Guanajuato, 26th November 1827

Rev A Brandram. - No.12

Guanajuato 26th November 1827

My Dear Friend,

I have again the pleasure of writing you, and of communicating to you the pleasing intelligence that God is making his word to circulate in this land. We are here, as you know, in a spiritual sense, sitting in the region and shadow of death. But God have said respecting this land, "Let there be light," and light therefore is springing up among us. I am sure you will join me in praying that this light already dawning on us may increase more and more until the full noon of the sun of righteousness shine upon us. It was the word of God which at first gave light to our globe, and it is the word of God contained in the Holy Scriptures which will illumine this land. Your lot, and that of the Bible Society is enviable, because God has employed you to carry the torch of heavenly light to all the nations of the earth. In this corner of the world I am placed, and am privileged to see with my own eyes the light of truth entering this land, and spreading around me. This is truly a pleasing sight, and if God spare me a few years longer, I hope to see the happy effects of the word of God on the hearts and lives of many. In the meantime it is gratifying to see the Holy Scriptures sought after with some considerable degree of eagerness, and I think I may add, earnestness. Let us not forget to pray for this people, that the word of God which they are now reading may become to them a well of water springing up unto eternal life.

I left Zelaya, from whence my last letter to you was written, on the 15th current and arrived in this city on the 17th. Here I find myself comfortably lodged in an English house. When I was in Querétaro I received a letter from Mr Hurry one of the directors of the Anglo-Mexican Mining Company now in this city, kindly offering me his house during my stay in Guanajuato. This friendly offer was of course accepted and I came straight to his house on my arrival here, and I have received during these ten days past the kindest treatment from Mr Hurry, and also from Mr Williamson the first commissioner of the company here. I think it right to mention to you this instance of kindness, as it is a kindness shown towards the Society in the saving of expenses to your agent in this place. Mr Hurry also has kindly introduced me to some persons of note and of influence here and whose acquaintance may probably be helpful to me, or rather to you in future operations in this quarter.

On Monday the 19th preparations were made for our sale and on Tuesday we commenced. An empty shop was obtained for our purpose right opposite the principal church. There was a niche in this church on the outside, containing an image of our Saviour. It is closed up on common days, leaving however a small glazed aperture just sufficient to show the head. A small lanthorn[1] was hanging before it, which as it was gently moved by the zephyrs gave the appearance of the moving of the head instead of the lamp, a circumstance which seem to give life to the image. As this was right before our door, it caught my eye every time I raised my head and looked out. It had some effect and seemed to remind me the Saviour was looking on to see our operation, and I thought he looked on with approbation.

Our sale has gone well and more has been done here than in any of the two former places. I cannot say exactly that we had no hinderances, but I can say that what did occur of this nature was as gentle as could be expected. We are, you know, striking a powerful blow at an extensive and deep rooted system in this country, and it is not to be expected that the system should quietly fall before us. The want of the Apocryphal books forms an excellent handle to those who wish to oppose our operation here. I overheard what had been said by some priest or priests upon the subject, by way of discouraging if not forbidding the people to buy your Bibles. No doubt some were hindered from buying on this account, yet on the whole no serious injury I think was done to our sale. The Apocryphal subject was at different times under consideration in the sale room, and on one occasion when the want of these books was objected to, a gentleman who was present interfered and said that these books did not form a part of the Canon. This was the first time I had heard such an opinion given by anyone in this country. The want of the Apocrypha will no doubt lead in time to an investigation of the cause, and this may be attended with happy effects. But in my humble opinion the investigating of the subject, and the consequent agitation, will be brought on too early for producing all those good effects which we could wish to be brought about by it. Yet, let us hope for the best, and let us earnestly pray to the Lord your endeavours to promote his kingdom here may be crowned with success.

In this place I have witnessed one instance of a stronger prejudice against the circulation of the Scriptures than has been generally met with. A man who had bought New Testament, where of course there were no Apocryphal difficulties, afterwards brought it back because he had been told that it was not right for him to read it. Some priests no doubt had told him so. I endeavoured to find who had been so officious, but the man would not say who would it was. I reasoned with this man upon the subject pointing out the nature of the book he was returning, and how useful the reading of it would prove to him. He admitted what I said to be correct, and seemed to regret the necessity he was under of returning the volume, expressing the hope that at a future time he might find himself at liberty to purchase and to use the New Testament. The only objection he made to the book was that it did not contain the prescript of the Pope as a licence for the free use of the translation given. By his mentioning this I perceived what had been the argument used by the priest to hinder him from reading his New Testament. This, as far as I recollect, is the only instance of this strong prejudice that has come under my immediate observation. I wonder not that this instance of such an ignorant and blind prejudice, but I wonder that I have met with so few instances of that when I consider the past and the present state of this country. The spirit of inquiry however happily already begun here, will no doubt root out these prejudices in due time, and will gradually prepare the minds of many for listening to the simple truth.

