New York, 30th June 1842

Rev A Brandram - No.120

New York, 30th June 1842.

My Dear Friend,

I am still in this city, because no mail steamer arrived since my last, nor has any sailing vessel left this port, during the same period, for Mexico. The derangement in the courses of the West India Mail Steamers leaves us with little hope of any of them being here for some time; but there is a sailing vessel likely to leave this for Veracruz in ten days or a fortnight, and with this vessel I purpose going unless a steamer should offer earlier.

Your expected letter, dated the 31st ultimo, came into my hands on the 20th instant. I observe what you say in reference to translations of the Scriptures into the native tongues of Spanish America, in reply to my notice on the subject in my letter No 70, and I shall endeavour to act according to your suggestions. You intimate that there are no supplies of Scriptures lying at present in any part of Mexico. As I would therefore have no copies for distribution on first arriving in that country, I shall take a small supply from this place to meet any early demands that may offer. The supply I would request from you, and to be sent out by the earliest vessel for Veracruz, is 100 Spanish Bibles 8vo, 50 ditto 12mo, 200 Scio's Testaments 12mo, 200 ditto 32mo, and 100 ditto 8vo. To these please add French Bibles of the beautiful thin 18mo lately (1841) published by the French and Foreign Bible Society, of Ostervald's version. Also add 10 English Bibles, Pearl 8vo M.R. and 10 Pearl 24mo both of them, and also French Bibles, bound in coloured calf with gilt edges. Also 5 Crown 4to English Bibles, and 5 Small Pica 8vo M.R. both bound in coloured calf extra. The cases containing these books should not way above 250 pounds, as they have to be moved through the country on mules. Into each case of the Spanish Books it would be well to put about an equal portion of the different sorts, so that in sending the case to any place the various kinds may be duly contained in it. – These cases to be consigned to John Gifford Esq., British Consul, Veracruz.

I do not recollect at present what happened in regard to the Books obstructed in the Custom House in Mexico when I left that city, and would be glad if Mr. Jackson could inform me, as the knowledge of this may be of considerable service.

You say I will return to Mexico with mingled feelings. I do, my Brother, and some of these feelings you can enter into, and some of them perhaps you cannot well know. I beg earnestly your earnest prayers, under strong impressions of my great need of them, in the journeyings apply in prospect before me.

            I remain, 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.

Mexico City, 23rd February 1843

Rev A Brandram  No.129

Mexico 23rd February 1843

My Dear Sir,

In my last I mentioned that our Packet brought no English letters, and consequently no letter from you. The mail however was afterwards forwarded from St. Thomas by a hired vessel, which reached of Veracruz on the 27th ultimo, and your letter of the 2nd December came into my hands on the 30th and also Mr. Jackson's dated the 30th November. The mail by last month's Packet reached the city on the 13th instant, and brought me the Bible Society Reporter, but no letters from any in your house where contained in the letter-packet received.

My business here in two of its important branches, namely, as respects the getting of the New Testament into the schools, and the providing the word of God for the poor Indians, is now brought to a point, and I am sorry to say the termination is unfavourable. The Lancasterian Society which received my Representation so favourably, has been obliged to decline the offer made of your assistance in an edition of the New Testament without notes for the use of their schools, and this owing to the Ecclesiastical opposition manifested in the case. This door then, about which I felt so anxious, is for the present shut. I have done everything I could think of to succeed in this important object, and am grieved at its failure. But there is One that openeth, and no man man shutteth; and may he soon and effectually open this country for his own word as it came from himself; and he will in due time open, and no man shall shut after him.

On the other hand, and previous to this discouragement, I received a letter from the Bishop of Michoacan declining to do what he had before tacitly at least consented to, namely, the giving his license to publish a portion of the Scripture in the Indian tongues. This refusal effectually shuts this door, as the Bishop in question is decidedly the most liberal of all the Bishops in this country, so that his refusal makes sure that all will refuse.

