Edinburgh, 17th May 1845

 Rev A Brandram

Edinburgh 17th May 1845

My Dear Friend

            Your letter of the 13th came duly to hand, and afforded me comfort by your condolence with me in the midst of Thistles, and which seem sharper and stronger than usual. I do not know whether to consider it a compliment to me or the reverse this extraordinary bristle up, but I know I should have been better pleased without it. And now every day the storm rises. The warning is in new papers this week in which it was not before, and it is issued moreover in a circular.

            I thank you much for your letter of the 15th received this morning, and containing information I wished much to have, but which I was afraid to ask.

            On comparing the accusations made with Pereira's Bible of 1828, and his Test. of 1823, we found our anti-friends exceedingly, but fortunately, inaccurate; but we were afraid there might be other editions of the Portuguese B. or T. in which their cited passages might be found verbatim. Your note however frees us of that danger, as I suppose you have looked into all your Port. B. or T.

            Pray, try to ascertain whence they have quoted, for surely they cannot have quoted from their own heads. Shortly before the warning appeared I learned that a printed note had been sent here from London per post, anonymous, containing these translation accusations. From whence they came I have little doubt, and I suppose you can guess also. Our friends here will presently learn that they have rested on a broken reed which will run into their hand.

            When the warning first appeared our Committee met to consider it, and resolved to make no reply. Now however they have summoned another meeting with a different intention, and a reply is most likely to be given, and I think it is required.

            I see in Almeida's Bible you give no headings, and rather wonder you should have left them out there where there was no danger, and kept them in in Pereira's where there is much danger, and now rather immediate as you see. Besides whoever was Editor should have brought these objectionable headings before you. My advice would be, to cut off with one fell sweep of the guillotine all these Roman Catholic heads together, I mean, of the chapters. As to changes of the text itself I think they shd. never be made without acknowledgement. And in this way you might perhaps remove all that is objectionable which is little, correcting one R.C. version by another.

            I have read over since I came here, not having it before, Mr. Radley's Pamphlet, and like it very much. I think some hundreds of these for circulation here would be very useful. Should a new edition be needed, perhaps he could embrace in it these present accusations.

            You have not observed, I think, the heading of Luke xx 11 in the Port. B. & T. There unfortunately is to be found the objectionable passage "Consecrates the bread & wine into his body and blood." We shall let the Ed. people find out this passage, and if they do, we will make due use of consecrates instead of transmutes. I trust you will take the headings of chapters into early consideration in the Committee, and by a Resolution on the subject enable us at once to say, that all these headings in every reprint will be omitted.

            I am glad to say that Dr. Wilson is very cordially with us, and is using his knowledge and his influence in our favour with the three names appended to the warning and connected with the Free Church, namely Candlish, Clason and Spiers.

            In the Edin. Committee itself we have at least two who are thoroughly on our side, besides some borders.

            I am, My Dear Friend,

                        Very Truly Yours,

                                    Jas. Thomson.

Aberdeen, 25th July 1845 - 1

Rev A Brandram

Aberdeen, 25th July 1845

My Dear Friend,

            Mr. Hitchin's note received yesterday advertised me that feelings again prevail in the Committee about my quicker return than has been contemplated during the last two months, in consequence of renewed and more bitter attacks from our opponents. I shall keep what is indicated in mind, and act upon it in the best and wisest manner I can.

            There is one thing I particularly want to recommend to you, and that is, a cancel in the heading of Luke xxii after the word "wine". I should be glad you would resolve on this at your very first meeting of Committee, that I might be able to state that it is altered, and the evil removed.

            I remain,

                        Very Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

Aberdeen, 28th July 1845

Rev A Brandram

Aberdeen, 28th July 1845

My Dear Friend,

            I send you the reply of our Edinburgh Committee to the Second Warning, and also a note from the Edinburgh Bible Society in reference to it, by which note you will see, that the newspaper war has ceased, and that something in the shape of an Address or Pamphlet may be expected before long to appear.

As to the heading I mentioned in my last, it would, I think, be very desirable to have it corrected by a cancel without delay. I have not the book at hand, but they say it reads, "consecrates the bread and wine into the body and blood, and ordains the Apostles priests". The words "into his body and blood", – and "priests" should be left out, and then it will stand well, and the omissions will not probably give offence to the other party. I do not know that there are any other objectionable headings; but it is very desirable, I think, that the whole should be examined with as little delay as possible, and at what is really erroneous should be corrected: or the whole headings should be left out in future editions. Probably this leaving out of the headings would be unwise, as they are more used perhaps by a certain class of readers, and more useful to them, than we are aware of. This, you see, is contrary to what I formerly said. But I have thought a good deal upon the subject since. At all events, I think, they should be, and early and entirely revised.

            I have been thinking as to whether anything could be done with the passages objected to in the text. I did give a hint in regard to this matter in a former letter, and am rather inclined to believe that something might be attempted without much danger, but particulars about this must be left till I see you.

            In my letter from St. Andrews I noticed the desirableness of considering whether our own pure  hands only could handle our own pure Bibles on the Continent without the aid of the Societies objected to.

            Of the four counts against you, as contained in the little square that I now send, I have already noticed three. The other respects Prayer. In regard to this I have observed in my movements, that all our friends desire a change in the practice. Many think the difficulties might be overcome, as they are in most, or all other Societies. I think if our clerical secretary were to be chaplain, the Dissenters would not object to his holding the office, especially under present difficulties, and our friends, The Friends, are all men of peace, and would not I think stand out in war in this case of peace-making.

            I think it is right that we should meet every objection as far as we well can. I have ventured some hints. You may not perhaps approve of them all, but you will I know forgive my freedom in noticing them. May God himself, the God of righteousness and peace, guide us all in all our ways, and keep us ever from hinderings, and enable us always to advance his own kingdom, in the service in which we are engaged.

                                    I remain, My Dear Friend

                                                Very Truly Yours,

                                                            James Thomson.

Aberdeen, 1st August 1845

Rev A Brandram

Aberdeen, 1st August 1845

My Dear Friend,

            Yours of the 29th came yesterday, and today is return of post as far as London delivery is concerned.

            I do not wonder that you think my communications scanty, but that is the Post Office's fault. I posted you a letter in St. Andrews with my own hand on the 9th July, and of that date, but find that up to the date of your note it had not been received. I have made inquiry in the post office concerning it. In the mean time, having fortunately a copy, I send you a duplicate.

            In regard to Mr. Boord, I have written to Mr. Gifford, and my letter will go from London today. Five cases would be too much to give him, at once at all events. His case is peculiar. I give you a copy of my letter to Mr. Gifford, and hope it will meet with your approbation. – I cannot understand Mr. Boord says about his getting the Books out of the Custom House, there was no difficulty in that, difficulty lay in getting them through the Custom House in Mexico. I have written to Messrs. Manning Mackintosh & Co. to inquire into the matter.

            You say, "Another bitter article last night," and that your judgment is, "Answer him not." And so is mine.

            As to the cancel in the heading of Luke xxii, I do think it should be done, and without delay. It is the only really objectionable thing in these versions: and as to not beginning, you have begun already, having altered even the text of Acts xiii.2, and which did not need cancelling perhaps so much is this.

            You say, "How much longer do you think of tarrying?" Till the beginning, or the middle of October. This also answers the question about Herefordshire, though it is rather a temptation to escape from among thistles to get among roses. But I must retire gracefully. Besides two thirds of Scotland are for us.         

                                     I am, My Dear Friend,

                                                Very Truly Yours,

                                                            James Thomson.