Rev A Brandram . - No.91
Montreal, 24th March 1840
My Dear Friend,
Our winter is now nearly gone. It has been shorter, I may say, and less severely cold than last, but it has been more stormy. It is a common opinion here, that newcomers from less rigorous climates, suffer more the second winter than the first. I have not felt it so in my own case: and I do bless the Lord for his very gracious dealings with me during both of these two winters in which I have been in this country.
I have now to give you some account of my winter movements, and I shall be as brief in my statements as I well can. [And you can brief them more, and to your mind, by your red ink brackets.]
On the 23rd December, a few days after our winter road was formed of snow and frost, and fitted for our sleighs, I set out for St Andrews an L'Original, the same course I took the year before in my first winter journey. I was accompanied by Mr Milne the agent of the Montreal Society. On the 25th December the first anniversary of the Ottaway District Bible Society was held at L'Original. It was a good meeting in all respects. The assembly was good, the speakers and speaking were good, (myself and harangue of course excepted,) and the Report was good, and the results of the Society during this its first year were good, so that as I said before - all was good. - At St. Andrews we had a little meeting, and the results were not great, though we hope they were good. The Evil One still keeps up some discordances in that place, and which still operate unfavourably for our cause. - At St. Eustache we made arrangements for a future day, and were about to return to Montreal. But a severe snow storm came on, and anchored us fast for two whole days. On the third day we made our way to this city, through not a few nor slight difficulties, from the depth of the snow, the yet unformed road on it, and the constant drift on this the third day of the storm. - On the 13th of January I set out again for St. Eustache, accompanied by two friends from this place. We held our appointed public meeting, and formed our Society. St. Eustache, and all the country around, is French, and the English residents are few. Of these English only of course our Society was formed. But a constant sale of the Scriptures both in French and English is of great importance, and will operate beneficially, I trust, on all the population.
After my return from St. Eustache I was a good deal taken up with the arrangements of our New Depot and Sales Store here, and in the preparations for our Annual Meeting. The visitation to Odelltown was appointed during this time, but our second heavy winter storm came on, and interrupted it. Mr Milne and I set out in the midst of the storm, but we were under the necessity of returning.
On the 29th January of anniversary meeting was held. We had a large assembly, and would have had a much larger one, I believe, had the place been sufficiently ample. Numbers were prevented from attending, we afterwards learned, in the fear that there would not be room. It is gratifying to see this extensive Bible feeling in our community, and it is every way profitable. May the Lord increase it from year to year! A lively interest in the Bible cause during the meeting seemed evidently to prevail both on the platform and among all the auditors; and the impression generally produced, as could be afterwards collected, was that this last Bible meeting was the best of all that had been held here. The Report of the Society's proceedings during the year, (part only of which could be read,) was greatly calculated to stir up all with lively feelings of gratitude for all that God had done for the Society, and for the community here through its means. The whole of this Report has since been printed, and put into general circulation. Six copies of it were forwarded to you on the 12th instant, along with a letter of the same date, by favour of Capt. Douglas who left this on the following day for London bearing government dispatches. I am sure you will be greatly interested in this Report.
On the morning of the day immediately following our annual meeting, I set out on a tour to Upper Canada. I had previously made my arrangements and appointments. I went up on the bank of the St. Lawrence, and stopped first at Cornwall. Here we were prevented from holding a public meeting on account of some of the Chief Office Bearers being absent attending the Parliament then sitting in Toronto. A meeting of the Committee is to take place on their return, and arrangements are to be made for future operations. – In Prescott we were also hindered in our proposed public meeting by a little act of pure forgetfulness on the part of our worthy secretary. I found however by my conversation with the office bearers, that the Society was in a favourable state, and that many books had been disposed of.
At Brockville there was held a meeting of the Committee at which I learned that the general visitation of the town of Brockville had nearly been gone through, and that besides the supplying of books, a good list of subscribers had been obtained. Arrangements were made on this occasion for our holding a public meeting on my return, and for visiting their chief branches and associations; and at the same time it was agreed that the notice should be sent by this Committee to Perth, Lanark, Ramsay, etc. so that when I came this way again on coming down the River, I should go back to that quarter, and visit a number of places.
