Aberdeen, 24th July 1845
My dear Sir,
Should do not have sent off your parcel of Reports to Dundee, please enclose within it a small parcel containing a copy of Wilkes' BS Question, Bradley, & F.H. addressed to James McCosh Esq., Northern Warder office, Dundee.
Should you have sent off your reports, then send these three pamphlets in a parcel by themselves, and paid.
I remain,
Yours Truly,
Jas. Thomson.
Mr Hitchin
Aberdeen, 25th July 1845
My Dear Sir,
Yours of yesterday's arrival is now before me. I will gladly relieve yourself and Mr. Cockle as to writing notes with the parcels of Reports, and shall myself address a few lines to the parties to prepare them for their coming.
I see you cannot send the pamphlets. It is well, we must do without them. I have received also the Record, containing a full broadside.
On the subject of my quicker movements, I enclose a note to Mr. Brandram.
Believe me, Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
Rev A Brandram
Aberdeen, 25th July 1845
My Dear Friend,
Mr. Hitchin's note received yesterday advertised me that feelings again prevail in the Committee about my quicker return than has been contemplated during the last two months, in consequence of renewed and more bitter attacks from our opponents. I shall keep what is indicated in mind, and act upon it in the best and wisest manner I can.
There is one thing I particularly want to recommend to you, and that is, a cancel in the heading of Luke xxii after the word "wine". I should be glad you would resolve on this at your very first meeting of Committee, that I might be able to state that it is altered, and the evil removed.
I remain,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
Aberdeen, 26th July 1845
My Dear Sir,
Your note of the 24th inst. is before me.
You had better I think ship the cases for Lima and a Valparaiso at once agreeably to the addresses you have. Probably Mr. Robertson is out of town, but I shall find out, and his letters to the parties can follow. You can say to them that he (William Robertson Esq.) has, you believe, written to them concerning the Books, or will write. I say has written for very probably this is the case.
As to Mr. Boord, I intend besides writing to M. M. & Co. to write to Mr. Gifford our Consul, who is well acquainted with Mr. Boord, to say, that he is authorized to let him have as many of the Books as he, Mr. G., may judge prudent. Mr. G. Knows the little mental defect of Mr. B. but it leans towards religion.
I have been disappointed of the Advertisement for Mr. Brandram which I expected, as noticed in my letter of yesterday, but probably may be able to post it here on Monday for Thursday's delivery. Be so good as to say this to Mr. Brandram.
I remain, Yours Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev A Brandram
Aberdeen, 28th July 1845
My Dear Friend,
I send you the reply of our Edinburgh Committee to the Second Warning, and also a note from the Edinburgh Bible Society in reference to it, by which note you will see, that the newspaper war has ceased, and that something in the shape of an Address or Pamphlet may be expected before long to appear.
As to the heading I mentioned in my last, it would, I think, be very desirable to have it corrected by a cancel without delay. I have not the book at hand, but they say it reads, "consecrates the bread and wine into the body and blood, and ordains the Apostles priests". The words "into his body and blood", – and "priests" should be left out, and then it will stand well, and the omissions will not probably give offence to the other party. I do not know that there are any other objectionable headings; but it is very desirable, I think, that the whole should be examined with as little delay as possible, and at what is really erroneous should be corrected: or the whole headings should be left out in future editions. Probably this leaving out of the headings would be unwise, as they are more used perhaps by a certain class of readers, and more useful to them, than we are aware of. This, you see, is contrary to what I formerly said. But I have thought a good deal upon the subject since. At all events, I think, they should be, and early and entirely revised.
I have been thinking as to whether anything could be done with the passages objected to in the text. I did give a hint in regard to this matter in a former letter, and am rather inclined to believe that something might be attempted without much danger, but particulars about this must be left till I see you.
In my letter from St. Andrews I noticed the desirableness of considering whether our own pure hands only could handle our own pure Bibles on the Continent without the aid of the Societies objected to.
Of the four counts against you, as contained in the little square that I now send, I have already noticed three. The other respects Prayer. In regard to this I have observed in my movements, that all our friends desire a change in the practice. Many think the difficulties might be overcome, as they are in most, or all other Societies. I think if our clerical secretary were to be chaplain, the Dissenters would not object to his holding the office, especially under present difficulties, and our friends, The Friends, are all men of peace, and would not I think stand out in war in this case of peace-making.
