Buenos Aires, 26th February 1821

Rev. Joseph Hughes

Buenos Ayres, 26 February 1821[1]

Reverend Sir.

I have the pleasure of informing you that the two cases containing 100 Portuguese Bibles and 200 Portuguese New Testaments arrived here safely about a fortnight ago. I trust the Lord will open doors for the profitable distribution of these in the Brazils, and that I will have the satisfaction of communicating to you before long, intelligence to this effect. The date is arrived when we may hope almost everything in favour of the cause of the Bible Society. South America is a vast vast field, and the Brazils is the darkest and most inaccessible part of it. That part of our continent where the Spanish language is spoken is, blessed be God, opening every day for the entrance of the Bible.

It gives me most sincere pleasure to learn by your 16th report, that you have printed an edition of Scio's translation of the New Testament. This will be much more acceptable here than the other translation; and I would recommend to you to print only from this translation in future. With equal joy I have learned by your report, that an edition of the whole Bible of Scio's translation is in the press. This is what I have long most earnestly wished for, and repeatedly written to your committee about; and as hope deferred maketh the heart sad, I was grieved in not hearing anything about it. Your report however has turned my sorrow into joy. I beseech you on behalf of South America to send me 200 copies of the Bible the moment they leave the press. In the meantime by the first opportunity send me three or 500 of Scio's New Testament. I am sorry you did not send me some along with the Portuguese Bibles. If the Spanish Bible will be is because the Portuguese one, I think it would be well to bind it in two volumes. At all events, be so good as to bind a few so, and letter them on the back. This will greatly contribute to their sale. I should also be glad if you would cause half of the New Testament's to be lettered for the same reason. May I request you to send me six or ten copies regularly of your monthly extracts? Could you supply me with the same number from 1 January 1821, it would be an additional favour. These will reach me along with my monthly parcels of periodical publications by your sending them to Major George Cowie & Co. 31 Poultry. Please send me a few copies of your 15th report, which I have not yet seen.

I have still some copies of the other translation to hand, but I know that a much readier reception will be given to Scio's version, and the others I shall endeavor to circulate along with them. I am the more anxious to have the number I have mentioned (that of the 500) of this translation in my possession with all convenient speed, as I intend, if the Lord will, to go to Chile soon after the expected time of their arrival, from thence to Peru and probably to Mexico. Shall I have the pleasure of taking with me also some of the Spanish Bibles? The Lord grant that I may.

Please send me a few copies of Scio's Bible (in two volumes) and some of his NTs handsomely bound for presents and also to sell to those who would cheerfully pay a superior price for them. Half a dozen Portuguese Bibles done in the same way would also be acceptable. But I am afraid I am asking too many things. God however is witness that one object only I have in view in all I am asking; and that object is the grand object of the B & F Bible Society. Take the map of the world into your hand, look at South America, and all my requests, as formerly, are granted. The Lord prosper you exceedingly everywhere in all your work!

            I remain, Dear Sir, Yours Sincerely in the Lord,

                                                James Thomson.

P.S. Please send 200 of the NTs to Buenos Ayres & 300 to Valparaiso. Mark the cases JBT & and send the invoice to me here, & the ones to Valparaiso, care of Mr. Andrew Blest. JT.

[1] BSA-D1-2-A

Buenos Aires, 24th May 1821

Buenos Aires, 24th May, 1821.[1]

I am now about to leave this city, and to pro­ceed to Chile. I leave the two principal schools going on as I mentioned in my last, and the masters of the others instructed in the monitorial system. What principally enables me to leave the schools here in the confidence that they will go on well, is, that they are under the particular care of one who feels much interest in the new system of instruction, and of general education. This individual is very active, and well fitted to carry into execution what he conceives useful. The person I am speaking of is a priest. We have been associated together in the care of the schools for some time, and have had much intercourse with each other, and we have always been on the most friendly terms.

