St Vincent, 16th April 1833

Rev A Brandram No.21

St. Vincent's, April 16, 1833.

My Dear Friend,

In my last letter of the 23rd ultimo, written in Grenada, I detailed to you the friendly feelings towards our Society entertained by those gentlemen whom I visited in that island, and stated to you also the results that followed in the formation of an Auxiliary Bible Society under encouraging circumstances. I remained in the island a few days after our public meeting, and had the pleasure of being present at the first meeting of the Committee of our new Society, and of witnessing the good disposition among all present for carrying into effect the institution that had been set on foot. Our meeting was held in the parsonage.

The Grenada Auxiliary Bible Society has already one Bible Associa­tion connected with it. It is pleasing to think where and among whom the first Association is formed. It is among the soldiers of the garrison. This association owes its origin, under the direction of Dr. Callendar one of our secretaries, to a corporal of the name of Noble. His conduct you will see corresponds with his name, and I trust some or many will be induced to follow his noble example.

On the 29th ultimo, I left Grenada, and under pleasing feelings arising from the friendly dispositions I had met with among all classes in favor of our objects. Previous to visiting Grenada I had anticipated that something would be done in it, but my expectations where exceeded. I hope future results will fully correspond this encouraging commencement.

On the 30th I arrived in this island, and soon after began to canvass in favour of our Society. Previous to my visiting this island and Grenada, I had considered that I should find them much alike in regard to our objects, but with the advantage in favour of St. Vincent's. Here, how­ever, I made a wrong calculation; for as it happened in Grenada that I was disappointed, as I may say, on the right hand, I have been disap­pointed here on the left. I had not been long occupied in my visitings and inquiries before I found that there was little probability of succeeding here as in Grenada; and on pursuing my operations further, I began to have doubts of any success at all. I then gave up all thoughts of calling a public meeting, and with the advice of friends issued a circular sending it to most of the chief persons in the place, inviting them to a meeting of a more private nature. The day appointed for our meeting came, but those who were invited came not. But to be strictly accurate I should say that half a dozen out of 50 appeared. These are two clergy, to Wesleyan missionaries, and two members of the colonial assembly. At the courthouse we seven waited for more than two hours, and at the close of which period, after consulting with each other as to all the circumstances of the case then and previously manifested, we came to the resolution of dropping the matter for the present until a more convenient season. I am sorry thus to speak about St. Vincent's, but I must always speak the truth. I should truly have been is glad to give you as good view of this island as I did of Grenada, but they St. Vincent's people themselves have told me, as you see, to give them another character.

My attention is withdrawn from contemplating the unpleasing picture of St. Vincent's by the arrival of good news from other quarters. By the Wesleyan missionaries, very recently arrived in this island to attend their annual conference, I learn that the Societies in Tobago and Demerara are going on very prosperously. The Tobago Society has subscriptions now amounting to about £90; and from Demerara I learn that they have ordered from Earl Street £100 worth of Bibles. From Trinidad, too, I have heard something encouraging. Mr. Fletcher, the missionary from that place, tells me that the small stock of French Bibles put into the sale store have all been sold, and that he had given out a fresh supply.

I must here say a few words more about Demerara and the society there. In my communication from that place I told you that the Governor Sir Benjamin D'Urban had kindly promised to be patron of our society. He expressed himself very friendly towards our object as I had been led to expect he would, and at his own request we were to have our little meeting for installation at his own house. After things were so arranged he learned that the Bishop was every day or hour expected. This led him to write me a note stating that it would be well to defer our forming our society till the Bishop should come, "whom" he said "in such a case it would doubtless be desirable to consult." On receiving this note I called on Sir Benjamin and told him that my time was so limited as not to permit me to stay long in any one place, and that though the Bishop was expected the time of his arrival was uncertain. I also mentioned to him that I considered that the Bishop would not be in favor of our society and why. After talking on both sides we came to this understanding that we should meet and form our society, and that we would request him by letter to become our patron, and that he could answer this letter after as he had wished consulted with the Bishop. Upon my asking him more particularly he told me that if the Bishop should approve of his patronizing the society he would cheerfully do so, but if otherwise, you would not think it right to act discordantly with the Bishop. Thus were things left when I sailed from Demerara, and it is only now that I have learned from the missionaries, and from a letter from Mr. Strong, that the Governor declined to patronize the society. It has however I trust higher patronage.