I think it is right that we should meet every objection as far as we well can. I have ventured some hints. You may not perhaps approve of them all, but you will I know forgive my freedom in noticing them. May God himself, the God of righteousness and peace, guide us all in all our ways, and keep us ever from hinderings, and enable us always to advance his own kingdom, in the service in which we are engaged.
I remain, My Dear Friend
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
Mr Hitchin
Aberdeen, 30th July 1845
My Dear Sir,
You said in your note of the 24th "A short reply to Vindex will appear tonight". I expected to see this next day, after receiving your note, but it did not appear. Please to send it to me to the Post Office Peterhead if you send off on Saturday, but if on Monday to Frazerburgh. I would rather the former.
On Monday I shall send you my collections for July.
My letter of the 9th I will restore. It may be with you on Monday morning.
Yours Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev A Brandram
Aberdeen, 1st August 1845
My Dear Friend,
Yours of the 29th came yesterday, and today is return of post as far as London delivery is concerned.
I do not wonder that you think my communications scanty, but that is the Post Office's fault. I posted you a letter in St. Andrews with my own hand on the 9th July, and of that date, but find that up to the date of your note it had not been received. I have made inquiry in the post office concerning it. In the mean time, having fortunately a copy, I send you a duplicate.
In regard to Mr. Boord, I have written to Mr. Gifford, and my letter will go from London today. Five cases would be too much to give him, at once at all events. His case is peculiar. I give you a copy of my letter to Mr. Gifford, and hope it will meet with your approbation. – I cannot understand Mr. Boord says about his getting the Books out of the Custom House, there was no difficulty in that, difficulty lay in getting them through the Custom House in Mexico. I have written to Messrs. Manning Mackintosh & Co. to inquire into the matter.
You say, "Another bitter article last night," and that your judgment is, "Answer him not." And so is mine.
As to the cancel in the heading of Luke xxii, I do think it should be done, and without delay. It is the only really objectionable thing in these versions: and as to not beginning, you have begun already, having altered even the text of Acts xiii.2, and which did not need cancelling perhaps so much is this.
You say, "How much longer do you think of tarrying?" Till the beginning, or the middle of October. This also answers the question about Herefordshire, though it is rather a temptation to escape from among thistles to get among roses. But I must retire gracefully. Besides two thirds of Scotland are for us.
I am, My Dear Friend,
Very Truly Yours,
James Thomson.
Mr Hitchin
Aberdeen 4th August 1845
My Dear Friend,
I send you my collections for July, agreeable to what I promised you last week. They amount to £17:10:8, as under:
Collection at Public Meeting, Dundee 4: 1: 0
" in 2nd Relief Church, Cupar, Fife 1: 2: 8
" in the Free Church, St Andrews 2:11: 0
" in 2nd U. Secession Ch., Montrose 3:11: 0
" in 2nd U. Secession Ch., Arbroath 2:14: 0
" in the Free North Church, Aberdeen 3: 6: 0
Donation from a Lady, Aberdeen 5: 0
£17:10:8
This notification will, I believe, be quite in time for your Monthly Extracts forthcoming, and I shall be glad to know that this is the case, and whether generally within a week after the close of the month the remittances will suit.
I shall be glad if you could send me all that comes out for and...
(incomplete)
Rev A. Brandram
Aberdeen 4th August 1845
My Dear Friend,
I continue to you my narrative of occurring circumstances in this Scottish Bible tour. My last letter was dated St. Andrews July 9th and brought on matters as far as that place. On the same day on which the letter referred to was dated and sent off, I left St. Andrews, and returned to Dundee. There I saw the Editor of the Northern Warder, the newspaper noticed as having favourably and repeatedly spoken of our meetings. I learned from him that the Second Warning had been sent him for insertion. This was an extension of the Second Warning beyond the first, for it was not here advertised, and the putting of the Second in this paper was no doubt occasioned by our movements. This was throwing a shell with a particular aim.