 It was my intention to leave this, at the latest, in October next. Things, however, being favourably arranged, as above mentioned, I have thought it my duty to set out for Chile without loss of time. From my former letters you would learn that the Chilian government has requested me to go there to establish schools on the Lancasterian plan. I had promised to go as soon as the state of the schools here would permit. The Chilian government, through their minister here, continues to show the same interest as before in regard to this matter, and has now made an agreement with me.

 The season is now far advanced, and the Andes are covered with snow. Besides this inconvenience of the mountains, the roads, in some places, are nearly intercepted, so as to render travelling rather insecure. From these considerations, I have re­solved, with the advice of my friends, to go by sea, and have taken my passage in the brig Dragon, Captain Green, for Valparaiso, in Chile. Sailing round Cape Horn is by no means so formidable a matter now as it was formerly considered to be. Vessels frequently go round now, and at all seasons. This is now the middle of our winter, and we ex­pect the cold to be severe. I am accordingly preparing myself for it, as well as I can, by providing warm clothing. During the winter the winds are considered more favourable, and vessels make quicker passages. We expect to sail in a day or two, and, I trust, He who guided me over the ocean in coming to this place, will still be with me to preserve me, and to bring me safely to my desired haven.

 I leave all my friends here on the best terms, and I leave the place, in many respects with regret. I shall never forget all the kindness I have met with in this city from the Magistrates, and from all classes with whom I have had intercourse. May God reward them. When I gave in my resignation, I said that it was my intention to return here next summer, to visit the schools, and to see how they were coming on. In the kindest manner I was requested not to forget my promise of returning. They were sorry, they said, that it was not  in their power to reward me in a pecuniary way, from the lowness of their funds. They begged me to accept of their sincerest thanks for establishing this system of education in the country, from which they said they anticipated the happiest results, in making education general throughout all classes of the people; and they added that, as a mark of respect, they had requested the government to con­fer on me the honour of citizenship, and which was accordingly done.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp.5-7.

Santiago, 6th August 1821

Santiago de Chile, 6th August, 1821.[1]

 My letter to you of the 16th July,[2] brought down my journal to the day before my leaving Valparaiso. On the 17th I left that place in the afternoon, and at two o'clock on the 19th I said, "Peace be to this city!" I was going to give you some account of the road, and what I met with upon it, but find I have got other things to write which will fill my letter. I shall leave this description till a further opportunity.

 You know, already, that I was engaged to come here by this government, and that my passage round the Cape was paid by the same. I therefore looked for a fair and open recep­tion. I have not been disappointed, or, per­haps, I should rather say I have, for I have met with a reception beyond my expectation, I might say to my wish. I have been introduced to the Director and to the Ministers of Government, all of whom express much desire for the speedy establishment of schools throughout Chile. We have got the largest apartment in the University for a school-room. The joiners are busy at work, fitting it up, and we only wait their finishing to begin our operations.

 I shall occupy the rest of my letter in giving you a translation of two articles, which bear upon this subject.

 On my arrival here, I received a copy of the following order, issued by the Government two days before I reached this city: —

 "By supreme authority of this date, I commu­nicate to Don Manuel Salas the following note.

"Mr. Thomson, who has been engaged to establish in this city the new system of mutual instruction, has already arrived in Valparaiso. His Excellency, the Director, has a decided wish that public education may be general, and is very anxious to give all pos­sible aid to this establishment for elementary instruc­tion, as preparatory to the higher branches. He has for this end appointed you with full powers to forward this object, in conjunction with Mr. Thomson, and the President of the Board of Public Education. You will, therefore, do all in your power to establish it as soon and as perfectly as possible.—A copy of this order to be sent to the President of Public Education, and to Mr. Thomson."

             "Office of the Minister of State in Santiago de Chile,

                        17th July, 1821.

                                    "JOAQUIN   DE   ECHEVARRIA,"

 Upon enquiring who this Don Manuel Salas was, I found he was a man very highly respected by everyone, and a modest but decided philan­thropist. I have since been frequently with him, and find him, indeed, as described to me. I next give you an article from the Public Gazette of the 4th current; I think it is from the pen of Salas, but this is only conjecture. It is, however, either from him or from one of the Ministers of Govern­ment.