Your letter of the 8th February has lately come to hand. I am sorry to hear of your loss in Paris, and I pray that the Lord may raise up a fit instrument for carrying on his work in that field which seems so ready to receive the seed of the word of God.

I remain, My Dear Friend, Very Truly Yours,

            James Thomson.

St Lucy, 20th April 1833 / Martinique, 22nd April 1833 / Dominica, 23rd April 1833 / Guadaloupe, 24th April 1833

Rev A Brandram No.22

St. Lucy, April 20, 1833.

My dear Friend,

On the day following that on which I last wrote, I left the island of St. Vincent's, on my way to Antigua. There lie between the two places now mentioned four islands, two of them English, and the other two French. All of these I visited in my course southward last year; and in my present movement northward, I proposed to touch at all of them again, but not to remain above a day in each. To accomplish this object, I found that it would be the cheapest way to hire a small vessel, and to take it along with me to Antigua. This plan I conceived would also save me three or four weeks in time—an object of some consequence in the long tour still lying before me. I have accordingly hired a sloop of 43 tons to bear me onward.

At a late hour in the afternoon of yesterday I arrived in this island, St. Lucy (from St. Vincent's), after a long passage of full two days. Here I have found our good friend Mr. Gordon, whom I introduced to you on a former occasion. He is, as before, very friendly, and desirous of doing what can be done to promote the circulation of the Scriptures in this island, where he resides. He had duly received the French Bibles which were sent to him. The sales of these, and of the English Bibles I left here last year, have not been great; but a copy now and then makes its way into the surrounding mass; and let us not doubt, that the little leaven, thus imbedding itself, will leaven and leaven around it gradually, but surely, according to the true saying of our Saviour in describing his kingdom.

One day, as already noticed to you, is the time I have allotted for each island intermediate between St. Vincent's and Antigua. The time for remaining here being thus very limited, it was necessary to turn it quickly to the best account. Last year I noticed to you that I had left St. Lucy without being able to form a Society in it; but I subsequently mentioned, that some preparations had been made for forming one on my return here. Along with Mr. Gordon, his brother, and some other friends, I hastened to put into form this projected little Society. I called on the Governor, whom I found, as before, friendly and ready to place himself at the head of our Society as patron. We next sent a notice round that a meeting would be held in the Court-house at three o'clock, for the purpose now mentioned. The meeting took place accordingly ; and though there were but few present, our group had in it this pleasing circumstance, that each one present came not from curiosity to see what should take place, but to give his name, his purse, and his influence, to the object in question. The chief justice of the island, the Honourable Mr. Bent, took the chair, and our Bible Society was accordingly formed. We had the pleasure of having with us on this occasion the Rev. Mr. Hall, the rector of the parish, and the only English clergyman in the island. Mr. Hall has lately come here from Antigua, and is one of those clergy­men who attended and helped on some of our Bible Associations in that cradle of our operations. A notice of our proceedings will be published in the forthcoming number of the newspaper of this island, a copy of which will be sent to you by Mr. Gordon. Having thus accomplished the objects of my visit to the island, I leave it again this evening. 

Martinique, April 22, 1833.

On the 20th current, towards sunset, I sailed from St. Lucy; and before morning of next day I had safely reached this place. The 21st was Sunday, the day of rest. I remained all day on board, right in front of the town of St. Pierre, where, from the scenes which now and then passed before me, I was led to reflect on the need there is here of the word of God. And where, alas! is it not needed, and much needed? But there is a consolation derived, when witnessing this need, to think on one's being employed in supplying it to the greatest extent within one's reach. Let us bless God together, for having employed us in this good work—this holy service, and let us be diligent and faithful.