From Dundee I went to Arbroath, and saw there the solid and extensive remnants of the once vast monastery which contained about 430 monks. I visited the different Ministers here, and went on to Montrose. Here a meeting was held, and the collection made in one of the United Secession Churches. The Minister of the other church connected with this body was, for a wonder, unfavourable to us. On the same side, and very distinctly, stood the two Ministers of the Free Church, one of whom is a half brother of the late Dr. Andrew Thomson. I called upon them both, and afterwards breakfasted with one of them. They each took a strong view on the points objected to by the Edinburgh Bible Society. Our interviews were long, and from disputed things we passed to things in which we agreed, and I shall long remember the pleasantness of our conversations in the Gospel of Christ, and in the things of the Kingdom of God. This same Mr. Thomson said we were quite right in advocating our cause in Scotland.
I called also on the two Ministers of the Established Church and found them both very friendly. They had, they said, for some time back been considering whether anything could be done by them in aid of your Society, and signified their readiness to have a sermon preached for you, and a collection made. The Wesleyans, Independents, and Baptists were also favourably disposed towards us.
In Montrose is one who left you a Legacy, which you have already received though the Testator yet liveth. I refer to Mr. Dorward, who became his own Executor, and paid you (as you would have been paid at his death) his legacy of £2000. I thought it an official duty to call upon this gentleman. He is aged and infirm, and still continues warmly attached to our cause.
I now returned to Arbroath to meet the engagements I had entered into in that place. On the former and present occasion I saw all the three Ministers of the Free Church, and found them all unfavourable, yet mild towards us though indisposed. They have more confidence they say in the Edinburgh Bible Society, and hold with that body in some at least of their objections. I thought I made some impression upon one of them, in reference to the aid we give to their missions in the East, pleading, as I said, that as a matter of justice, we should meet with some encouragement from them, and not the reverse. Another of the three said he entertained no feelings of opposition to our Society, and the third said he knew that our Society only was supplying the world.
In Arbroath I saw the Montrose newspaper, which while it noticed our Sunday meeting, took occasion to chant the Edinburgh chorus. However I learned at the same time that an article in our favour had come for insertion in the Arbroath newspaper, and to this I appended a column of information concerning our Society in its plans and operations.
The two Ministers of the Established Church in Arbroath I found well inclined toward us, and so were the Secession, Methodist, and Relief Ministers, the latter of whom, the Rev. William Allan, was particularly serviceable to me both in counsel and general help, and he is a member of the Edinburgh Bible Society here. In his church we held a meeting of Ministers, and some of their leading people, and all were represented except the Free Church. Our object was to form the nucleus of the Society in a committee consisting of Ministers of each denomination with one or two of their elders or deacons. This was a very pleasing meeting, and resulted in the formation of the intended committee, whose object is to pass into a Society as soon as circumstances will permit.
This finished my business in Arbroath. I then paid a short visit to Forfar, the capital of the County, where I met with friends to our object, and particularly in the Parish Minister, and something was done in furtherance of future operations. The short visit I also paid to Brechin. The two Ministers of the Established Church were very favourable to us, and one or perhaps two of the Free Church Ministers were rather favourably inclined also. I called on the Bishop, but he told me he subscribed to the Propagation and Christian Knowledge Societies, and that that was all he could do.
I again returned to Montrose, and visiting those friendly mentioned what had been done in Arbroath, and begged they would form themselves into a committee after a similar manner, to which they said they would give their attention.
Aberdeen came next in order, and this Capital of the North, and the third town in Scotland required some days for due operations. I had feared for things here, having learned that the Edinburgh spirit prevailed strong. I found things better however than report had led me to expect. The first favourable circumstance in regard to Aberdeen is, that we have more Free Church Ministers on our side than anywhere else as far as I have yet been. Two of the Secretaries of our Auxiliary there are Free Church Ministers, and some half dozen altogether we can count as our warm supporters. The strongest party on the Edinburgh side are also Free Church Ministers. In my rounds I visited these as well as others, and was very agreeably disappointed in finding them much less opposed than I imagined. The Established Church Ministers are with us, and so are the Dissenters, and not least the Baptist Minister. We held three meetings. The first was in one of the Free Churches, the second in one of the Established Churches, and the third in an Independent Chapel. The first was on a Sunday, the second was to form an Established Church Association in conjunction with our Society, and the third was a general meeting of the Auxiliary. At this general meeting we had three Free Church Ministers present, and what was both curious and gratifying was that one of them was a strong Edinburgh Bible Society man, but of a different spirit from his friends in Edinburgh, judging from what I saw of him at the meeting, and privately before in his own house. This gentleman is the Editor of a Free Church newspaper here, and in his paper issued on the morning of the day on which we met, he gave notice of our meeting and recommended the people to attend. He told us when he came to the meeting that he was acting inconsistently in coming, as well as in having told others to come. But we said that he was acting very consistently and helping forward the Bible cause in any way. – We have observed some of the newspapers take friendly notice of the meetings we hold, and in the one most extensively circulated there will appear a long article about our Society next week. What the Banner of the Free Church will say that next issue, I know not, but should like to see, and may perhaps see.
