Madrid, 4th October 1847

Rev A Brandram No.2 (?)

Madrid 4th October 1847

My Dear Friend,

Your letter of the 8th ultimo reached me in its due time on the 15th. Your notices of Birmingham, Tamworth, and other places, and happy things among you, makes one see and feel very strongly the desertness and barrenness of this land, where not even an oasis is to be seen. Oases however may spring up, and as is customary with them, quickly. I am glad to hear you say you do not forget us in prayer. Do remember us much and often. – I am happy to hear of the safe return of Mr. Bourne, and rejoice in the great satisfaction which that mission has afforded you all. Perhaps you may have an agent again in Africa sooner than you are aware. – I fully agree in your hesitancy about Books to Libraries, and I shall be cautious and staring in the use of the privilege you do not deny me in the matter.

In regard to Bible affairs here, I would notice, that I have observed in several Old Book Stands, a single copy of your Bible and one copy of your New Testament. The farmer they will ask two dollars for, but will take half a dollar less, and the Testament can be had for half a dollar. I have been given to understand, that when a single volume of the Bible or testament is bought, the places sure to be supplied with a single copy respectively immediately after. This indicates that that are more copies than are seen, but how they come or came by them we have not yet ascertained.

Not long after I came here, I observed one day a large placard on the front of one of the churches, on which the word Bible was seen in very large letters, and as the prominent word in the advertisement. This was the announcement of a new edition of Scio's Bible now in course of publication in Barcelona, and of course with the usual notes. The New Testament is finished and four small duodecimo volumes, on superior paper, and with a good sized type. The price is 14 rials vellon the volume, stitched, or say 12 shillings for the whole New Testament. This is a step towards bringing the Bible nearer to the inhabitants of this country. But there is a second under longer one also in its progress towards this desirable end. Another edition is being published in the same place by another company, and in a much cheaper form. The New Testament of this edition is contained in two volumes, small duodecimo like the other, but on inferior though good paper, and with the latin text, which the former is without. The whole Bible will form 10 volumes, and will be sold in a stitched form for six dollars, while the New Testament will be only say Five shillings. This step therefore brings the Scriptures, as you will see, more than one half neater than the one previously mentioned.

Besides these two editions of Scio's Bible now issuing from the press in single volumes, there was a splendid edition of the same version published in Barcelona in 1843, in small folio, in it volumes, with plates, price stitched, about four pounds, and now selling bound in morocco at 34 dollars. – Further, another edition still of Scio is on sale here, which is Scio's own third edition and published by Escuelas Pias to which he belonged. It is in 15 volumes Spanish or small quarto, at 16 rials vellon each, stitched, or say12 dollars for the whole, the latin and Spanish text and notes, but without the plates.

Finally, that is the second edition of Torres Amat's Bible on sale here, in six volumes, Spanish quarto, at 150 rials, stitched, or 7½ dollars.

Thus we have at present in full open undisturbed sale in this city, and over all the country, five different versions of the Bible in the Spanish language, with notes, at prices, unbound, in English shillings, as follows, 80, 58, 50, 31, and 25. The 31 is Torres Amat's, and you see it is much lower than any of Scio's till this last cheap one came out.

I do not know whether you are Roman Catholic enough to rejoice in these versions and editions, and the issues of Scriptures in and over this country; but for myself, I confess I am. I do rejoice in this measure of freedom and extension of the Scriptures here, not withstanding their accompaniment with notes, all of which we would not approve of. I say all of them, for I might perhaps venture to say, that nine tenths of them we would agree with, as indeed we might gather from the acceptable and extensive use of Calmet among us Protestants in England.[1]

The printer of Torres Amat's second edition has informed me, that that edition consisted of 3000 copies, and he said that this was generally about the number printed of such works. Taking the four editions of Scio and two of Torres Amat at this calculation, we have 18,000 copies. The two editions now in course of publication in Barcelona, are I believe stereotype, and we may perhaps set them down both at 5000 each. The whole thus makes 28,000 copies of the Scriptures published or publishing. But as these two last editions are not yet finished and allowing for stock on hand, we must limit the past and present circulation, say to 16,000. Alas how little!

