Barbados, 28th December 1832

Rev A Brandram No 16

Barbados 28 December 1832

My Dear Friend,

My last letter to you was written from Angostura on the banks of the River Orinoco on 27th of October. As no opportunity occurred for sending that letter direct from Angostura, I brought it with me downriver to Trinidad, from which I found an opportunity of forwarding it to you on the day of my arrival in that island, and sent it off accordingly with a postscript from that place dated the 3rd of November.

I am now, as you can see, by the good hand of our God upon me, once more returned and in safety to this Island. The time that has elapsed from my leaving Barbados in June last till my return here, is just one week less than six months. On returning to this Isle I am naturally led to take a review of, or at least a glance at, this interlude to my West Indian mission. Had I not been in these Spanish American countries before it is probable I should have been particularly struck with many things and thought them worthy of relating to you, that from my familiarity with these people now pass unobserved by me. The chief circumstances however as affecting our work I have I suppose already narrated to you in my letters from different parts of that country. The time and the portion of my own life spent in that quarter will ever remain before me owing the many circumstances and associations. You of course and our other associates cannot exactly feel the same interest which is felt by one who measures the country through, by pacing it along with his own feet, with the feet of his mule,  or with the paddles of his canoe; but still I believe that the attention of you all has been so fixed upon that country during a period of about six months, and often during your times of access to the throne of grace, that the place and the period will not soon escape from your minds. Well, we have sown the word of God there, and we have covered it in the ground and watered it, some of us with our hands and all of us with our prayers, and now do we look for the heavenly blessing, and O may it indeed be given, soon and very abundantly.

I mentioned the representation made to the Provinces of Venezuela as to supplying their schools with the Scriptures and at a low rate. Since I returned to this Island  I have received one letter in reference to that object. It is from the Governor of Trujillo, mentioning the expensive land carriage which they would have to pay in bringing books to that place, and inquiring if the price could be lowered to meet this. I have written to him in reply, and signifying an agreement with his wishes. When I hear more from him, or hear from the Governors of the other Provinces I shall duly apprise you of such communications.

In Trinidad I arrived the 3rd of November as already stated to you in  my letter No 15. I expected to find on my arrival there the two cases of French and Spanish Scriptures which I had requested you to send so as to meet me on that Island. But after making full enquiry I found  they had not arrived. I stopped a fortnight there thinking they might arrive in that time, but nothing came. In the distribution of the Scriptures therefore nothing was effected there during my stay. In regard to forming any Society in that Island auxiliary to our objects it was considered better to defer attempting it under the then unsettled state of the Island.  The newspaper I forwarded to you will sufficiently show you how things then stood. To this advice of our friends not to attempt at that time to attempt to form a Society I the more readily assented as in making my tours I will necessarily have to revisit that Island in passing from Tobago to Grenada, and I hope to find things more tranquillised and also to find myself better prepared for carrying out our objects into effect.

I called on the Roman Catholic Bishop in Trinidad, and found him very friendly. He showed me some Spanish New Testaments which he had received through some mercantile house there if I recollect right. From our conversation I gathered that he was friendly to the circulation of the Scriptures among the people under his care. He offered me notes of introduction to the curates of some villages in the interior of the island should I be disposed to go there. I did not then visit those parts, but I hope to be able to visit there on my return to the island, and shall then avail myself of the Bishop's  notes of introduction. I spoke to him of our proposed Auxiliary Bible Society for Trinidad,  and I almost hope that we may obtain his consent to it and his assistance. But I will not advertise much on this score till he is put to a nearer trial.

I left Trinidad on the 19th ultimo in the Mail boat.  We touched at Grenada and St Vincents, stopping 24 hours in each place according the Post Office rules by which these vessels are guided. On the 2nd cur. we reached this Island, 12 days after leaving Trinidad; a rather long period for so short a distance, but we had both the winds and the currents against us.

Soon after my arrival here I visited Bible Society friends, and was much gratified to find what progress had been made. I learned that they had remitted to you £100, and that they have £25 more on hand. I learned also that a Ladies Association had been formed and that it had proved very effective. The Ladies it seems have publicly proclaimed their own praise in their new work, not in words, but by the large amount of subscriptions which they have laid on the table at each of their meetings.

