, and it is a beclouded and dark country as to evangelical and moral fruits. We must not, however, despair of Spain. I do not. The dawn and the day may be nearer at hand than we are aware of , and so I trust in truth is the case. I indulge myself in this thought and hope, and endeavour to animate myself  thereby to the pouring forth of more earnest prayers, and to the use of wiser and more effectual means for its welfare." (“Spain. Death of Mrs. Thomson: And Difficulties of Protestant Sepulture”, Evangelical Christendom,  II:119.) BM

Madrid, 10th April 1849

Rev A Brandram No 26

Madrid 10th April 1849

My Dear Friend,

Your precursor letter respecting my movements duly reached me, and put me at once on the move to leave this city quickly, and to be in Lisbon as early as possible; and yesterday when Mr Jackson's letter, containing the Resolution of the Committee on the subject came to hand, my luggage was at some distance on the road to Cadiz, and my seat was taken in the Diligence for that place. The day after tomorrow I start, purposing to sail from Cadiz to Lisbon by the Packet of the 20th instant. I judge that the space between one packet and another, namely ten days, will be sufficient to do what is assigned me in Lisbon, and on one of the first days of May I expect to leave Lisbon, and to be with you, God willing, a week after.

I had, I know not how, some undefined idea that you would wish me to make my movement from this centre to the outside of this country homewards somewhat useful in seeing as much of it as I could. I could not well leave this city much earlier to undertake the journey indicated, and I kept in view that should you not approve the tour proposed there was still time from the first of May for my being in Earl Street at the close of the two years, going home direct through France.

Personally, I am well content to be relieved of the toilsome journey through Asturias and Galicia, and I am gladdened also with the hope of early seeing you all in the land of light, so strikingly contrasted with this land of darkness. May God, according to his former mercies, direct my way to you in safety.

I told you that the Paris case of Books from Bayonne had reached this city, addressed to the Ambassador of the United States, and I also mentioned that they were detained at the Custom House under doubts of delivering them. Finally, the Minister of Finance has determined that they must be confiscated, as being a prohibited article! Still, however, though officially condemned, General Saunders expects, through a private conversation with Mr Mon, that the books will be sent to him, and I have given directions as to their disposal on his getting them.

The order for the four cases for the University is still Spanishly delayed, but if got, it will follow me.

May God be with you all, in your anxious preparations and expectations respecting the Annual Meeting now so near at hand, and may his presence then manifestly and gloriously be with you.

            So pray for your poor Foreigner,

                                    James Thomson.