Lima, 9th November 1822

Lima, 9th November 1822.[1]

A considerable time has now elapsed since I last wrote you, and a much longer time has intervened since I had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you. Although I have not communicated with you directly during this time, yet I suppose you are well acquainted with my various circum­stances in this part of the world, through means of my letters sent from time to time to my friends in Edinburgh. Since my leaving my native country, I have experienced much of the gracious goodness of our heavenly Father, in directing my steps, in making darkness light before me, and crooked things straight. The encouragements I have met with in my endeavours to forward the Lord's cause in South America, have been, much greater than could have been expected before the trial was made.  I think a door has been opened here which will never be shut, but which will, I trust, from one year to another, open wider and wider, until it become,  in the  Apostle's language, "great and effectual." Should I  say, there are  no adver­saries, and that all goes on prosperously, without any difficulty or discouragement from any quarter,— should I say this, it would be nearly the same as telling you, that a great miracle had taken place here, and had changed the nature of man.  You, of course, expect no such wonderful accounts.  At the same time,  it is a gratifying thing to be able to state, that far  less opposition has been met with than was expected.  Difficulties, I be­lieve, of whatever kind, will grow fewer and weaker as Time runs on, bearing in his hand the torch of heavenly light; whilst, on the other hand, means and opportunities of doing good will greatly increase. It is surely a gratifying sight to see darkness fleeing  away,  and  the light of heaven breaking forth.  You know there is no fellowship, in any sense, between light and darkness, the one must give  place to the  other.  Wherever,  then, darkness prevails, let the people of God look to him who said, "Let there be light, and there was light;" and let them use those means which he has appointed, under the full assurance, that midnight shall give place to  the dawning  light, and  that again to noon day.

That  a great and happy change is about to take place in our hitherto unfortunate,  unhappy world, the Scriptures predict; and the days in which we live say, "Lift up your heads, for this happy period draweth nigh."  You who live in the land of Israel, whence the word of the Lord is sounding out on all sides,  see these things better than I can do in this far distant country. From every corner of the earth mes­sengers are daily landing on your happy shores with tidings of joy.  One says, Babylon is fallen; another cries, the gods of the heathen are fa­mished;  whilst a third shouts aloud, Satan falls like lightning to the ground. I almost envy this felicity of yours; yet I would not exchange con­ditions with you.   Solitary and alone as I am here, I would not wish myself elsewhere, because I believe I am placed where God would have me to be; and, I trust, his work, in one shape or another, is all my concern.  I do, however, wish myself otherwise circumstanced. I should be glad to have with  me one or more with whom I could always communicate in the ways and work of the Lord, and whose counsels and labours might prove a blessing to  me and  to many.  You,  my dear brother, who dwell in Mount Zion, have never experienced the disadvantage of being thus alone. Should  I come into your thoughts when you bow your knees unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you  to pray that grace, and mercy, and peace may be multiplied unto me,  and that the Lord's work may prosper in South America.

In my letters to Edinburgh since my arrival in this city, I have stated the favourable reception I met with here from San Martin, and from others in the government. Since that time, the state of affairs here, in regard to politics, has considerably changed. San Martin has resigned his authority in all its parts in this country, and is gone to Chile. The Congress was installed on the 20th September, into whose hands he delivered all the concerns of the government, and next morning, at four o'clock, he set off for Chile. When he took the reins of go­vernment into his own hands, under the title of "Protector of the Liberty of Peru," he promised to resign his authority as soon as a general Con­gress could be assembled; and by his resignation at the time proposed, he justified his sincerity in the eyes of the world. During the time he was in power, reports were current that he was desirous to make himself king of Peru. His conduct, how­ever, has shown, that these reports were without foundation. As far as my own affairs here are concerned, I should have been glad that he had remained longer in the country, and, if I am not mistaken, Peru would have been benefited by his stay. San Martin is an intelligent and liberal-minded man. He is very desirous of promoting the progress of South America in knowledge, and he is free from those prejudices which  hinder its advancement. The Congress has now been  as­sembled for several weeks, and has been occupied with various concerns relative to the government of the country. From their own number they have chosen three to discharge the duties of the execu­tive government. This triumvirate is to continue until a constitution be drawn up, and a new Con­gress assembled, composed of representatives chosen in every province of Peru. This complete repre­sentation of the country cannot be obtained whilst the Spaniards are in possession of a considerable part of it, as they actually are at this moment. At present there is great distress felt here by the go­vernment, for want of money to carry forward the operations of the war. This appears to be the chief obstacle in preventing the general independence of Peru. Troops are not wanting, as, in addition to those brought by San Martin, and those who have since been raised in the country, General Bolivar has sent about 2,000 well-experienced troops from Quito,  as affairs  in that part have now been brought to a favourable conclusion. 

The English merchants here have just given the government a loan of 70,000 dollars,  by way of helping them out of their difficulties. An expedition sailed some weeks ago for Arica, and we anxiously look for the result. All that part of the country is in possession of the Spaniards, as well as nearly all the best provinces of the kingdom.  Notwithstanding the possessions  which Spain still holds in Peru, the independence of the country is not at all doubtful. It may, in­deed, by the mismanagement of the Congress, or by some other misfortune, be retarded, but it must ere long completely prevail. I believe there are no remains of the Spanish arms now existing in America, except those in our neighbourhood, and about 1500 men in the isles of Chiloe. What a change, in this respect, has taken place within these few years past! And let not this revolution be considered as a small matter by the man of benev­olence and the Christian. The interests of reli­gion and of humanity are very closely connected with it. That once dreadful, now innoxious house, the Inquisition, reminds me, as I daily pass it, of the happy change which has taken place. True it is, that the Spaniards have now put down the In­quisition throughout their Dominions; still, how­ever, there are many inquisitorial things yet sub­sisting in Spain that do not exist in the independent states of South America. Every effort has been used by Spain to retard the progress of knowledge in America. These days, however, have now gone by, and light of every kind begins to dawn on these countries. My own opinion is, that the na­tions of South America in a few years will far outstrip many of the nations of Europe. The people here, to a certain extent, are conscious of their ignorance, and are desirous of wiping out that stain which Spain has left upon them.

I have hitherto been speaking of the progress of knowledge in general in South America, and its probable results. I shall now say something of the progress making in the knowledge of religion. You know, of course, that the Roman Catholic religion is the only religion professed in this Continent—as it once was the only one in Great Britain. Many are beginning to see through this system, and to find out its inconsistencies. I wish I could also say, that all who see thus far, have attained to the knowledge of the true religion, as laid down in the New Testament. This, however, is not the case. On the contrary, I am sorry to say, that deistical principles are espoused by the greater part of those who get out of the trammels of popery. A good many in the higher ranks, particularly in the army, are of this way of think­ing. This state of things need not surprise us. It is perhaps the natural result, or transition, in those places where no other religion is known than the one professed in this country. A man begins to see the absurdity of the Catholic system, and from his infancy all that is religion with him has been con­nected with it. In giving up this system, he gives up with religion itself, as considering popery and it the same thing. From these circumstances, I con­ceive this to be the most favourable time for introducing, as far as can be done, the holy religion of our Lord Jesus Christ. The present is the time for labouring in this field, by introducing the Scriptures, and by every other means which prudence may dictate. Prejudice is growing less every day, and this is the result of the revolution. There is even a perceptible difference between the different parts of this Continent in regard to the decrease of pre­judice. In Chile there is less than in Lima, be­cause it has been longer independent. Again, there is still less in Buenos Aires than in Chile, for the same reason.