I discovered also that our friends have made active search into the state of many parts of Bridgetown in regard to the wants of the Holy Scriptures, and that they had found the wants great, as has uniformly been the case wherever searches have been made with similar views. These wants they have in part supplied, and have taken means preparatory to reach the wants of all. A considerable number of copies of the Scriptures have been sold by the Depositary, or rather Depositaries, for an additional member of the Committee has been appointed to this work since I went from this. The two members of the Committee who act as Depositaries and salesmen have stores or shops in well frequented places of the town and have thus the facility of aiding this branch of the Society's operations; but what has given me particular pleasure is the satisfaction and interest felt by our two friends in their labours of putting into circulation the holy word of God.

You were pleased I am sure in receiving an order for Bibles from this new Auxiliary, and would be surprised I suppose at it being so large; and probably you noted too the additional pleasant circumstance that the chief demand is for entire Bibles and not the New Testament only.  This circumstance I always consider a positive one, and indicative of an advance in Bible circulation.

The very next day after my arrival here was the day appointed for the Committee Meeting. I had thus an early opportunity of seeing and congratulating our friends, and of learning from them what they had done and what they intended to do. At that meeting, and at a subsequent specially called, we made arrangements for forming associations in the different districts into which they have divided Bridgetown.

In carrying this purpose into execution we fixed on a given district that we thought the most suitable to make a commencement with. Having done this we gave notice of the intended meeting a couple of days before the householders of the district by a small printed hand bill left at each house. The evening of the 17th current was the time appointed for the meeting. At the hour fixed on I went along with some friends to the place. As we approached it we found several people coming away from it, and on reaching the house we found it wedged full of people, and many standing on the outside who could not get in. This already filled house informed us of the cause of so many people returning from the place of meeting which we had met on our approach to it.

Well, having thrust ourselves in with some difficulty we opened our meeting and announced to the people the object for which they had been called together, and invited them to join us in the great work of putting God's word into the hands of all mankind, and more especially and finding out the wants of the Scriptures in that individual district, and of supplying these wants as effectually as possible and without delay. Several members of the Committee of our  "Barbados Auxiliary" were there, and spoke on the occasion recommending this important object each in his own way and with those arguments which he considered calculated to lead the audience into the objects and plans proposed to them.

Not to mention other things that afforded me pleasure at this meeting and moved me to thanksgiving, I shall mention four particulars which I am sure will be gratifying to you also as they were to me. - In the first place, the very respectable gentleman who presided on the occasion was a person who resides in the immediate neighbourhood of the district, and it was pleasing to see such a one lend his name, his influence and his services at the commencement of this new work in this place. I considered the presence of this gentleman as valuable for the favourable exit of this our first attempt at forming associations here. But in another point of view I considered his services of even more importance; for being considered, as he generally is, the first or chief Planter in the Island, his example will no doubt turn out favourably for us in our future operations by inducing others to act as he is doing. To this I may add as another source of satisfaction in regards to this individual, namely, that he seemed to feel a pleasure in doing  what he did.

In the second place, it was a gratifying circumstance in regard to this meeting, that the members of the Committee who were present and advocated the cause, seemed all to feel a lively interest in  this blessed work of seeking out those who are destitute of the Scriptures and supplying them.

In the third place, I was much pleased in seeing the favourable reception given by the audience to every solemn and pious uttered by those who spoke. - And in the fourth place, I was gratified in seeing the readiness with which our proposals were practically met, by numbers putting down their names and their money as subscribers to our infant association. - If all our associations are formed under such favourable circumstances and auspices, it will I think be to us all a sign that God is with us.

In the last Committee meeting of our Auxiliary we had also talked of forming a Bible Association in each parish throughout the Island. But this after due consideration we gave up for the time, the reason for our laying it aside for awhile was, that the Rectors in the different Parishes not being friendly to us, we were fearful that their opposition affirmative or negative would operate to hinder not only the accomplishment of our objects in regard to the Parishes, but also that this partial or non-success in the country might operate against us in town. We have therefore postponed our plan as far as the Parishes are concerned until we have placed our town concerns in a firmer and more permanent state. In the meantime I am ascertaining the state of things in the interior in regard to our objects by visiting different parts of the Island. I have already visited two places where I think we shall be able to form Bible Associations. These will have no reference to the limits or locality of a Parish, but will be formed under the auspices of two pious Planters on their own estates, and embracing the people free and bond on the surrounding estates as far as they may feel inclined to join us in our object.