The clergy of the Church of England in the district in which Brockville is, and in some of the neighbouring districts, have recently formed themselves into a Bible Association, in connection with our Society; and from the progress that has already made, and the arrangements entered into, it promises to become very efficient in hastening on the general circulation of the Scriptures in this quarter. "The Eastern Clerical Bible Association" is the name it has adopted. It will stand, I believe, as an auxiliary to you, and will receive it supplies of the Scriptures from your Montreal Depot. As you have dealt pretty liberally with your various auxiliaries here in the way of grant the books, it will be but fair in accordance with this your generosity, to make a grant also to this new auxiliary. In the belief that this will be agreeable to you, I intend to make that Society a grant from our Depot in this city.
Kingston was next visited, and a few days were spent there in endeavours to revive and strengthen our auxiliary in that place by a public meeting and private interviews. Perhaps some advance was made in the cause through these means, but some things there I fear are not on so good and prosperous a footing as could be wished. Mr. Machar from the multiplicity of his engagements has judged it necessary to withdrawal from action as Secretary, though not from a place and portion of labour in the Committee. His place is supplied by the Rev. Mr. Roger of the English church. The Rev. Mr. Cartwright of the same church is on the Committee, and has promised to give the Society his aid as far as his many public duties as Rector of Kingston will allow him. Mr. Cartwright was gravely weighed the claims of both the two great Bible societies, for I will not call them rival ones, and he has before God seen it his duty to join us openly and I trust it will be effectively; whilst at the same time he withdraws not his interest in the Christian Knowledge Society, and our Brother, and Elder Brother, in the great work of circulating the holy Scriptures. The Archdeacon also shows us his good will by his subscription to the funds of the Kingston Society, and pleads his age for lack of further aid to it. Alexander Pringle Esq. is one of the secretaries of this auxiliary, and much credit is due to him for his attentions to our work, although much occupied in the civic business and bustle of Kingston, and the District of which it is the capital. And, query, should not all those who are much bustled with the bustles of life, give more than ordinary attention to the Bible and Bible cause, in order to counteract the distractions and deteriorations which the whilings of life are calculated to produce? Well may we say, blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the Lord.
That is another name however in Kingston which I must give you, and I must make a whole paragraph of it. You know the person I allude to, as he was in your great Bible store in London last summer. I refer to Mr George Hardy. For five years he has been depositary to the Kingston Bible Society, and has been most efficient in that line of sustaining the existence and utility of the institution. He has received no remuneration for his services during all in time, and this is the more worthy of notice from the nature of his business, and his losses, I may say, in attending to the sales of the Scriptures at every hour when customers may happen to call. He and his sons are watchmakers, and it is therefore a much greater sacrifice to them, (in rising up presently from the nice machinery which occupies their attention,) than there would be to a general shopkeeper. But Mr. Hardy very distinctly and formally told me, and with grateful eyes, that he has lost nothing due to loss of time in this business. On the contrary, he says, that God has blessed his house ever since the Bibles were thus on sale in it, as he blessed in former times the house of Obed Edom. – The sum of £10 was allotted to Mr. Hardy as rent for one side of his front shop which he devoted to the books, and the sum was low for the room given. Mr. Hardy when I first saw him on this last visit to Kingston, showed me the order he had on the Treasurer for the payment here noticed, and it was for £50, for up to that time it seemed he had not drawn any of it. He asked me whether I thought you should then draw the sum, or leave it over some time in the Treasurer's hands. I advised him to draw it, that the accounts might stand fairly from year to year. Next day when I called he told me he had drawn it, but had paid back the half of it, namely £25, as a donation to the Society. He then drew out, and gave to me the other £25, to be sent to you, and placed in your hands. – Now, have I not presented to you a true Bible Society man? I will not add, that he is a Bible man also, for you will suppose this, and you will suppose right.
The town of Belleville is the centre or capital of the newly made district of Victoria. On the 12th February a public meeting was held there in the new Court House just finished, along with the Sheriff of the District in the chair. The assembly was very good, and I may say, there were present all the ministers of the place of all the different denominations. One was in body absent, that he sent a note saying that illness only hindered him from being with us. The Society was formed and I trust it will prove an efficient one the attentions and services of the Rev. James Ketchan of the Scotch Church I found of great use. All the other ministers also were and are most friendly.