 "PUBLIC   EDUCATION.

"Ignorance is one of the greatest evils that man can suffer, and it is the principal cause of all his errors and miseries. It is also the grand support of tyranny, and ought, therefore, to be banished by every means from that country which desires a liberty regulated by laws, customs, and opinion. None can be happy unless he study religion, mo­rality, and his own rights, unless he improve by the knowledge of those who have preceded him, and enter into social connexion, as it were, with those who in former times, and in other places, cultivated the sciences and the arts, and who have deposited in their writings, the fruit of their studies for the improvement of others. The only way by which we can form such an acquaintance with great men is by reading. The happy day is now arrived when the infinitely valuable art of reading is to be ex­tended to every individual in Chile. We have now the pleasure of announcing this to all classes of the community. This will be considered as the most interesting news, by those who know its im­portance, and who consider it as the basis of solid prosperity.

 Deeply impressed with this truth, our benevolent government has brought to this place Mr. James Thomson, who has established in Buenos Aires elementary schools upon that admirable system of Lancaster, which has spread through the world. He is going to establish schools on the same plan in this city, from which, as a centre, this system will be propagated through all the towns of the state. The readiness with which this mode of education has been generally adopted, its economy, and the quickness and order with which children learn by it reading, writing, arithmetic, and the principles of grammar, strongly recommend it. It has been particularly useful in those places where rural or mechanical occupations allow but a short time for instruction. There is, therefore, now no obstacle in the way for everyone in Chile to obtain education. Notice will be given, from time to time, of the progress of the central school, which is to serve as a model for others. In it masters will be instructed, and those masters who show the most attention in acquiring a knowledge of this system will be appointed in preference to the other schools."

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America (London: James Nisbet, 1827). Pp.7-11.

[2] The addressee is unknown at this point. There is no letter of this date in the BFSS or BFBS archives.  (BM)

Santiago, 8th October 1821 (BFSS)

Santiago de Chile, 8th October, 1821.[1]

 I seize the opportunity of sending you a few lines by his Majesty's ship Owen Glendower, which sails for England from Valparaiso immediately. I en­close you a copy of a letter of this date to Mr. Owen, which will inform you of my concerns here, touching the Bible Society, to this date. In addi­tion to this, I shall now communicate to you some notices regarding our schools here, bringing down my accounts upon that subject from the 1st Sep­tember (the date of my last letter to Mr. S.) to the present day.

 I am happy to say, the favourable reception I met with here, and of which I wrote you on the 6th August, was not a momentary feeling. It has been kept up till now, and I might also say, it has rather increased than diminished. Soon after my arrival in this city, a large room in the University was pointed out to me as the place in which we were to begin our school operations. This hall is capable of containing 200 children, according to our plan, and this is a very good number for a model school. This hall was to have been the University Chapel. The building I here call the University, is not occupied at present in the way its name would indicate, though intended for a place of learning. There is, however, another building appropriated to the objects of a college, and of which I may write you afterwards. My present object is to speak of our schools. Through the delay of the joiners in fitting up this place, it was not completed till the 17th September. On that day our school was opened. From day to day our number increased, till, at the end of a fortnight, our number (200) was completed. Since that time, we have been daily importuned to ad­mit others, which we are unable to do. We are, however, about to commence fitting up another large hall in the University buildings. At the present rate of applications, we shall certainly have more in readiness for that second school, by the time it is prepared, than it will contain. The fitting up of others is also talked of. From the short time our school has been going on, it promises to do well. The children are docile and agreeable. I am now so much familiarized with the appearance and manner of the children in these countries, that I feel myself quite at home among them. There is more resemblance to the English or European face among the children and others here, in Chile, than in Buenos Aires. I have been this moment interrupted by one of my scholars, who has called upon me, and brought me a ham, a present from his mother.

