Buenos Aires, 5th June 1820

Buenos Aires, 5th June, 1820.[1]

 I cannot  be very particular as to all that has occurred to me since my arrival here, the outlines will be sufficient. I arrived on  the 6th October, 1818, after  a voyage from Liverpool of  twelve weeks and three days, and except about a fortnight, was sick all the time. Soon after my arrival, I made proposals to the Government, regarding the in­troduction of the Lancasterian System of education. I received promises of meeting with every encour­agement in this matter, but these promises, through neglect, were long in producing the desired effect. I was feeling the truth of Solomon's remark, "Hope deferred maketh the heart sad."  Under these circumstances I was proposing to go into the interior, where I had more positive encouragement held out to me.  Just at this time, by application at a better quarter than we had at first applied to, the arrangement was formed by which I was engaged by the magistrates to put their schools, in this city and neighbourhood, upon  this plan. Since that time we have been doing more or less in this busi­ness, but things in general go on very slowly here, and besides, many political changes have retarded our operations.

Notwithstanding, however, I trust the foundation of a good work has been laid, by pursuing of which, I hope to see many thousands reaping the benefits of education, and imbibing the soundest principles of religion and morality from lessons selected from the Holy Scriptures.     You will be surprised and pleased when I tell you, these lessons are entirely of  my own   selection, and printed in this place.  In no case, regarding them, has there been any interference or hindrance on the part of the clergy or others.  We have now a school going on, with upwards of 100 boys in it, and soon we expect to have others set a going. These things, my dear friend,   fill me (as they will do you) with gratitude and thanksgiving. They are small things, in themselves considered, but taking into consideration all the circumstances of this country, they are great, and more especially when considered as a foundation for future opera­tions.

 In another respect also something has been done, I mean regarding the circulation of the Scrip­tures.  I have got upwards of 400 Spanish New Testaments from the British and Foreign Bible Society, and these I have been able to land here without the smallest hindrance. Several of them have been already distributed, and have met with a ready reception. I have been able also to send some of them into various parts of the country here, and into Chile. Where the word of God circulates, we have every ground to look for good effects, though it may, like seed sown in the earth, appear for a while to be lost. By and by, how­ever, the seed springs up, first the blade, then the ear, and lastly the full corn in the ear. So shall it be with the seed of the word of God, which shall not return void, but shall accomplish the will of God, in turning men from darkness to light.

 We are in the midst of political commotions here at present, and have been so for some time past. The Lord, however, is the security of his people, he is the Governor among the nations, and all these changes will, I trust, lead to the promoting of his kingdom. Let us join in the prayer, "Thy king­dom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven."

 For the present, farewell.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp.1-3.

Guayaquil, 5th October 1824

Rev A Brandram

Guayaquil, 5th October, 1824.[1]

My dear Sir,

I arrived in this place a few days ago, and seize the earliest opportunity to state to you the cause of my being here. You already know that the single object which I have in view in South America, is the promoting of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are, of course, various ways of doing this, and I have thought it best to allow myself to be guided in the manner of doing it, by the various circumstances and occasions which the providence of God opens up to me from time to time. The two things to which I have more particularly given my attention all along are, the education of youth, and the cir­culation of the Holy Scriptures. In regard to the latter, with which you are more immediately connected, I have stated to the Society, at different  times, my desire of forwarding their work in this quarter, in every way which lies in my power.

I have also informed the Society, on various oc­casions, as to the progress of their work in this continent. It has afforded me much satisfaction to observe the interest taken by you all for supplying South America with the sacred volume, and to read the repeated assurances you have communicated to me of your desire to carry forward this object in the most extensive and effectual way possible. The confidence I reposed in the Society in regard to this country, induced me to commence the translation of the New Testament on your account into the Quichua, or ancient language of Peru, and the answer I received from you some time ago, has shown me that I was not mistaken in regard to your views.

The same confidence as to the views of the Society, and a hope of being able to do something in the way of circulating the word of God, in places not yet visited, or but very partially, by this messenger of peace, has induced me to come to this city at the present time. It is my intention to set out from this place in two or three days for Bogota, the capital of Colombia. In my way I shall pass through Riobamba, Ambato, Tacunga, Quito, and Popayán, all of which are populous cities, and where I expect to sell a considerable number of copies of the Spanish New Testaments.

