Rev A Brandram No 23
Zaragoza 29th August 1848
My Dear Friend,
I am safely arrived in this place, after passing, since I wrote you, the dangerous roads of the Pyrenees, travelling through rebellious Catalonia, escaping robbers that were the other day in this neighbourhood, and the dangers besides of a different kind. With all my heart I give thanks to God for these preservations, as I still continue to do for similar preservations in other countries in former times. Would that the fruits of righteousness were in me as abundantly as have been and are God's merciful dealings with me in all my wanderings.
But I must take you back to Toulouse. I stated in my last that I had just seen our good friends the Courtois. Freres they are among themselves as a company and domestically, and Brethren beloved of all who know them. I got much information from them as to their own operations in the South of France, and regarding their opportunities of operating on the boundaries of Spain. I was advised by them to visit Montauban where a society was in project bearing wholly on Spain I went accordingly, and found that such an object was in view, but that the Revolution had so dried up all their sources and resources that it was impossible for them to proceed until better pecuniary times should dawn upon them. Still my going there was opportune. I found that M. Emilien Frossard who has for some time been Director of the Theological Seminary of that place, was about leaving, and was going to Bagneres de Bigorre, Hautes Pyrénées, on the borders of Spain, to open a mission station there, to gather together the few scattered Protestants, to feed them, and bring others into the same fold. I had much conversation with him as to Spain, and he says he is most ready to work on this country, by making excursions into it from time to time to circulate the Scriptures, and do otherwise what is possible and practicable.
I met at Montauban with M. de Félice, the Author of the valuable little volume entitled "La Voix du Colporteur Biblique". You do not know perhaps to what friend you are indebted for this important aid in your Bible work. Mr. Robert Haldane left a few small legacies to different Institutions in that quarter for the circulation of the Scriptures under certain regulations. The parties finding full supplies of the Scriptures otherwise within their reach, thought the Bible work would be more forwarded by a terse essay on the subject, and hence they put their legacies together, and with the consent of the Executors, offered a prize for such a work. La Voix du Colporteur Biblique obtained the preference, and was accordingly published. Montauban was to me personally a place of considerable interest. My early missionary thoughts are connected with that place. Mr. Haldane had wished me to go out to him there, and for good while, in view of this, my daily readings of the Scriptures, and aloud, I well recollect, were in the French Tongue. He found however difficulties which hindered what he had in view, and the plan was given up. This circumstance, though it did not originate my missionary intentions, greatly strengthened them: and immediately on that door being shut, I directed my attention to those far distant countries, to which God afterwards guided me, and in which his protecting hand was so wonderously upon me through many years in the midst of various perils.
I proceeded to the South. At Foix I met with M. Gaubert the Protestant Pasteur, a worthy young man, who may some day prove serviceable to your cause in Spain, from residing near its borders. As far as Ax I was conducted by the Stage, and there had to betake myself to my former mode of travelling on horse or mule back. The ascent of the Pyrenees on the French side is gradual and easy. On passing the top of the roads are steep and rugged. I came to Andorra. This little Republic, if not from its size, yet from its age and some other circumstances, is venerable. It has governed itself independent of both Spain and France, for more than 1000 years. The Mohammedans reached this high spot in the Pyrenees, and gained possession of it, as they had done of all Spain. It was the last place they gained, and the first they lost, their reign here was only of 12 years duration.
I have more than once thought that God has purposed to crown our efforts in Spain with much success, if not soon, late. I have thought so because Satan is so anxious to thwart us in every project, and at every point. I met with him at Andorra, and had almost said in propia persona. Who should be there at that very moment, but the Bishop. And this was not an annual, biennial or triennial visitation. He had not been there before for nineteen years. I had scarcely intimated that I had copies of the Scriptures, when the Priest of the place came to me very angry with a message from the Bishop threatening me if I should dispose in any way off a single copy, and intimating how easy it would be to get up a mob about me which would make me move quicker than I could wish. I need hardly say that under such circumstances I could do nothing. One copy of the New Testament I gave it to the Schoolmaster who expressed a particular wish to have one. My disappointment you may be sure, was great. I could only move onwards, and with the fear and uncertainty of the Bishop being before me, as I was going to his capital and through his diocese. One copy of the New Testament I gave to a kind stranger friend in St. Julian still in Andorra, and arrived in Urgel. I had not been long there when I learned that accusations were launched against me by the Bishop for having prohibited Books. The gentleman of the Inn came to me half breathless telling me of what he had heard, and urging me if I had such books immediately to take them out, and he would put them away, concealed among his own things. The Books were taken out and so put away, leaving two or three which is a proper part of my own luggage I might safely carry. I had brought only a few of the Books with me, having sent back the rest to Ax, and forwarded to M. Frossard as stock for him to begin with. To have brought on the whole after what took place would have been both useless and dangerous.