 All classes seem to take an interest in our schools. We are daily visited. The First Minister of the Government pays us a visit regularly every afternoon. We have already four masters study­ing the system, and these will be ready in a month or two to open schools on our plan, either in this city or in the provincial towns. In Conception, Coquimbo, and another town of inferior population, they are preparing for establishing schools upon our system. The principal things we stand in need of for the rapid extension of our schools, are slates and printed lessons. I am expecting 2000 slates by the first vessel from England, and am at present getting some lessons printed in the govern­ment printing office. To defray the expense of these, we have opened a subscription, which I hope will do well. I have already got upwards of 270 dollars among my English friends here, and expect more.

 Thus, you see, the Lord is with us, and blessed be his name. May he, in his own way and wis­dom, make his great name glorious in the eyes of Chile, and of all South America.

[1] Letter to BFSS in James Thomson, Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp.11-13.

Montreal, 25th April 1842

Rev A Brandram - No 117

Montreal, 25th April 1842

My Dear Friend,

Your letters No 16 and 17 have come into my hands, though in the reverse order of their dates. The subject connected with Capt. Gardiner's [1]letter is what immediately calls for attention. I have carefully read over and considered his communication to you, and according to your request give you my "candid opinion as to the propriety of my proceeding direct to Valparaiso, and ultimately to Mexico, or of visiting Mexico in the first instance, and afterwards repairing to the South."

As far as I can see from Capt. Gardiner's letter I do not perceive that there are openings for the Scriptures in Chile more than are to be found in all other parts of Spanish America. What he has said of that country, may I suppose be said of all the rest. There does not appear to be any reason therefore for passing by all the rest, and going at once to the most distant spot, and it is more natural that Chile should come in in its course which will be the last. Chile is also the least populous of all these countries, which is another reason on the same side. This is my "candid opinion" and is not dictated by any unwillingness to go to Chile, where there in one sense I should be more at home, than in other parts, as I happened to have the privilege of citizenship in that country.

Having thus given my views respecting your communication arising from Capt. Gardiner's letter, and receiving by your kind and generous statements that you leave me much at large as to my first place of descent to Spanish America, and subsequent movements through that extended field, I would humbly propose to visit Mexico first, because it is the nearest, and because it is the most populous. Soon after my return to this city from Toronto I shall set out for New York where I expect to be at or before the end of the first week in June. I shall remain in that city until I hear from you that I may fully know that what I have proposed is agreeable to you. Please therefore to address your letter to me at the Bible Society House, Nassau Street, New York, transmitting it by the Halifax and Boston mail steamer from Liverpool.

Be so good as read over my letter No 70, and write me what I have there said as to Dr. Mora and Mexican translations, and as to supplies of the Scriptures anywhere in Mexico.

Should you prefer my going first to Chile, I will cheerfully follow your directions.

            I remain, My Dear Friend,

                        Very Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

[1] Captain Allen Gardiner was in Chile 1838-43 (BM)

London, 3rd November 1851

16 Harpur Street

3rd Nov. 1851

Dear Sir,

            The Books in question are the same I noticed to you the other day, but as I did not know how many and of each sort exactly would make up a little parcel, I desired Mr. Franklin to make it out and to tell you the result that you would be kind enough to get them and make them up as a grant.

            The Books are for Capt. Knocker a good Christian man residing at Callao near Lima, and as manager there for the steam vessels that ply between Panamá and Chile. They can be sent out to him free of charge, and he can from his position and employ easily get them landed without risk. This is to be the beginning of I hope a considerable distribution in that part. He will sell the books in all cases where he can.

            I hope these explanations will be satisfactory. I had no intention of taking the books direct from the Depository, but the case is as I mentioned. Nevertheless I like your great and full formality, and shall remember the same more closely in future and be myself always in order if possible like yourself.

                                    Yours Very Truly,

                                    James Thomson.

P.S. I suppose I shall have some little notification officially as to Madoz's dictionary, that I may transmit to him the same.