The present state of the war  in Lima renders abortive every attempt to forward education there, and very little can be done in the circulation of the Scriptures by sale, on account of the very great pressure of the war, which has reduced the city to much distress. Under these circumstances, I thought the best time I could find for visiting the quarters above mentioned, and perhaps for visiting my native land, was the present. I set out then from Lima with this intention, and to perform the part of an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. I am not sure, but I may feel myself under the necessity of petitioning you for my travelling expenses. I never intended to charge you for any services I might be honoured in doing for your Society, if possible to avoid it; but the low state of my funds at present, on account of the war here, may urge me to do what otherwise I should not have done. I mention this at pre­sent, only in case it should be necessary. The prosperous turn the war has lately taken in Peru, encourages me to hope that what is due to me by the government of that country will be paid in due time, and in that case my little services shall cost you nothing.

I left Lima on the 5th ultimo, and at that time the supply of New Testaments, and of the four books of the Old Testament, printed with a small type, of which you wrote me, had not arrived. I had anxiously looked for their arrival for some weeks before my coming away, as by the date of your letter, I thought there was sufficient time for their reaching that place. I was very sorry in not having been furnished with this supply before entering upon my present journey, as I think the volumes printed with the small type would have been very acceptable, and the whole Bible also would have been equally so, as it has been often sought for.

I have just one Bible with me to show as I go along, by way of specimen, in order to incite curiosity, and a desire to possess it, when it may be supplied to all those places. This copy I bought in Lima for this express purpose, and hope it will serve the end in view. I have brought about 800 New Testaments with me, and in this place I have found the supply you sent by the Grecian to Mr. Lynch, and which I thought had gone to Chile. I am glad at finding these here, as it enables me to send a quantity to Gua­temala by an opportunity which offers from this place in a day or two. The rest I will dispose of otherwise. I mentioned to you some time ago, that I had sent two boxes to Guatemala of those which came to me by the Grecian. I have how­ever learned, that the vessel in which they were sent had changed her destination, and that they have not yet arrived at that place. The acci­dental finding, in this place, the cases brought by the Grecian, enables me now to supply this defi­ciency, and also to send by the same person a supply to California. As to the boxes formerly sent, though they did not arrive at the destination intended, I entertain no doubt of their safety, and of their being profitably disposed of somewhere, and of which I expect to hear in due time.

I shall now state to you what has occurred n the part of my journey already performed. The first object I had in view, was to visit Truxillo, where I expected to find my good friends who take so much interest in the Peruvian translation of the New Testament, and who had laboured so diligently to accomplish it. I accordingly em­barked on board a vessel bound for that place, and where I safely arrived in due time. I was sadly disappointed in not finding my friends there as I expected. Not one of them was to be found, nor could I ascertain with certainty where they were, but heard that one had been seen going to one place and another to another. The suddenness of their leaving Lima prevented us from making any arrangements about our translation, and we had not even time to bid each other adieu. The abruptness of our parting, rendered more severe my disappointment in not finding them in Trux­illo, where I intended to make arrangements with them for carrying forward this work during my absence.

I had brought from Lima the manu­script of the whole New Testament in the Quichua language, together with the Gospel of Luke, thoroughly revised and prepared for the press. I mentioned to you in my last, that I would endeavour to carry your resolution into effect regarding the printing of 1,000 copies of this revised part. I mentioned also that all the printing presses had been removed from Lima but that two were to be found in Callao, and that I would ascertain whether the work in question could be done there. Upon enquiry, I found it could not. In con­sequence of this, I wished to get the Gospel of Luke printed in Truxillo, and for that end carried the MS. to that place, that it might be carried through the press there. And in regard to the MS. of the other parts of the New Testament, I expected that our friends, in their exile, might go on revising and correcting it. All these plans, as you see, have been frustrated.

I therefore care­fully packed up the whole  MS. and addressing it to one of our translators, gave it into the hands of an English gentleman going to Lima, to be delivered according to the address, when the ex­pulsion of the Spaniards from Lima (which is soon expected) would  'enable'  our friends to return. I also wrote a few lines explaining my wish re­garding the revising of the MS., and regarding the printing of the part already revised. The English gentleman of whom I have spoken, has kindly offered to advance all the money that may be necessary for carrying this into effect. From these arrangements I expect that the work will be set agoing again in the course of two, or at most three months from this date; for according to the present aspect of the war, the Spaniards will not be able to continue longer in posses­sion of Lima, although they may, and probably will, retain the fortresses of Callao till a later period.