At the moment I write to you I am stopping a little at the Moravian establishment here called Sharon,  at the distance of four miles from Bridgetown. On leaving this I go to the other Moravian establishment  in the island called Mount Tabor lying eight miles from this one. You of course will suppose that the Moravian missionaries are friendly to our objects. They are truly so, and the often speak of your former kindness to them in the supplies which from time to time they have received from you.

After visiting Mount Tabor I am to visit a Parish lying in the north extremity of the island. I am to be conveyed there by a clergyman, and our object is to visit the Rector of the parish referred to, to see if we can gain him over to our plans, for at present he is somewhat shrouded in Sackvillism, if you know what that means.

The rounds mentioned,  and one or two more in contemplation, will fully occupy me till the arrival of the next Packet, at which time there will be as usual a Mail boat despatched for Demerara, and in this I intend to go, in pursuance of my plans and route already laid before you.

Before I inter on a new subject I may just mention that on my arrival on this Island I found the brig Coriolanus in the harbour.  On visiting the Captain I found that he had on  board the two cases of Scriptures for Trinidad. He sailed in a few days after for that Island, and took on with him those two cases, and a letter I wrote to the Wesleyan missionary there requesting him to receive and use these copies of the Scriptures according to directions given. Some of these I hope he will be able to put into early circulation, and the rest will lie under his care until in the Providence of God your agent again reaches that Island.

I may also mention that the ship Tropic arrived here on the 9th and brought the case of Bibles which was so much needed. The want of these cheaper Bibles had impeded in some degree the formation of Associations, and this supply therefore has come very seasonably.  The committee also anxiously look for the rest of the Bibles ordered, and in the meantime they have requested me to write to Antigua for all the spare Bibles in that place. Thus prospers our work in this Island, and blessed be God for the same.

One thing more. The Coloured People's Bible Society has had some new life put into it by our New Institution, and they have on hand ready to send you nearly £50 sterling. All this you see tends the same way, and to God again be the praise.

In my letter from Caracas of the 28th July I traced to you prospectively the route I intended to pursue in prosecution of this mission. In my draft I did not go beyond the Island of Hayti, and you ask me whether I do not intend to include Jamaica, and signify your  particular wish that that Island should be visited. In returning to that subject again in another letter you say, "are you looking to Mexico and South America once more; communicate your views fully upon this subject."

In stopping short of Hayti in my projected route, it was not my intention to signify that I did not purpose to visit Jamaica. On the contrary I have never for one moment thought of thought visiting that island, but all along looking forward to visiting it as a part of the field you laid before me in the instructions I received when I undertook the present mission. In my draft I did not go beyond July 1833 in time, nor beyond the Island of Hayti in place, simply because one year's definite operations were as much as one could prudently venture to trace in prospect. I shall now however pass onwards, and give you a sketch of what is one my mind in regard to this mission in regard to your wishes.

I have said in my letter from Caracas that I did not think that I could reach Porto Rico or Hayti sooner than the beginning of July. I am still of that opinion as to place and time. Supposedly then I should reach Hayti in the month of July next, I would contemplate being in that Island till the middle of October, that is about three months. This is perhaps a longer period than the proportion due to Hayti but the island is large and the field is new; and besides these are what are called in this quarter the hurricane months when most coasting vessels are laid up, and it may be difficult to get onwards. Acting on this I should arrive in Jamaica in the end of October. If Jamaica be found open for Bible Society operations equal to Antigua and Barbados, two or three months stay will be required in that Island. And should it not be so open, one month's trial of things there will be enough. Taking a medium of these two I would be ready to leave Jamaica in the end of December, and this would conclude the year 1833.

On leaving Jamaica there would still lie before me as parts of this mission, the island of Cuba and the Bahamas in the West Indies, and on the continent Guatemala and Mexico. The order of visiting these, and the time required for each of them, I can hardly state at the present time with any degree of certainty. But what appears to me the best plan is the following. To go from Jamaica to Belize in the Mexican Packet which now touches at the latter place in its way to Veracruz.  Belize, as you know, is one of our West India colonies, and as such is included in the mission.  From Belize I should like to go to Merida the capital of the peninsula of Yucatan, partly to promote the circulation of the Scriptures there, and partly to procure a translation of one of the Gospels into the Maya language spoken in that place. This native language I understand to be universally spoken all over the peninsula, and more exclusively so than in any other of the Mexican dialects in any particular district. From Merida I might return to Belize, and should then like to visit Guatemala, where I have never yet been, but where I hope there would be openings for the circulation of the Scriptures, and where I have some friends who I think would favour my operations.