This day which is Monday is the last day of our sale. This morning there was a good deal of talking about a sermon which the Rector had preached yesterday, in which he took occasion to notice the sale of Bibles just at the Church door. I had various reports as to what he had said, and most of them were unfavourable. I was anxious to ascertain the truth upon the point, and made several inquiries for that purpose. In the afternoon a man came in to buy a Bible and told us, and having heard reports as to what the Rector said he had inquired very particularly upon the subject and had learned that what he said was, that the Bibles which were selling should not come into everybody's hands, as everyone was not capable of reading them with advantage, and that those who had got them should consider them not as common or profane books but as books which should be read with devoutness. He did not then, said I, prohibit the buying or the reading of the Bibles. The man said, he did not, for if he had he would not have come to buy one. We have here in this last sentence another instance of the influence the priests have over the minds of many. As a counterpart to this, there are many persons who would not be hindered from reading the Scriptures by anything the priests would say against them doing so; and again there are several priests who freely recommend the reading of the Scriptures. – Here, as in other places, several priests have bought Bibles; of Friars I have seen but few, and I believe there are not many in this place. I had a letter of introduction for one here given me by Father Cuevas in Querétaro, but I have not been able to find him out, and suppose he must have gone to some other place. From the influence which the priests have in general, and from the readiness with which many follow their example, I think it desirable to have a friend or two among them in the different places to which I go. I have found this often useful, and bless the Lord for the many friends he has raised up for me in various places, for in his hand are the hearts of all, and he turneth them as he will.

This evening our sale having just closed, I am enabled to state the number of copies that have been sold here, and the sum which has been received. There have been sold 260 Bibles, 160 New Testaments, 77 of Four Books, 120 of Luke & Acts, amounting when taken together to 625 copies; and for these I have received 1,111 dollars 6 rials. The circulation of the Scriptures in the city to the extent now mentioned during a period of six days is truly gratifying, and now, my dear Friend, let us again join in prayer that he who has disposed so many here to receive the Holy Scriptures may graciously pour out his Holy Spirit on those who have read them, that they may be enlightened thereby, and may be saved with an everlasting salvation.

            I subscribe myself, My Dear Sir, Very Sincerely Yours,

                                                                                                James Thomson.

P.S. Your letter by the August Packet came to my hand in this city, and it would have been received three weeks sooner had it not been addressed by oversight to Vera Cruz instead of Mexico. Please mention this to Mr Jackson, as this is the second letter that has been so directed. JT.

[1] 'lanthorn' - archaic term for 'lantern' (BM)

Oaxaca, 12th June 1828

The Rev A Brandram  No.22

Oajáca 12 June 1828

My Dear Sir,

In commencing this letter from Oajaca, I must before treating of this place or my way to it, carry you back for a moment to Orizaba where my last letter was dated. In that letter I omitted to mention respecting the Vicar of Orizaba, that he very much approved of translating the New Testament into the native languages spoken in the country. He was very much gratified when I told him what I had in view in reference to that matter. He had he said often spoken upon the subject, and had long ago wished to see the thing done. This individual therefore will be very serviceable in the circulation of the Mexican New Testament when the translation shall be accomplished in whole or in part. I have called him the Vicar of Orizaba, because besides being the Rector of that place he is also the Bishop's vicar for that district, having under him the Rectors of several parishes around. I mention the circumstances regarding his rank and situation, that you may see how far his influence extends, and how far he is likely to be a forwarder of your work.

I left Orizaba on the 15th of last month on my way to Tehuacán. On going out of the town, I was much gratified by seeing at the guardhouse of the customs, one of the Custom House officers sitting on the outside of the house on the roadside, reading one of your New Testaments, which he had purchased the day before. He and his companions at once recognized me, and we had some very friendly conversation respecting the circulation and the reading of the New Testament. You good people in Earl Street were not forgotten on this occasion, and your worthy object and labours were appreciated in terms which you would not have despised, and which would, if you had heard them, have served to stimulate you to perseverance in your pious work. I may here notice the use that is made in general of the Bibles and Testaments which are purchased by the inhabitants of this country. I have just now mentioned an instance of a person diligently perusing the New Testament at his intervals of leisure immediately on purchasing. I believe what this individual was doing is very generally done by the purchasers. The book is quite new to them, and I believe the general method is, to begin at the beginning of the volume and to read through in order with as little interruption as possible. This circumstance you will I hope consider as another stimulating motive in respect to your labour on behalf of this country.