Having touched upon this subject of the Spanish cause here, I cannot forbear mentioning to you the singular interposition of  Providence on behalf of the cause of liberty in this quarter. On the 6th  of August last the two armies came in sight of each other at a place called Junín, between Pasco and Tarma. The consequence was, that a battle took place between the cavalry of the two parties. There were 1,200 of the Spaniards and 800 of the Patriots. An eye witness says, "The concussion was tremendous, as they came up to each other at full gallop. In a quarter of an hour, upwards of 400 men lay dead upon the field, more than three-fourths of whom were Royalists. All this havoc and slaughter was caused by the lance and sword, principally by the former. Not a shot of any description, was fired." In a short time victory began visibly to declare for the Spaniards, and the General at the head of the patriot cavalry was made prisoner.

At this critical moment, by some scarcely explained movement, the Spaniards got somehow into disorder, and began to give way. This was followed up by the Patriots, and in a very short time they obtained a complete vic­tory. The whole of the Spanish army was, in consequence of this defeat, struck with a panic, and by forced marches endeavoured to get out of the way of the enemy as fast as possible. Bolivar im­mediately advanced, and the Spaniards continued to flee before him with all speed. On the 22nd  August, only 15 days after the battle, the advanced guard of the patriot army entered Guamanga. Five of the finest provinces of Peru thus fell into their hands in the short period of about a fortnight. The Spanish army has been sadly reduced and dispirited by their rapid retreat, and the army of Bolivar has increased in numbers and in strength. I consider this to be a deadly blow to the Spanish cause in this quarter of the world, from which I think and hope they will never recover. With this cause will terminate, I trust, the reign of oppression and violence, of ignorance and fanati­cism in Peru, and by which it has been borne down for these three hundred years. So perish all tyranny and ignorance from the earth!

I should perhaps beg your pardon for having drawn your attention so long to the concerns of war and of politics, as you are men of peace and of no party, and your only occupation is speaking peace to them who are far off and to them that are nigh. Still, however, you will remember that the book whose circulation we are engaged in, detains our attention in many places with the account of wars and revolutions. But you will say that all these are related there merely from their being connected with the grand moral and religious revolution of the world through that great prophet who was to come. This is certainly a right view of the subject; and motives of a similar nature, I trust, and not party nor malicious principles, have induced me to detain you a moment upon the wars of this quarter of the world. I firmly believe that the deliverance of this country from bondage and oppression, and the mental emancipation of its inhabitants, depend upon the success of this revolu­tion; like the deliverance of the Jews upon the conquest of Babylon, and the possession of the land of Canaan by the people of God upon their enemies. The Spaniards, as is well known, have greatly impeded, not to say prohibited, the progress of knowledge and of true religion in America. It is not easy therefore, nor is it proper, to remain indifferent as to the issue of this struggle.

I now return to our work of peace, and to Truxillo. I wrote the Society some time ago, of having found a useful and zealous co-labourer in that city, and that I had forwarded to him from Lima a supply of New Testaments. At the first he met with some difficulties, owing to the ecclesiastical authorities of the place. These were at length overcome, and he was allowed to commence the sale of the Scriptures publicly. When he had obtained leave to do so, he printed an advertisement, and posted it up in the public places of the town, intimating the sale. The consequence was, that he had sold when I was there about 100 copies. He had also written to his friends the Vicars in the provincial towns, but he had not then, from the shortness of the time, received the answers to his letters. When these arrived, he expects se­veral orders for New Testaments to be sent to the various towns in the department of Truxillo, which contains a population of upwards of 300,000. In addition to this mode of circulating the Scriptures, my friend informed me that he was about to put in  practice a method of lending the New Testa­ments in the different houses which he is in the habit of visiting, and in others which he intends to visit for that purpose.   

