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, 2nd December 1822

Lima, 2nd December, 1822.[1]

Some weeks ago a Committee of the Congress was entrusted to draw up the outlines of a political constitution for the country. This has been accom­plished, has been presented to Congress, and ordered to be printed. The Congress is just now engaged in discussing it, article by article. A good deal of interest is thus excited and kept up regar­ding the subject, and, in consequence, the Congress-hall is daily well attended by all classes. The discussion of the article on the form of government, and that on religion, have excited the most at­tention. The form of government has been unani­mously declared to be republican, agreeably to what I hinted to you in one of my late letters.—In "the outlines," the article on religion runs thus: "The religion of the state is the Catholic Apos­tolic Church of Rome." One of the members of the committee wished to add the word only or exclusive, but the rest not agreeing to it, he entered his pro­test. On this account, as well as from the general interest of the subject, the matter was keenly dis­cussed. I went, as you may well suppose, to hear what should be said on both sides, and to see the result.

The first who ascended the tribune to speak was a clergyman, carrying in his hand a book about the size of a New Testament. He began by stating, that it was his sincere desire that all men might be of the Roman Catholic church. He then stated that the only proper way, in his opinion, of bringing men into the church was, not by force, nor by persecution in any shape, but solely by persuasion, by the force of reason. After speaking a few minutes to this effect, he went on to treat of the article as stated in the "outlines." He regretted the divisions among Christians, and the distinctive names one body and another had taken.  He then opened the book he had in his hand, which I now found to be one of the Bible Society's New Testaments, in Spanish. He read the 12th and 13th verses of the first chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians, and proceeded to make some remarks upon the passage, and to apply it to the article in question. It appeared to him, he said, very like the divisions censured by the Apostle Paul, to see the article stated in the words, Roman, Catholic, Apostolic. Having done this, he proposed that the article should be stated in this manner:— "The religion of Jesus Christ, is the religion of the state." He then made some observations upon the propriety of stating it in this way, in preference to the way in which it stands in the outlines, and so concluded. As might have been expected, this alteration or amendment was opposed. My me­mory is not so faithful as to give you the various speeches upon the subject, but a great deal was said on both sides of the question. In particular, the member of the Committee who had protested, defended what he had done in a long speech, in which he paid but little respect and fewer compli­ments to us foreigners. He concluded his long story by saying, that he was so full of matter upon this subject, and felt so much interest in it, that he could still speak four whole days upon it. Another speaker got up with a volume of the Bible in his hand. He turned to two passages in the law of Moses, where the children of Israel were admonished to look kindly towards strangers and foreigners, and concluded by a short comment upon the passages in reference to the subject in hand.

 In a country like this, where all the natives are of the Roman Catholic Church, everything that is said upon toleration has a direct reference to foreigners, for it is never for a moment supposed that any of the natives will leave the Roman Ca­tholic Church to become Protestants. The introduction of foreigners into the country, and the consequent advantages and disadvantages of it, entered deeply into the debate. I shall refer only to one speech more upon the subject. An aged member, and a clergyman, rose up and said, "Gen­tlemen, this is the first time I have risen to speak in this house, and it is not my intention to detain you long. I understand," said he, "that the grand and principal features of our religion are these two: —To love the Lord with all our heart and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves. We must then take care," continued he,  "that our zeal for the first of these two commandments does not make us overlook the second. Now I ask, whether for­eigners residing among us are to be considered our neighbours or not. If they are, then we ought to love them. Gentlemen, I have nothing farther to add." After being fully discussed, the votes were taken. First, whether the article should stand as stated in the outlines, or be altered. It was carried that it should remain as stated. The next question was, if the word exclusive should be added, and it was unfortunately carried in the af­firmative. The article now stands thus:—"The Roman Catholic Apostolic Religion is the religion of the state, and the exercise of every other is ex­cluded."        

We are not to be surprised that the matter has ended in this manner; perhaps we should rather
wonder that there was any one of the members of the Congress disposed to speak, or even to think on the side of toleration. The members who are friendly to religious liberty, may amount to one third of the whole, or, perhaps, somewhat more than one third, and they are men of influence and respect in the country. Those made a less vigorous stand for toleration at the present time, from the consideration that what is done now in regard to the sanctioning of the basis of the constitution, is only provisional. The Spaniards, at present, pos­sess many of the best provinces of Peru, and these provinces have, strictly speaking, no representatives in the Congress. The manner of proceeding, in reference to these provinces, was this:―The natives of each province, residing in Lima, met and chose members from among themselves to  represent the province, until such time as the enemy be dislodged, and they have freedom to choose their own repre­sentatives. As soon then as the country is free, the present Congress will dissolve itself, and a ge­neral Congress will be immediately elected, and the outlines now under consideration will ho presented to the new Congress to be examined, and, if judged necessary, altered. There is, therefore, still some hope, that toleration may have a place in the Peru­vian constitution. During the interval, the press may forward the good cause, as there is perfect freedom for speaking and printing anything upon the subject, on both sides of the question. We may, indeed, call this freedom of speaking and writing upon the subject, a kind of toleration; at all events, it is a prelude to it.