Having mentioned Buenos Aires, I cannot leave it without eulogizing it, in almost the highest degree, in regard to the progress it is making. One reform succeeds another in rapid succession. They are just about to put a stop to monarchism, and to take the church property into their own hands, paying the clergy out of the public treasury. It is said also, that they are about to pass a law for religious toleration. In every re­spect Buenos Aires now holds the first rank among the cities and countries of South America. To have one place thus stepping forward by way of pattern to the rest is of immense advantage. There are several periodical works of a superior kind issuing from the presses in that city. In these every subject is freely discussed, prejudices attacked, and reforms proposed. The liberty of the press is enjoyed and acted upon there in the same manner as it is in England. The articles published in the Buenos Aires papers and magazines find their way gradually into the papers of Chile and Peru, and thus prepare the way in these places also for following up, ere long, the same reforms and arrangements that are now going forward in the pattern city I have mentioned. In this city, also, the liberty of the press is enjoyed to a con­siderable extent. This, however, only commenced about two or three months ago, upon the dethrone­ment of the principal Secretary of State. This individual, though a great friend to reform himself, and from whom I met with every encouragement, wished to keep these things in his own hand, at least for some time, and to grant the freedom of the press by degrees. The plan of ecclesiastical reform published in Buenos Aires was also pub­lished in the public paper of this city. Various other things of a similar nature are thus indirectly brought under the consideration of the people of Peru; and coming from Buenos Aires, they are better received than they would be, coming from any part of Europe, especially from a Protestant country. We had also an attack upon the friars of Lima the other day, in one of the publications of this city, whose editor is one of the Secretaries of Congress. These things you will consider as the fruits of the revolution in South America; and the time fast approaches, when we shall see still more abundant fruits, and those too of the best kind. The Lord reigneth, let the earth be glad!

"With respect to the climate of this place, you know, we are here  fairly within the torrid  zone, the latitude of this city being 12° 2' 51" S.  A few days ago we had the sun vertical here, as he passed us on his way to the southward. Notwithstanding our proximity to the equator, we enjoy a very agreeable temperature. In the winter the sun but seldom makes his appearance; in spring he shows himself more frequently; and in summer he throws off reserve, and from his vertical throne looks down in all his magnificence. From ten o'clock till two, it is pretty hot, but about this hour a refreshing breeze springs up from the south, which is very agreeable. It is generally said, that it never rains in Lima. This, however, is not quite correct. It does rain a very little in the winter season; but the drops, when they can be recognized as such, seem to have passed through the finest rain sieve. It is, in short, rather a kind of mist than rain, al­though at times it may be called by the latter name; and when it is so, the people of Lima call it a heavy shower. Before I came here I fre­quently heard this climate denominated unhealthy. The tertian ague prevails a good deal, but on the whole I do not consider this an unhealthy place. For my own part, I never enjoyed better health than I have done since my coming to this city. Blessed be God for this precious blessing!—There is one thing of a rather terrifying nature to which this place is subject, I mean earthquakes. There is no place, I suppose, more subject to them than this city. We have had several shocks since I came to it; the greatest was on the 14th September.  I was awaked at a quarter past three o'clock in the morning by a most dreadful noise. I was at no loss to know what this noise was, considering the part of the world I was in. This noise con­tinued for a few seconds, and increased. The shock then followed, and made all the house shake, as if the whole were coming to the ground. A loud hollow noise followed this for a few seconds, and on its ceasing all was tranquil as before it com­menced, and those who had fled out of their houses quietly returned. These phenomena are of fre­quent occurrence. There are, I believe, about thirty earthquakes here in the course of a year. Those, however, which throw down houses and produce other ravages are rare. Once in fifty years seems to be about the period of those terrible visita­tions, and with considerable regularity Lima has suffered severely at the return of this fatal period. The city of Quito to the north, and of Arequipa to the south, have also their periodical visitations.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827, pp. 49-59.

Lima, 29th March 1824

Lima, 29th March, 1824.[1]

Dear Sir,

I received your acceptable letter of April 24 on the 24th ultimo, and would have answered it immediately but for the reasons to be afterwards stated. Your letter of 20 February 1823 came to hand on 16 August and was answered on the same day. As to the letter dated 25th of February 1822 sent to Buenos Ayres, it never came into my hand. Your letter of 14 June 1822 inclosed to Mr. Jerauld was received on 4 May in the following year. I have thus noticed all your letters which have of late been sent me, all of which have been received except the one sent to Buenos Ayres. My last letter addressed to your self was written on the 16th August as above-mentioned. Since that time I addressed a letter to Mr. Hughes on the 17th  November last. In this letter  I noticed my intentions of drawing upon your treasurer for £100, which was accordingly done on the same day in favor of Messrs. Cochran and Robertson of this place, and letters of advice were forwarded to Mr. Thornton to that effect. I hope the Society will favour me by honouring the said bill, and by approving of the object for which it was drawn. I look with anxiety for an answer from the Committee to my letter of the 17th of  November as a guide to my future conduct in reference to the concerns of the society.

The Grecian which brought your letter of 24th April, and the cases of New Testaments therein mentioned, arrived at the port of Callao at a very unfavourable time. The garrison in the castles of that place had mutinied some ten days previous to her arrival, and everything there was in confusion. The fortresses and town of Callao were in the hands of the Spaniards, whilst the patriots governed in Lima. Under these circumstances, I thought it most prudent not to land the New Testaments, but to wait some time to see what turn things would take, and for the same reason I deferred writing you. On the 29th ultimo, the Spanish Army took possession of this city; they have continued here since, and seem likely  to do so for some time. From various circumstances, we have been led to believe that the Spanish government will not allow those freedoms which the Patriot government al­lowed, in reference  to the introduction  of books, &c.  In consequence of this, I still considered it hazardous to land the New Testaments, and there­fore kept them on board so long as the Grecian continued  here; and  when she  sailed for Chile, which she did a few days ago, I got them put on board his Majesty's ship Fly, now lying in Callao. I shall thus keep them afloat until I see something like a certainty of landing them safely.   