Our friend's medical duties give him a facility for carrying this into practice. He intends to lend the New Testa­ment for a day, or for two or three days, as cir­cumstances may direct, and to call   again for it himself at the given time. Upon calling for it, he says he will ask them if they wish to purchase it, and if so, he will sell it at a price corresponding to the circumstances of the individual; and if they do not wish it, he will take it with him and lend it to some other, to whom  in turn he will put the same question, and thus sell it or take it with him, as circumstances  require. You will easily see that this way of doing will cost him a good deal of labour and care, but he seems to count nothing of these, if in this manner he may be the means of circulating the word of God, and of drawing the attention of the people around him, to its all-important contents.    As he makes all his rounds on horseback, he will, I hope, be enabled fully to verify his benevolent purpose. He showed me a pair of saddle-bags, which he told me he had got made for the very purpose of always carrying about with him a supply of New Testaments. He gave me one hundred dollars to account of sales, which was rather more than what he had re­ceived.

The next thing I have to notice in Truxillo, is, I conceive, of some importance, and will prove, I trust, the means of greatly extending the opera­tions and diffusing the blessings of the British and Foreign Bible Society. What I refer to is, the finding of an additional agent who takes a lively interest in the diffusion of the Scriptures, and in every other means by which his countrymen may be be­nefited. The individual in question is a clergy­man, and a man of rank in that order. He is Vicar-general to the army, and possesses a considerable influence. His residence, at present, is at Moche, a little village about four or five miles from Trux­illo, and of which place he is rector. This, how­ever, is only a temporary residence, during the occu­pation of his home by the Spaniards, and from which, in consequence, he was obliged to flee. The place of his nativity and of his permanent residence is in the province and near the city of Arequipa, towards the southern extremity of Peru. It is this circumstance in particular, that will render his services valuable, as we have already an active agent in Truxillo.

He intends to return to his native province as soon as the course of the war will permit. Arequipa is in the centre of a populous country, and he will have an extensive field of operation. Another circumstance renders the ac­quisition of this gentleman very valuable, and that is his thorough, knowledge of the Indian or Peru­vian language, which is very extensively spoken in that quarter. To this I add another feature in his character of yet more importance, which is, his compassion for the oppressed and degraded state of the indigenous population of Peru, and the lively interest he takes in ameliorating their condition, by his representations to the government upon the subject, and by his personal labours. No individual I have yet met with in these countries, has offered himself so decidedly and so heartily to pro­mote, the cause of your Society, as this gentleman; and from all the circumstances I have mentioned, you will see that his good will and his services must be considered a great acquisition.

I considered the time spent in visiting Truxillo abundantly recompensed in meeting with this fellow-labourer, and I found, in this circumstance, some relief from the disappointment I had met with in not finding there the friends I had expected. My falling in too with that individual was perfect­ly accidental, for I had no knowledge of such a one being in that place. But then again we must remember, that "all chance is but direction which we cannot see." Blessed be God who leadeth us by ways we know not, but which he knows, and which will lead us to the glorifying of his name, when that is our object. I must not omit to give you the name and address of our fellow-labourer. It is "Dr. Don Manuel Fernández de Córdova, Vicario General del Ejercito del Perú, y Cura de Salamanca del Obispado de Arequipa." I have given you this address in Spanish to enable you to write direct to our friend, should you feel so inclined.

I shall now leave Truxillo, but before I go on board, shall just notice a little incident. Truxillo is about six miles distant from Huanchaco, which is the sea port town of that quarter. In going down to this port, I happened to get a very bad horse, which soon becoming restive, I was obliged to leave it at a house upon the road, and to walk down under a burning sun. After I had walked more than half the way, a person came riding up to me and offered me a horse, which of course accepted. He told me he had observed me on foot from a distance, and had pushed forward to offer me assistance. Upon entering into conver­sation I found my obliging friend was a peasant, belonging to a neighbouring village, where he had a family to which he was returning. We spoke a little about education in general, and of his family in particular. I learned from him that he could read, and was anxious that his children should be well instructed. I asked him if he had ever seen the New Testament, to which he replied in the negative, and from less to more, he intimated to me that he would be glad to purchase one if he could find it, for the use of himself and of his children. When we arrived at Huanchaco, he would accept of no remuneration for his kindness, and as I found my luggage there not embarked, I brought him a New Testament and made him a present of it, in return for his unsolicited and friendly attentions. He received it most thank­fully, and we parted.