The third and only other branch of our business here is the circulation of the Scriptures you have forwarded. I am sorry to say these are not yet arrived in this city. In shipping the Books there should have been a document procured from the Mexican Consul, and forwarded with the bill of lading. This it seems was not done, for no such document reached Veracruz. The Books were therefore detained, and I had to make application to the Government here to overlook this omission, and to permit the Books to be taken out of the Customs House. This has been granted, and the Books are now about to leave Veracruz for this place. In regard to future shipments it would be well to apprise your agent at Liverpool of the necessity of procuring in forwarding this consular document.

By the above mentioned negatives and failures my way in Providence is made clear as to this country, namely, for my leaving it soon. I wish it had cleared up in the opposite direction, but the will of the Lord be done. There is a time for every purpose under the sun, and the time will undoubtedly come when the word of the Lord will have perfectly free course in this country as it is with you. May the Lord hasten that time: and surely our prayers for this country will not be all cast away and forgotten. But I had hoped also that we should have done something here in regard to getting the Scriptures into the schools, and getting translations for the Indians that would have had a powerful effect as an example on all the other countries of South America. But this hope you see is blasted with the other, and so I will proceed to these other countries downcast rather than animated in regard to our work.

Whither now shall I go, and what arrangements shall I make, in order that our labour in the Lord may be as little in vain as possible? I think of going first to the Havana, then afterwards to Yucatán, if it is not inaccessible through the present hot war there, and then onwards to Guatemala. After leaving Guatemala, if the Lord will I should I should live, I would be for making my way in the best manner to Panamá. And from Panamá I would visit the countries and towns lying on the Pacific Ocean. From Peru I have had thoughts of descending the Amazon River to Pará in Brazil, and then visiting the large Brazil towns on the Atlantic Ocean, and thence going on Southward to Monte Video and Buenos Ayres. I give you this sketch that you may reform or alter it as you please; or that you may cut short the course mentioned, and send me, if you will, to China, direct westward across the Pacific. Your way is my way, and may yours be the Lord's.

I go to the Havana in order to see how our work goes on there, and to try to forward it, and also I may say from necessity, because I cannot in the present state of the war get from Veracruz to Yucatán. I am aware that I run some risk of imprisonment in the Havana, according to the order issued against me in 1837. But from the change of the Governor and other circumstances I may probably not be troubled, and on the other hand, I know not any just charge they can bring against me. Nevertheless I should be glad that you would procure for me a letter from the Foreign Office to our Consul there, in case I should stand in need of special British protection. This letter which I now write will reach you most probably about or before the middle of April, and I beg you will write me by the first of May Packet to the care of the British Consul in the Havana, enclosing the letter referred to from the Foreign Office. I shall sail from Veracruz in the Packet, say on the 26th May, and so as to be in the Havana probably on the last day of the month, about which time, or a day or two later your letter referred to may be there: and I judge it prudent not to be there long before your letter arrive. Some little time will be lost here by this delay, but I do not see well how I could arrange better. A sort of compensation will be made for this retardation by my quicker movements afterwards. It will be some weeks yet before the Books arrive from Veracruz, and two or three weeks more will be required here to make full arrangements for continued sales, so that the real loss of time will be only about a month.

In order to meet the quicker movements referred to, and that the most may be done with the least loss of time, it would be desirable to have supplies of the Scriptures waiting me on my arrival in the several places I may touch at on the course pointed out. As to the quantities and kinds to be sent to each place you must form your best judgment, and the kinds and proportional numbers of each in the supply lately sent here may perhaps aid you in your apportionings. I think then you should send without delay to Panamá, Guayaquil, and Lima. You will do your best to find out proper consignees for these shipments, and will be so good as early to apprise me of the names of said persons, together with giving me copies of the Invoices. Places beyond Lima can be afterwards arranged for. There are some cases of Spanish Scriptures in Jamaica, I believe, sent there from Carthagena by Mr. Watts. I shall write to Kingston to have these forwarded to Belize. I know not whether I shall visit Carthagena, but when in the Havana I shall judge that, and I may perhaps cross Jamaica in order to sail from Kingston to that place.

Through means of Mr. Jackson's letter I have at length found out the Mexican Gospel of St. Luke which you printed and sent here. Some of these I have disposed off, and shall distribute the whole in the best way I can before I leave the country. I have had no letter as yet from Dr. Mora, and I am still ignorant as to who is the translator.