In these Barcelona editions, the efforts of your Society are specially noticed, which they say, are worthy of a better cause. The enemy and the foreigner have been very active, they state, in sowing tares in this field, in the shape of altered, mutilated, corrupt, and adulterated editions of the Scriptures, in their own style, in order to propagate Protestantism. To meet these sore evils, and to suffocate them, these Publishers have been induced, they say, to make their efforts, and to contend with the enemy even in cheapness. There is a remarkable word, and a happy one, used in the addresses and prefaces in question. They say they wish to popularize the reading of the Scriptures in this country, and this word occurs three distinct times. You see therefore how their object and yours agree; and that is no doubt but their efforts will contribute to popularize the reading of the Scriptures here, in two ways, in the reading of their own volumes, and secondly, in leading many to procure your cheaper volumes, who cannot reach their cheapness. In every way therefore, I conceive, we have reason to rejoice in these issues of the Scriptures. You have manifestly sent them to work by what you previously did here, and that efforts will no doubt give us an additional demand for our Bibles, when we can freely present them to them; and which time may God bring about early.

We see no fair and clear way as yet for printing the Bible here, but movements are hastening on in this country, and our way may be made plain in a brief space of time, in the removement of all our difficulties. – By the way, you are printing the Bible in Lisbon. How is it you can do so? Is there for liberty of the press there? And is there also toleration? I shall be glad to obtain your answers to these inquiries, as Portugal may aid us here in the way of example; and further, being part of this Peninsula, it may be considered as a portion of my Bible field.

I mentioned in my last that I had written to Cadiz, Malaga, Barcelona, Bayonne, and Paris. From all these places I have had answers, except from Barcelona. Your anticipations about certain official parties, in the two former places, are but too correct. The blame however, I believe, must be placed to the account of others nearer yourselves, rather than to them, for they are persons under authority. Unofficially Mr. Mark of Malaga offers me any aid he can afford, and he has furnished me with the papers and letters that may be of service to me. Mr Pedezert of Bayonne is not very sanguine as to the finding of a fit person for a depot in Behovie, or as to a person to colport from thence into Spain. Mr de Pressensé is however more hopeful. I am to hear from him again on the subject.

In consequence of letters that I've had from Malaga and Cadiz, and other circumstances combined, my friend and brother here thinks it desirable that I should pay a visit to these parts, and others in that quarter. I have therefore resolved to make such a tour, and purpose leaving Madrid about a week hence, going first to Granada and Malaga, thence to Gibraltar and Cadiz, and returning through Seville and Córdova. A month at least will, I suppose, be taken up in this journey, and it may be to. When it Gibraltar, I intend to pass over to the Spanish colony of Ceuta, on the south side of the Straits, in Africa, and I may also visit the place or two more on that Continent. If our friends at Gibraltar are not likely to have on hand any Arabic Bibles and Hebrew Bibles and Testaments, will you be so good as forward some by the first Steamer after this letter reaches you, and also some Jewish Spanish New Testaments. That is a steamer for Gibraltar every Thursday from Southampton, besides other steamers on fixed days of the month, as you will see by the Peninsula and Oriental Steam Company List, which you can get at No 51 St Mary Ave. You can write me to Gibraltar to the care of Mr. Hull.

The case you referred to of the 200 Spanish Testaments ordered by Mr. Griffin, and which no shipper would take charge of, did occur before I left you. Mr. Griffin was here not long ago, as I learned by the newspapers, as he made some little noise in and about our Museum of Paintings. He was gone however before I could see him. I should be glad to receive a copy of his letter, as I might correspond with, or see, sometime hence, the parties he has named. If Mr. Griffin has not called on you since his return, you should, I think, see him before you send a copy, as he may give you further particulars which you could append to his letter. He can be heard of at Lloyd's.

                        I remain,

                                    My Dear Friend,

                                                James Thomson.