Pamphlets of every shape, size and name, are issued from the press. In these every subject is handled, and abuses and prejudices are attacked with freedom and courage. The poor friars are not overlooked in these; almost everybody is against them, and none seems to rise up in their defense. One of the members of Congress has made a motion for the reformation of the Convents. The bill he is about to bring in, contains four arti­cles. The first is to allow all those to leave the Convents who wish to do so. The second is to allow no one in future to become a friar. The third is, that the government should take possession of all their property, and allow them out of it what is necessary for their support. The fourth article is, to make them all live in one convent, in­stead of occupying  fourteen, as they now do. This you see is a bold proposition, and, if carried into effect, will be a great step in reformation.

At the time the article on religion was under consideration, a certain individual went about with a paper containing a petition to Congress, praying that the "Roman Catholic religion might be the religion of the state, and the only one tolerated in the country". The last part of the petition was the object he had in view. He obtained a number of signatures to the petition, and without loss of time laid it before the Congress. It was, however, not allowed to be read, and several were for calling this individual to account for his officiousness. This medical gentleman (for he is of that pro­fession) has been sadly handled in the pamphlets of the day for this conduct; so much so, I think, as to keep him from being forward to engage a second time in such an undertaking; I have al­ready mentioned how freely all matters are dis­cussed in these pamphlets. One of them has just begun to give a history of the Popes. From the spe­cimens already published, this history promises not to be very honourable to the personal character of the Popes, neither does it appear intended to strengthen their pontifical authority and influence, but quite the contrary. There was a monthly magazine pub­lished in London, during the despotic reign of the present Ferdinand. In this work there was given a history of the Popes, and I believe what is pub­lishing here just now is copied from the work I have mentioned. This magazine was called El Español Constitucional. It was written by one of those who had fled from Ferdinand's despotic hands. He was a liberal man, and writing in London he felt himself under no restraint in speaking of the abuses of the Church of Rome. There was another periodical work in the Spanish language, published some years before it,  called El Español. This was also printed in London, and was written with the same liberality and spirit. Both these works have reached South America, and have been a good deal read; and, as you may suppose, they have served considerably to enlighten the people of these countries.

I have mentioned, in some of my late letters, the very gratifying circumstance of the rapid sale in this city of 500 Spanish Bibles, and 500 New Testaments. These were all sold off  in two days, and as many more could have been sold in the two days following, but there were no more, and thus many were disappointed. From this cheering cir­cumstance, I am daily looking with great anxiety for a considerable number of both Bibles and Testaments, expected from the Bible Society. The above-mentioned circumstance is truly encouraging, as no desire at all comparable to it, has yet been manifested in any other part of South America for the Holy Scriptures. From this, and some other occurrences, I am led to anticipate that the word of God will, indeed, have free course in this place, and let us pray that it may not be circulated only, but that it may be glorified also. I have another thing to relate to you, perhaps more cheering still. It is this: the nearly confident expectation of getting the New Testament introduced throughout Peru as a school book. I trust this expectation will not be disappointed, but verified in due time. Everything promises fair at present for its accom­plishment.

As soon as the Bibles got into circulation as above-mentioned, there was some ferment excited from reports that it was not fairly printed from the Spanish version of Scio, as indicated in the title page. This report was raised, or at least increased, by the discovery of a typographical error or two. An honest priest actually burned the Bible he had bought on the discovery of one of these over­sights in the printing. The consequence of this stir was an examination of the Bible Society's edition, by comparing it with the edition printed in Spain. The result of this examination was highly satisfactory, as the London edition was found to be an exact reprint from the latest Spanish edition, with the exception of some slight oversights in passing through the press. About the time this matter was under consideration, the deputy Arch­bishop (for there is no Archbishop here at present) having learned that a certain priest was likely to say something from the pulpit against the reading of the Bibles from London, sent a message to him, telling him "not to preach anything against the reading of the English Bibles." By English Bibles he meant Bibles from England, for the Bibles were in the Spanish language.