I cannot close this letter without joining in thanksgivings and congratulations with you for the grand opening which God has granted to Britain and to the Gospel into the Great and Populous Empire of China. May God give all of you....

(final part of letter missing in archives)

Mexico City, 24th April 1843

Rev A Brandram  No.131

Mexico 24th April 1843

My Dear Friend,

Since my last I have read your Annual Report; and I am, as I had hoped gladdened with it, in the midst of my present solitude and barrenness. Triumph we shall in our work, come what hinderances there may, in this place and in that, and from time to time. Yes, of this there is an absolute certainty. God is with us, and who can be against us?

I thank you for your very kind notices of my poor labours wrought in my unfitness in British North America. I bless God that he made to prosper these improportionate labours, and to his name, as is altogether due, be the praise.

I was much pleased with your earnest appeal to all your friends for their prayers on behalf of all engaged in the translation of the Holy Scripture. This we should all ever keep close in view, the subject is greatly important. The balancing of words in which the translators are so often engaged, and with anxious solicitude, how easily can God influence; and have we not reason to expect that he will influence the balance in answer to our prayers, though inspiration and perfection may not be granted?

I have also read since my last Mr. Lay's work on China, and have seen his two letters to you printed in the B.S. Reporter for January. I rejoice to see thereby that there are such prospects are circulating the Scriptures in the Chinese world, as I may call it, and that you have such a person as Mr. Lay to take charge of your work there partially or entirely as I understand, according as you may wish for his services in whole or in part. Pray what situation does Mr. Lay hold on board the Cornwallis?

Your letter No. 24 came to hand on the 14th instant. I rejoice in its many cheering statements respecting China, South Africa, New Zealand, Tahiti, British North America, and Jamaica.

Respecting my own predicament and duties in this country, and in others lying before me in the course of my journey, I see you have not as yet decided. I am sorry for this, as I am placed awkwardly and critically for want of your instructions. As it happens no evil has yet arisen from this want of decision and directions: but I pray you not to leave me any longer in this uncertainty as to what I should, or should not do. Say yea, or say nay, and my way will be clear. The responsibilities will be yours, not mine, if you hinder me by a negative or by silence from doing what might be done in the places I visit, for I am your servant, and look to you for instructions. Were the matter in my own hands I should have no hesitancy as to what I ought to do either as to my judgment or my conscience. What I have said refers to the Indian translations, and to an edition of Vence's New Testament, on both of which points I have spoken fully in my former letters, and to which I refer you. Our Indian versions, bating a few Vulgate words, would be in my opinion, I do not say equal, but superior to the versions you are now printing, and which have been made by the missionaries, all of which are made by persons not possessing as their mother tongue languages into which they translate, whereas ours would be made by persons speaking the Indian language from the cradle.

An edition of Vence, such as I have contemplated and treated of in my letters to you, would also I conceive be of great service in our general cause, even though these Vulgate words should not be got rid of, though perhaps we might manage to alter them, or at least some of them.

I renew the subject of the present time, I beg leave most respectfully to urge you to a decision, because of my movement to Guatemala, where most probably I shall have fewer hinderances, and more facilities in regard to these two matters than here: and also because of the general bearings of these points on my future journeyings.

I enclose you a copy of my article on the Canon printed in one of our newspapers here, and from which types I had 200 copies thrown off, that they might continue to do service here in favour of the truth itself, and good character in truth and righteousness, and also that we may be served by these in my onward movements. The early promised article in reply to mine soon made its appearance. But it was no reply, as it never touched upon my statements about the Canon and our integrity. It therefore required no answer, and has had none. Thus the matter has dropped, and our positions stand before the public uncontradicted and unanswered.

Our difficulties with the Custom House have been great, and in one sense unsurmountable, and so that we may consider the door for our books through that entrance into the city shut until some change for the better take place in this country in its laws and councils.