On the 24th  we sailed for Guayaquil, but as we carried a gentleman with us at the request of the government, we had to call at Paita to land him there. We cast anchor in that port on the 26th , after sun-set, and early next morning I went ashore to see the place, and took three New Testaments with me. I went into a store near the landing-place, and being invited, took a seat upon a bale of cotton. After some general conversation, I opened my treasure, and offered the New Testa­ments for sale at one dollar each, and in a few minutes they were bought. Some little time after, I was asked if I had any more. I replied that I had, but that they were in the ship. I immediately went on board, and just as we had got our anchor up, a boat came along-side, in which I recognized the person who had asked me for more New Testa­ments. He came on board and bought two dozen, for which he paid me eighteen dollars. As we were by this time  under way,   the  boat had to return ashore without loss of time, whilst we, with a most propitious gale, made for this port.

On the evening of the 29th we cast anchor off  the small town of Puná, on the  island of the  same name.    You  will remember that this island is famous in the conquest of Peru, by the Spaniards. According to the accounts of it that remain, it seems  to have been very populous at that time. It is not so now. There is, on the  whole island, only one little village, namely, the one I  have mentioned,  and which does not contain above 200 inhabitants. We landed at this little place for a pilot to conduct us up the river. I took with me, as I had done at Paita, three  New Testa­ments. When we landed, we found some people on the beach, to whom we communicated intelligence of the rapid progress of Bolivar.  We were invited into one of the houses, and after having talked a little upon various subjects, I opened my casket and  presented my New Testaments, which they were all very curious to see. Whilst they were looking through them, one of the neighbours came in.  "Here!" said one who was examining the  New Testament, "here is a book that will tell you about the beginning of the world, and a great many other things."  His friend re­plied, that he cared very little about the beginning of the world, but that he wished to know something about the end of it.  Upon hearing this, I told him that the book he had in his hands was the very book that would suit him, as it would inform him particularly about the end of the world. I sold the three New Testaments in this same house, and as our captain had by this time made arrangements with the pilot, we got on board again, and set sail. On the following night (the 30th) we arrived at this place, at eight o'clock. Before we cast anchor, an English gentleman came on board, to whom I had a letter of introduction. He kindly invited me to his house, where I am comfortably lodged, and from which I now write you.

I intend to stop in this place only a few days, during which I shall endeavour to dispose of as many New Testaments as I can, and in the way that may be most profitable. I now close this letter, and shall inform you of the success I meet with here, in my next communication.

             I remain,

                        Dear Sir,

            Respectfully & Sincerely Yours,

                        James Thomson.

P.S. I shall take it as a particular favour your  forwarding a copy of this letter to Mr Haldane, 10 George Street, Edinburgh as my time will not allow me of going over the same ground in a separate communication to that gentleman as my duty & my feelings require.

[1] BSA-D1-2A. Also in James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 161-176.

Quito, 19th November 1824

Quito, 19th  November, 1824.[1]

Dear Sir,

A considerable time has elapsed since the date of my last letter to you, and during the same period, if I remember right, I have not been fa­voured with any of your communications. So that, as far as mere exchange of letters is concerned, I am not so much in arrear as you may perhaps be thinking. It is true, indeed, that it is my part to write to you, rather than yours to write to me, but that again supposes that I have something worth communicating. Now, I am sorry to say that this has not been the case during my partial silence, a si­lence arising from a very natural cause, that of having nothing to say. I mean that I have had nothing to say about the progress of education in this quarter and though I have still very little to say upon that subject, yet, knowing you take a great interest in the well being of this part of the world, and in my feeble efforts to promote it, I think it my duty to let you know at least where I am, and what I am doing.

You will observe by the line at the top, that I am in the city of Quito, and I shall now state to you why I am here, and what  I am  engaged  in. You know how the war has raged for some time past in Peru, and that Lima has been for a con­siderable time in the hands of the enemy. I am not sure that I have expressed myself correctly in saying the enemy, a term applied by each party to the  other, but which in the mouth of a neutral is an impropriety of speech.  I beg leave to justify myself in this, by informing you that I am not a neutral in this contest, as all my feelings and my wishes are on the one side, and of course the other side is the enemy.  I leave you to find out at your leisure what side I am on, and shall proceed to give you what information I have to communicate re­lative to our concerns, the concerns of education.