This finished Aberdeen. That is a branch of this Society In Inverury, and I thought it a duty to pay our friends there a visit, not to get money, but to give encouragement. We had a meeting in the Independent Chapel which was fairly attended considering that there was another meeting at the time. The people were pleased at the visit paid them, and were glad to hear of the Society's movement in the various parts of the world. We can hardly say that we have either the Free or Unfree Church with us here, though they keep from us on quite different grounds. The Free Church Minister in an adjoining parish is warmly for us, and attends the meetings of this Association.
Today I returned from Inverury to this city, and tomorrow morning early I go to Peterhead. – In returning here, and just before leaving the place, I would mention two things more or less connected with it. The first is, that in visiting the Rev. Sir William Dunbar, I found, contrary to my expectations, that he was not quite favourable to us, though far from being against us. His main objection seems to be our want of Prayer, and this coming from a Church of England clergyman was the more remarkable. In Scotland generally our difficulty is not understood, and Socinians are always supposed to be the cause of this want. Sir William however could well understand the matter, but he said he would have prayer, leave the Society who would.
The next thing is in regard to Dr. Wilson, the missionary from Bombay. You already know from what I wrote from Edinburgh that he is very favourable to us, and this you know also from himself by interviews and otherwise. I have mentioned on several occasions to Free Church Ministers Dr. Wilson's confidence in us, and his willingness to aid us. On some of these occasions it was suggested to me, that some statement from him in writing would be useful, as he has great weight in the Free Church. I wrote Dr. Wilson regarding this, and have had a note from him, expressing, that the Society is "entitled to the confidence of the friends of evangelical religion in Britain, and to the kindly and not unfriendly remonstrance of those who may have to suggest improvements in any department of its operations." This document I have found serviceable here, and doubt not but I shall find it so in various places as I move onward.
I remain, My Dear Friend, Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
P.S. Since finishing this letter, I have learned, that the Second Warning was published in the Banner, and I have seen it. This was throwing a shell before us; but it seems to have had little effect.
Mr Hitchin
Peterhead, 5th August 1845
My Dear Sir,
Your note of the 2nd came into my hands here today. You say "You will have learned ere now that your letter of July 9th has come to hand." I had not learned this, but wish I had as I made a copy one day when it was very inconvenient to me.
Pray tell me when it came, and what reasons were given for the delay, as I will have to state these to the Post Office.
You have my address.
Yours truly,
Jas. Thomson.
Mr Hitchin
Elgin, 12th August 1845
My Dear Sir,
I have recd. your note and receipt of the 7th inst. I observe your resolution as to each month's receipts, and think it an excellent one, but regret in this instance that I did not understand it in time.
Vindex's second article I have not got. Please send it to Inverness.
Yours Very Truly,
Jas. Thomson.
Rev A Brandram
Inverness, 15th Aug. 1845
My Dear Friend,
Your communications on the 31st July, and of the 4th and 6th inst. have come into my hands since I last wrote you on the 1st of this month. The two latter of these came to me duly, the first unduly, as I got it in Forres on the 12th instant on my arriving there, and it had come from Aberdeen on the preceding day, according to the post mark. The London and Edinburgh marks were not visible.
In regard to any portions of my letters appearing in the Monthly Extracts, I should think it better not, and for two reasons, first because my letters are not exactly in the shape it would be proper to publish, and secondly, I think it would be better not to say anything at all at present. If you wish it, I can draw up something when my tour is finished that may be general, and embracing the whole visitation.