Notwithstanding of what I have here said, our Books are out of the Custom House, and also disposed of. Nearly all the time I have been here on the present occasion I have been on easy and friendly terms with the Archbishop, who has always treated me with attention and friendship. Through him I got the Books removed from the Custom House to his own house. Being thus freed I pleaded with him for a dispensation of the law in my favour that the Books might be openly sold. This however he would not grant but he gave me leave to re-export them although as confiscated property they were entirely in his power; I complained of the expense of carriage, he offered to pay that himself. Finally we arranged, that the Books should lie with him, and he has given me his word that they shall be faithfully distributed, but according to his own plan, and that is, of giving them to the clergy and other educated persons, as table manuals, whilst they have larger and annotated Bibles in their libraries to which they can refer. Perhaps we could not wish for better employment of the Books than this, as the Bible in this manual and table form, being always at hand and accessible, will in all probability be read, and much read, whilst the library volumes would have had an undisturbed rest, as many still have, whilst the manual is frequently used. Further and lastly, the Archbishop has given me for the books, art of his own pocket, one hundred dollars, which though not the full value, is more than half.

I have said above that the way for our Books into the city through the custom house is shut for the present. But another way is open, and has opened to me of its own accord without my inquiring about. In this way we could have continued access to the Booksellers' shops, and it remains with you to adopt it or not. There is no duty on books, so that no loss would accrue to the government or country in conveying books through it by stealth. Veracruz is still open to us for landing them.

I am preparing to leave this city for Veracruz and the Havannah, according to my former notices.

This date is an eventful day in my poor life, as it completes my 25 years' wanderings. I praise and bless the Lord for his great goodness to me during this long period, and in its various vicissitudes. I lament that I have been of so little service in his kingdom, but earnestly pray that I may do better for the future. I beg you to help me for the same by your continual prayers. I ever pray for you all. Oh that God may count us all worthy at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

            Believe me, My Dear Friend, Affectionately Yours,

                                                                                    James Thomson.

[P.S. Will you accept for yourself, My Dear Friend, and not despise, the tender offering of the Father? You have it in the enclosed Monumental. In the death and the burial of our second child you will see two spots well marked in our track from the city to Veracruz in 1830.]

Mexico City, 25th May 1843

Rev A Brandram:  No.132

Mexico, 25th May 1843

My Dear Friend,

Towards the close of my last letter I said I was preparing to leave this city for Veracruz and the Havannah. I had accordingly my things packed up a few days after sending off my letter in order to go before me by the muleteers to Veracruz. But about the time for sending them off we received accounts from Yucatán of such a nature as to lead me to delay sending on my luggage, believing that the changes going on there would enable me to go direct from Veracruz to that place instead of going by way of the Havannah. I therefore delayed in this city till another packet in order to hear for the accounts from Yucatán. Things that are not yet quite clear, but we are daily in expectation of something of a decided nature. If some favourable adjustment of matters do not take place in Yucatán, I will have to go from the Havannah to Belize, and from thence to Guatemala. Could I have liberty of disposing of books by the way, I would go by land, although it is a very long horseback journey of some 1200 miles. But my chief obstacle in this case is the fear, or rather perhaps the certainty of having my Books detained in the Customs Houses on the way as they have been in this city. I am in some perplexity as to what is best to be done, but hope I may be guided to what is most advantageous.

I shall write to the Havannah to have my letters that may arrive there the beginning of next month sent on here. It will be best I think for you to continue sending my letters to the Havannah, under cover to the British Consul there, until I otherwise direct. From thence they can be forwarded to me either here, or to Belize and Guatemala as my movements may require, and I will accordingly so arrange with the British Consul in the note I am about to write him.

I am glad, under other circumstances of darkness and discourage­ment, to have once more something to say about the general circulation and use of the Scriptures here, though not directly through our hands. There is a supply daily expected in this city, of 1,500 copies of Torres Amat's second edition; and these will be sold at a considerable reduc­tion in price—a circumstance which will carry them more rapidly into circulation. They are the remnant of a large edition published in Paris. I have no doubt but you will all personally, if not officially, rejoice in this additional diffusion of the Scriptures in this place. And you may do this, too, officially, as you have been the means of bringing on here the desire for the Holy Scriptures; and, furthermore, you may do it officially, inasmuch as all this circulation of these larger and annotated Bibles will, as formerly hinted, most assuredly bring round a greater diffusion of your more simple and cheaper volumes. The booksellers gladdened my heart the other day, by telling me that there is a decided favour in the public mind in regard to the Scriptures, which was not formerly the case. Irreligious books were then in favour; but now the scale is turned—and, I may say, you have turned it.