A curious little piece, in the poetic form, ap­peared about a fortnight ago in one of the newspapers of this city. There is a great deal of truth and force in it, and as it is but short, and will not occupy much room, I shall give you a translation of it. To do it justice it should be put in poetic dress, but as you know I am neither poet nor rhymester, you will please accept of it in plain prose. "Simon possessed a fishing bark, and just a fishing bark, nothing more he left to his sons. They however were great fishers; they caught much and grew rich, and could no longer be content with their small bark, but got a larger one. This bark after­wards became a brig, and then a ship. At last it grew into a man-of-war, and frightened the world with its cannon. How wonderfully is this ship of war now changed! How different now to what it was in former times! This great-ship is now grown old, and, shattered by the storms it has encoun­tered, it now lies rotting in the harbour. A thousand times has it been repaired, but at last it must be laid aside altogether, and its owners must once more be content with Simon's fishing bark." You will find no difficulty, I dare say, in apply­ing this little piece, and, I believe, you will join with me in wishing that the concluding part may be verified as exactly as the preceding parts have.

There is a great revolution going forward in South America. I speak not of the revolt from under the Spanish yoke, for that in the present day may be said not to be going forward, but accomplished. The revolution I speak of, is a moral one. Those who have eyes to see this goodly prospect, and those who have ears to hear the har­mony of this moral change, meet on every hand with indications of its approach. You will not understand me as saying, that South America has become like the land of Eden, like the garden of God. No. But a change has been begun, a happy change. Let us put our hand to this work. Let us bear it onward, and God Almighty will consum­mate it in due time.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827). Pp. 59-69.

Lima, 3rd March 1823

Lima, 3rd March, 1823[1]

I have more than once, my dear friend, within these few days past, heard the exclamation, "happy are the countries that enjoy a settled and secure government." The truth is, we have just expe­rienced one of those occurrences which frequently happen in revolutionary times. I wrote you for­merly, that three individuals of the members of Congress were exercising the executive power in this place. From events which have lately occurred, a general dissatisfaction towards this triumvirate was felt by the army in the neighbourhood of this city. The consequence of this was, that the troops drew near to the walls and shut the gates, sending at the same time a message to the Congress, requesting, or rather ordering, a change in the gov­ernment. After a good deal of deliberation, the triumvirate was removed by the Congress. Another step was yet necessary, as a certain indi­vidual was pointed out as the only person capable of filling the vacant situation. There was no alternative in this more than in the other propo­sition, as a part of the troops kept their station as before mentioned, whilst the rest or the greater part came into the great square in the centre of the city. Indeed the public opinion, not of the army only, but also of the great majority of the people, seemed clearly expressed in favour of the person proposed. The individual in question was accord­ingly appointed by the Congress as "President of the Republic of Peru." This was done on the first current. The troops have retired, and there seems to be a general satisfaction with this appoint­ment. Our President's name is Don José de la Riva Agüero.

You will naturally wish to know how our new President is likely to act regarding the schools, and other such matters. Respecting what his conduct will be in these things, I have great confidence. I have known him, and visited him occasionally since my arrival in Lima, in consequence of a letter of introduction to him, with which I was fa­voured on my leaving Chile. I have uniformly found him very obliging, and much interested in our concerns. In short, he is the very individual I should have named, had I been asked what per­son I wished to have in this high station. I called on him this afternoon in company with my clerical friend, whom I formerly mentioned to you. We were well received, and encouraged to go forward in our work, with the assurance of his protection and support.

I forgot to mention to you in my last quarterly letter, that I had about that time got one added to the number of my friends. This person is a very respectable clergyman, and a member of the Congress. We have had several conversations together, in a very open and friendly manner. I have been much pleased with his candour and frankness. He told me that when he first heard of my having come to Lima, he resolved to oppose me, but that when he learned that I was not an opposer of religion, but a friend to it, he changed his mind, and resolved  to befriend rne as far as lay in his power. There is a kind of idea among several of those who are the most religious in this country, that many or most foreigners who arrive here are deists or atheists, or at least men no way friendly   to religion. Grounds have,  no doubt, been  given for forming this  opinion,   although I think it is generalized among the class of people I mentioned, with some degree of illiberality, as is, indeed, commonly the case. The books  which  come  here in favour of deism and  atheism  strengthen  the opinion. Most of these are printed in France, but some of them, I am sorry to say it, are printed in England. From all I have seen here, both in the Congress, and out of it, I am strongly inclined to think that those who oppose toleration, or at least many of them, do so with a view to prevent the influx into the country of such as oppose or scoff at religion. As a proof of this, I refer to the member of Con­gress, of whom I have just been speaking. This man opposed toleration when it was discussed in the Congress, and spoke publicly against it; yet when conversing with him upon the subject, he told me that he was not opposed to the toleration of Pro­testants in the country. I have taken occasion at different times to point out to some of the members, in private conversation, that their law prohibiting the public religious exercises of those who differ from the Catholic church, does not hinder atheists and deists from settling in the country, as these have no form of religion they wish to practise; and that this law serves only to prevent the coming of those men who are sincerely religious and moral, and who, as they themselves admit, would be of great use in the country, by bringing into it many branches of the arts and manufactures. I think I have observed some good effects arising from these conversations, and I wish it may so appear when the subject comes before Congress a second time.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 76-79.