I left Lima in the beginning of September, with the intention of not returning to it for some time. The immediate cause was the impossibility of moving forwards in our work under the pressure of existing circumstances. The very utmost that could be done was to keep hold of what we had obtained, and even that was done with great diffi­culty. Our model school in Lima, at the time I came away, contained about 200 children, a num­ber somewhat less than what it contained some months previous to that time. This decrease is owing to the great poverty that existed there, on the one hand; and on the other hand it arose from a natural fear in the parents lest their children should be picked up on their way to the School by the recruiting parties, a fear not altogether groundless. I may mention here, that there is another School on our plan, containing about 80 children.

You know that, for a considerable time back, I have had a desire to pass through that part of this Continent where I now am, but I was prevented from doing so, by the difficulty of leaving Lima in the state in which things were, and by the prospect of making a rapid progress in extending education over Peru. At the time I came away, the diffi­culty referred to was removed, and the prospect in regard to the other circumstance mentioned was altogether blasted, at least for a time. The diffi­culty I have noticed was the want of a proper master, in whose hands I could trust the school with confidence. The school, however, at my leaving Lima, was in the hands of a good master, with an assistant to aid him, whilst the superintendence of all is in the hands of my excellent friend the  Clergyman, of whom I have often spoken to you with approbation. From this good friend, not­withstanding these favourable arrangements, I was obliged to tear myself away. He urged me to stop, and would at length only hear of my going away in the expectation of my early return, and in the hope of my visit to England being turned to the advantage of the schools in Peru, as I trust it will, should I have the happiness to reach your favoured country.

I thought it advisable, and my duty, to seize the time that thus offered for verifying my long-intended journey. You know, I dare say, that it was not the mere desire of jaunting that led me to propose this journey to myself. The two objects which have hitherto more immediately engaged my attention in South America are those which form the work respectively of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the British and Foreign School Society. With these two objects in view, I left Lima for Bogota the capital of Colombia. Though I can never lose sight of any one of these two objects, yet that of the Bible Society is the main one in this journey.

I have been very much pleased with my journey, in the prosperity I have had in the distribution of the sacred volume. I have observed a very general desire to possess this book, and I have had the pleasure of seeing great numbers flock together, not to receive it as a present, but to buy it. Of  upwards of 1500 New Testaments which I had at the outset, not many remain. I had no Bibles, and was very sorry for it, as, from its being generally asked for, I am sure I could have sold many copies. It is gratifying to know that a supply of them may be expected in the course of a few months; and with this prospect I have revived the spirits of many who evidently felt disappointed when I told them that I had none.

It is truly a pleasing sight to see so many eagerly seeking after God; and it cheers the head of the poor traveller, as he moves along now through the woods, now over the mountains, to think that he is the means of cheering the hearts of others, by putting into their hands the only book which can effectually cheer the heart with solid com­fort. I refer you for further particulars regard­ing the circulation of the Scriptures to my letters upon the subject to the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Before I speak of the state and progress of edu­cation in Quito, I shall mention two circumstances which have occurred to me since I left Lima. I notice these because they are encouraging, as it respects the progress of education, and because they tend to prove what I have so often stated to you, that there is a very general desire throughout this country for extending the benefits of education to all, and with all possible speed. The circumstances referred to occurred in Truxillo and in Guayaquil.

In both these places I received proposals from the magistrates to remain among them, in order to es­tablish schools on our plan, and to promote the objects of education in general. In both cases I had a struggle with my feelings, though not with my judgment, in declining the honour offered me. Though my duty bade me pursue my journey, yet, in consequence of these proposals, I cannot help taking an additional interest in the progress of edu­cation in the places mentioned; and through the intercourse that took place upon this subject during my short stay in these tours, I expect some good will result, of which I shall afterwards inform you.

I come now to speak of the state and prospects of education in this city. The state of elementary education here is, at present, very low, but its prospects are more encouraging. Perhaps you are aware that the Colombian Government is taking active measures to extend education over all their share of South America. Some time ago a Central School on the Lancasterian plan was established in Bogota, the capital. This school was set a-going by a friar who had been banished from his native country on account of his then-called revolutionary principles, and who had learned the system during his exile. Upon his return to America he established this school in the capital, which has now existed two or three years.