What I have just said refers only to the 2,500 copies ad­dressed to the care of Mr. Thwaites, as the rest which were addressed to Mr. Lynch  have been carried back to Chile in the Grecian, and are to be delivered there according to instructions given. After being landed in Valparaiso, they will be forwarded to Santiago, the capital, and put into the hands of Mr. Christopher Collis for sale. I have offered the whole to Mr. Collis at 850 dollars, to be paid in one month after receiving them; or should he decline taking them at the rate mentioned, I have desired him to sell them on my account, charging the commission he usually takes. The price I have put upon the New Testaments, when sold one by one, is eight rials each, and when sold in quantities to sell again, at six rials  each. This  you  see will about cover the original cost and expenses if the whole are taken by Mr. Collis, and if he retails them they will bring something more. I think this is a rule that should pretty generally be attended to, and as few as possible given gratis. What I have said, applies to these countries of South America, but other rules may be better elsewhere. I do think it injurious to make a general distribution gratis. Individual copies may be given in this way by a time, but it should be only at times, and when a clear case presents itself. The committee will correct me in this if I am wrong.

I observe your want of communications from Mr. Jerauld and will therefore supply to you this deficiency as far as I can. On the 4th May last I received your letter of 14th June as noticed above, and on the following day I wrote Mr. Jerauld requesting him to forward me as early as possible the whole of the last supply received from you, and which your letter informed me was at my disposal. Some months elapsed without hearing from Mr. Jerauld, and anxious for the supply in question, I forwarded a duplicate of my letter. On the 15th January 1824 I received a letter from him dated on  the 24th  November preceding. At the same time I received three boxes containing 550 Spanish New Testaments in sheep, and 60 in calf extra, with six English New Testaments and one Portuguese. In your want of correspondence with Mr. Jerauld, perhaps it may not be improper to give you a copy of his letter referred to. It is as follows.

"Dear Sir, your  favour (Duplicate) of fifth of May last but a little time since came to hand. I don't know why I never received the original. When the box of Bibles and Testaments came to hand, I was absent from this and did not see the letter of Mr. Ronneberg directing me to supply you with such as you might want until after the Bibles had all been disposed of. Of the Testaments few have been sold, as I have generally had a supply from the North American Bible Society which are distributed gratis.

I think I have not mistaken views of the society in supposing that their object was that they should come as cheap as possible to those who wished them. My object therefore was to prevent speculation upon them, and this has given me the only trouble I have had about them. I had continued applications for the whole parcel and was always offered more than I was selling them for singly. I therefore only sold one to each person, and in such a way that I was almost certain that few if any were resold at an advance. Mr. Collis also applied to me either to buy them or sell them on commission, but as I understood he had been selling them at six or seven dollars each I declined delivering him any, as it was very little trouble for me to sell them out of my store where there would be no charge of commission. The sales which were made of the Bibles, including several taken by Customs House officers, some for which the payment has not been collected, and a few given away will not quite equal the original cost and charges. The difference will be made good to the society if they require it.

The Testaments which remain will be sent you by first convenient opportunity. Should anymore be directed to me here, I shall forward them immediately to you if so permitted, and remain very truly yours."

On the very day that I received the 610 New Testaments from Valparaiso, I received a letter from Truxillo begging most earnestly, and "for God's sake" that I would send to that place with­out delay a supply of the Holy Scriptures. With the writer I am well acquainted, and we had many pleasing interviews during the few weeks I re­mained in that place, in June and July of last year. My friend and correspondent in Truxillo is a medical gentleman and a native of Ireland. He has been long in this quarter of the world, and may be considered rather as a South American, than a native of the British Isles. He is of the Roman Catholic religion, but is free from those prejudices to be found among many of his own communion. He studies the word of God himself, and recommends the study of it most earnestly to all his friends around him. I found him with a single Spanish New Testament of one of your earlier editions. This was to him quite a family piece, and his wife and children take great pleasure in reading it. A copy of the whole Bible in the Spanish language he had not been able to procure at that time, but in the letter referred to, he tells me he had obtained one from a friend who purchased it in Lima at the time of Mr. Lynch's sale.

When we were together in Truxillo, I inculcated upon him strongly the importance of doing everything in his power to make the Word of God have free course and be glorified as far as in him lay. To this he most cheerfully agreed, and indeed was more ready to enter into it than I could be to lay it before him. He told me that he was personally acquainted with most of the Rectors in the various districts throughout the extensive pro­vince of Truxillo, which contains a population of about 300,000 souls. To each of these Rectors he promised to write upon the subject, and was pretty confident that they would, in answer to his letters, request large supplies of the Scriptures. I pro­mised on my part to supply him amply with New Testaments very soon, and with Bibles as soon as I could have a supply from England. Upon my return to Lima, I sent him 50 Spanish New Testa­ments, some of the Annual Reports of the Society, some religious tracts, etc. These were sent under the particular care of a mutual friend, who sailed for Santa, and intended to send them overland to Truxillo. This happened to be at the time of one of our civil, commotions, and when our friend landed at Santa all communication was interrupted between that and Truxillo. From Santa he sailed to Guaya­quil, and not finding a convenient opportunity for sending them back to Truxillo, he sold them there; and wrote our friend to that effect, saying he would account to me for the price of them. This was a great disappointment to Mr. O'Donovan, for that is the name of our fellow-labourer; and to remedy it, he wrote me the letter above mentioned, he urges his claim from the circumstance of the great need there is of the Word of God in that quarter, from his having promised to send copies to his friends, the rectors, agreeably to what was before stated, and from the circumstance of a number of copies of two infidel books which had been just landed from a French ship in that place, and which have done much evil in these Countries.

Often do I think, my dear Sir, and often do I say, that this is a most critical time for South America, in a religious point of view. Their eyes they are beginning to open, and many begin to perceive various things in the religious system of their country which have little to recommend them, and much to discredit them. Religion itself, and the religious system of their country are with them one and the same thing. In objecting to the latter, and at length giving it up, they give up all religion and become – deists. There are many here who have already gone these lengths, and among them are to be found priests and friars. I say then, it is a critical time for this country, and it is the time for benevolence and religion to bestir themselves and to work. Now is the time to apply the healing balm with happy effect, whilst the wounds are just made and fresh. Blessed be God, there is balm in Gilead for such wounds. The balm of that sacred tree which grew up near the mountains of Gilead, and which has been preserved for the healing of the nations, is happily to be found in abundance in your depository. Happy is it for the poor when their richer neighbours are men of compassion, and happy is it for the bleeding nations, that you who have this medicine, this true panacea our men of bleeding hearts, and whose feet run to relieve the afflicted. Men of God! May heaven and pour out its best blessings upon you, in time and in eternity!

