Bathurst, 29th September 1840

Rev A Brandram No 97

Bathurst, Bay of Chaleur, New Brunswick, 29th September 1840

My Dear Friend,

I sit down now to write you on a spot farther to the North than any on which I have heretofore been on this continent. You will see by the map that this place lies more to the North than Quebec, which was my farthest northerly point before. Across this Bay, and out of the window from where I am now writing you, I can see a part of Canada, and I feel a disposition to visit the place I thus see; but I am obliged to refrain myself at present on account of the advanced season, and the work I have already marked out towards the South. I have obtained much information here respecting the parts that lie on the North side of the Bay, and about its Western extremity, and perceive that there is a field for Bible Society work in these several parts, that would require some weeks to attend to it in a proper manner. I may also at the same time mention, that there will remain several places in this Province which I shall not be able to reach this season, and there are places likewise in Nova Scotia that should be visited, but cannot at present. There is in truth very ample work for another season in these two Provinces.

I had made arrangements for starting from Halifax on the present tour on the 15th August, and was actually on my way on that day when on a sudden the Acadia[1] burst upon us, and thus detained the mail with which I was passing along through the streets. I could not get off till Monday, through the vehicles being occupied with the Acadia's passengers, and had difficulty therefore to reach in time my first appointment. It was at a place called Gay's River. When I did reach the spot, I found that we had but a very small assembly. The reason was obvious, the people were busy in a more than common degree in their fields with the hay crop. This same full occupation of the Farmers at the period I found to interfere with our Bible operations a good deal in other places as I moved along. Nevertheless in some and several parts we had good meetings, and what I might call very good, taking into consideration this busy time of year. The people regretted in most places then visited that the meetings should have been at that inconvenient time for them, as it hindered a manifestation of the true state of feeling in the Bible cause which they knew to exist. My only excuse and defence were that I must needs travel and make my visitations both in season and out of season.

My course in this tour, within Nova Scotia, lay first in a northerly direction towards Pictou, and then Easterly as far as Guysborough. The names of the Societies formed in these quarters, with their office bearers are as follows [see below].

Arrangements were also made for forming Societies in the following places:― Gay's River, Lower Musquodoboit, Maher's Grant,  Lower Souiac. When these are actually formed, I shall notice them, with their office bearers.

During the whole of my tour through the parts above named I am happy to say that there was a very general manifestation of a lively interest in the Bible cause, and a readiness to cooperate with you in it. There were other places in the same quarter which might also have been visited had time permitted, and where promising societies might have been formed, I believe. But I was unwillingly obliged to leave them at the time, and until some future occasion should it ever occur.

The kindnesses of our Bible friends in these quarters were exhibited towards your agent in various ways, and not least in helping him forward on his journey by vehicles free of expense. One gentleman in addition to such help, took me aside, and putting a gold dobloon into my hand, said, "That is to help you on your journeyings." This was Mr Matheson of the neighbourhood of Pictou, and from who you have received within these few years, through Mr Dawson, the sum of £50 sterling once and again. Him

The Bible Society at Upper Souiac of which the Rev. James Smith is President and Secretary has been in existence several years. A few years ago it fell off or away, but lately it has been again set on its feet, and there seems to be a determination formed by supporters and shall never again fall down, but be kept on its feet, and also made to move onwards.

The Auxiliary and Pictou has, I think, received a profitable impulse from this visitation, and from the branches appended to it, as you will see in the above list. The Secretary Mr. Dawson, is a very efficient office bearer.

In New Glasgow there was formerly a very warm and active friend of our Society, but he has gone to his reward. This was the late Rev. Dr. MacGregor. His four sons are in that quarter, and his Bible mantle seems to have fallen upon each of them, for they, each and all very active supporters of our cause. One of them drove me a good distance in his vehicle, once and again, and a third time.

At Guysborough the ladies presented an address to you in your representative which was flattering to us all. The newspapers also have said many favourable things of our work and of ourselves. I have not sent you the address, nor any of the newspapers, but content myself with this notice.

In Truro I found that had been a Society formed at an early period, I believe in 1810. It has however been extinct for at least the last six years, and the present Society therefore is a new one. The Rev. Mr. Waddell was the President and active promoter of the Society. He is now however, and has been for some time past, superannuated, and partly through a paralytic affection. Unable to move himself he was wheeled to and into the meeting in his chair, and there seated he opened the meeting with prayer. He still feels a lively interest in your work, and was thankful and joyful that he could be with us on this occasion, and that he saw the Bible Society there again brought into life.