On the 13th February a meeting was held in Colborne, but it was small on account chiefly of the deficiency of previous notice. Mr. Steele a merchant of that place takes an interest in our cause. The Society was formed, with him for its president. The Rev. William Reid of the Scotch Church, lately come to settle there, took up the cause warmly, and considers it a special favour of God towards him to give him something active to do in the blessed Bible cause on his commencing his labours as a Minister in that place. He officiates also in a place called Grafton, 8 miles off, and where he purposes before long to get up a little Bible Society as at Colborne, both of which he says shall have his special care and labours.
At Cobourg on the 14th February I was much disappointed. I had fully calculated on having a meeting there that evening. The person to whom I had written about the notices, under whom I fully calculated, partly from a partial absence, and partly I suppose from oversight, had not given the intimations, nor made the arrangements required. Consequently there was no meeting; and I regretted it the more, because every subsequent day of my time was pre-engaged, and therefore I could not point out a new day.
On the morning of the 15th I had an appointment at the Rice Lake, to meet the Indians there for a Bible meeting. You will recollect this place, as I mentioned it to you in my notice from this country in 1830. On my visit at that time across the lake in a canoe, and stretching out my hand I pulled up stocks of wild rice as we sailed along. Now however there was neither rice stalks, boat, nor water, but a solid board of ice, over which we drove with our vehicle as if we had been on the firmest ground. – At half past 10 o'clock I reached the Indian village, and found the Rev. Mr. Gilmour there just got out of his sleigh. I had communicated with him some time before about our meeting in this place and I found he had got all arrangements made. An Indian forthwith blew the gathering horn, and soon after the Indians assembled in the Chapel. The Rev. John Sunday, a full Indian of this tribe, is the officiating Wesleyan Minister of the place. It was an interesting sight to see the Indians met on such an occasion as this. They knew in part what was the object, and a assembled to hear further about it, and to take it into consideration. The meeting commenced of the hymn and prayer in the Indian tongue. On this, as on all other occasions in our Bible meetings among the Indians, I had to speak through an interpreter, and hence bit and it. It requires patience both to give out, and to take in, the speech in this piece meal way. But whatever might be the case with the speaker, the Indians were not lacking patience. When I had finished my address, Mr. Sunday spoke to his countrymen in their own language on the subject laid before them. He was followed by an old chief who, I understood, is greatly respected by his people, and very deservedly. He expressed himself highly gratified with what had been brought before the meeting, and stated his desire to see a Bible Society formed there as at the other Indian places to which reference had been made. He wished, he said, that he had then hand in his possession two dollars, as he would have given them immediately. He promised however that the very first two dollars he should have he would give for the subject. Some others of the Indians expressed themselves also in favour of the formation of a Society, and then the interpreter signified that they were all willing. We proceeded next to elect office bearers. The Rev. John Gilmour, who has charge of this establishment on the part of the New England Company, was elected President. All the other office bearers are Indians. This subscription list was then commenced, and names began to be taken down, and to which sums were added, which I might say, were more than worthy of the people, that is, they would higher than their circumstances, and above the proportions put down generally by more favoured persons to Bible Societies. As Mr. Gilmour and I had to go to Peterboro, we retired to the house of Mr. Sunday to prepare for going, and left the Interpreter, an Indian, to go on taking down names. Just before we started he came in. I inquired how many names he had. He replied. "Everyone there, both men and women." Now Query, Did it ever happen in England, or elsewhere, that all present both men and women put down their names as subscribers before they left the place of meeting? Perhaps this is the first instance of it. Does not the circumstance speak much in favour of the poor Indians? It does: and God will enrich them for it, and I pray that it may be before long. – Arrangements were made for having further meetings, and talkings, and subscribing in favour of the Bible object, and the Interpreter engaged to write me afterwards sending me a copy of the entire subscription list, with the names in the Indian language which is the Chippeway. – One man had his name put down for a fox skin as his subscription, worth something more than a dollar. When he was rallied as to whether he was sure of catching a fox for this end, he replied, that he had caught it already. One of the Indian women present when she saw that the meeting was likely to be interesting, sent out one to call her husband. He came, entered the Society like the rest, and was made one of the Council or Committee. The name of the Society is the Rice Lake Indian Bible Society, and it is in connection with the Upper Canada Bible Society at Toronto.