To day I came ashore, and called on Mr. Fournier, the bookseller, whom I mentioned to you last year. The Bibles ordered from France have come duly to hand, and these I have found arranged in rows on the bookseller's shelves. This is a sight never before seen in this island, and a truly gratifying one it is. In viewing it one cannot help feeling like the wandering and benighted traveller, when he espies at length at some distance some glimmering light indicating the abodes of his fellow-men, and a place of refuge and safety. The word of the Lord giveth light, and soon and completely may it enlighten this island!

Mr. Fournier and his partner, Mr. Marc, I found to be very friendly, and every way disposed to put the Bibles into circulation by sale, accord­ing to the plan pointed out to them. They desired me to say to you, that it afforded them much pleasure to be the means of forwarding your objects.  I have given directions to have the Bibles and Testaments duly advertised in the two newspapers published here, and Mr. Fournier pro­mised to see it carried into effect.

Mr. Fournier shewed me the letter he had from France along with the Bibles. It was in the handwriting, and closed with the name, of Kieffer.  This forcibly brought before me the notice in your last letter of the recent  death of our esteemed fellow-labourer—a labourer greatly honoured in sowing extensively that seed which springeth up into everlasting life.

Dominica, April 23, 1833.

I sailed from Martinique yesterday, towards the close of the day, and, after an unusually quick run of only six hours, I arrived in this island. You will recollect that a little Society was formed here last year, and that a public sale of the Scriptures had been commenced. The sale has not been extensive, but something has been done above what was formerly done to make the Scriptures known here, both among the English and French inhabitants, the latter of whom are by far the most numerous. The progress of the Bible Society here has been but small, yet still it lives, and forms a nucleus by which both means and care are taken to seize the opportunities that offer for circulating the sacred volume. Some French Bibles and Testaments have lately been sent to a distant part of the island, that they might be more within reach of those residing in that quarter. I trust there will, ere long, be a demand for the Scrip­tures in this island, as there are several estates that have lately been opened to the operations of the Wesleyan missionaries. In one quarter there are 2000 slaves benefiting by their instructions, and who eagerly run from place to place, following the missionary to the spot where he preaches to them the way of salvation. If this goes on, and increases, as we hope it will, and if it be duly accompanied with instruction in reading, we shall have, as I have hinted, a demand ere long, and a good one, for copies of the Holy Scriptures.

Guadaloupe, April 24, 1833.

The spot from which I now write you in this island is Point-á-Pitre the capital of the island, and the place to which I requested that copies of the Scriptures might be sent from France, after my visit here in the same month last year. I find that the Bibles and Testaments have duly arrived, and I have seen them arranged here on the bookseller's shelves as I had done in Martinique. Here then is a second phalanx erected against the great enemy, and to destroy, as assuredly they will destroy, his evil work. Our Lord declares that he saw Satan fall like lightning to the ground, and he rejoiced. So shall we see if our eyes are rightly anointed, that Satan is falling before us as we deploy our lines and rows of Bibles before his fortresses, and move along and take them. Herein then let us also rejoice, and our joy shall no man take from us.

Some copies have already been sold here as in Martinique, and I gave directions in the latter place for advertising the sale of the Scriptures as I also have done here, that thus all might know, and that all might have an opportunity of procuring for themselves, a pearl worthy and above all price. May the Lord send down his Spirit to stir up and induce many to get the Scriptures into their possession and diligently to read them, and may they be made wise unto salvation through Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

I leave this island today for Antigua, an island in many respects endeared in my recollections, and to become more and more so I trust by this third and I suppose last visit to it.

I remain, My Dear Friend, Affectionately Yours,

            James Thomson.