After this all was lull till about nine o'clock at night. Then up came the gentleman of the Inn again and said he understood I should without delay be arrested, and advised me if I felt any danger to flee. I said, No, I would not flee. He went out saying the Alguacil would be with me immediately. In fact he was below in the house all the while this gentleman was with me, and he had sent him up to prepare me, and to give me an opportunity of escaping. He came in forthwith, and told me he came with orders to take me to the Police Office, but urged me, if I were afraid, to flee. No, I said, I won't flee, I'll go with you. I arranged myself the best way I could in the view of passing the night, and perhaps some days in the Police Office, or some worse place. Notwithstanding however all this fear I got off easily, as the Police Officer said he only wished that I should present myself, and show my Passport, which having done I got off, and returned home thankful for my preservation thus far. Something bearing on this escape you will find further on.
Next day just as I had gone out, I met the gentleman of the Inn, and one of the head Custom House guard, and learned from them that this officer was come to search my luggage. We went all three into my room together. Before any operations began, the officer went out of the room to light his cigar. Now, said the gentleman of the Inn, if you have any more books you fear, take them out that I may put them away with the rest. The officer will be back immediately, and no doubt he has gone out purposely to give you an opportunity to remove them. The two or three I had left were accordingly taken out and put away. Then in came the officer, and made a most minute and thorough search of everything, and such as I had never met with before. He went off, and the gentleman of the Inn, who had been present all the while, went off with him, and returning to me he said the officer was gone to report, but he did not know what he thought as to what he had seen.
All these things were enough to make me desirous of leaving Urgel with as little delay as possible, and I got away that same afternoon, and proceeded out of town six miles. I could not venture however to take the books with me as I was informed that most likely I should be searched again on going out of town. I directed therefore that they should be forwarded to me to Lerida. The threatened second search did not take place, and I was well pleased to escape it, and to get safe away.
When I told the gentleman of the Inn, on the first fright what Books I had, namely, Bibles and New Testaments, and I showed him one of the latter: – O, said he, these are not prohibited Books. I have one just the same. He went and got it, and it was a copy of the very same Paris edition. He would have it that these Books were not prohibited, and thought therefore that it was unnecessary to conceal them. I replied that these were what they called prohibited Books. He expressed himself much dissatisfied that such Books should be considered as prohibited. I found him very friendly, as you may see from what I have said of him above, and also found him very favourable to the use of the Scriptures. I therefore gave him one of the small Bibles, on the condition that he would carefully read it, which he said he would do, and with interest, for he had wished much to have one. Before leaving, I inquired if he had any friends who had a sincere desire to peruse the Bible. He said he had, and he counted them, and up to the number of six. My injunction again was, and the condition of the gift, that the Books should be attentively read, and throughout. He was sure that these friends would do so, he said, and with deep interest. Thus seven Bibles were disposed off, and I recommended that if the parties reading them should feel themselves benefited, they might charge their consciences with giving what they thought their price to the poor. Who knows what these seven mustard seeds may produce, and soon, as it would seem, in favourable ground. Much was said by this gentleman against the Priests for prohibiting this sacred book, and it was plainly stated, that they feared it as speaking against their own evil ways.
I should not forget to say that one of my 29 letters was for a Colonel in this place, and who was actually in command of the Garrison during the illness of the Governor. On my being summoned and carried to the Police Office, I sent a hasty verbal message to this gentleman, to say what had taken place, and to beg he would have the goodness without delay, to meet me at the Police Office. I was scarcely there when he came, and told the officer that I had been recommended to him from Madrid by a Member of the Cortes. I experienced benefit from this no doubt, and perhaps great benefit and deliverance. On our leaving the Office he went to the house of the Prefect to speak in my favour. To this kindly and influential aid I was indebted probably, under Providence, for my further safety in that place, and my unsearched exit. The Lord reward him, and the many who have befriended me in all my movements.
I should further say before leaving, that the different parties I met with and who knew the case in hand, all sympathized with me, and styled the Bishop and those with him mala gente (bad people) for their opposition. There is no doubt a broad and large ground and field of operation for us among the Spaniards when Ecclesiastical Opposition shall cease to be sustained by Political Power. The Lord hasten that time.
The gentleman of the Inn, as I have designated him is a Lawyer, and son of the widow lady who keeps the Inn, and is living in the same house.