On Monday morning the 17th of February, Mr. Gilmour and I started for the Indian village at the Mud Lake. An Indian blew the horn on our arrival, and in half an hour our assembly congregated. We proceeded as at Rice Lake, and the result we found alike favourable. Our interpreter was an Indian as before, and of his character Mr. Gilmour spoke very highly. Our subscription list was duly honoured, and that by everyone present at the meeting, I understood, and the sums put down were most creditable to the poor Indians with their scanty and precarious means. The Secretary of the Society is an Indian who has had a superior education, and understands, they tell me, some Latin and Greek. There were a few whites at this meeting, persons living in the neighbourhood. The whites have set down their names as subscribers along with the Indians on the same list. This is one of the beautiful features of the Bible Society, that the tutored and the untutored, the rich and the poor, the bond and free associate side-by-side in goodwill and unity. – Among the names of Indians on our list, I perceive John Rice Lake, Joseph Musk-Rat that, and Mary Snow Storm.
On the evening of the same day, the 17th February, the anniversary of the Peterboro Bible Society was held. The assemblage was very good, and the general gratification seem to be felt. We had ministers with us of the various denominations. An elderly gentleman, with a lovely hoary head, graced our meeting. This was the Rev. Mr. Wolsey of the English Church, lately come to this country from Ireland. He took great interest in our object, and spoke with Irish fervour; and we in our turn felt much interest in him, and in all he said. – I spoke well to you of the Society when I visited this place in the end of September last. The Report read at this meeting, and Bible work carried into effect here since that time, as well as before, justified what I said. They have made a full visitation of some parts of their field, and they purpose going on in the same mode of examination until they complete their work.
Every on the 18th I set out from Peterboro accompanied by Mr. Gilmour, for Aldersville, another Indian village, lying on the South East side of the Rice Lake at some little distance, where we had an appointment for a meeting. On our way we passed through the Rice Lake Indian village, where we had been two days before, and took along with us from thence, Mr. Sunday, the Interpreter, and some other Indians. We would all very cordially received by the Rev. Mr. Case the Wesleyan missionary stationed there. We had no horn sounded in Aldersville to bring the people together, but a triangle bell was struck or rung for that purpose. On hearing it our Indians trooped to the place of meeting full of Bible interest, for they had heard of the two meetings lately held among their countrymen. After praise and prayer in the Indian tongue, and my address, the Rev. Mr. Sunday stood up and spoke to the Indians. He is the principal chief of this station, although he now resides and officiates on another. He stood therefore on this occasion as an Indian, and a Chief, and (according to custom at all our Indian meetings,) addressed his countrymen on the subject that had been just brought before them. I could not understand what he said, but his speech seemed to be of the first order, of pure genuine eloquence. I have often heard the Chippeway language spoken, but never before did I hear it so spoken. It was not the up and down intonation, as it had always before sounded to my years, but the beautiful hill and dale modulation that pleases the ear, as these surfaces please the eye. It seemed altogether a powerful as well as a beautiful address, and it seemed to be felt as such by the Indian auditory. – Here again, and on the 8th occasion we formed an Indian Bible Society. All present at the meeting became subscribers, I understood , and I may add, all not present, for all, and the whole of the people on this Indian establishment, men, women, and children, are resolved, they informed me, to give something more or less to the Bible Society. Query second, in what village in England do all the people—men, women, and children—give something to the Bible Society? Perhaps this is done in some of the villages of Wales. In stepping out of Mr. Case's house, adjoining the place of meeting, six little Indian girls came in a line, one after another, each with a basket in her hand of her own making. The whole were made to halt and front, and then each presented me with her little basket as a contribution to the Bible Society. I received them in order, and never did I receive a contribution to your Society, I may well say, with so much delight. These little squaws were very pretty, because they were thus prettily employed in presenting their pretty baskets, and pretty, because, by a course of school training, their faces had lost their Indian blankness, and were full of intelligence. – That is here at this village of Aldersville under the care of Mr. and Mrs. Case the best school establishment I have seen among the Indians of this country. The girls are not only taught reading, writing and needle work, but other work also not less important, and more especially for Indians. They are taught all sorts of female domestic and farm work. I should conceive that they have well profited by that instructions in these important labours by the specimens which I saw, and moreover which I tasted. We had an excellent dinner Mr. Case's all cooked by these Indian girls, including a fine pudding at the close: and their butter and cheese, all made with their own hands, from the milking of the cows onwards, were of the best quality. I was delighted with the whole establishment, and with all the persons and things on it, and greatly regretted that I could spend so short a time there, my other engagements cutting me off. – Before I leave the village however, I must say one thing more in favour of the Indians. I told you that all of them were going to give something less or more as a Bible Society subscription. Mr. Case informed me that the Indians are never backward to give their little sums when a proper object was presented before them. They often, he says, wish to give beyond their power, and he has to caution and restrain them from doing too much. I wish this feeling, if it were but by fits, of giving beyond their power, or say equal to their power, would fall on some thousands of the great and rich among you, and that it would always last till all the coffres of Christian benevolence were full, and that it would always return again when they get low or are empty. And this wish, extravagant as it may at first sight appear, will I am sure be realized to its fullest extent in due time. In circulating the Bible we hasten this expected season, and bring it about with certainty.