It is the wish of the govern­ment to put a model school in the capital of each department, and from these schools to send out masters to all the towns and villages the department contains. For this purpose the friar I before men­tioned, has lately arrived here, and is getting his school-room prepared. I have had several con­versations with this individual, and have been much pleased in observing the very lively interest he takes in the education of youth, as well as in the general progress of knowledge throughout his native country. It is delightful to shake hands with such persons, and to unite one's heart with them wherever they are found. I augur much good from the establishment and direction of schools by a person of this character. I do from my heart wish him great success, and a success equal to the desires of his own benevolent mind. The Intendant or Governor of the department is an excel­lent man, and very desirous of the progress of knowledge throughout this quarter. He is urging forward the school with all diligence; and to supply the children with books, he has bought of me 50 New Testaments.

The next thing I have to notice is of some in­terest, and respects female education. You are aware, that the education of this sex is very limited in South America. It is so in Quito, as might be expected. From the consideration that this is a large place, and the chief city of a large and populous district of country, I was very desir­ous of doing something towards establishing a  female school or academy here. I spoke to the Intendant and others upon the subject, and found them all willing to do whatever was practicable in carrying into effect such a desirable object. The plan I proposed was, to send for a well-instructed person or two from England, in order to establish at once a school or academy of the best descrip­tion; and I promised to do, on my part, all I could to procure such persons upon my arrival in Eng­land. My proposition was very favourably re­ceived, and a plan was immediately thought of for carrying it into effect.

The want of funds was the only obstacle that occurred, and where to find them was the object to which the attention of all was directed. At length it was discovered that there was a certain religious house in the city which had good funds belonging to it. This house is not a nunnery, though it is somewhat allied to it. It is what is here called a Beateria; and if one were called upon to give it a name corresponding to its nature, it might be called a House of Idleness. This name, at all events, would suit the character given me of it by the Intendant. To get this house and its funds was now the object of consideration, and a petition to the general government of Colombia was thought of for that purpose. You know that respecting a matter of this kind, it is ne­cessary to interest the female sex themselves in it. I accordingly spoke with some ladies upon the sub­ject, and found them very anxious to lend their  influence to obtain the object in question.

I am lodged and very kindly treated in the house of the Marquis de San José, and I wished that the Mar­chioness should take the lead in this affair, as a matter of courtesy on my part, and principally be­cause she is the person of most influence in the place. I stated to her the plan proposed, of esta­blishing a school or academy in the style of those in England, and was happy to find that she entered heartily into it. The way ultimately fixed upon for carrying forward the plan is this: The lady before mentioned, along with some female friends, is to draw up a petition to the Intendant, begging that something may be done for establishing a fe­male academy in Quito. As soon as this comes into the Intendant’s hands, he will state his opi­nion upon the subject, strongly recommending it, and pointing out where the funds may be obtained for the purpose. The petition thus prepared is to be put into my hands, and I am to have the honour of laying it before the Vice-President in Bogota upon my reaching that city; and such is the interest taken by the Government in these matters, that I have no doubt of its complete success.

                                                I remain, my dear sir,
                                                            Very sincerely yours,
                                                                                    J. Thomson.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. London: James Nisbet, 1827, pp. 215-223. Twentieth Report  of the British and Foreign School Society (1825), pp. 123-126.

Bogotá, 8th February 1825

Rev A Brandram

Bogota, 8th February, 1825.[1]

Dear Sir,

 Since my last communication to you from Quito, I have had a long, and by no means an agreeable journey. The distance from Quito to this place is considerable, the roads are very bad, and in passing through one district, there is no inconsi­derable danger. The district or province to which I to share is that of Pastos, which has at different times been in a revolutionary state, and at present it is but ill tranquilized. We were accompanied by a military guard through the whole of that district, and which in some places amounted to forty men. The good hand the Lord upon me and upon my companions we all arrived safely in Popayan towards the end of December. On the 29th ultimo, I arrived safely in this city, and now seize the first oppor­tunity that offers of writing you a few lines, to inform you of occurrences in these parts since my last, of the 26th November.