P.S. I received in St. Vincent the same day that I sailed from that place, Mr. Jackson´s letter of 7th March, enclosing the letter of credit. J.T.

Antigua, 1st July 1833

Rev A Brandram No. 23

Antigua, July 1, 1833.

My dear Friend,

A longer interval has taken place between my last sheet to you and this than has intervened in my correspondence with you since the commencement of the present mission. Perhaps you will be indulgent enough to suppose that I have not been neglectful in action, if I have been so in writing. The sequel of this letter will shew you how things stand, and whether your cause has been stationary or progressive during the interval above referred to.

My last letter bore date the 24th of April, and was written from the island of Guadaloupe. In taking up, therefore, the thread of my journal, I must, first of all, go back to that date and that island. In the after­noon of the 24th I sailed from Guadaloupe. The wind was light, and we coasted along rather slowly. This retardation, however, of our pro­gress gave me an opportunity of more fully surveying with my eyes the island I was leaving, and of contemplating in my mind its forlorn state in moral and religious concerns. When I arrived there last year, I suppose it would have been no deviation from truth to have said that there was not one copy of the Holy Scriptures in the whole island. One French Bible I left there on that occasion, and now I have the pleasure of know­ing that there are several copies in it; and though these may not yet have all come into use, yet we may expect they will in due time circulate abroad; and let us be assured, that God's word never returns to him void, but accomplishes his will and forwards his kingdom.

About midnight we passed close by the small islands, or rocks, called the Saints. I notice these because of an occurrence there connected with our concerns. Some time before I left Antigua last year, I for­warded four cases of Bibles and Testaments to the island of Dominica, to be ready for me there when I should arrive. On reaching that island I found the four cases I had sent, but learned that the vessel that had taken them had been wrecked on the islands or rocks now mentioned, and that scarcely any thing was saved from the wreck but the Bibles. This brings to my recollection the first shipment of Bibles you sent to South America. That first supply sent by you to that great Continent was quickly landed on its arrival in Buenos Ayres, and on the day fol­lowing the vessel took fire, and was completely burned, with every thing she contained.

On the 26th April I arrived in Antigua. My first object was to see the Secretaries and the leading members of the Committee of our Auxi­liary here, that I might learn from them what had been done during the year elapsed, and to see what further measures could be taken for a greater extension of our cause. A meeting of the Committee soon after took place, which was numerously attended. At this meeting, as well as previously, I was particularly requested to make some stay in the island, in order to visit the Associations that were formed last year, and also to make endeavours to form some new ones. I consented to the urgent request of our friends here, without, however, intending to protract my stay very long, as I kept in mind my long tour, and the advancing of the seasons. Having arranged our plan for visiting the Associations, we began our operations. Our meetings were well attended, and the interest in the object, which we were pleased last year to see, had not, we found, evaporated. In the course of visiting these, we now and then entered upon new ground, and formed new Associations.

Thus we went on from day to day, and then extended from week to week, until the present date. It is not without some reluctance that I have allowed myself to be detained here so long. I have frequently called myself to account, to see whether I were not staying here longer than I ought; but when I considered the objects of my mission, and the progress we were making in this island, at the close of each examina­tion, I came to the conclusion to stay a little longer. I trust I have, during this stay, been employed in full accordance with the objects traced out to me in the commission I received on my coming out to this part of the world. Further I may state, that I consider our operations here in this island not to be confined in their effects to this spot, but as having also a beneficial influence on all the contiguous colonies.

I come now to state what has been done, and the manner in which our operations have been carried on. I informed you last year that twenty Associations had been formed. During the present time nearly all these have been visited, and an additional number has been added to them of the same amount; thus making the whole number of Bible Asso­ciations now formed in this island forty. Nearly all the subscribers and collectors in the country Associations are slaves. Our establishments are scattered all over the island, and embrace about one-fourth of all the estates here.