I have now to make my way to the public road on the banks of Lake Ontario, and to proceed by the stage to Brockville about 150 miles where I have an appointment on the 20th. We have had some days of severe of rapid thaw, one of the things most dreaded and hated in this country when it comes on early and unexpectedly, as it destroys the snow rapidly and softens the ice and so breaks up our fine winter roads on which we sleigh along so smoothly. This thaw continued and increased on my way to Brockville, and we had much rain. Such roads we had that I cannot properly describe them, and seldom have I experienced more discomfort in travelling than during these two nights and a day in making the journey referred to. Nor were dangers absent, and of kinds more than one. In passing along upon the frozen surface of the Bay of Quinte by night, the ice which had got bad by the thaw, gave way in part under our heavy sleigh full of passengers and luggage, and only by the rapid flight of our four horses whipped and hastened on were we saved from going down. We then got onto firmer ice; but it gave way again just at the edge and are sleigh stuck till we got help to bring it out. But there was little water there, and we all got out safely. Blessed be the Lord for this and as many preservations of me! – Not far from this place, a few years ago, the Rev. Mr. Murray of the Scotch Church, hastening home on Saturday for his duties next day, drove upon weak ice, and himself, horse, and vehicle went down, and all disappeared, except his cap which was left floating on the spot to tell the melancholy tale!
On arriving at Brockville I found myself unable to carrying my previous engagements into effect, from the continued thaw, and the breaking up of the roads. We held a public meeting there on the 22nd February which was well attended considering the badness of the weather. In a few days the weather began to mend, that is to say, the frost set in again. This was followed by a very fine day in our Canadian eyes, that is, it snowed heavily all day long. On the next day the weather was just to our liking, there was a keen frost, and sufficient snow on the ground for good sleighing. Thus favoured the Rev. Mr. Campbell and I set out. The appointed meeting there had taken place some days before when I was unable to be present. All seemed to wish for another meeting, and it was accordingly agreed on, and appointed to take place a few days after. In the meantime I went to Ramsay, and was happy to be there on the proper date of appointment for that place. Our meeting was very good, and I hope much good will result from it. The Ramsay Bible Society is chiefly under the patronage and care of the Rev. Mr. Fairbairn, Minister of the Scotch Church of that place. This gentleman is our warm friend in all our Bible work. A good deal has been done in it, by himself, his congregation, and neighbourhood, and I trust much more will yet be done by them. So they seem to wish themselves, not satisfied with what they have already done. Among other things I set before them the praiseworthy conduct of the poor Negroes in the West Indies, and of the poor Indians among themselves: and the impressions seemed thereafter to prevail, that the Negroes and the Indians had excelled them in the good and great work of the Bible Society. They resolve in future to walk more worthy of their many advantages. May God maintain this impression on their minds. Mr. Fairbairn will I know put them in remembrance, and I trust we shall hear of more and more being done by the Bible Society of that place.
