Rev A Brandram -- No 127
Mexico 24th December 1842
My Dear Friend.
In my last I told you of the statu-quo in which we were here in regard to the Representation I made to the Government of your readiness to aid in preparing an edition and a supply of the Mexican version of Vence's New Testament for the general use of the public schools. I am sorry to say that this statu-quo still remains, and that up to this date I have no official reply to my Representation. But there is, in one sense, a better reason or cause for the delay this time than during the former months. In my letter of the 28th October I signified that it was not at all improbable but that we might have, another added to our many Revolutions before that letter should reach you. If that letter by this date, the 24th December, is not yet in your hands, my prophecy has turned out true, for our Revolution has taken place: it occurred on the 19th instant. It is pretty general over the country, and done by the Military, all of whom, fortunately for peace and safety, are on one side, so that we have had this time no fighting, nor, I suppose, are likely to have. A military government, we are now to be under for some time, with Santa Anna at its head. A sort of Assembly or Convention will be got up by the same parties who have wrought this change, and such as will make some sort of Constitution as will suit themselves; and so we shall be till some other Revolution shall follow. The Congress has been sitting for several months making the Constitution. But on the 19th the soldiers closed their doors, and sent all the members about their business, their Constitution and all. Thus then we are: and this is the cause, I may say, at present, of our statu-quo; for the members of government have had, as you may well suppose, other work to do than attend to the petition and representation of an individual, and a foreigner into the bargain, and upon the subject of schools and the New Testament, when they were so busily engaged in patriotic efforts for the good of the country; for the whole of this affair has, nobody doubts, being manoeuvred by the Government, through their more immediate subjects, the military.
But your question and mine is, How is this fresh revolution likely to affect our concerns in this country? I would say in reply, that the change bodes to be in our favour. All the parties in the government are friendly to education, and well disposed, I believe, to the substance of my Representation. Time will show results and we must have a little or a long patience, considering the materials and the country in question. Prayer will hasten our movements, and I hope prosper and succeed them. There are certain rules of etiquette and propriety that prevent me from calling at the Palace and on the Government here every day, or very frequently, in order to urge my object. But, blessed be God, the Palace of Heaven is ever open, and no rules and regulations bar or hinder our continued and incessant application to that Court, and the Throne of Grace within it, there to urge our object with every importunity and fervour. Whilst therefore we cannot always press our claims with earthly governments, we can press them always with the Heavenly Government, even with the King of Kings: and to Him then let us continually apply: and in due time, I trust, our urgings and importunities will be turned into thanksgiving and praise.
The next subject is that of the Indian languages in this country, and translations of the Scriptures into them. Here we have got beyond the statu-quo, and have made some advance. I wrote to the Bishop of Michoacán some weeks ago, availing myself of the introduction of a friend whom I have long known, and who when one of the Secretaries of State here in former years, had no small part in the election of this and some other of the Bishops. I represented to the Bishop of Michoacán my desire to procure a version of the Gospel by St. Luke into the Tarasco tongue, which is very extensively spoken over his diocese. I have had a very friendly letter from him in reply to mine, in which he shows his willingness to procure this version, and he says he has some Parish Priests under his care who could manage it, being well acquainted with that language. I have written to him, the second time, begging him at once to proceed and stating some rules necessary to be attended to in making the version. In my first letter I intimated to the Bishop, that in the event of his procuring for me this version, I wished to print it, along with the Spanish on parallel pages or columns; and I signified that I would count on his giving the due ecclesiastical license for this impression. His reply, and his entering on the work intimated his readiness to grant the license and this is no small matter, for the greatest fear and difficulty in the case was in regard to such a license. Dr. Mora could not obtain it for the Mexican Gospel and therefore he sent it to you to print; but still its open circulation is doubtful because of the want of this ecclesiastical license. By one Bishop acting favourably in this matter, the way will be opened for others to act in the same manner.
Further, on the same concern, regarding the Indian languages and versions. Availing myself of the same friend to introduce me by letter, I have written to the Bishop of Oaxaca regarding the two chief languages spoken in his diocese and a version into each of them of the same Gospel, that of St. Luke. I wait in prayer, with hope and fears, the result of this application.
Thirdly, and not least on the subject. Some steps had been taken in regard to the language spoken in Yucatán, called the Mayo. The late Governor of that place is now in this city, in consequence of the secession of that state from the general Mexican Republic. I have had a good deal of conversation with him in regard to the language, and a version of one of the Gospels into it. He has given me much interesting and useful information as to the language, and the extent to which it is spoken, as also regarding the character of the people, and the general circumstances of the place. The population of the Peninsula of Yucatán is, he says, about 600,000, and the whole of these speak this language, and no other with the single exception of the town of Campeche, containing some 7,000 inhabitants. To the great body in Yucatán speaking this language are to be added the principal portion also of the inhabitants of Tabasco: the whole number of people therefore in daily use of this, and of no other, approaches well on towards one million. This subject and people and tongue are rendered the more interesting on account of the independence declared in Yucatán, and the religious liberty which is provided for in the new Constitution. From the information I have had from the Governor, I have no doubt but the people will be able to maintain their independence against all the power of Mexico. The feelings and interests of the Indians themselves are all personally and deeply involved in the matter, and they have fully entered into the struggle on their own account and advantages, and not in obedience to a few military rulers. It was an army of Indians that first broke the Spanish power. The Bishop of Yucatán as a brother of this ex-governor of whom I speak, and I have availed myself of an introduction from him to the Bishop, together with the aid of my formerly mentioned friend, and have addressed myself to him after a similar manner as to the Bishops of Michoacán and Oaxaca. But a longish time will be required for an answer, partly owing to the distance, but chiefly from the close warfare now waged from this place against Yucatán. In the meantime I am getting information and further notices regarding the language and people of that Peninsula, from the ex-governor and other natives of the place now residing in this city.
Lastly, as respects the Indian languages. I have at length found a person able and willing to translate one of the Gospels into the Otomí, a tongue very extensively spoken in the two large dioceses of Mexico and Puebla, and which is very peculiar in its structure, resembling, as some suppose, the Chinese.
These three languages especially named, the Otomí, Tarasco, and Mayo, together with the Mexican as chief, are the four languages most extensively spoken in this country. The next to them, I believe, are the two principal languages of Oaxaca, called the Zapoteco and Mizteco. In one of these we have a translation of one of the Gospels, namely the Mexican, and steps have been taken, you will observe, for accomplishing the same in regard to the other five. By the way, if you have an opportunity, and as soon as you can, I could wish you to send me one copy of the Mexican version at least, and more, if you have plenty. I notice this, lest I should not early hear from Dr. Mora in regard to those sent him. Fuller and more particular information of the Mexican languages I hope to give you on a future occasion, as I intend to inquire especially into the subject, and to make a language map of the whole country.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours
James Thomson.
P.S. A Mexican gentleman has requested me to inquire whether Michaelis's Introduction to the New Testament can be got in London in Latin. Please inquire and inform me.
Please notify to Mr. Hitchin that I have drawn a Bill on my Private Account for £50, in favour of Dickson, Gordon & Co. at 60 days, dated the 19th instant.
I said in my last that I had no letter by that packet: but afterwards I got one.