At some of our meetings collections were made; but we never, in calling a meeting, announced that there would be a collection at it; so that in those cases where it did take place, it was when there was some indication among the people present of a wish, on their part, to give something at the time, in addition to what otherwise they intended to do as subscribers. On one occasion, -we learned that the people would have felt considerable disappointment had they not been called on for a col­lection ; and after it was made, and the people had retired, a person brought in some money which he had collected outside the door; and further, a handful of halfpence and sixpences was brought to us the next day from the same place, for the same object.

It is with pleasure I notice that on this occasion, as well as formerly, the proprietors and others connected with the estates, where our Associa­tions have been formed, have cheerfully permitted us to hold our meetings, and have themselves generally been present, and personally advocated our cause. In some instances, where the planters gave us liberty last year to form Associations, though then somewhat doubtful of their issue, they have this year extended the liberty given us, having found that no evil, but good, had followed our last year's operations. We have formed an Association on the estate of the president of the council, and also on the estate of the Speaker of the Assembly.

A great many of the slaves in this island can read, as schools are numerous all over the island. Nevertheless, the major part, as might be expected, are not able to read as yet. Whilst, in our discourses or speeches at these meetings, we urge those who can read to get the Scrip­tures forthwith and to read them, we also urge on those who cannot read the duty of learning to read without delay; and in the mean time we tell them to procure a Bible or a Testament, that it may be an inducement to them to learn quickly, and that their book may be ready for them as soon as they are able to use it. We have seen some pleasing; instances of a compliance on the part of the slaves with our advice in this matter. Of the meetings generally I may say, that we have felt greatly encouraged by the attention of the negroes, and by their readily entering into our plans.

In holding our meeting one evening, on one of the largest and finest estates of the island, we found ourselves assembled in a house belonging to one of the slaves on the same estate. This house he had built for his own use, and it was one of the largest and best-built negro houses I had seen in the island. After he had finished it, it was on different occasions used, by his permission, for preaching in, and for a Sunday school. This led him to reflect that his house might be used in a way that would prove more profitable than by his dwelling in it himself. He has, therefore, resolved not to occupy this house himself; and he has, in effect, given it up entirely for religious purposes. In those days when the Bible cause prospered in Russia, I understand that the Emperor Alexander gave a large stone-built house for the use of the Bible Society. But in the eyes of Him who sits over against the treasury, this gift of the emperor was much smaller than the gift of the slave Joe, who gave the house in ques­tion for these sacred purposes.

I must give you another anecdote of a slave in this island. Nancy Samuel, a young female slave on one of the estates here, having obtained a Bible, and being questioned as to what value she put upon it, said, with some warmth of feeling, that were her liberty offered to her on condition of parting with her Bible, she would not receive it, but would greatly prefer her Bible. This was a good choice, and reminds one of the election that Solomon made. And she was rewarded, too, somewhat in the manner in which Solomon was; for, before many months had elapsed, she obtained her freedom, although she had not the slightest idea of that when she expressed herself as above stated.

One of the new Associations we have formed is a Ladies' Association, premising to you that some of our ladies are slaves. It seems to be entered into with a good deal of spirit and interest. One of our speakers at the formation of the Society told us of a gentleman on your Island who paid his court for subscriptions at all the houses where he found a brass knocker on the door. Our lades took up the idea, and a note that passed the next day bearing upon this, will show with what zeal the ladies began their operations. "Have you," says the writer, "thought of the Miss H's in forming your list of collectors? I hear there is a brass knocker on their door, and that after the meeting yesterday Miss M went to practice upon it, but found that Mrs. H had been there before her. Truly they seem in earnest to try who can run the fastest in this heavenly race.  The Angel  seems to be flying with the Gospel."