On the 2nd March we had a meeting at Carlton Place, in that neighbourhood, and we were led to suppose that the feelings and impressions produced were favourable. On the 3rd was our meeting in Perth. A thaw had again set in, and the weather was very bad, nevertheless we had a very full meeting, and we hoped a profitable one. During my movements in this quarter, besides being kindly accompanied by Mr. Campbell all the time, I was favoured with the help and very kindly attentions of Mr. Fairbairn already mentioned, and the Rev. Mr. Wilson of Perth, and the Rev. Mr. McAlister of Lanark, both of the Church of Scotland, and whom (these three) I had not seen during my short visit to Perth in the end of last year. I feel greatly obliged to these for gentlemen for the warm interest they feel, and for the active cheerful aid they give, towards our Bible cause; and personally, I am much indebted to them for their kindnesses and hospitalities. Sweet was our communion together in the things of God, and though we have now parted, we shall not soon forget that we had such communion and comfort together in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Mr. Campbell and I returned on the 5th and 6th to Brockville, I may rather say through the roads rather than over them, for they were very bad. – At half past 2 o'clock in the morning of the 9th I set off from Brockville, and reached Cornwall at 8 in the evening with all my bones aching through flying over a road first broken into ruts and lumps and then frozen hard and in a springless waggon. I got mended next day, through the rest, and the kind attentions of the Rev. Mr. Urguhart of the Scotch Church at whose house I lodged. I saw our Bible friends at Cornwall. They have had a meeting of the Committee since the time I passed through there, in which a free contribution of £10 was ordered to be sent to the Montreal Bible Society, after clearing off all scores in the price of books. Steps are to be taken for extending the Society, so that Cornwall altogether as a branch of our Montreal tree may be said to have done very well. – I left Cornwall on the 11th instant and on the 12th reached this city, all well: and blessed be the Lord who has caused all my journeys hitherto thus to terminate! – And Oh! may the long and the last journey, even the last of life, also terminate – well! – And so may it be with you, My Dear Friend, and with all our Bible coadjutors!
Your letter of 28th November in reply to mine of the 28th October came to hand on the 29th January and Mr. Jackson's letter of the 14th with Invoice of 500 De Sacy's New Testaments came to hand on the 21st February. We here are all very much obliged by these prompt and cheerful attentions on your part to meet our wants and our circumstances. We wish we could reward you in respect to the care in hand in such a manner as would be agreeable to you, and we know that statements from us of our success in distributing the Scriptures among our French population here by Mr. Lapelletrie be would be most grateful to you. I am sorry we cannot do this. Mr. Lapelletrie and his Bible distribution labours with us has turned out like the seed that fell on the thin soil with rocks just under. There was a flush of growth and promise, and presently all withered away. Some account of Mr. Lapelletrie's labours and very encouraging success at the commencement you have in my letter of the 28th October. Not long after that, he seemed to turn his attention more to the work of a Catechist, or Evangelist, as they say in France, than that of a colporteur or distributor of the Scriptures. He was kindly informed, and more than once that this was not the work of the Bible Society however good in itself. At the same time every accommodation to his wishes, consistent with our single object, and even perhaps a little more, owing to our particular situation and circumstances, was granted him. Mr. Lapelletrie objected to our view of this mode of acting, and said we should have commended him rather than blame him for the mode in which he was labouring in giving instructions to the people out of the Scriptures; and further he justified himself by distinctly and repeatedly stating that your Committee in open meeting, and yourself in particular, told him he would not be confined here to the distribution of the Scriptures as the Colporteurs were in France, but that he would be at liberty to act the Evangelist as he might choose and as opportunities might offer. I told him he must needs be mistaken it in regard to this, but he repeated it firmly and again and again, and said also that Mr. Pressencé told him the same from the commencement of his communications with him about Canada. As I said we tried to keep things right and accommodated as long as we could, but at length our efforts failed, and Mr. Lapelletrie resigned seizing the opening you had left him in his terms of agreement. His services are engaged by Major Christie of this place to act as an Evangelist. This gentleman has considerable property in this Province in the form of Seigneuries, and his tenants are French and Catholics. He has long been desirous of giving them religious instruction, and willing to expend means liberally for that end. He has now obtained the services of Mr. Lapelletrie for this purpose. But we are not all quite satisfied with the way in which things have been managed. You will see some notice of this kind in the letter, a copy of which I now send you. Major Christie tells me he has written to you, and has sent you some papers, and with these it is fit you should see the copy I refer to. He has offered, we understand, to pay you Mr. Lapelletrie'se passage and expenses from France to Canada, should you wish it. It is proper that I should give you the opinion of the Committee here on this point, and it is, that he should so pay you.
A few days ago arrived your Bible Society Reporter for February, and in it the grateful news, that we are henceforth to have Bibles and one shilling and sixpence, and Testaments at sixpence. This, I think, is a right and great step in your work, and its results will be extensive and glorious. – This cheap Bible and Testament however, should, in my humble opinion, be printed on paper inferior to your second class now used. The funds of the Society should be made to go as far as possible, whilst at the same time the Scriptures are issued very cheap as you are now offering them. Forgive my hint, and weigh it.
I remain,
My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.