I perceive I have made a long digression and have left my good friend of Truxillo without supplying him with that balm we are speaking of. I shall now return to him then, and supply him without delay, or to speak more directly, inform you of having supplied him.Two days after having received his letter, I sent him off 250 copies, in common binding, and ten in calf extra. The patience, however, of our friend has again been put to the trial, for notwith­standing that the box containing this supply was sent down to Callao immediately, yet on account of the confusion in that place, as above mentioned, it only went off a few days ago. I imagine him just now opening it, and satiating his eyes with its sacred contents. In the conclusion of his letter, he says he intends to go from house to house to urge these "ignorant but docile Christians" to receive the treasure offered them. Let us pray that his benevolent arid zealous efforts may be crowned with happy success.

In none of your letters do you mention your having done anything towards distributing the Scriptures in Mexico and Colombia, nor do I see any notice in the reports I have yet read expressive of anything being done. I beg you will particularly notice this matter in your next communication. In Mexico at the present time there is a gentleman to whom you may confide a supply of Scriptures with great confidence. This gentleman is Robert Ponsonby, Staples Esq. connected with the house of Mr. Kinder London I would beg you to send a supply to him unless you are already wil ..... with correspondents in that quarter.

The answer to my letter to Mr. Hughes for which I so anxiously look will I hope be forwarded to this place without delay, and also the duplicate by the very next opportunity. I now also beg leave to trouble you a little further regarding that letter, namely, that you would have the goodness to send a triplicate of it to Mexico to the care of Mr. Staples, who is my very particular friend. The following is my reason for making a request. You know from the preceding statement that we are under Spanish authorities in this place. I wrote to the Spanish general here soon after his arrival in regard to our school matters. I received a favourable reply from him and was encouraged to go on. What however may be the determination of the Viceroy I cannot tell. I have sent off a letter to him to Cuzco where he now resides requesting to know his mind regarding my going to Cuzco as well as respecting the permanency of our system in this city. Should his answer be favourable I shall most probably act as stated in my letter to Mr. Hughes, and if his answer is unfavourable I shall set off immediately for Mexico, taking in those places in my way, a visit to which may contribute to the forwarding of the objects I have in view. Should I go so soon from this, I will leave the translation of the New Testament into the Peruvian language in sure hands, so that it may be printed when instructions are given to that effect. In the course of a week from this date the whole of the New Testament will be translated into the language.

            Yours sincerely,

            J. Thomson.

P.S. I trust you will find it convenient to find an edition of the Apocrypha to accompany your new edition of the Spanish Bible as noticed in my letter of 16 Aug. Perhaps you may do it through your influence with some bookseller, or, failing that, by a private loan among a few friends to be refunded by the sale of the part in question. There is no necessity for the edition being large, as many will buy the Bible without incurring the expense of the Apocrypha, especially as the expense will be disproportionate.  1000 or 2000 may be sufficient for a trial. It should be perfectly uniform with your edition of the Bible. I would reply in answer to your question regarding the Bible in one volume or more, that I think a great part of them should be bound in two volumes, and many of them in three. You can try them each way. J.T.

[1]  BSA-D1-2-A. Also  in James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 123-130.

Quito, 24th November 1824

Rev A Brandram

Quito, 24th November, 1824. [1]

 Dear Sir,

 My last letter to you was written from this place, and dated the 8th  current, the day after my arrival. I then stated to you what had occurred to me from Riobamba until my arrival in this city. I shall now, therefore, proceed to give you an account of the reception your cause has met with in Quito

 When I set out from Guaranda on my way to Riobamba, I left four boxes of New Testaments behind me, partly because I was going out of the straight road for Quito, and partly because mules could not readily be had to carry them. These boxes I left in the hands of my good friend  the Governor, who kindly undertook to forward them direct to this city. Upon my arrival here, I found that these boxes had not arrived, although there was more than sufficient time. I waited for them with some impatience, especially as I had disposed of the contents of those I had brought with me, so that there remained  none in my hands for sale in this place. During this delay of the New Testaments I had many inquiries for them, as it had got abroad that I had brought with me a good supply for this city. At length a part arrived, when I learned that the delay was owing to the owner of the mules.  I gave notice publicly of the sale, as I had done in other places, and in a short time all  were sold, amounting to 137 copies.  After these were all gone, the inquiries after them continued, and I had to put off the inquirers, with telling them that there were two more boxes expected every minute. Day passed on after day without the arrival of these, until I was beginning a second time to think them lost.

 Yesterday  afternoon, however, they safely arrived, and as soon as they were opened 80 copies were paid for and carried off by a highly respected clergyman. Fifty of these were for the use of the schools here, and were purchased on account of the government, agreeably to an order given to that effect some days previous to their arrival. Twenty-five of the 80 were purchased at the request of the  Provincial of the Convent of St. Francis, for the  express purpose of putting a copy into the hands of each friar in the convent.  I noticed in my last the triumph of our cause in the convent of St. Dominic, in Latacunga, and it affords me no small pleasure to be able to record what I may call a triumph of a similar kind, as just mentioned, regarding the Franciscans in this city. To which I may add, that the respected clergyman I before referred to, has orders from, I believe, all the con­vents to purchase one, two, or more Bibles for them on the  moment of their arrival. The  remaining five of the above mentioned eighty were for par­ticular friends.

 I have noticed to you, in my preceding letters, the desire manifested in the places I have passed
through, for the whole Bible. This desire has also been manifested in Quito, and in a strong degree. In order to increase this desire, rather than supply the wants of these places, I have written to Guaya­quil, directing the 50 Bibles which I formerly ordered from Lima to that place, to be sent to these parts, in due proportions; only ten or twelve of these will come to this place, and these are already bespoken. I have also ordered to be sent to the different towns mentioned in my former letters, a considerable number of copies of the small New Testament, and of the Books of Psalms, Proverbs, &c.; the proportion for Quito is 200 of the former, and 200 of the latter; these I expect will meet with a very favourable reception, and will fall short of the demand for them. I have thus, you see, distributed the whole of the supply sent me as mentioned in your last letter, yet this supply, so distributed, will prove inadequate to the wants and the demands of these quarters.

 To meet this demand, we must have recourse to your second edition of the Bible, of which you have advised me, and of which I expect a good supply is already on the way to Lima, in that city, and also in Guayaquil, I have given the necessary directions for sending proper quantities to each place. The city of Quito is large, and contains upwards of 50,000 inhabitants. It is also surrounded by a populous country, of which it is the capital and the centre. On this account I have ordered to it 500 copies of the whole Bible, with a request to our correspondent in Guayaquil to remit 500 more, if the wants of the latter place will admit of it. I have mentioned to you the names of different per­sons who offered to manage your concerns in some of the places I have passed through, and I am happy in having it in my power to say, that you have found a warm friend and an agent here in the Marquis of San José, a gentleman of the first respectability in this city, on account of his personal character, and on account of his large possessions in this quarter.