The annual meeting of the Antigua Auxiliary took place in February last. The Report then presented has since been printed, and some copies have been forwarded to you. You will see that our Bible Associations have not proved unfruitful. By means of them about 200 copies of the Scriptures have been put into circulation, and about £75 sterling have been collected and remitted to you. Out of the twenty Associations formed last year, four have proved unproductive. But, from what has come before us in course of visiting them at the present time, we can perceive, that where nothing was done in any place, the fault did not so much lie with the slaves as with the persons who superintended the Asso­ciations. In visiting one of these four lately, we stated their inattention to the object for which their Association had been formed, and urged them to do better for the future. This had a very good effect; and the people of that Association, on the following and some subsequent days, showed their consciousness of former neglect, and procured for themselves twenty copies of the Scriptures, and paid for them the prices affixed. We expect also results somewhat of a similar nature from the others which proved deficient in the last year. From the whole of what has occurred during the year elapsed, and from what we have seen during our present visitation, we have every reason to be satisfied with our Slave Associations; and great encouragement is thus given to extend these over this island at some future period, and also to form Bible Associations among the same class of people in our various colonies.

Before I left Antigua last year I intimated to you that there were in­dications of a change in our favour among the clergy; these good symptoms increased, and have at length resulted in our present favourable position in this respect. And what greatly adds to our pleasure in this matter is, that those who have joined us have done so, not for form's sake, but from the full convictions of duty; and, as resulting from the same circumstance, they are not nominal but zealous promoters of our Bible cause. In going about to visit the former, and to establish new associations, during my present stay here, these gentlemen have contri­buted in every way within their power to aid me. The Rev. Mr. Warner, rector of St. George's, was the first to join us, and he is now become one of our secretaries, which office he fills diligently and cheerfully. Our other secretary, Mr. Bourne, continues to be, what he was, a most active secretary; and no where in the island could we have found an individual who could, from various circumstances, have rendered us so much real service.

I have now been fully two months in this island on the present occasion, and my expenses during that time for board, lodging, and repeated con­veyances over and over the island, amount to nothing, owing to the kind­ness of friends. It is my duty to mention those gentlemen who have thus favoured your cause in the person of your Agent. My tent has been pitched in town with the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, the Rev. Mr. Holberton, Rector of St. John's, the Rev. Mr. Jones, Rector of St. Phillip's, and with Mr. Bourne and his brother. Conveyances have also been liberally furnished to me by these kind friends, and also by the Rev. Mr. Harvey, superintendent of the Moravian mission in this island.

Today we have had a meeting of the Committee, which was numerously attended. All present seemed to feel a new and deeper interest in the great objects of the circulation and reading and study of the Word of God; and all seemed desirous of pledging themselves to promote these objects more and more in this Island and everywhere. Today the New Governor has put down his name as an annual subscriber of Five Pounds currency.

To-morrow, if the Lord will, I leave this place; and in leaving it I feel myself parting, probably for ever here below, with many dear and es­teemed friends and fellow-disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Lord keep them and us all through faith unto salvation, and present us at last before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy!

And now let us all join in the glorious ascription—To the only wise God, our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now ever! Amen.

I remain, My Dear Friend,

            Most Truly Yours,

                        James Thomson.

St Kitts, 14th August 1833

Rev A Brandram No. 24

St. Kitt's, August 14, 1833.

My Dear Friend

My last letter to you was from Antigua, and dated the 1st of July. On the day following I left that island, praying that God, who has begun and has carried on so gracious a work there in the Gospel of his Son Jesus Christ, may be pleased to prosper his own great cause, until the whole island be covered with the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour.

Early next morning I landed at Montserrat, and passed the day there. I saw our friends in that island, who, I am sorry to say, do not amount to many. The Rev. Mr. Collins is now rector there instead of Mr. Luckock. He was formerly in Antigua, and is a sincere friend of the Bible cause. The Wesleyan missionary who was there last year had removed, according to the custom of changes among that body, and another had come into his place. We are never, however, disappointed by any of these changes, as all the Wesleyan missionaries are our friends, and we therefore never experience more than the change of one friend for another. Some little has been done there in the Bible Society formed last year; but Dr. Dyett says he is ashamed of its littleness, and did not like to write to you on the subject till things should stand somewhat better. He and his friends intend to move a little forwards if they can, and he has promised to write to you at least before your next annual meeting.