In Antigonish I met with the Roman Catholic Bishop of  Nova Scotia. He was very frank, and in some measure friendly to our work. In the Bible Society formed in that place that are two persons appointed as depositaries for the sale of the Scriptures, and one of them is a Roman Catholic. Previous to his appointment I asked the Bishop whether he would have any objections to his selling our Bibles for us. He applied with great frankness, "No, none at all." Finding him thus well disposed towards us, I said to him, "Suppose I should meet some of the Priests under you, through the province, who might say they would have no objections to the circulation and use of our Books among the people if they had your sanction: suppose this, I said, What shall I say to them?" With the same frankness as before, he said, "You can say that they have my sanction."

From Nova Scotia I passed over to Prince Edward Island. I had made arrangements to spend a week in it, judging that I had no more time to spare. I was well received there, as I had previously been in other parts. A public meeting of the Auxiliary of the Island was held in the Scotch church in Charlotte Town: his Excellency the Governor presided, and the English clergyman opened the meeting by prayer. Some little impulse may probably have been given to the Society through this meeting. Arrangements had been made that I should visit for places in the interior of the Island during my week's stay, but owing to the weather being very bad for some days in succession only two of these places could be visited. Our meetings at these two were encouraging, and will result, I believe, in two Branches to the Island Auxiliary; but it was considered necessary to wait a little previous to their formation. When I learn that they are formed, I shall mention them to you.

There is a Ladies' Bible Society Prince Edward's Island, of which the Governor's Lady is Patroness, and is also the chief actor in all branches of its operations. I paid a formal visit to her Ladyship, as distinct from paying my respects to Sir Charles, in order formally to thank her on the part of our Society for her warm and efficient patronage and services. Lady Mary is a daughter of the late Duke of Richmond, and sister to the present Duke.

I left Prince Edward's Island with regret at the end of my measured time of the week. I should have been glad to have spent two or three weeks in it, and I believe this would have been profitable to our cause. But I am hurried along from the necessity of comprehending as much as I can within the season. Should I ever again return to the Island, I shall contrive to make a longer and hence a pleasanter stay, for there is but small pleasure, I may say, in thus travelling post.

In Prince Edwards Island lives the Roman Catholic Bishop of that Island and New Brunswick. I called on him, and from the communications we had I judged he was in a certain degree friendly to the use of the Scriptures among his people. In the Steam Boat from the Island to Miramichi we happened to meet again as fellow passengers. This gave us ample opportunity for further conversation, during which I could not judge of his opinion otherwise than as above stated. One expression he used was of a peculiar kind, and I should like well enough to see all his Brethren take up the idea he stated, erroneous though it be. He said, "The sooner the Scriptures are generally diffused, the sooner will you all become [Roman] Catholics." Be it so if you will, said I, only let us all in the meantime actively join in the general diffusion of the Scriptures among all, and let the result declare result. We have no fear on this score, and neither it seems have you. In this therefore we are happily united.

On the 20th instant we arrived in Miramichi, where I saluted, my cousin, as I may say Mrs. Thomson, who has been long your correspondent as Secretary to the Miramichi Ladies' Bible Society. On the 21st we held a public meeting of the Society, and made arrangements for a future meeting on my return southerly, at which we expect to form a general Bible Society for that place and neighbourhood. I shall therefore leave any further notice of operations in that place till my return, and till a future letter.

Last night, according to appointment, we held a public meeting in this town, in the English church, at which the Rector presided, and became also President of the Society that was formed on the occasion. We had a good meeting, though the weather was very unfavourable, and I trust a good Bible feeling was excited, and will be kept up. The Society formed embraces the County, and is called the Gloucester County Bible Society, and is connected with you direct as an Auxiliary. The office bearers are: – the Rev. A.B. Somerville, President: Thomas Deblois, Treasurer: the Rev. George MacDonald, Secretary.

            I remain,

                        Very Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

[1] Note (BM): The Cunard Liverpool-Halifax transatlantic steamer which had recently begun this service.

Halifax, 3rd November 1840

Rev A Brandram No 98

Halifax, Nova Scotia, 3rd November 1840

My Dear Friend,

My letter of the 19th ultimo will have informed you of my operations on this tour up to that date. On the first of this month I left the Bay of Chaleur and came to Chatham on the Miramichi. There are three towns on that River, not very far from each other, namely, Chatham, Douglas and Newcastle. these are all classed not unfrequently under the common word Miramichi. The chief of these places is Chatham, and the next in importance is Newcastle. We have friends of our Bible cause in each of these towns or villages. It was my duty to visit them, and I did so accordingly. Among these was your old acquaintance Mr. McDonald.