 From this gentleman I have received every friendly attention during my stay under his hospitable roof. He allowed me to sell the New Testaments in his own house, and encouraged his friends to purchase them. In consequence of his readiness to take the charge of the Society's con­cerns here, I have ordered the supplies for Quito, already mentioned, to be forwarded directly to him. You will also please consider him as your correspondent for this quarter, and can address to him accordingly. His address is "Sr. Manuel de Larrea, Marqués de San José, Quito." I spoke to this gentleman, also, regarding the formation of a Bible Society for the district of Quito, whose seat should be in that city. Into this matter he entered fully and cheerfully, and promised to do everything in his power to commence and to carry for­ward such an establishment, as soon as a suitable opportunity should offer for doing so. I spoke also to the Marchioness regarding a Female Bible Society, and had the pleasure of being assured by her, that nothing should be wanting on her part to set such a Society on foot. I have thus endeavoured to place things in such a state as to induce the hope that the concerns of the Bible Society will not be neglected here, but carried forward in a prosperous manner.

 I should have mentioned also, that several gentlemen, with whom I con­versed about the circulation of the Scriptures, and about a Bible Society, much approved of both, and expressed their readiness to lend their aid in these matters. I trust these favourable circum­stances, which form an encouraging commencement in this interesting and populous district, will be followed by results truly beneficial to all the inhabitants here, and gratifying to the members of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

 There is a circumstance indirectly, or rather I should say directly, connected with our main object, which I should not omit to state to you. I carried with me two copies of the late Bishop of London’s Evidences of Christianity, in Spanish. These I bought in Lima about the time I set off, in the expectation of their doing some good in the course of the journey. I showed this work to the Marquis, who immediately bought it. This he eagerly read, and was highly gratified with its contents. I could have sold the other copy frequently, but refused to sell it, as I intend to carry it farther on, and to dispose of it in some other place. The Marquis lent his copy to several of his friends, who were also much gratified with perusing it. From less to more, the interest in this work was carried, till it was resolved to print an edition of it in Quito by subscription, and this subscription is to be solely among the ladies. This, you see, is a feeling very friendly to the cause of religion, and of the Bible Society.

 I suppose I need not to tell you, that a work on the evidences of the Christian religion is not a little wanted in many parts in this country, as there are many who are verging towards, or are already gone into, deism. On this account, as well as on others, it behoves the friends of Christianity to bestir themselves in behalf of South America. The present is a very interesting and also a very critical period for this country. Much, very much, may be done at present, through prudent and zealous means, to instruct and confirm the wavering, and even perhaps to bring back those who have aposta­tized from the faith. If these measures were con­nected with means of instruction, as far as can be done, regarding the true principles and practices of Christianity, as taught in the Holy Scriptures, a very plentiful harvest, through the blessing of God, might be reaped. If it should please the Lord to spare me, and to enable me to reach my native land, I trust I shall find many ready to lend their aid towards such a sacred object.

 I stated in one of my letters from Lima some time ago the printing of the Apocrypha, that though it could not be done by the funds of the Society, yet that some bookseller friend of the Bible cause might print it, in order to its being sold with the Bible. I mentioned also at the same time that no loss would be incurred in doing this. I am now bold to speak more positively as to the matter from comments I have met with in the sale of the Scriptures. From the great demand there is for the Bible, I am certain that no loss would be incurred in printing an Apocrypha. On the contrary a profit, if wished might come from this undertaking. It is probable that the arguments I formerly made to this matter may not have been sufficient to produce an edition of the Apocrypha. If so I trust what has now been stated in connection with the accounts formerly given of the desire for the Bible, will lead, in one way or another to the accomplishing of this matter. What a pity it would be to check in any manner zeal and interest at present felt here by anything which we have it in our power to prevent.

 I come now to speak upon the subject which I would much rather decline, but which duty calls me to lay before you, I come in short to blame the Society, and the cause of complaint is this. A considerable number of the copies of the New Testaments sent me in the Spanish language have a sheet or half a sheet in French. This has been the means of placing me repeatedly in very awkward circumstances. After selling a copy for a Spanish New Testament, it has been brought back on account of this defect. The first time this occurred was in Ambato, and it did not surprise me that such an accident should have happened with one copy among so many. In Latacunga two or three were observed with a similar defect. Upon examining the rest of in my possession, I found the number of copies in this situation considerable. I was hence under the necessity of the noticing this circumstance to the purchasers and in some cases of giving an allowance accordingly. It is only in the Paris edition that I have observed this defect. I hope this matter will be well looked into in what copies you may send in future. It is a matter for which the Bible Society is responsible, and no saving should be thought of which may incur the risk of such an oversight in the binding of the volumes which issue from its stores. You will easily perceive that the evil does not stop with the copies I referred to, as an equal number of French New Testaments must of necessity be interleaved with Spanish. I know you will forgive the freedom of these remarks. We are all engaged in the same holy cause and have only one desire, namely, that the word of God may have free course and be glorified. Let us therefore ....., and in love stir up each other, that nothing arise which would hinder or retard this blessed ...... which the Lord has graciously called us to labour.

 26th  November, 1824.

 I have now disposed of 300 copies of the New Testament in this city. May the Lord follow with his abundant blessing this seed which has been sown, and cause it to bring forth a hundred fold. Today I set off for Popayan, and trust that He who has preserved me thus far, will con­tinue to me his blessing to that place, and thence onwards. I shall endeavour to drop a few seeds as I go along, and pray that these may fall into good ground.

                         I remain,

                                    Very respectfully & sincerely Yours,

                                                            James Thomson.

 [1] BSA-D1-2A. Also in James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 223-230.

San Luis Potosí, 8th January 1828

The Rev A Brandram  No.16

San Luis Potosí 8th January 1828

My Dear Sir,

In my last which was from the Zacatecas, I mentioned my intention of setting out immediately for this city. I set out accordingly on 29th December on finishing the sale in Zacatecas. As I was entirely unacquainted with the road, a guide was of course necessary. I found some difficulty in getting one in Zacatecas, and was directed to a small village five leagues onward where I was told I should most probably find a steady man to go with me. I made the best of my way therefore to this village and arrived at about noon. Here I found a person well acquainted with the road, and who was recommended to me as very steady. I engaged him to go with me to San Luis, and we set out without delay. Just as it grew dark we reached the place called the village, but which is little entitled to the name, there being only a few miserable houses in it, the inhabitants of which seem to have little to do and as little to live upon. The food supply to us in the small inn where we stopped was of the very commonest kind, and corresponded with the poverty of the place.

Next morning the guide I mentioned gave me the unpleasant intelligence that he would be unable to accompany me farther, as his horse had got injured on the preceding day, and was thereby unfitted for going through the rest of the journey. He himself was very sorry likewise at this accident, as he hoped by this journey to have gained a small supply for himself and family. After a good deal of trouble and delay I found one who would go with me, but he sought so much, taking advantage of the circumstances I was in, that I refused to engage him. I set out therefore accompanied by the servant who came with me from Mexico, but who was, like myself, a total stranger to the road. I had hoped we should get on by asking of this one and that one by the way, as we had once or twice done on former occasions. After we had been an hour or two on the road, I found by my pocket compass that we were going too much to the south for San Luis. I caused therefore the servant and the two loaded mules to stop till I should cross the plain for a little to see if I could hit again upon the road from which we must have deviated. After more than half an hour's search I could find no road, and returned, thinking perhaps that our only plan would be to return to the village we had left. To add to my uneasiness in this predicament my own horse which had been ill the preceding day, afternoon grew worse and quite unfit to stand out the day's journey.