[1] Fr. Antoine Augustin Calmet's Bible dictionary and commentary were widely used. (BM)

Toulose, 27th July 1848

Rev A Brandram No.22

Toulouse 27th July 1848

My Dear Friend,

Last night I arrived safely in this place, having been longer in reaching it than I expected. The cause is as follows. In Barcelona I found it was a considerable number of French Protestants, and of Swiss Protestants speaking French, say 80 of the former, and 40 of the latter. I found this out through a letter I brought from London for one of them, from his sister, the same person for whose passage to New Orleans to join her husband several individuals of the Committee kindly contributed. I endeavoured to make myself acquainted personally with these to some extent, which detained me in Barcelona beyond my first intention. These Protestants are without any Pastor, and are of course in rather a low spiritual condition. Nevertheless some of them have life, and are spiritually minded. I tried to influence these people to use the means within their reach to favour the Spaniards of their acquaintance with the Holy Scriptures, and was glad to find some of them well disposed towards us.

The next stop was how to get a supply of Scriptures into their hands to meet this purpose. There are steamboats which ply regularly between Barcelona and Marseille every week. Now though the same prohibitions which have hindered us elsewhere in getting the Scriptures into Spain are also in action there, yet as I have never had any books of my luggage questioned in entering and travelling through Spain, I conceived it might be easy with one passenger and another to get a few copies sent from Marseille from week to week as they might be wanted. This induced me to take Marseille in my route instead of going by Gerona and Perpignan as I had at first intended. In the meantime I found that Mr. Bergnes had on hand some Spanish Bibles and some Catalan Testaments.

Some of these were put forthwith into the hands of the parties I had selected to aid in our work, and a circumstance occurred before I left which encouraged me, and led me to believe that this arrangement would prove serviceable. On calling on one of these friends just before starting, I found a Spaniard in the house, on his feet to go, and with the Bible under his arm. Learning my connexion with the Book he had got, he sat down again, and we talked for half an hour. He is a very intelligent man, and given to reading. He promised to peruse the Bible carefully, and expressed himself very thankful for having obtained it. We talked to him of its gospel contents, and begged him to speak to his countrymen about this Book, which he said he would do. In this way, and in a very gradual manner, copies of the Scriptures may be put into the hands of not a few, and under the most favourable circumstances.

In Marseille I spoke with two Protestant Pastors there, and with some others, in regard to the arrangements above indicated, and gave them the addresses of the parties who were to receive the books. They promised to be on the look out; and as Testaments in Spanish are immediately wanted, I begged that a few of these might be first sent, and some such I was glad to find at hand in Mr. Pressencé Bible depot in that place.

As one good action requires another, and as we are all to help each other as Brethren, I promised to my friends in Barcelona to speak on their behalf, that a Pastor might be sent. This I did in Marseille, and more fully in Nîmes, the centre of French Protestantism, and on the direct road from Marseille to Toulouse. I also there spoke of my plan of sending copies of the Scriptures with passengers for Barcelona, and by way of Cette, as a steam boat has lately been running between these two places. This same arrangement also led me to visit Cette which is not out of the way to Toulouse. There I found a most excellent spiritual man, and entrusted him with our concerns in the way mentioned, and to which, he said, he would gladly attend. From Marseille to Montpellier and Cette, through Nîmes, I found a Railroad opened only a few months ago, and from Cette to Toulouse I came by a canal (du Midi) which is of older construction.

Though late, I could not help calling on the Courtois last night at nine o'clock. I was, as you may suppose, delighted with them. They told me they had a case for me from Paris, and today I am to dine with them when we shall have the means of further conversations.

After sending off my last letter, it occurred to me that I had made a mistake in considering the resolution of the 19th June as applying to my re-application for Mogador, instead of the 25 Bagster's Hebrew Bible, and five Hebrew and English Bibles for Tangier, as requested in my letter of 5th June. You kindly say, "It is a delay not a refusal." I purposed to notice this oversight of mine in my next, namely in this letter, but I am doubly induced to do so by a letter I have found here from Tangier. In writing to our Jew friend on the same day I wrote you (5th June) I indicated to him that these 25 and 5 would be sent him. Will you allow me therefore to say, that I am compromised in this matter, and to beg anew that the Books may be sent at my risk, if not yours, as I shall willingly and cover all losses on them rather than they should not be sent after what I have written concerning them. I must not forget to count better with my host nest time. I should like them sent for haste by the Oriental Steamer which leaves Southampton on the 3rd August if it can be then ready, or by the Gibraltar Steamer which leaves the same place on the 7th.