I mentioned in my last that though we had had a public meeting in Miramichi, of the Ladies Bible Society, and which was well attended by both sexes, yet that we intended to have another meeting at that place afterwards, in order to form a general Bible Society to embrace a larger field that had been occupied by the Ladies, however well they had done. The meeting took place in Chatham on the 6th. It was well attended. We had five ministers with us, and of different denominations as you may suppose; but there was nothing different seen or felt on that occasion, but all was full cordiality, all rejoiced at the opportunity thus afforded of a general Christian union for the purpose of making Christianity general through the diffusion of the word of God over the world. We had to ministers of the Scotch Church, or Kirk, and both spoke at length with great delight on the subject of our Bible union and cooperation. I mentioned this the more, because there are in some places and persons in these Provinces some remembrances still of certain old scores which I need not mention. Several speeches longer or shorter were made at this meeting, by both ministers and laymen of several denominations of the place, and a very general satisfaction seemed to be the result. You may be sure that your agent enjoy the occasion as much as most, and one circumstance seemed to favour in him and genial feeling. The day of our meeting was, what I may call a commemoration day with me, for on that day, the 6th of October, 22 years before, I first set foot on the continent of South America.

From Miramichi I proceeded to Richibucto, having previously arranged, as usual for a Bible Meeting there. We met on the 9th and had a good assemblage, of people in the village, and from the country around to a good distance. The Rev. Mr. Hannay the Scotch clergyman of this place was with us, and fully, and his aid is of some consequence, as his people formed the chief body of Protestant Settlers on that River. The French Roman Catholics there, and in all that quarter, are numerous. I hope the Richibucto Bible Society will soon begin to act and to tell upon them. The Ladies' Bible Society in this place commenced about 18 months ago, and it has sent to the auxiliary at St. John upwards of £80 in that comparatively short time. It is, we may well say, in a flourishing condition. We all hoped that the meeting held on this occasion would prove the means of making it still more prosperous.

On leaving Richibucto I went southwards, and was kindly driven as far as Chediac by Mr. Wark one of our Bible friends, and who is most friendly. We had a little meeting there, and made preparations for a larger one afterwards. Our next meeting in order was at Sackville, widow Bible Society was formed. From thence I went into Nova Scotia to Amherst, at which was held the meeting of the Cumberland County Bible Society. I came back into New Brunswick; and we held at Dorchester a meeting of the Westmoreland County Bible Society. My next stopping place was a gorgeous called The Bend, and it is so named because of a very remarkable Bend in the River Peticodiac. Here we had a meeting, and formed the Monkton Bible Society, as Monkton is the name of the parish. In the next place I meeting was held of the Salisbury Bible Society. At Sussex Vale onwards we were hindered of our meeting by the weather, as it rained all day, a sufficient hinderance perhaps where there is no village, but all would have to come some distance from the country.

On Saturday the 24th I arrived in St. John, and on Monday following, the 26th there was held the Anniversary of the New Brunswick Bible Society. It was held a little earlier than the usual time in order to meet my convenience and movements. It was a very full assembly, and at which were present the various Ministers of the place. No denomination lacked its representative, and there were three from the Church of England, and two from the Church of Scotland. Not the least cordial of our friends there was Mr. Robinson the Baptist Minister. Our speakings and hearings lasted full four hours. But I may say there was not a murmur, nor a move, nor a removal all the time till everything closed. When we were about three quarters through, and to prevent the same I mentioned the great and long patience of the Indians at our Bible meetings, which were lengthened and doubled by the necessity of speaking through an interpreter. If this notice had no good effect on the audience, it had certainly no bad one: – and I state it to you now, that you may know when you see need from moving send removings at any of your English meetings, remind your people of the great and long patience of the Canada Indians of the Bible Society Meeting. ― I leave further notices of our anniversary, and of this Society, to be transmitted to you by the Secretary, was active and worthy in our cause, Mr. Paterson.