From Guatemala I would go overland to the city of Mexico, or return to Belize, and go to Veracruz by the Packet. After attending to our concerns in Mexico the time you wish and in the manner you shall point out, I would think of returning to Veracruz, and taking a passage in the Mexican Packet for the Havana to which port it always goes on its way to England. On finishing the objects of my mission on the Island of Cuba, I would propose going to the Bahama Isles. This would form the last station in the present mission, and having thus finished the round laid before  me I would return to England.

The very least time that would be required for accomplishing the tour now sketched would be two years from the present date, but the greater probability is that it would occupy three, unless one should run through the places mentioned, and leave part of the objects of this mission unaccomplished.

In regards to South America to which you refer, I would not venture at present to include it in this tour.

You are fully aware I suppose that notwithstanding the sketch which I have drawn, at your request, I hold myself most entirely at your disposal and direction, both as respects the places I should visit and the time I should spend in them respectively. I have written you freely upon these matters as you desire. Be so good as write me in return with equal freedom as to my plans now laid before you. I wish to have, in the first place, the approbation of God in all my movements. But next to that I wish that my operations may be approved of by those who have  immediately entrusted in me with this mission. May the Lord direct the Committee as their agent to do those things which may the most directly and speedily advance his kingdom and glory.

                        Believe me affectionately Yours,

                                                                                    James Thomson.

P.S. Your two letters that were missing have now come to hand.

St John, 12th June 1841

Rev A Brandram - No 104

St. John, New Brunswick, 12th June 1841

My Dear Friend,

By last packet your letter of the 18th came into my hands, and a few days earlier I received yours of the 19th April, returned from Montreal. The one dated the 15th of March was received in Montreal on the 24th April.

I find by your two last letters that you are waiting my answer to yours of the 15th March concerning the West Indies: whilst I on the other hand was waiting your notice of my items as contained in my letter of the 24th February.

The case stands thus. In your letter of the 20th December you inquired whether I was willing to go to Spanish America. I said, yes. Before my letter with this reached you, you mentioned propositions about the West Indies, without referring to the previous proposition you had made, the answer to which was on the way. The letter that contained my answer, contained also some hints of some wishes I had of a private nature, and I thought I would wait till I should see what you would say to the whole of my letter of the 20th February, as respected South America and my private wishes. Now however that I see we are waiting for each other, I proceed immediately to treat on all that is pending between us.

Before however I commence, I would notice that the Resolution of the Committee respecting Mr. Howe and Mr. Lessel. The letter which contained Resolution was forwarded to the Parties by last mail the other day, and there is not yet time for a reply. For myself I thank you much, and all the Committee, for the kind manner in which you have attended to my suggestion. Something was due in the case, and you have done it, and gracefully.

In your letter of the 19th April you say, in reference to mine of the 20th February, "From that letter I learn that your thoughts are turned more decidedly to the South." I do not see how you gathered anything of a decision in preference from that letter, for there was only one object before me, and the whole of what I said on it was as follows: – "As to the question, Is your agent willing to go to South America, I would answer readily in the affirmative".

Now however there are two objects before me, and I think the Committee wishes me to express a decision in favour one of them. Since I wrote what I have quoted above in reply to your letter of the 11th of December 1840, I have often turned the subject of a visit to those distant countries in my mind, considering that the finger of God was directing me again to those quarters. In these late contemplations, as well as in some former ones, I have tried to see a field of Bible labours which might perhaps prove right and extensive. The field I referred to is as regards the native tongues. In Mexico there are almost half a dozen languages which are very extensively spoken, say by Three Millions of people; besides which there are from ten to fifteen other languages and dialects spoken perhaps by other Two Millions, making in all Five Millions. This alone is no mean object of attention, and would justify considerable effort on your part, if the door open, and whether it is fairly open or not can only be ascertained on the spot. I am inclined to think something could now be done to give the Scriptures to these Five Millions in their own tongue, if things were well managed. In Guatemala also the native languages are extensively spoken. The two great languages which chiefly prevail over the Western parts of the Southern Continent are the Peruvian and Araucanian.