I arrived in Tehuacán on 16th June, the day after I left Orizaba. Tehuacán has the rank of a city though its population is but small. At present it does not contain more than 4000 inhabitants, but formerly it was more populous. It stands in a prominent situation, the great road between the parts of Mexico to the East and the West of it passing through the city. It is therefore a great thoroughfare, and besides it is the only town of note in that quarter, and is looked up to as the city by a great number of villages around. On these accounts it was desirable to have stationed there a sale of the holy Scriptures, that the gospel might thereby be preached throughout all that region. Through the letters of introduction I carried to that place I soon found out a suitable person to take charge of the public sale to be commenced there and continued. I assigned two cases for this place. The rest that I had with me, namely six cases, I sent forward to Oajaca, and on the 19th of the present month I set out for the same place. I need not trouble you with an account of the rough and mountainous roads I passed along, and of the rivers crossed on the way, and shall only notice that I passed one single river not less than seventy seven  times.

On the 24th I reached the city. I brought with me several letters of introduction, and have been well received by those with whom I have been made acquainted, the most of whom were apprised by the letters I presented of the object I had in view in visiting this place. I had letters for two of the canons of this cathedral church, and upon delivering them they warmly approved of my object in circulating the Scriptures. One of them gave me two rooms in his own house to lodge in during my stay here. He also took me to a person who you thought would be the best hand the for the sale of the Scriptures. The person he took me to is a gentleman of the law, but having a shop under his direction, he very readily offered it for the object in question. With this gentleman I have had repeated conversations, and consider him the individual most warmly interested in your objects of any in the city. On the 30th the Bibles arrived, the advertisements were forthwith put up and the sale commenced. Of the six cases brought here nearly five are disposed of, and the rest, consisting of Bibles only, may be expected to be also in circulation in a short time. I mentioned to the Canon in whose house I lodged, the 50 copies of the New Testament taken by the magistrates of Orizaba for their schools, and the reductions made in the price of these for that object. The Canon has interested himself a good deal in promoting education here, and a school on a superior plan has lately been erected through his efforts in conjunction with others of a similar mind. For this school 50 New Testaments have been taken.

I should not omit to mention that I had a good deal of conversation with the Canon respecting the want of the Apocrypha. He did not think that this want should interfere with the circulation of your editions, but at the same time he said he was afraid that the people, after the Bible had circulated sometime among them without the Apocrypha, would begin to consider it as not a part of the canon of Scripture, and he wished to fall upon some plan to prevent this error as he considered it. He made very particular inquiries as to the faithfulness of the reprint of Scio's translation. I assured him of its perfect conformity with Scio's own edition printed in Spain, and told him he might stake his credit in asserting this against any individual who should state the contrary, or doubt of the faithfulness of your reprint. He was very much satisfied with this assurance. I suppose you print from Scio's third edition, which I think is the last he lived to correct. Please let me know of this that I may be able to speak more definitely.

As the Canon I lived in the same house we had frequent conversations upon the object and operations of the Bible Society and upon the utility of circulating and of reading the Scriptures in this country. Into all this he entered warmly, and I was delighted with his views and feelings upon these important matters. Thus all things went on pleasantly, until one morning the Canon came in and told me that a great hubbub had arisen among some of the clergy about the sale of the Scriptures, and that means where about to be taken to put a stop to it. The objection taken against your Bibles was there not having notes, and their wanting the Apocrypha, the defect of the notes being considered the greatest. I of course used every argument I could, with the Canon and with others to prevent any injunction being laid on the sale. I spoke with the Governor of the diocese, (there being no Bishop here at present,) and with the other Canon above-mentioned. I represented to them what I consider to be law upon the subject, and stating the liberty given to the sale in several of the dioceses of Mexico, and in other countries. The Secretary of the diocese I understood to be the chief mover in this opposition. He had gained the ear of  the Governor of the diocese, an old man of 80, and he also succeeded in raising Catholic scruples in the minds of the two canons referred to.