My arrangements were to cross over from St. John's to Windsor in Nova Scotia with the steam boat on the day after the anniversary meeting above noticed. But owing to a heavy storm of wind on the day of our meeting in St. John, the steam boats were thrown out of their arrangements, and this with other stormy days following, prevented me from crossing all the week. I was grieved at this, because I had made arrangements for three meetings on the Nova Scotia side before I should reach Halifax, which Mr. Uniacke one of the clergymen of Halifax had my request kindly arranged for me, writing to all his friends, and causing notices to be given. By these circumstances in regard to the weather, etc. I missed all these three meetings, and arrived in this city on the last night.

In St. John I had a good deal of conversation with Mr. Robinson the Baptist Minister above noticed, and our conversation turned on the subject between the Bible Society and the Baptists. At the Baptist Nova Scotia conference in July last Mr. Robinson and another Minister were appointed to treat with the conference in New Brunswick and to draw up a conjoint memorial to be addressed to your Committee through me on the misunderstanding in question. Since July I have wondered a good deal about this memorial that it had not come into my hands, and could not conjecture the cause of the delay. Mr. Robinson however explained this to me in our conversations. He told me that when the subject was brought before the conference in New Brunswick, there were so many of the ministers pleaded for you, offered excuses and defences, and so magnified great work in which you are engaged, that they agreed to drop the subject altogether for the time. Mr. Robinson said it was very providential that I had met with him in June last, as I had rectified his views a good deal in this matter, and in consequence of his restating my explanations to his brethren they had seen things in a more friendly light.

Your letter of the 29th September reached me in St. John on the 24th October. I do thank you yourself, my Dear Friend, and think all my kind friends in the committee for the favourable Resolution passed in regard to me on the 28th September, not only conceding me my request for four months leave, but also for continuing my salary during that time, which I had not requested, nor looked for. And I think you all besides, for the unanimity and cordiality with which you say the Resolution was passed, and with such kind references to my poor services. I trust these four months will not be altogether lost to the Bible Society, and to the great general cause of the kingdom of God on earth. – I further think you for meeting my wishes for an early decision and communication on the subject. I am sorry I put you to the trouble of having a special meeting of the Committee called. I was too late in writing you, but delayed as long as I could, in expectation of some notice from you as to the continuance or not of my mission here beyond the prescribed two years. It will still be necessary for you to treat upon us, and to let me know your mind. There is still more than sufficient work for me during a long summer in these Provinces of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, without mentioning Newfoundland, from which I have invitations with favourable prospects. – My four months leave I intend to pass in Montreal for reasons I need not now mention. My residence there will I hope be useful to the Society, more than it could be here, in attending the frequent committee meetings of your lively Auxiliary there. I also intend out of some five months stay there, to have about a month's travelling for you during the best travelling part of the winter season, and through places which I was anxious before to visit, and could not.

Your letter of the 22nd of July came into my hands on the 16th of August: and that of the 1st September on the 20th of the same. Mr. Jackson's on the 18th September, on the 6th of  October.

            I remain, My Dear Friend,

                        Very Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

Postscript.

New Societies

 Name               Connected with          President                     Treasurer         Secretary

Miramichi        B. P F. B. Society        Wm Abrams               George Kerr    Rev I M Curdy

Sackville          New Brunswick          Edward Dixon            I F Allison        C F Allison

Monkton         New Brunswick          Wm Chipman              M Harriss         Bliss Botsford

Alterations to be made in the names of office bearers in different Societies previously formed: – in the Westmoreland BS instead of James Ross for Secretary, say, C Milne: –in the Salisbury BS instead of Y Sherman for Treasurer, say R. –and instead of I Peck for Secretary, say William Stone. In the Cumberland BS of Nova Scotia, instead of the names that you have in the 36th Report, put E.B.Cutter for President, and also for Treasurer, and For Secretary W.P.Moffatt.

The Richibucto BS is now a Branch and requires a place in the Report. The office bearers are: – President: Mrs Jardine ; Treasurer: Mrs Weldon; Secretary: Mrs. Wood.

In the Gloucester BS mentioned in No 97, write McDonnell instead of McDonald for Secretary.

The parcel containing this year's Report for Prince Edward's Island was sent to Mr. Paterson in St. John. I have manage to get it forward to the special kindness of the Postmaster. But I would beg to notice the port of St. John has, I may say, no communications with P.E.Island, whilst on the other hand there are ready communications weekly between that Island and Pictou and Miramichi by steam boat, so that at any time when you at a loss for a direct communication to "the Island" you could send to either of these two places, requesting your friends there to forward what you send.

Please address my letters to Montreal till further notice. JT.