When I returned to the servant I was agreeably surprised by his telling me, that since I had left in a man had passed by and had pointed out to him where the road lay, and had also shown him a few huts about a mile off where we might perhaps find a guide to go with us. To these huts we directed our course, and when we arrived there my horse was completely done up. These huts were by the side of the lake, through the midst of which we passed on dry ground owing to the great drought which has prevailed there for a long period. The huts were inhabited by the keeper of the lake and the few who aided him in the collecting the salt found there in the proper season. As this dry season was not harvest time there, the keeper of the lake agreed to accompany us to the next town which was 36 miles off, he also gave me a horse for myself. Whilst he was getting his horses ready, his wife prepared us a little mutton roasted on the coals and some bread made from the Indian corn, which formed a most grateful repast after the very poor fare of our last lodging.

A little after one o'clock we were ready to set out. We traveled at a good pace the rest of the day, and soon after the stars appeared we arrived at a small village. During the whole of these 36 miles we only once met some people on the road. Here our guide was to leave us, and our first care on arrival was to provide ourselves with another guide and a hired horse besides. No guide however nor hired horse was to be found in the village. We were thus again in perplexity, but our former guide relieved us by saying he would accompany us another day. Next day we set out and traveled a lonely road, without meeting a single individual to relieve its tediousness. In the afternoon we reached another small village, and endeavored there as in the last to obtain a horse to hire and guide to accompany us. But here as on the night preceding we were completely unsuccessful. The good man who had guided us for two days again relieved us by saying he would go with us next day also. He went with us accordingly, and thus brought us within a day's journey of San Luis, and to a spot where we succeeded in obtaining all we wanted for the following day. I shall not soon forget the guide who lives by the Salt Lake, and who accompanied me so obligingly for three successive days when no other aid was to be found. His so accompanying me was doubly pleasing, as I was under the necessity of being in San Luis by a certain date to deliver to the owner the two mules which went with us, and the detention of them for a day would have been a serious inconvenience and loss to him. On the 2nd current I arrived here, and found the owner of the mules at the inn, already mounted and his mules with him ready to set out for Mexico. I was just therefore in time for him and nothing more. To return to the obliging guide, should your agent in his journeyings over again pass by the Salt Lake, he intends to present this individual was a Bible, and to believes he will have your full approbation in doing so.

I have troubled you with this detail of some of my grievances, and of the happy exit which they had, because I know you wish thus to be present with me and to share in my joys and my sorrows; and every friend that I meet with by the way, finds I am sure a place in your feelings of regard, and I hope in your prayers. May the Lord reward the individual I have referred to, and may the holy Scriptures reach him in due time, and prove to him and to his family and everlasting blessing.

I must carry you back for a few moments to the road and the country over which I have just passed. It is waste and almost without inhabitant. Our road did not lie over mountains, but through extensive and beautiful plains, with insulated mountains here and there always in view. It was the very depth of winter, as you perceive, when I passed, and yet nothing could exceed the delightfulness of the weather. We had a clear unclouded sky, the heat of the sun in his greatest altitude was not in the least inconvenient but agreeably warm, while the gentle zephyrs sweetly refreshed us as we moved along. I could not help contrasting this climate with yours at the same season, and could not but see the superior advantages in this respect which we enjoy over you. But then, your spiritual climate! – And ours! There, my Friend, the hand of God has been liberal to you. Rejoice in his goodness, and pray for our wilderness, that it may yet, and ere long, blossom as the rose.

Allow me to detain you just one moment longer on this road. A new year has commenced since I last wrote you. It was whilst I was on this road the old year gave place to the new. This point of time is always to the Christian time of serious thought, of confessions, meditations, and supplications. The place where I passed the night which joins the old year and the new was peculiarly favourable to these feelings. It was a small village called "The Holy Spirit". The reposing my body and a place called by this name reminded me forcibly on such an occasion of dwelling in the Holy Spirit, and that again of walking in the Spirit through the year just commencing. I felt very comfortable under these circumstances, though in the midst of a desert country, and among strangers in a foreign land. But where God is, there is all. Pray ever for me, My Dear Friend, pray especially that I may ever dwell in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit. I will pray for you and return, and for the same blessing. God has honoured us with great honour in employing us to circulate his holy word. But if we dwell not in the Spirit, and walk not in the Spirit, all these honours here will hereafter turn against us. Let us therefore stir one another up to holiness of heart and of life, and to zeal in our holy calling.

On the 2nd January I arrived in the city. I had sent on before me six cases of Bibles and Testaments, and these I found safely here when I came. From Mexico I brought a letter of introduction to a person here who deals a good deal in books. I had sent forward the cases to this individual along with my letter of introduction. On the evening of my arrival I called on him, and found him very friendly to my objects, and most willing to enter into any arrangements to forward the sale of the Scriptures. To this he added a kind invitation but I would live in his house during my stay in city. I am not very ready in accepting of such invitations at first offer, because there is a great deal of Spanish compliment current in the country, and which ends, as it is intended it should, in nothing. This gentleman however showed his sincerity by repeatedly urging me to come to his house. I came accordingly and have lodged with him since the day after my arrival here, receiving the kindest attention from himself and family. After having so taken up my lodging I delivered another letter of introduction to a gentleman of the law, and from him I had a similar invitation to dwell with him. I told him how I was already lodged, and that therefore I should not be able to accept his kindness. He then desired me when I should return to the city to be sure to come straight to his house, and to make it my home during my stay. These two are the only invitations of this kind I have met with on the journey, excepting of course the kindness of Mr. Hurry in Guanajuato, as formerly mentioned to you.

I had a letter of introduction to the Commissary General of the army in this quarter. In that letter the object of the Bible Society was stated, and also my connexion with you. I was much pleased to see the interest he took in the circulation of the Scriptures. It is in this class of inhabitants of this country, I mean the military, that Deism has made its deepest inroads. I was therefore truly gratified to find this gentleman not only on the side of the Bible, but also expressing and earnest desire for it circulation, and anticipating the good effects that would follow. In thinking of this I am reminded of what I omitted to mention in my letter from Querétaro. When there, one evening after the sale was over, two military officers came to get Bibles. Whilst they were in my room, and the Bibles were sent for, I said a few words to them respecting the importance of the world to come over the present scene, and respecting the Bible as the guide to eternal life. The serious matter in which they listened and assented to what was said, and the cheerfulness with which they received their Bibles, was very agreeable, and the more so from what I have mentioned above with regard to the military of this country.