In directing your efforts to these countries, it appears to me, you must chiefly look to work in the native languages; for probably the circulation of the Scriptures in Spanish would not be very extensive; although as respects the New Testament perhaps a good deal might be done, say in schools. And further, the system of colportage should be fully tried, and it may do much. In my letter No.70, of  the 24th of May 1838, you will see that I have treated on the subjects particularly, and I beg you would look over what I have their said.

Very recently and unexpectedly this object of the native tongues has come before me anew, and I may say, with fresh encouragement. On my late, and I may say in truth, unwilling visit to New York, in going down to that city from Albany in the steam boat I met with a gentleman a native of Yucatán, and just come from that place. He informed me that Yucatán had broken off from Mexico, and was independent. With the political merits and demerits of this act and change I have nothing to do, but its bearing on our concerns may perhaps be very favourable. The new Constitution they have just promulgated grants religious liberty to all foreigners, which hitherto has nowhere else been done in Spanish America except in Buenos Ayres: and my informant intimated to me that this step was a forerunner to general religious liberty in the country. Now no part of the Mexican territory is more interesting than Yucatán as respects what I have here considered as the main object of your present agency in those countries, I mean in regard to the native tongues. The whole of that Peninsula speaks one, called Maya. I had always considered its population to be about half a million, but this gentleman says there are 700,000 inhabitants in it. Here then is an important field to try in the work in question, and probably under the new state of things I have mentioned there would be considerable facility for obtaining not only a translation of a portion of the Scriptures, but for getting it into use also, and perhaps under the sanction and encouragement of the new government, for they will be anxious that their people should become intelligent and great, and I will tell them should I go there, and with all my conscience that the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures will raise these people, and higher than any other means could. – I may here add also, that the other subdivisions that seemed to be going on in Mexico will most likely be in our favour in like manner, and that both as respects the languages, and the general circulation of the Scriptures, for there will be a rivalry among the several little nations in the way of liberality, etc.

As to whether I should go to Spanish America or West Indies, I am inclined to think the indications of duty are in favour of the former, under all the circumstances of the two cases at the present period. I shall therefore consider that I am to be led back again to those countries by the hand of Providence in due time. These countries are already associated in my mind with many strong impressions; and why should I hesitate to return to them after all the mercies I experienced there during ten years, and in the midst of many difficulties and dangers.

Having made this statement of my views I would beg leave to the refer you to my letter of the 20th February, and particularly to my special request for leave to spend the ensuing winter season in Montreal, in order to pursue the objects of study there mentioned. Please therefore to read those parts of that letter I here referred to when this is read.

This finishes all I have to say in regard to myself, and I shall now proceed, agreeably to your request, to say something about the West India Agency generally. You will probably recollect my having written you pretty fully upon the subject, I think towards the end of 1834, or beginning of 1835. Be so good as look up that letter, as it contains, I believe, the same views I now hold in regard to this matter. I then recommended two Agencies for the West Indies, and the reasons for this arrangement are not lessened by occurring and intervening circumstances, civil or biblical, but increased. One at all events certainly you ought to have, and the West Indies ought to be the post of a continued agency, not a casual one. Do you ask me whom, of those I know, should you send? I would reply, Is Mr. Bourne willing to go? He is a better West Indian than I.

I have thus treated on all the subjects in suspense, and I now look out with interest for your notices of the whole in reply, praying earnestly that God may guide you to what is right, and to the best in all that is before us.

You noticed in your No.10, that you might have to open a subscription for Mrs. Wheeler, but in No.11 and 12 you say nothing further of it. If you should make a subscription for her, as I suppose is most likely, put me down for Ten Pounds.

May the Lord prosper you, My Dear Friend, in all your affairs public and private: and please ever to believe me,

                        Affectionately Yours,

                                                James Thomson.

.

Mexico City, 24th December 1842

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.

