St John, 12th June 1841

Rev A Brandram - No 104

St. John, New Brunswick, 12th June 1841

My Dear Friend,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

                        Affectionately Yours,

                                                James Thomson.

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Woodstock, 22nd July 1841

Rev A Brandram - No 106

Woodstock, New Brunswick, 22nd July 1841

My Dear Friend,

I arrived in this place about dusk last night from Madawaska, after being cramped up for two days in a little canoe made of  the bark of the birch tree, having descended about 120 miles down the River St. John. The narrative of my mission to that place shall be immediately prepared, and be in readiness for next packet.

On my arrival I received your letter of the 2nd July at the Post Office here; and as there is a pending subject in it, I hasten to reply.

You say, in reference to my wish to prosecute my medical studies during the ensuing winter at Montreal, "Could not that study be better and more advantageously prosecuted in London, or Scotland?" Knowing the medical circumstances of the three places, and their respective advantages and difficulties to a student such as the one in question, I have no hesitation in deciding in favour of Montreal. There I have hopes of accomplishing the object I have in view, but in the other two I could not I fear hope for the same. I need not enter into the particulars, as they are medical and college points. I therefore decidedly prefer Montreal, and I may say, medically, for personally it would be more gratifying to me to spend the winter in London or Edinburgh.

Your kind and unasked indulgence of continued salary last winter, you know I do not petition for. The past favour was kind and unexpected, but do not embarrass yourself  by any official difficulties on this score. The first £100 medical fee that I receive, shall be yours, in lieu of that kindness. This is a bird in the bush, you will say, and so it is; but you will recollect, I offered you one in hand.

I am glad that you all acquiesce in my view of a mission to Spanish America. I have turned the subject over in my mind much, and gave you the result of my cogitations. The Lord direct in this mission: it may be very important in its results. I do earnestly request of each individual among you who may at times remember me at the throne of grace, to pray specially for me in reference to this mission. Much as I have travelled, and familiar as I am with these countries, yet still I feel it quite an undertaking to start for them, and to traverse them anew. But I murmur not, nor hesitate, and I have nothing to complain of, for when I went first out to those countries, I went out with the purpose of never returning home. I did return, because the way was made obvious to me, and duty required. But if I should now return and die there, all is well. I say these things to induce my dear and kind Bible associates to pray the more for me, for I feel more than ever the need of prayer.

I am happy in learning that you have two excellent offers of service for the West Indies. Whether you send one or two, you must hold them up by prayer, for the climate is trying and critical, and so is the Bible service there. But the field is rich, and well worth being diligently cultivated by you for years to come. It is divested now of its giant difficulties, but still there is much need of great care, friendliness, and delicacy, in steering among the various parties civil and religious in these Islands. I shall always read your Reports of them with interest.

Praying for yourself, and for all our Associates,

            I remain, My Dear Friend and Brother, 

                                    Affectionately Yours,

                                                            James Thomson.

Mexico City, 28th October 1842

Rev A Brandram - No 125

Mexico 28th October 1842

My dear Friend,

Your letter of 20 July, with a note of 1 August, reached me here on the 19th September. It gives me great pleasure to learn the prosperity which God is still vouchsafing to you as a Society, and in spite of prophecies uttered or muttered among you to the contrary. The case of Dr. Haeberlin's recovery from such imminent danger is a subject of gratitude and instruction to us all. Oh that all of us may ever be good and faithful servants while we live, and thus be ever ready to die, to die unto the Lord, and be forever with him.

As yet no ship, nor books from England, has arrived since I came here. But some vessels are looked for very soon, and with one of them I doubt not your books will be. I long to put them on their trial for acceptance, but fear of our sales will not be rapid, for besides what stands in the way of this from the nature of our books and the circumstances of this country, that is another hindrance, namely, the general dullness of all sales of all things, from the general scarcity of money, owing to the distracted state of things here for some years past, and which kind of things, I am sorry to say, still continue. I think it not at all improbable that we shall have another revolution before this letter reaches you.

What has most occupied my thoughts and my attention since I came here, is the new version of which I wrote you. I am most anxious to get this introduced into the schools, and have made a Representation to the government to that effect, stating your readiness to cooperate in providing the books for schools at a very cheap rate, besides making a present of some at the outset to encourage the object. I expected to be able by this packet to have given you some account of the reception and success or failure of this Representation. But all the government people have been so occupied with their own immediate affairs of late as to have been hindered, it should seem, from attending to this. The bustle has been owing to Santa Anna's delivering the reins of government to General Bravo during the winter, that he may retire for rest and a warm climate to his family residence near Veracruz. He left this city yesterday for that place.

I feel doubly anxious about this Representation. Could the word of God be got into the schools all over this country, it would soon also come into the hands of all classes of the community both indirectly and directly. But there is another reason also why I feel anxious for the success of this representation, which is, that if the New Testament could be got into all the schools here by public sanction and encouragement, the same would act as a powerful example and stimulus to all the other States over Spanish America. May the Lord prosper this object to the hastening of his kingdom in this, and over all these lands. I ever count on the prayers of you all for success in all my little efforts, and pray the Lord to answer these your prayers, and my own feeble but as earnest supplications for a blessing on all my poor doings. We are nothing. Perhaps our prayers are something, for God has made them so. But it is God himself who worketh all in all, and to his name be the glory.

The other object, or rather the third one, of my solicitude here is, that of getting some portion of God's holy word into the hands of the Indians in their native tongues. The great body of the people in this country arc Indians, and they are of different nations and tongues. There are many schools among them, and a goodly number, all things considered, can read. A considerable portion of them can speak Spanish, and do speak it in the market-places, where they are required to do so in their business. But they are strongly attached to their own languages, and ever speak them among themselves. I hear these tongues daily spoken in the streets of this city as I move along, and observe the Indians speaking with one another. The two chief tongues spoken within the diocese of Mexico are what are called the Mexican, and the Otomi. One of the Gospels, you know, is already in the former of these dialects, and I long to hear about it from you and from Dr. Mora. Regarding the other, the Otomi, I am making efforts to get a fit translator, and have one in view. The advan­tage of getting the Scriptures into the Indian tongues is, I conceive, considerable; for although many of them, as already stated, speak Spanish, they will feel a peculiar pleasure in having the word of God in their own tongues, as was and is the case in the Highlands of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. I request, therefore, your prayers for this object also. The Indians are all Christians nominally, and I fear most of them, as well as most here of all classes, nominally only. I look upon it that when the True Gospel begins to make way in this country, it will begin with the Indians, similar to the Gospel progress in the West Indies. The Slaves were first awakened; and through the black and slave population, the whites and other free people were at length led to a greater attention to religion. Thus does God choose the weak things of this world, and things that are despised, to bring to nought all the proud thoughts and gloryings of men. Let us not glory in our work, though most sacred and holy as it truly is, but let us glory only in the Lord.

Please to remember the poor solitary, you who live in the city of God.

            I am, My Brother, Ever Affectionately Yours,

                                    James Thomson.