The sale here was begun in the shop of the individual whom I have mentioned and in whose house I live, and it is now continued for five days. Here however, as in Zacatecas, I wish to have a permanent sale, and I have given notice accordingly. This is a place of considerable trade from its connexion with the port of Tampico. Many merchants come from Saltillo and from other parts of the interior to buy goods here. The person above mentioned has a good deal of intercourse with the interior parts in this way. He has himself visited several of them, and is in the constant practice of sending books and other goods to these quarters. I have therefore made arrangements with him for keeping up a sale here, and for supplying the interior towns with the Scriptures. In my last letter I said I intended to expend for cases in San Luis, and to carry only two remaining to Guanajuato. Upon asking our friend here what quantity he thought would be necessary for sending to the interior parts of the country. After making his calculation as to what would be required in this and that place, he said that he thought four cases would be needed for sending to these places. This left only two for San Luis, the greater part of which have been disposed of during these five days of our sale. In consequence of this, I give up my intention of carrying any of the cases to Guanajuato, and to leave the whole here for sale in this city, or for sending into the country as circumstances may direct. This arrangement brings to a close the distribution of the 28 cases of Bibles and Testaments with which I set out from Mexico about three months ago. I leave this city therefore tomorrow morning, and without going by Guanajuato, which would take me three days journey about, I go direct to Mexico when I expect to arrive in about ten days.

I have sold here 85 Bibles and 77 New Testaments, and have received 300 dollars and four rials. I expected to sell more here from the size of the place, but as the sale is to be continued a greater distribution will be made. We have got some priests here who I believe are rather inimical to the reading of the Scriptures by the people in general. Two copies of the Bible were bought by two students in the college. These were afterwards returned in consequence of the Rector of the College, who is a priest, having said to those who bought them, that these books were not allowed to be read in the college. The Rector in this district is also I understand opposed to the general reading of the Scriptures. Over these and similar difficulties, time with the advance of knowledge will triumph in due season. When we look to the past and present, a great change has already taken place, and greater changes will I trust follow, and year after year will record them.

As a counterpart to the opposition referred to, I should mention, that a Friar was first the first purchaser of a Bible in this place. He lives some 60 miles from this, and has already set out for his place of residence. I said to him when he was about to go, that I hoped the Bible he took with him, would lead many others to wish for the same treasure. He said he hoped it would have that effect, and added, that he would have a pleasure in directing people where they might purchase for themselves. Several other priests also have bought Bibles here in the course of the sale. Thus you see, in almost every case where we have discouragements, we have also some little circumstances to animate us to perseverance in circulating the Holy Scriptures in this land; and taking together all the circumstances which occurred in regard to this matter, I am always more surprised of the freedom and encouragement we enjoyed, then up the discouragements and partial opposition which we meet with. May the Lord prosper us more and more, and blessed this land through our instrumentality.

I have in this city received Mr. Jackson's letter of 19th October acknowledging receipt of my letter of 27th July. I am glad of this notice, as this is the letter in which I requested you to send me 1000 Bibles and 1000 New Testaments. These therefore I think may be expected before long, and I hope to see them in circulation before many months elapse. I intend to distribute these in the parts to the east of the city of Mexico. A fresh supply will be required for the quarters I have visited on this journey, and for this I now apply to you. It will be desirable to send this supply to Tampico and not to Vera Cruz, as this will save a good deal of expense in the carriage. You can consign these to Watson Davidson & Co. of that place, as I have already spoken with one of the partners of that house upon the subject. The quantity I wish is 1000 8vo Bibles, 1000 8vo New Testaments, 100 Four Books, and 1000 Luke & Acts, all in common bindings. To these add 60 Bibles of the same size bound in calf extra, and 40 in Morocco gilt. Of these 40 I could wish 10 done in a superior style, by putting gold ornaments on the back and sides, as the taste of this country runs in that way, and I have been sometimes ask for Bibles so done up.

Till my next, which will probably be from Mexico, I bid you Adieu, remaining is always,

                                                Very Truly Yours,

                                                            James Thomson.

Orizaba, 14th May 1828

The Rev A Brandram  No.21

Orizaba 14th May 1828

My Dear Sir,

I have again the pleasure of writing you and of reporting what progress your work is making in this quarter. My last letter was dated the 23rd of April from Jalapa. I then informed you that my object on the present journey is somewhat different from the plan I pursued on the last. I then held a sale for a few days in the different places I stopped in, but on this journey my object is to find out suitable persons to whom I might entrust the sale of the Scriptures. I intimated to you at the close of the last journey that this was the plan I wish to adopt, but instead of there being held in the large towns here and there throughout this country, a sale for a few days only and once in a year, there might be a continued sale of the Scriptures in all these places all the year round. I made arrangements in Jalapa according to this plan. From the scarcity of mules, there was a considerable delay in forwarding the books from Veracruz to Jalapa, so that though I expected them there before I reached the place, they did not even arrive during the twelve days I remained there. As the season was so far advanced, and the period of the heavy rains so near, I was anxious to move onwards, fearing I might be prevented from reaching Oajaca, a place I very much wish to visit on this tour. I thought it best therefore to leave Jalapa and to proceed on my journey although the Bibles had not arrived, having previously entrusted to a confidential person, the receiving of them at the Custom House, the delivering of the cases for sale to the person engaged with for that purpose, and the forwarding of the rest to Orizaba. The gentleman who was so kind as undertake this concern, and to otherwise was very serviceable to me in Jalapa, is a member of the Congress of the State of Veracruz.

I left Jalapa on 30 April, and arrived in this place on Saturday the 3rd current. On Monday I delivered my letters of introduction, and was gratified to find the favourable reception I met with as the agent of your Society. I had a good deal of conversation with some persons of note here regarding the circulation of the Scriptures in this country at the present critical period, and I was pleased to find them of the same mind with me upon the subject. In one of our interviews, one of the gentlemen stated how desirable it would be to have a little Bible Society in Orizaba, which might lend its aid to promote the circulation and study of the Scriptures in this place, and throughout the department of which this is the capital. This you may be sure was to me a gratifying proposal. To have had the prospect of seeing the Society formed at my suggestion would have been very agreeable, but the gratification was much more in seeing the matter originate with an individual a native of the place, and a person of influence in it. This gentleman mentioned at the time that the Vicar of Orizaba was a liberal man and that he had no doubt but he would enter readily into the object and would forwarded all he could. He offered to introduce me to the Vicar that we might together mention to him the object in view. I went with him, and was much pleased to hear the Vicar declare his readiness to accede to any plan of this kind which might tend to promote the genuine study of the Scriptures. After several conversations upon the subject, arrangements were made for holding a small meeting of the friends of the object in order to consult what was best to be done for verifying the plan in view. A meeting was accordingly held this morning in the house of the Prefect of the Department, at which the Prefect himself attended and entered into the plan promising all his aid. The Vicar was there, the gentleman before mentioned, and a few others who had been invited. All passed on agreeably at the meeting. The object was stated, and discussed. I presented a few rules pointing out, the object, the plan, and the regulations of the intended society.