I stated that two thirds of Scotland are for us. I exclude Edinburgh from the calculation, though I do not know that I should. From all I have seen out of Edinburgh I am sure two thirds are for us, and further, that the other third, bating a few, are not against us. You fear I shall be followed by violent disclaimers and writers. It may possibly be so, but I hope and think not. I mentioned that I had been shot at, and that a shot had been fired before me, but both seem to have been innoxious. All the newspapers in our way have spoken favourably, with the exception of one titbit from a Journal of minor name. The passage enforced there, and I think the only one quoted from the Warning, was the heading of Luke xxii, and it stumbled a little a warm friend of our Society. I do think, even notwithstanding all you have well observed on this wording, that it would be well to amend it in the manner I before hinted. The objection is not at all to the word consecrates. – The Banner of Aberdeen said not a word about us after our meeting, which was saying something for us.
Vindex's second letter I have not yet seen. I hope no fuel will be given him for a third. I agree with you fully, "Answer him not."
You have not done Dr. Wilson justice. He has no idea at all, that I know of, of writing remonstrances to you or against you. He is very friendly, and his allusion was, to blame the Edinburgh people for unfriendly remonstrances seeing they had them to make, and he says they should have been kindly. I expect to see him here in a few days.
Have you seen the Rev. Christopher Anderson's two thick volumes, entitled The History of the English Bible, or a name akin to this? He told me in May that they would appear in London in the end of that month.
I arrived here yesterday, and am working my way. The General Assembly of the Free Church meets here, by adjournment from Edinburgh in a few days. I intend to work as I can among its members. In a subsequent letter I shall take up my narrative from Aberdeen.
I remain,
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev A Brandram
Inverness, 23rd Aug. 1845
My Dear Friend,
I sent you a copy of the Aberdeen Journal of the 6th. instant containing a longish article on our Society, taking it for granted, first that you would read it, and secondly if there was anything substantially wrong in said article you would let me know. I have not heard from you on the subject and conclude all is right. I printed a supply of this article separately from the types of the Journal, and now enclose a couple of these, lest you might not have read it in the newspaper. I should like to print a new supply at Glasgow where I intend soon to be. Please let me hear from you in a day or two, and address to the Post Office, Glasgow. Please also say the Mr Hitchin that this is my address till further notice.
I have I think twice begged for a sight of Vindex's 2nd article, but have not yet got it. Will you be kind enough to direct its being forwarded as above.
I am, My Dear Friend,
Yours Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev A Brandram
Inverness, 26th Aug. 1845
My Dear Friend,
Being about to leave this place, my farthest point northward, I sit down to give you my narrative from the close of my last letter up to the present date. I left Aberdeen on the 5th instant, and came to Peterhead. The Wesleyan Minister, the Rev. Mr. Baylis, to whom I had previously written received me on alighting from the stage, and took me to his own lodgings. He was, as all the Wesleyans are, friendly to our Institution and served me all he could in furtherance of its objects. We held a meeting that evening, and another on the evening following, at the latter of which a committee was formed to consider of doing something in our favour. The Independent Minister there was likewise favourable, and so was that secession Minister. The Free Church Minister was not unfriendly, and stated that he believed Dr. Candlish's name, as signing the Warning, have not much weight with the Free Church Ministers generally. The Established Church Minister was absent, and the Episcopal Minister above our reach. The herring fishery was in full action to Peterhead, and I was interested in observing that when the nets were full the fishermen drew to shore and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels and cast the bad away.
Frazerburgh was the next place visited, where under bad weather we had a small meeting and made a small collection. Little else was done in direct help of our objects, but something preparatory perhaps for a future occasion, and it may be to a little society.
Next came Banff and here we held no meeting a tall, being hindered by various circumstances. The Established Minister showed every disposition to befriend us, and promises, along with other friends we have in that place, to give his aid in the formation of a little Auxiliary Society. Our expected meeting having proved a failure, he gave me his collection of five shillings, which he intended to drop into the plate, and another gentleman gave me ten shillings under similar circumstances. The Free Church Minister here is not friendly, but the others are all decidedly so, namely, the Established, the Secession, Independent, and the Wesleyan Ministers, and there are good hopes of a society being formed.