In the Jew's letter now received he repeats his particular request for these Books, and once and again begs that they may be sent as quickly as possible. His letter is dated the 22nd June, at which time he had not received mine of the 5th June. I hardly wonder at this delay, knowing as I do by bought experience what a nonsuch Post Office we have at Gibraltar. I have been more than once nearly resolved to write to St. Martin's le Grand concerning this inland P.O. The Packet office is quite different. I hope the letter would come to hand very soon afterwards. Our friend was withholding sales, because I had mentioned 2/-as the cost of the volumes, but merely as a mark above which he was not to go, whilst I gave him leave to sell them at any price which would secure an extensive sale with the least loss possible. Not having received my letter, he thought I had not received his previous one, and most of this is a repetition of what he then said by way of a duplicate. But for this hesitation he could, he says, have sold all the Books. My letter of 5th June would clear him of all difficulties.

            Address till next to Toulouse.

                        Yours Truly,

                                    James Thomson.

Madrid, 13th March 1849

Rev A Brandram  No.25

Madrid 13th March 1849

My Dear Friend,

An unusual space of time has elapsed between my last letter and this, and not intentionally, but from circumstances. These circumstances had been two in number; and first, because I had not much to write about, and secondly, because I delayed, waiting one occurrence after another, in order to combine the more at once, and our delays and hinderances have been quite in Spanish style. I am glad of your rallying letter of the 26th ultimo, in which you kindly say, that it appears an age since I wrote you. I am glad also that I have just anticipated this by a letter on the way, in which I say to Mr Hitchin, and desire him to inform you of the same, that I would write you this day. I am further glad to have erred for once on the right side, having erred so often on the left, in writing too much.

Now then for what I have to say about this wilderness. But please first to remember that it is a wilderness, and one of the characteristics of such a place is, that there is no way nor road in it. Your wilderness traveller therefore, as might be expected, is often at a loss which way to move or turn so as to get onwards. He thinks he sees opening enough to get along in one direction, and on attempting it, finds he cannot get through; and after losing much time has to turn back, and try to press on in another direction. This attempt perhaps turns out no better than the other, and so on and etcetera. This is really a true description rather than a figure of my operations here. Nevertheless, I sow, as I can, a few seeds in these various scramblings, and somebody may perhaps gather the fruit when the wilderness is more passable than it is at present.

The few books I dared to keep and hide away at Urgel, were to be sent after me to Lerida, but they did not arrive before my leaving that place. On reaching Madrid I corresponded about them, and after many delays, I received them in a case addressed to a friendly Bookseller in the city. Just then, a sort of colporteur came before me, in the shape of a poor Italian, wanting work and means. The books were all sold, and you will see an item of debit upon the subject, and one of credit, in my last Account to Mr. Hitchin.

After the loss of letters through the Carlists, and other long delays, I got a few Bibles from Barcelona. These also have been sold. I have had likewise a letter from the same place, from one of the French Protestants whom I engaged to circulate some books for us, saying he had been able to do a little in the way. I tried to get the Paris case at Bayonne brought here through General Saunders, but he was rather loth to enter on the business, owing to some unpleasant hinderances he had met with in bringing some books of his own, and also from new and stricter regulations as to Ambassadors' privileges.

In the mean time, I got leave to bring a case from Bayonne to the address of the French Ambassador, M. Lesseps, with whom I have got acquainted. This case consisted of the miscellaneous books sent from London, and a few Bibles.

The receiving of this through M. Lesseps, led the way to a fresh application to General Saunders, and the case was ordered, and has arrived here. But, as I mentioned in a former letter, Satan meets us at every turn, and the books are still in the Custom House, the authorities demurring and delaying in delivering them, because they are Bibles and Testaments. I doubt not however but we shall finally obtain them. There are in the case 50 Bibles, and 100 Testaments. I have an offer for all the 50 Bibles at once from a Bookseller.

In the case through M. Lesseps, came your present, the beautifully bound Bible and Testament, for the man of 29 letters. They were very gratefully received, and he has encouraged me to expect, that he will be able to aid me in getting books from Bayonne to San Sebastian, in the neighbourhood of which latter place he resides in the summer season, and where I am invited to spend some days when I am in that quarter.