The Apocrypha difficulties I got rid of by stating at the outset that the Bible Society to be formed in Orizaba is to be an auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. At the close of our meeting, I mentioned to the Vicar how desirable it would be and how useful for the object in question, if he should use his sacerdotal influence in recommending and enforcing the study of the Scriptures by preaching from the pulpit upon the subject. His reply was, that all I have just said to him to induce him to do this were words used to no purpose, because he was already and previously fully determined to do everything I had stated, and to lose no opportunity in promoting this sacred object. Thus his answer proved, though in the first clause of it discouraging, yet in the second doubly gratifying. There is great importance to be attached to the having the Vicar or Rector of any place fully on your side. His influence is great over the people as to what he recommends or forbids. If he is for you, the circulation of the Scriptures will be greatly promoted, and if he is against you your success will be greatly retarded.

I do not forget in this, that if God be for us, no one can be against us. This is a consoling truth in prosperous and in adverse times. If the cause of God is our pursuit we shall most undoubtedly prevail sooner or later. At the same time the Scriptures point out to us the secondary influence of men and of circumstances as to success in particular times and places. We know, moreover, for our comfort, that the hearts of all men are in the hands of the Lord, and that he can turn them to what purpose he will. With this overruling influence over men and circumstances in view, let us ever give thanks unto the Lord when men and things are on our side, assured that the Lord hath rendered them so. And on the other hand when men and circumstances oppose us, let us lift up our hearts and our voices unto heaven that a heavenly influence turn these in our favour. Thus in times of success and in times of discouragement our eyes and our hearts shall be on the Lord. This surely is the will of God concerning us, and our work. Let  us therefore ever keep it in view, and in doing so, whilst we are watering the world with word of God, we ourselves shall be abundantly watered by the Holy Spirit, we shall live in peace and joy here below wherever we may reside or wander, and we shall rejoice in the prospect of closing our journey of life by entering into the joy of our Lord.

The person's name to whom I have referred as proposing the formation of the Society is Don Joaquin Pesado, and I have pleasure in recording it. Another gentleman whose name is Don Manuel Arguelles, deserves to be associated with the person above named, as being present when the proposal was made for the Society, and is taking an equal interest in its establishment. These two individuals enter I think con amore into this matter, and they assured me that I might be fully satisfied that they would use every means in my absence for carrying forward what was thus begun. You have heard me speak at different times of the danger and the frequency of passing in this country from superstition to Deism. These two individuals have passed from superstition, and through the grace of God, have been detained at the proper place – in search of the truth, and of true religion in the Holy Scriptures. The Lord grant that they may indeed find the pearl of great price which this book contains, and that they may be made truly wise unto salvation. I have had real gratification in conversing with the two persons mentioned on the above and on general topics relating to the propagation of knowledge in this country, and I do not think I have met with any other two in Mexico who have gratified me so much upon the subject in question. We are, as you may suppose, to correspond upon these matters.

On the 10th current, the Bibles arrived here, having been attentively forwarded by the gentleman in Jalapa whom I mentioned to you. They were immediately carried from the Custom House to the shop of a person who had been strongly recommended to me as ready to render his services in promoting their circulation, and the sale was forthwith begun, the advertisements being posted up as usual. During the days of the sale now elapsed the purchasers have been numerous as might have been expected, and all, thus far, promises well. Four cases containing about equal proportions of Bibles and Testaments are what I have allotted for this place, and for the neighbouring towns. The principal of these towns Chalchicomula and Córdova. The latter of these I visited, the distance from this being only five leagues. I had a letter from Mexico to the person who is at present sub-prefect of the Canton of which Córdova is the capital. I mentioned to him that I intended to remit some Bibles and Testaments to the place, he said he would take charge of them, and would place them for sale in a public place, and with a person of all confidence. I have two other letters for that place, and found individuals to whom I was thus introduced kind and obliging. The charge of forwarding copies of the Scriptures to these two towns and to the others around of less note I leave in the hands of Mr. Pesado and Mr. Arguelles. They have already written to the priests in some of these places, and intend to seize the first conveyance for remitting to them a few copies of the Scriptures to make commencement with.

To get the New Testament introduced into the schools of this country, you are aware, is an object of great importance. I am happy to inform you that this is desirable object has been accomplished in this place. Mr. Pesado spoke to the magistrates upon the subject, and received an order from them to purchase fifty New Testaments for the public schools of Orizaba. To encourage this introduction of the Scriptures into the schools, I reduced on this occasion the price of each copy from six to four rials, thus using the discretionary power you have placed in my hands. This reduction may lead the directors of schools in the places around to seize the opportunity of supplying the children school with so cheap and so useful a book, and should application being made for reducing the price as above, I shall consider myself as following your instructions in acceding to them.

I mentioned in my last the withdrawing of my former application respecting an edition of a Spanish Bible with marginal references. I was led to do so from the difficulties you would encounter in regard to the individual references you should place on the margin. In the Vulgate and in the Bibles printed in Spain with references, there are no doubt passages referred to which you would consider catholic references. These you would not like to give, and to give on the other hand protestant references would be to interfere in the matter of doctrine in which as a Society you professed not to intermeddle, and in giving such references you would also unhinge and perhaps destroy all confidence in your Society in this country. By the bye, I cannot help thinking that your wish signified in one of your late letters regarding the conforming of new translations to be made in this country to the English our protestant editions, is the signification of a wish to break through this rule you have laid down to yourselves in regard to not interfering with the faith or doctrine of any church. I add this in addition to the other arguments used in my last letter from Mexico for your not interfering in this matter regarding the translations referred to.

I repeat what I noticed in my last, that I feel truly grateful to you for your readily exceeding to my request for the edition of the New Testament in pica type. Please let me know as early as you can when you may have this edition ready for remittance to this country. I feel a strong desire to press you anew for the addition of the two epistles of Peter to the volume containing Luke and Acts. There is surely nothing Catholic or Apocryphal in these two epistles, and why then should you refuse them, when the expense would be almost nothing additional, and when the advantages would be greatly additional. I thus conclude this letter urging again my request, and I may perhaps, like a certain person upon a certain subject in days of yore, conclude all my letters with this request until I be so fortunate as to gain my object.

            I have only to say in closing that I am,

                        Most Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

P.S. In the for shipment of Bibles, etc. which came into my hands here, and also in the second, I observed that the nails holding the iron bands of the cases, pass in very many instances into the books and considerably injure them. I am sorry to observe that the same is the case in the shipment now in my hands. It needs no great judgment to see that the nails fixing on these bands should not be longer than the thickness of the boards of which the boxes made. Please attend to this.

N.B. By cutting up this shut at the top, and using the inner sheet first you will find the pages in order.