Another favourable circumstance I may mention, and one of no small account: it respects the instruction of the Indians. Measures are now being taken by the Government Education Board here, for setting up schools among the Indians generally, for teaching them to read in their own native tongues, similar to the plan adopted in the Gaelic schools in the north of Scotland. Those produced happy effects, and so I trust will these native schools in this land. Thus extensively, you see, is the way preparing for versions of the Scriptures into the Indian tongues.

I hope you had a noble day at Exeter Hall in your annual congregation. I shall anxiously look for a confirmation of this hope, through your communications. I, I suppose your utmost post on the West, prayed for you on that occasion, and many did so no doubt far in the East, and many and more between. May the Lord other direct and prosper you, for his own glory, the good of his church, and the good of the world.

We have again been disappointed in the arrival of our packet, and her bringing no English mail.

            I am ever, My Dear friend,

                        Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson

Belize, 5th/15th June 1844

Rev A Brandram No 142

Belize 5th June 1844

My dear Friend,

I have the pleasure of informing you of my safe arrival in this place, two weeks ago, and of my improved strength by my short residence here. I mentioned in my last, that I had had no letters from you, nor from England, from the time I entered Yucatán. I am happy now in stating, that all your letters wanting I have received in this place, namely, Nos. 28, 29, 30, and 31. My other expected letters from England, and elsewhere, I have also found all safe, and I believe complete.

In regard to my movements, I gather, from your letters here received, particularly  No. 29, coupled with antecedent letters, that the judgment of the Committee and your own, founded on the past and expected discouragements, is that it would be better that I should return home, than continue my journeyings through these countries. At the same time you left me at liberty, either to pursue the tract proposed, or to return home; and for this confidence, and for the very kindly manner in which it is expressed, I feel truly grateful to you all, and thank God who gives us such a good understanding in our combination in his service.

I shall therefore, if the Lord will, return to England from this place, and before long. I wait here in the meantime, partly to recover  my full strength, which, blessed be God is nearly returned, partly to be present at a public meeting of the Honduras Bible Society, which is appointed for the 10th instant; and partly also I wait for the packet, which is due on the 13th.

The route by New York is, I am informed, the best and the cheapest way of going from this to England. I shall therefore most probably seize the first opportunity after the arrival of the Packet of sailing for New York.

I have been the more induced to come to the conclusion at once of returning home, from the circumstance that Mr. Crowe, (of whom Mr. Henderson has written you, and to whom you have allowed £50 for one year) is at present in the City of Guatemala, and with whom arrangements can be made to visit those places I had intended to visit. I have accordingly arranged with Mr. Henderson to that effect: but not that he should visit all the places in Guatemala to which I had intended to go, but simply in the first place to visit San Salvador, and to be guided as to the rest by Mr. Henderson's judgment, with that of the Committee of the Bible Society here, and by the instructions they communicate to him from time to time as to his moving onwards or returning; and this of course will depend in a great degree on the successes or discouragements he may meet with. As the term for which you gave the £50 is nearly run, I have ventured to say that you will give the same for another year, for the purposes of the visitation I have noticed, its being understood, that should he be only a quarter, half a year, or three quarters of a year in this service, your allowance is to correspond with the same. I have sent him the two documents which I had from the authorities of Merida as to the purchase of New Testaments for the schools, and have authorized him to make similar contracts as he may be able. The documents I have mentioned are to be shown to the authorities you may visit to indicate to them what has been done in Merida, and hence to encourage them to do the same.