I was very much afraid that some step would be taken in an authoritative manner and speedily, to stop the circulation of the Scriptures, and this taking place in any one diocese of this country I dread, as it would be an example to others, and would probably be followed by them. I spoke to the Governor of the State through whose hands any prohibition must pass, and I showed him what documents I had in my favour. He said there had up to that time been no application made to him upon the subject, and that when there should, he would send to me for these documents to be shown as cases against such proceedings. I spoke also with the gentleman of the law I mentioned above, and whom I characterize as feeling a greater interest in the circulation of the Scriptures than any other in this place. He said he would speak with the Secretary of the diocese with whom he was well acquainted, and would see to persuade him to let the matter stand, and not push it further. He did so, and he told me afterwards that he believed the matter would lie over, and that probably nothing would be done to interfere with the free circulation of the Scriptures. Some days have since passed and all is quiet upon the subject, and I hope the ferment and interference are at an end.

I mentioned in reference to my host, the Canon Castillo, what I should not omit as bearing on his character. He inquired if I had any small Latin Bibles as he wished for one which they could take out with him in his pocket at any time for his own private use. It is always pleasing to see instances of attachment to the word of God, and of making it a constant companion. I told him that I had some of these, but that they were not here but in Mexico. He desired me to write to Mexico that one for him might be delivered to his brother who resides there present as one of the Senators in Congress, and who he said would forward it to him. I have written to Mexico accordingly.

I have made particular inquiry as to the state of the nation's languages in this diocese. I find that is a greater number here for the same extent of country than in any other part of Mexico. No less than 18 distinct languages are here spoken, and counting also the variety of dialects in some of these, the number is 21. The language however which is most general is the Zapoteco. This is the language spoken in the district of Oajáca or central province of the state. In the capital itself the Spanish is the general language, but in all the towns around it nothing is heard but the Zapoteco, and many individuals are entirely ignorant of the Spanish. I have opportunity of knowing this from having visited some of the towns around this. I hinted to the Governor of the diocese the suitableness of having one of the Gospels translated into this tongue. But his ideas upon the subject are not so liberal as those of the Bishop of Puebla. I gave up therefore any thoughts of succeeding in this object from application in this quarter. I was afterwards introduced to the Prior of the Dominican convent. This individual has resided for some time in Tehuantepeque where the Zapoteco language is also spoken. He understands a language and is very desirous of instructing the native Indians. I spoke to him of the benefits that were derived from teaching them in their native tongues. With this he very fully agreed, he spoke of the docility of the Indians, and of the neglect of the priests in giving them instruction. Our ideas of establishing schools for teaching the children to read in their native dialects fully coincided. With no individual I have talked with in this country upon the subject here have I had so much satisfaction. He had in short, in the parish he was Rector of, established a school for teaching the children in the Zapoteco language, and it was succeeding very well. This perhaps is the first school of this kind established in Spanish America. I spoke to the Prior respecting the translation of part of the New Testament into the Zapoteco tongue, representing to him how useful it would be in the schools and for the general instruction of the Indians in which he interested himself so much. He has not actually promised to undertake or cause to be undertaken this translation, but I have good hopes that he will be serviceable to your cause in this matter, and I intend to correspond with them upon the subject from Mexico.

Your letter of March 21st has come into my hands in this city. You say, "I have nothing particular to write about by the present packet, but I am unwilling to let it sail without at least a few lines, knowing that letters are particularly welcome in a foreign and distant land." I thank you, My Dear Friend, for this kind consideration of my wanderings in the distant and foreign land, and can assure you that your letters are always most fully welcome, and that they afford me much comfort. You have been very attentive in writing the since I left you, and allow me to say, that I look for my monthly allowance as a hungry man for food. The idea that came into your mind when reading in Bristol some fears expressed by one of your agents regarding the want of the Apocrypha, is I think very beautiful and consolitary. Satan's head no doubt we shall bruise sooner or later. In this we may be confident, and we may rejoice herein without fear. The Bible in its extensive circulation is the heavy artillery brought into the field against our great adversary, and the battle is not ours but God's.

I observe what you say about it the Aimará version. You wrote me I think since my arrival in Mexico that you had sent out this version and to Mr. Armstrong. I do not recollect in what letter you mention it, but I will look when I return to Mexico, and shall let you know. I have in my possession, a copy of the Gospel of Luke, Acts, and the epistles of Peter.

The cases of books I have brought here, upon being weighed, were found to be 200 lbs and upwards, Spanish weight. Two of these make the mule load, but this is too heavy, particularly when the mules have to travel over bad and mountainous roads. Please cause each case to be made some 20 or 30 lbs lighter.

Is Bagster's folio polyglot finished? Or is it likely to be finished soon? I think it would be desirable to send out here some five or ten copies of it in a rather superior bindings.

Before concluding I beg leave again to reiterate my request humbly and earnestly, that the epistles of Peter be added to the volume containing Luke & Acts.

            I remain,

                         Ever Yours,

                                    James Thomson.