Mérida, 1st December 1843

Rev A Brandram  No.138

Mérida, Yucatán 1st December1843

My dear Friend,

 On the 25th of October I went on board a vessel at Vera Cruz, bound for Yucatan, but unfavourable winds prevented our sailing that day. Early next morning we started with light winds, and scarcely favourable. We half wished for a Norther—the name by which the periodical winds in the Gulf of Mexico at this season are known—and we half feared the same. If moderate, being tolerably fair, it would have brought us quickly to our port; but if violent, as these winds most generally are, we should have been in troubles and dangers. No Norther came on all our voyage. We had North Easterly and unfavourable winds, and irregular weather all the time. Our voyage was hence rather long; but we had no dangers. We were bound for Sisal; but Campeche was the same to us as a port of disembarkation, and having attained it first, we landed, after a voyage of eleven days.

On the day after my arrival in Campeche, the 6th November, I wrote to Mrs. Thomson, through New Orleans, hoping that my letter might get safe to Boston, and thence by the Halifax packet to England. In that letter I desired her to say to you, that our Books had got safely through the Customs house, and had there been pronounced good Books. Their safe passage through the Customs house (the places where we stuck in the city of Mexico), was a great point. I rejoiced in this, and gave thanks to God; and I prayed that no adverse winds might arise, but that his holy life giving word might have free course in this Peninsula, and be glorified in giving life to many.

 Forthwith our sale was begun, and notice of the same was given privately, and from friend to friend. I did not wish to make a more public stir, because I had not many books to dispose of, having only half the quantity I intended to bring, owing to one case having been sent to Tabasco, as mentioned in my last. The Books went off as well as I could expect, and I disposed of all I wished to dispose of in Campeche.

Mérida, the capital, was the next place where I had meditated to make sales. But at this season there is a great fair about midway between Campeche and Mérida, and I made arrangements to go to the fair. I think a fair the most favourable place, in the countries I am travelling through, for the sale of our books; because in this way they get at once a wide circulation, through persons buying who come from great dis­tances, and out-of-the-way places, and who carry our books into the same on their returning. I accordingly allotted a certain portion of my stock for the fair at Halachó, as the place is called, and packed up the rest to go by sea and land to Mérida, by way of Sisal. I reached Halachó on the 23rd ult., and remained there till the end of the fair on the 26th. I sold all my books, except one 12mo New Testament, and could have sold more Bibles than I had with me. Besides other Priests there, who were neuter, I met with two who spoke unhesitatingly and fully of the good to be expected through the diffusion and use of the Sacred Scrip­tures. I shall not trouble you with a description of the fair, except in one point, and that the most pleasant and favourable one. Nine-tenths of the people there, or rather 99 in the 100, were Indians. The whole mass, say 20,000, presented a fair and beautiful sight; they were all clothed in white raiment. I need not tell you what this reminded me of. I had a great desire to put crowns on their heads, that finally they might have palms of triumph in their hands, and sing salvation to God and the Lamb for ever and ever. All I could do for this, I tried to do: I gave them the word of God, I prayed for them, and, as I had opportunity, showed them Christ, our full and only righteousness. May the Spirit of God work upon these people speedily and powerfully!

On the 27th, very early in the morning, I started from Halachó, and on the evening of the same day reached Mérida, 18 leagues distant[1]. Here I have found several friends, some of whom accompanied me from Veracruz; and to some others I have been introduced, including the Governor, or President, and the Bishop. I mentioned to you soon after my arrival in Mexico, that I had written to the Bishop of Yucatan. From the casualties of war my letter did not reach him till very recently, and his answer, which was all ready, and waiting for an opportunity to be forwarded, he himself put into my hands. He has shown me much attention, and yesterday I had the pleasure of dining with him.

The New Testament unsold at the fair I sold on the way, to the first person I showed it to, when we stopped to rest on our journey in the heat of the day; and I was sorry I had not another, or rather a Bible, for a Priest who afterwards called upon me. I told him of our sale at Mérida, and advised him to send there for a Bible. I should have mentioned, also, that one of the Priests I met with at Halachó was disap­pointed in not getting a Bible, and intended writing to Mérida, that one might be purchased for him there.

My Books are just come to hand. I am arranging for sales, and hope to dispose of them all before long.

A vessel is expected every day at Sisal from the Havana, and with the same I expect my English letters agreeable to my arrangements with Mr. Crawford. I am anxious to see what you will say about the translation of the Scriptures into the Yucatán or Mayo language in answer to my special notice on the subject in my letter No. 134. I have already...

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[1] Note (BM): = 54 miles or 87 kms.