Elgin followed in succession. Here the Rev. Mr. McNeil the Independent Minister has long and all along stood our friend, and keeps up a sort of society in his own personal efforts to get little sums for us. He gave me £2 thus collected since his last remittance. The Free Church Minister here, though connected with the Edinburgh Bible Society, is by no means unfriendly to us, and thinks the Warnings were uncalled for and unkindly. But for some good purpose or other it seems you are privileged to have an opponent in every place, and so there was such found here in one of the Secession Ministers. The other Minister however of this connexion is our warm friend, as is nearly invariably the case with the Ministers of this body. The Established Church Minister is entirely for us. In Elgin there subsists our Bible Society in connection with Edinburgh and this society has always been, I may say, a warm partisan of its parent. Nevertheless the "irae" elsewhere existing in certain "animis coelestibus" does not seem to be nursed here. They say in their last report: – "We have no wish that hushed controversy with the friends of the London Bible Society be revived; we rejoice in the real good which that great Institution has done. We have no feeling towards its respected friends, but reverence for their conscientious conviction of duty; but we have not confidence in the purity of some of its agencies; we conscientiously disapprove of some of its alliances, and are fully persuaded that it would be more useful without them." Here you see is friendliness in the midst of non-accordance, and this, I may say, is the more general spirit of the Auxiliaries to the Edinburgh Bible Society in Scotland, so far as I have observed them; and in correspondence therewith. I have on several occasions heard in these quarters disapprobation expressed in regard to the steps recently taken in Edinburgh against us. We had a meeting here and the collection.
Forres lay next in course after Elgin. In this place, strange to say, all and everybody is for us. But despite of this the adversary has come in in another shape. The Rev. Mr. Grant, the Free Church Minister, who always stood our friend, is about to join the Edinburgh Bible Society, because he was invited, along with others, to attend a sermon for the Society in the Parish Church, from which he had been ejected. The Provost is president of the Society in Forres, and we held our meeting in what I may call his Meeting House, namely, the Court House, and made a little collection as usual.
Nairn followed, and here in company with the Independent Minister, I walked some distance out of town to see the Minister of the Established Church, whom we found very friendly, and grieved at seeing nothing done in your cause. He promises to bring the subject before the Presbytery at next meeting. There is a Bible Society here, neither connected with you nor with Edinburgh, but for a long time it has been rather nominal than effective. I did not see either the Free Church or the Secession Minister, though I called on both, but learned that the former was doubtful, and the latter friendly. Here we had, as generally had, a little meeting and a little collection.
In the above statements you have a sketch of my rapid movements from Aberdeen to Inverness. In all the places I met with hospitable treatment for your cause's sake: many were found friendly to us, some ranked with another Bible Institution, but were not unkindly towards us, and scarcely any were opposed.
In Inverness there are three Free Church Ministers, one is very cordially for us, another is entirely opposed, and the third is neutral, and about to study the subject more closely than he has hitherto done. The other Dissenters are all with us, but none of them are more cordial than are all the Ministers of the Established Church, two of whom I had formerly met with in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton. The Rev. Mr. Clark of this church, who has always been on our side, will probably transmit to you soon some £20, from a Bible and General Religious Institution existing in his own parish. Dr. Ross of the same body spoke of you in a very friendly manner, and as having been grieved with former occurrences, as well as later ones. Our Bible Society cause they intend soon to bring before their Presbytery. We had a meeting and a collection in one of the Secession Churches in Inverness. I had arranged to hold this meeting previous to the sitting of the General Assembly of the Free Church there, knowing that there would be no opening during their sessions, and this is what hurried me over previous places. On the occasion of this Assembly I had an opportunity of getting acquainted with several Ministers of the Free Church from various parts of the country, and this knowledge may prove useful in visiting some other places not yet taken in. Tomorrow morning I leave Inverness and proceed without stopping for business till I come to Glasgow.
I remain, My Dear Friend, Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Mr Hitchin
Inverness, 26th Aug. 1845
My Dear Sir,
I remit you Collections, etc. to the amount of £21:11:8 in the shape of a post office order for £1:11/8, and £20 to be placed to Account of Travelling Expenses. The items are as follows:
Collection at Public Meeting, Aberdeen 9: 8: 0
" at Inverury 1: 0: 0
" at Peterhead 1: 0: 0
" at Frazerburgh 18: 0
" at Elgin 2: 3:11
" at Forres 1: 9: 6
" at Inverness 2: 17: 1
Subscription from Three Friends in Elgin, since
31st March, by the Rev. W. McNeil 2: 0: 0
Donation from the Rev. Mr. Bremner, Banff 5: 0
" from Gilbert Manson, ditto 10: 0
I intend to leave this tomorrow morning for Glasgow, to which place you can direct letters till further notice.