 I intimated to you in the letter last mentioned, that it was my intention to drop a few seeds as I went along, or in other words, to endeavour to circulate the sacred volume, as opportunities might offer, in the course of my journey. I ac­cordingly posted up my notices in those places, where I stopped for half a day, or upwards. In these country villages a great sale was not to be expected. The inhabitants are in general poor, and very few of them are addicted to reading. Some copies, however, were thus  put into circu­lation, and in such places, and under such circum­stances, I always think much has been done if a kind of beginning has been made. I shall, in a fu­ture communication, state to you the number sold in each place, and the respective sums received since my leaving Lima. I would give you this account now, were it not that the scantiness of my time at present will not allow me to extract these notices from  among my  notes. I have now disposed of all the New Testaments I brought with  me from Lima, and those which I found awaiting me in Guayaquil. I bless the Lord for having coun­selled me to undertake this journey, and thus to put into circulation a considerable number of copies of his holy word,  and which would not likely have been accomplished, but by means of making a complete tour through these quarters. I have thus cause of gratitude to Him who distributed his favours to whom he will, for having honoured me with a share of this angel-work, of commu­nicating the revelation of God to man. I shall be glad also to know, that  the plan I have taken meets with the  approbation of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society. I thought much about  this journey before undertaking it, and prayed much to the Lord to counsel me in regard to  it.    And now,  looking back over the road I have travelled, and reflecting on the num­ber of copies of the word of life, now in the hands of many people who had never before seen it, I feel my heart drawn out in thanksgiving and praise for all the way by which the Lord hath led me.

 My labours in distributing the sacred volume on  this journey must now terminate, because I have no more to distribute. In the multitude of my thoughts within me upon setting off from Lima, it occurred to me that I  might, after reaching this place, extend my journey in your service to Gua­temala, and from thence over-land to Mexico. Two objects I had in view in reference to  this; the one was the circulation of the Scriptures, and the other was the procuring translations   of the New Testament into the native languages of those parts. Of this latter object I wrote you   some time ago.  This intended journey, however, must now be given up, for various reasons.    The first is, because I have no more copies of the  Scrip­tures to distribute;  the second is, because I feel doubtful if it would meet with your approbation to incur the expense of travelling through  those parts, with the single object of procuring the translations referred to;  the third reason is,   the happy change which has taken place in Peru, in the termination of the war there, and which induces me to visit England as early as possible, that  I may again return to Lima without loss of time, in order to carry on the work of the Lord there, according to the grace and strength he may he pleased to afford me. I trust in the Lord that we shall have an opportunity of seeing each other face to face, before many months elapse, that we may talk over all the doings of the Lord, in making his word to circulate in this country and in every place, and that we may make arrange­ments for benefiting South America yet more ex­tensively.

I have spoken of the termination of the war in Peru, and this to me is no small subject of thanksgiving; for the deliverance of the country from the Spanish yoke, and the rapid progress of the Lord's work, are closely identified. I wrote you from Guayaquil some months ago respecting this identification. It was then I gave you an account of the battle of Junín, and of the very important effects that followed. I then also ven­tured to speak of what were likely to be the ultimate and not very distant results of that battle. All these things the Lord hath now brought about, in scattering those who delight in war and op­pression, and in commanding the destroying sword to return into its scabbard.—Rest and peace to this destroying instrument—and for ever! May it never more be drawn in this country, to cut in sunder afresh the peace and the progress of man! I send you an account of this late event in Peru, which I think will prove interesting to you and to your friends.

I expected to find, on my arrival here, a large supply of Spanish New Testaments, which I thought you would have found an opportunity of forwarding to some correspondent in this quarter. I have spoken with Mr. Henderson, the British Consul General here, upon the subject, and he informs me that there are neither Spanish Bibles nor New Testaments in this city, and that there is a demand for them. He also informs me, that he wrote about three months ago to Mr. Dowson, a correspondent of his, requesting him to forward some to this place. You will please make inquiry of Mr. D., who lives in Welbeck Street, if he has sent any; and in the event of none having been sent, have the goodness to forward to this city, as early as possible, a supply of each of your editions of the Spanish Scriptures. I have talked with Mr. Henderson upon this subject, and think he will be a very suitable person to manage your concerns here, and to correspond with you. He takes a particular interest in this matter, and desires me to assure you of his readiness to do all that lies in his power to forward your good work.

 In expectation of writing to you again before long,

             I remain,

                         Very respectfully Yours,

                                                 James Thomson.

[1] BSA-D1-2-A. Also in James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827),  pp. 236-240.