Among the lot of letters which I found waiting me in this place, where two from the Rev. Dr. McAuley of New York. In writing to him from Mexico requesting the 1000 Spanish Testaments, I had very especially stated, that they should all be of the version of Scio, and that on no account whatever should even the single copy of their Glasgow version be put in among the Testaments of Scio, for I had found them printing this in July 1842, and feared they might add perhaps as a gift, some copies of this version. On this subject, and on another connected with it, Dr. McAuley writes, "As to the Protestant version in Spanish, you need be under no apprehension, for we have printed none of that version as yet; and by the course of obstinacy which I pursued, when you were here, I think, or soon after, I saved the other Plates from Ruin. There is sometimes even among very good men a plentiful scarcity of good sense."

There is something curious, (or perhaps it is worthy of a better name), in the combination of circumstances in this matter. When an Upper Canada in 1841, I saw in an American newspaper which I accidentally picked up, and account of the Anniversary of the American Bible Society, and thereby saw the resolution, never to print again anymore copies of Scio's, or of any other version made from the Vulgate; and further, that this stereotype plates of Scio should be destroyed, and for which, as I feared afterwards, they had been offered $1500. Also that a revised Protestant Version of the Spanish New Testament should be printed. I was much grieved with these accounts, and in my next letter to you I mentioned them. You were grieved also; and in your next letter to me, you stated your concern upon the subject. This letter came into my hands when I was lodged in Dr. McAuley's house. I showed him the letter. He could hardly believe that I was correct in what I wrote to you. I showed him the documents and he saw others at the American Bible Society House which fully convinced him that I was right, and he felt much at the steps which had been taken, for it seems he had been absent at the time these meetings occurred. He forthwith resolved to oppose them with all his might, and which, as you see by the above extract, that he did, and successfully. I am truly glad at this success on several accounts, and which need not be here stated: and you, I think will feel after the same manner and for the same reasons.

I found in this place, and have read, your 39th report, which I had not before seen. I have been greatly delighted with it, in seeing the manifest and increasing fruits of the Bible itself preaching, and from its other spiritual fruits in the hands of the servants of God in various parts of the world.

Belize 15th June 1844

The Packet arrived yesterday, and brought me the B.S. Reports from Earl Street and that only. Nos 27, 28, 29, and 30 are missing.

We have had our Bible Meeting, and had a very favourable report of the Honduras Bible Society, the particulars of which will be laid before you in due time. Much of its prosperity is owing to the activity of Mr. Henderson, and the liberality of his Congregation. The Packet came in at the very hour of our assembling, and hindered several persons of the upper classes from attending; and by some misunderstanding, the Wesleyans held a Prayer Meeting at the time we were met. Further, the Parish clergyman, and most of his people are as yet unconnected with our Bible Society. The meeting therefore was principally composed of Baptists, and though the greater part of them are poor, they nobly distinguished themselves by a collection of money more than twenty pounds sterling. Mr. Henderson has also entertained and entertains your agent here with bed and board, which is another donation.

This settlement is destined, I should think, to become a very im­portant Bible Society field, from the consideration of the Spanish countries with which it is surrounded. Many individuals from these parts come here, from time to time, in the way of commerce, and the Bible is thus, and otherwise, edging itself in among them, and the pro­vidence of God will, I doubt not, urge the wedge onwards in furtherance of a happy issue. Our Bible Society here will be on the watch, and, when all parties are cordial and active in it, which we hope will be soon, its means will be ample, and will meet both home and foreign purposes.

Besides the Spaniards around this settlement, there are some thou­sands of Caribs within it, and the Mosquito shore people also are closely allied to it. Mr. Henderson is labouring to get a portion of the Scrip­tures rendered into the tongues of these two classes of people. He has many difficulties to contend with in this undertaking, but Providence is facilitating his way, and in due time something may be accomplished which shall add two more to your many tongues.

I expect to leave this for New York on the 21st instant, in the Brig I R Gardner, Captain Pederson.

            I subscribe myself again, Very Truly Yours,

                        James Thomson.

P.S. After our Bible Meeting, Mr. Henderson and I spent two morn­ings, before breakfast, in visiting some persons of the better classes of society who had not been present at our meeting. We were well received, and obtained more than 20 pounds sterling. The first money we got was from a Spanish merchant, a Roman Catholic, and it was to the amount of eight dollars.

These two sums of £20 each & upwards will relieve you of the compromise I entered into for the £50, as noticed in the body of this letter.