My journey through the remaining Pyrenees was rougher and more dangerous than any of the parts of these mountains I had previously passed through, and it was rendered doubly fatiguing, as well as more dangerous, by my being obliged to ride on a pack saddle without stirrups. You will wonder that I should ride so, but there was a reason for it. All Catalonia being in an insurrectionary state is under military command alone, and within the last three months a severe, perhaps necessary order has been issued in respect to saddles and horses. Had I rode on a saddle, and fallen in with the Carlists, a very likely circumstance, and they had carried off the saddle, as most certainly they would, though they might have let us escape, we should have been fined in 4,000 rials, that is £40, and had a horse been taken, the punishment is banishment to the Philippine Islands, the Spanish Botany Bay. During most of this journey we were in constant risk of meeting with these insurgents. In one town where we slept they were seen that night. My muleteer has a sister there married to a secret Carlist, and she came and told him that they were in town and are urged our not starting off until full daylight. Further, 500 of them were seen in the neighborhood of Lerida through which we passed not more than a week before, and at a town on this side of it is a good way, all came round us on our entering with breathless interest to inquire if we had met or heard of any, as they had been alarmed that morning with accounts of their being near.
Thus, My Dear Friend, through all these risks I have been preserved, and have reached this city in full safety. You know I always count upon your prayers, and God is the hearer of prayer.
I here, on my journey, pause and hesitate. Your letter of the 8th instant reached me in St. Julian. You say, "We sometimes have our misgivings as to any tangible results from your wanderings." To this you add, in your usual kind manner, that you are sure I would do more if I could. I thank you all for your kindly confidence. It is indeed a grief to me that I can do so little. I do not wonder that your misgivings. Reasoning on them, and before the affair at Urgel occurred, I resolved that on reaching this city I should stop, as having made one round, so to speak, and being now in a certain sense, in the neighbourhood of Madrid, and from this should I proceed I shall be again removing further and further from it. I resolved to stop short here, and go to Madrid, in order to give you time and opportunity to reconsider my movements, and to say, Proceed, or not, as you judge best. This letter will reach you on Committee day, as I understand by Post Office inquiries, and you will please to consider the matter early, and report to me soon, that in case of proceeding I may lose as little as possible of the proper season of the year for travelling.
There were three reasons which induced me to propose to you a journey this summer. First: because in Madrid I could do nothing, and I was unwilling to be inactive. Second: our dear friend Mr. Usoz has always wished I should see as much as I well could of Spain, for further if not immediate advantage. Thirdly: because my moving through Spain, and talking as I could, if not acting, is one of the things specially mentioned in Mr. Hull's letter, and for the fulfillment of which I came to this country. For myself personally, if not officially, it would have been much more agreeable and comfortable to remain in Madrid. It is always rather a self-denial to me than a pleasure to start on a journey, and there are many fatigues and dangers connected with travelling in Spain. For all these privations and risks I am prepared, and ready to go anywhere, and continuously, over this country. But the cui bono is to be considered, and I leave this now again in your hands to form a decision. I do not think that no good has been done, but still it may not be worth the costs. Bayonne, and places adjacent, could be visited on my returning home, as they are in the way. You have not sent the Books thither I understand.
Should you decree my remaining for the present in Madrid, there will then be a second question immediately after to be taken up, namely, how long I should continue there. I go now, in addition to the object mentioned, to see how the wind blows there, and whether there are any veerings indicating the wind more favourable to us, for our Bible vessel, which is not Man-of-War, but of Peace. With a law removing all restrictions as to the introduction, printing, and circulation of the Scriptures, I consider Spain would be a fine field for us, and the more the clergy, rendered innoxious, were opposed to us, perhaps all the better. They have lost their prestige in Spain, and I cannot think they will ever regain it. What prospects are there, you will ask, of such a law, leaving Spain legally free to us? Our only chance apparently is in a change in the Government party. But this is an anomalous country, and such a law may even be made by the present party. Ysturiz is of this party, and perhaps there is no individual in Spain more friendly to Religious Liberty than he is, and he is a man of energy, and will act without fear. He has been Prime Minister, and may be so again. I expect to see him in Madrid, when the subject will be touched upon. – As to the other, and naturally more hopeful party, a considerable chasm, if I may so speak, is being placed between them and Power by the rigorous and continuous measures taken against them. One of these, a Member of the Cortes, was my fellow traveller into this city, and in giving me his own views, and the intentions of his party when Power comes into their hands, I was more encouraged than by the sentiments of any other of the party that I have met with. They are much better than my friend La Serna's, who by the way is living retired in Estremadura in a voluntary banishment to avoid an involuntary one.
Many thanks for relieving me in my compromise with my Jew friend in Tangier.
Your letter of the 25th July was also received. How pleasing to read of openings in Italy and Vienna. May you soon have to tell our friends there and elsewhere, that Spain also, the last door, is open and wide. All things are possible with God. "All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord, and shall glorify thy name."
Praying for you all, and begging anew the prayers of you all for poor Spain, and for your poor servant.
I remain,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.