I remain, Yours Truly,
James Thomson.
P.S. Please not to print Inverary but Inverury.
Mr Hitchin
Glasgow, 1st Sept. 1845
My dear Sir,
I now transmit you the Post Office order which I could not obtain on Saturday. I trust you have so managed as to be able to include it in August so as to be inserted in its proper place between Forres and Inverness. If you are not able to do this, then stop at Forres as to Collections and put both Nairn and Inverness in next month.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
P.S. Your receipt of the 29th is recd. since writing the above.
Mr Hitchin
Glasgow, 11th Sep. 1845
My dear Sir,
Please to let Mrs Thomson have Ten Pounds from my Private Account when she calls for it.
Your receipts were duly received, and I am glad you can put it in the Nairn Collection in its proper place.
I shall be here or hereabouts for all of next week.
I remain Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Mr Hitchin
Glasgow, 27th Sep. 1845
My dear Sir,
I herewith send you my Collections and Donations for this month, amounting in all to £29:15:10. Enclosed is an order for £19:15:10, and the remaining £10 you will take out of my Private Account. The Items are as follows:
Collections
Kilmarnock 6: 1: 9
Paisley 1st 3: 5: 0
do. 2nd 8: 9: 4
Glasgow 1st 8: 5: 9
do. 2nd 13: 6
Greenock 1: 0: 6
27:15:10
Donations
William Greenlees Esq. 1: 0: 0
Mrs Greenlees 10: 0
Alexander Greenlees 5: 0
Jean Neilson Greenlees 5: 0
2: 0: 0
29:15:10
I observed that the Donations that I sent last month were not inserted in the Reporter whilst the Collections are all put down. Was this an oversight, or are they otherwise to be noticed?
I remain, My Dear Sir,
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Mr Hitchin
Glasgow, 1st Oct. 1845
My dear Sir,
Yours of the 29th is before me. I see the reason for the non-appearance in the Reporter of last month's Donations.
The Collections for September you can put in as follows, instead of what I gave the other day, which are, as you say, rather bald:―
Relief Church, Kilmarnock 6: 1: 9
United Secession Church
Oakshaw Street, Paisley 3: 5: 0
Rev Dr Wardlaw's Church, Glasgow 8: 5: 9
Public Meeting, Glasgow for
expenses of room, etc. 13: 6
Relief Church, Greenock 1: 0: 6
2nd Relief Church, Paisley 8: 9: 4
In regard to the Insurance please delay paying until you hear from me again. There are 30 days of allowance after the quote is due. But I shall write you again about it soon.
I remain,
My Dear Sir,
Yours Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev A Brandram
Glasgow, 4th Oct. 1845
My Dear Friend,
I am moving about and about in this great city, and perhaps some good may follow, if not immediately, more remotely. I have also from this as a centre point been visiting several places in the neighbourhood. Of these movements I intend giving you a more particular account in due time. My present object in writing is respecting China. I enclose you a letter for Singapore which I obtained from a friend of Mr John Henderson's, in conformity with Mr Browne's note of the 2nd ultimo. I hope you will find it useful, and I may perhaps obtain one or more similar letters before I leave Glasgow.
But my main object in writing at present is in regard to a communication I had today bearing much on Bible operations in China. Mr. W. P. Paton in this city has just received a letter from one of the Missionaries in China, in which he informs him, that he and his fellow Missionaries are getting on slowly with the Revision of the Chinese Scriptures, and that slowness he says is owing to a disconfidence about you printing what you they revise, for (from what I could gather from what was read to me) you have distinctly stated to the Missionaries that you will not pledge yourselves for printing their Revision when ready. Mr. Paton's correspondent greatly laments this, and clearly signifies how much the progress of the work is thus retarded. I confess I was a good deal surprised to hear these statements, as I always thought you were urging on the Missionaries with every encouragement in this so great a work, whereas it seems you are doing the very reverse. It is only a few hours since I learned what I have here stated. But I would not by any means lose a post in communicating the same to you, and more especially as Monday is Committee day. I consider the subject very grave and shall be glad to hear from you regarding it, say by Tuesday's post.
I remain, My Dear Friend,
Ever Truly Yours,
James Thomson.