My next attempt at getting along in our wilderness was an effort to obtain our six packed-up cases in London. I laid the affair before Mr. Ysturiz, who has always shown me kindness, and I had tolerable hopes that I should succeed through him in getting these long looked for cases into this country and city. But Satan found out what we were doing, and discomfited us, through exciting a sort of coldness or jealousy between this friend and Narvaez, connected with our present political circumstances.

Turned back here, I looked out for another opening among our brakes and thickets, and thought I saw one. I applied to the Rector of the University to procure an order for the coming of the sets of versions you have voted for that establishment, with leave to bring two cases of books for myself at the same time. That order is applied for, and is daily expected. I may mention, that our friend La Serna has been prevented from applying himself for such an order through the Government, on account of his being on the wrong side in politics at the present juncture. But it was he who introduced me to the Rector.

In this manner, I trust, we shall obtain to the six cases. And as to the other four, I count upon your efforts through the new Ambassador when he comes, which I would hope will be soon.

On a former occasion I mentioned to you are Hebrew Professor here as a Bible and Biblical Priest, and stated that I had read his translation of the Psalms, and thought highly of it. He has just finished a valuable Hebrew and Spanish Grammar in two volumes, which is nearly through the press. On this work being off his hands he began in good earnest to translate Genesis, intending to go through the Pentateuch, and the whole of the Old Testament, should life, health, and other circumstances favour the same. Would it be within your line of duty to encourage him? I should think it might, and in the following way. By stating, that, should his version be approved of by you, through competent judges, you would give him so much for the right of printing the text of it to any extent you might choose. I think you would be doing right in making such an offer, and perhaps some such encouragement is necessary to make him persevere. Under such an arrangement we should have considerable influence in modulating any passages which might not be altogether as we could wish that. It seems very desirable in every way to encourage such labours in this country. Mr.Usoz and he might combine, the one to produce a new and improved version of the Old Testament, and the other of the New.

A considerable time would elapse before such a version could appear. In the meantime Mr. Usoz and myself have had much conversation about the propriety and advantages of printing the Version of  Valera, revised so far merely as the modernizing of some of his words. Mr.Usoz strongly recommends this, and makes encouraging offers to aid in the costs of the work. He will himself make the revision required, and he will bear a good portion of the expense of printing. I have therefore to question, on his part, to state to me early what would be the cost of Plates for a Spanish Bible in Minion 24mo like your English Bible of that type and size. Also, what would be the expense of Paper, and likewise of Printing, each 1000 copies of the same. When he has ascertained these items, he will state how much he will offer in aid of the undertaking. Please to state likewise the cost of plain binding lettered of this Bible, in one volume, in two, three, and five respectively.

I have given more attention to the subject of late than formerly, and I agree with Mr Usoz in his wishes for the printing of this Protestant version, with the slight verbal alteration it requires. At present no version printed by you is, generally speaking, allowed to circulate here, and Usoz says, that probably Valera's version would even now get as good a circulation as Scio's. But further: we do expect that God will bruise Satan under our feet shortly in this country in his efforts to impede the spread of the Holy Scriptures. In some way or other the country will surely open before long for God's blessed Word; and when that desired time is come, it is our duty to be all ready to profit by it. In this way also you would meet the opposition about Romanist versions. There can be no harm, at all events, in your sending us the estimates I have indicated, and on learning the extent of our friends pecuniary aid you can further judge in the matter.

I now state to you what has been passing in my thoughts for some time as to my movements. I was purposing to lay before you, which I now do, the plan of leaving the city on the first of May, and going to San Sebastian and Bayonne, to do thereabouts what could be done in getting the Scriptures brought into Spain, and circulated in it. I then projected going at once through France to England should you wish it, but preferred going through the provinces of Asturias and Galicia, and on to Vigo, where I could get the Packet for England or elsewhere. Your proposition, now fully before me by your letter of the 5th yesterday received, of my going to Lisbon will correspond well with this visit to Vigo. But I could go also direct to Lisbon from this through Badajoz. You will please to consider these two routes, and say which I should take. It is desirable, I think, that I should go to Bayonne, and see about things there. I might afterwards go through the two provinces mentioned, or not, as might be judged best. I could get by a Havre steamer from San Sebastian to Lisbon.

Have you full liberty to print the Bible in Portugal, and also to circulate it? I should like to know exactly how things are on these two points. You mentioned the sending me some sheets of errata. It would save a good deal of postage, if these were sent to Bayonne, instead of Madrid, as the lightest letter to this costs 2/2d. If therefore you to judge that I should go to that place, you could send your packet there, either to the "Poste Restante", or to the care of Mr. Pedezert.

I will now give you copies of two letters I have received from the muleteer who conducted me from Urgel to Lerida. They form good specimens of no inconsiderable portion of the peasantry of this country, and show us a sort of good ground for the sowing of our seed when we can get it amply from your barns. These letters also show some little results of my movements in the lines indicated by Mr. Hull. I would hope similar results have taken place, in other persons and places. And more and better no doubt might have been produced, by more and better workings on my part. I feel both ashamed and encouraged by these letters, and pray that God may fit me for every good word and work, with all persons, and in all places. The muleteer in question cultivates a small portion of ground of his own, and acts the muleteer at his more leisurely periods to eke out means. The good many so live in this country in all the provinces, though in some more than others. This portion may be considered as the superior stratum of the Spanish peasantry. – I might just add here, that I gave away a good many tracts on this last journey, and in all cases they were well received, and some of them were carefully read in my presence. In all these the Scriptures are taught and recommended. – Here follow the two letters referred to: –

"Agramunt 31st October 1848. – Dear Sir, I have received your esteemed letter, and have had much pleasure in learning that you are in good health. We are glad that you have us in remembrance, and my wife and I have frequently talked about you. I have got one book from Barcelona, and two from Lerida. We have spoken with some friends here about your country. They have said such things of it as I will not mention to you; but from what I learned in conversations with you, I showed them their mistakes, and overcame them. Several persons wished to obtain the books, but only one has said he would buy one, and as he is a friend of mine I gave him a book. Many have a desire to read them, and so much so, that one of mine is seldom in the house, but is lent out, and goes from one friend's house to another, and all say it is very good. It is customary here, that when anyone has a good book, it moves from house to house, so that many books are thus lost. You may rest assured that I will do all I can to serve them. If I can in any way be of use to you, you have only to write, and I shall immediately attend your requests, and if you should pass from Madrid to Barcelona, it will be a great satisfaction to me to see you. Since I got these books I read them every evening when I am at home, and never tire reading them till I get sleepy, and have to go to bed. I have not written to you sooner, as we are now working our lands, and sowing our seed, and as we have had no rain, the labour has been very hard. Please to excuse all the errors in this letter, as you well know my business is not that of a scribe. Kind remembrances from my wife and others in our house. Believe that I am your friend, and desirous of serving you. – Jayme Bonet."

"Agramunt 20th January 1849. – My dear Sir, with very great pleasure I received your kind and acceptable letter dated the 21st December. It has given me much satisfaction, as informing me of your welfare, and because of the valuable counsels you give me in it, which I doubt not are most true, and proceeding from the bottom of your heart. I feel grateful for the providential occasion of meeting with you, and of profiting by the estimable qualities you possess. In truth I cannot find words sufficient lay to express my thankfulness. – Every day I receive more pleasure in reading the books you had the goodness to favour me with, and my friends here feel the same satisfaction. We have had by them some of our ideas much cleared up which were before confused, and this is another favour I owe to your friendship.

In consequence of what you wrote me, wishing that I should purchase and sell some of your books, I sent to Barcelona, and got some of each kind at the prices you mention, and I shall see if they will find purchasers. In case they do, I shall send for more books, and of all I can sell you shall be informed. I give the books of the prices I have paid for them.

We have had rains in this quarter, but not in sufficient quantity to satisfy the fields. God will supply what is lacking.

You can come here whenever you will, and lodge with us in this house, which is open to receive you. You may be sure of being received if not with the attention which you deserve, at least with kindness and true cordiality. My wife and family are quite well, and join with me in wishing you all prosperity. Jayme Bonet."

Prosperity to you, my dear friend, to all your colleagues, and to your Society, is wished and prayed for by –

                        James Thomson.