On the morning of the 4th we sailed from Montserrat, and in the afternoon of the same day arrived in Nevis. The Rev. Mr. Britten and other friends there were anxious to have a Society regularly formed for that island, which, yon will recollect, was not done last year during my visit. They begged me to stop for this end, but as I had a hired vessel I wished to go on with as little delay as possible. I promised, however, to return in a few days, as St. Kitt's is close by Nevis, and vessels are daily running between them.

On the evening of the 5th I arrived at St. Kitt's. I was kindly re­ceived by Mr. M'Mahon, one of the secretaries of the Society formed last year, and under his hospitable roof I have since remained. I have met the committee of the Society here, and find that some progress has been made, though not equal to their wishes, yet the beginning is good. Their Annual Report has been sent to you, and you are therefore in possession of a statement of their operations. All the committee manifested a desire to see their Society extend its labours, and thought that something might be done in the way of forming associations in this island on the plan adopted in Antigua. We accordingly commenced operations in this way, by hold­ing a public meeting in the Moravian chapel in this town, which was nu­merously attended.

On the 10th I went over to Nevis, according to agreement, and on the same evening we held a meeting at a little village, which was very well at­tended, and chiefly by the slaves of the neighbouring estates. Here we formed an Association. On the following day we held a meeting in the court-house of Charles Town, the Capital, where we had the Speaker of the House of Assembly in the chair. An Auxiliary Society was forthwith formed, and, in connexion with it, a Ladies' Bible Association. These things you will see detailed in the newspaper already forwarded to you.

Having thus installed our new Auxiliary, I returned to St. Kitt's. We next held a meeting in the St. Giles of this town (of Basseterre), called Irish Town. It was well attended, and has been productive of good results in the way we intended it should. Our next meeting was held in the large Wesleyan chapel of this town, where we had a numerous congrega­tion, and formed another Association. In the mean time preparations were making for having some meetings on the estates or plantations, as in An­tigua. On the evening of the 16th our first meeting of this kind was held, at a place called Stone Fort. It was well attended by the slaves on that estate and on some neighbouring ones; our statements were attentively listened to, and an Association was regularly formed. This estate is now the property of Rev. George Washington Phillips, and it has thus happened that the first association found in Antigua and the first one here have both been formed on the estates of clergymen. We have also formed Associations on the estates of two resident Proprietors, one of whom is the President of the Council of the Island, a gentleman who has for many years been friendly to the religious instruction of the slaves under him. We have in prospect other estates to which we intend to pay visits in due time.

When I left Antigua it was not my intention to make much stay in this island; but I have been induced to alter my plan by the solicitations and advice of Mr. M'Mahon and other friends here. They have stated to me that, as the season is now come when sailing is dangerous in these seas, I ought to take up my quarters for some time, and that I could, in all probability, do more here than I could do by making a stay in any other part of my tour during this season. I had planned to be in Hayti at this time, but my detention in Antigua threw me out of that; next, I con­templated stopping at St. Thomas's;  but, after maturely considering the advice of my friends, the state of this island, and all the other circum­stances connected with my objects, I have resolved to stay here till the end of September, when the hurricane season will he about over. Some­thing, I trust, will be done during this interval, both in this island and Nevis, which I include with it, in promoting the great object of Bible circulation.

I send you three newspapers, each containing articles on our Bible So­ciety concerns. I shall afterwards send you some others, with articles on the same subject in continuation. The editors of the newspapers here are friendly to us, as we have found them to be in the other colonies, and our cause has been considerably served by them.

The meetings we have held here have proved a stirring up with many about the Scriptures, and numbers have come forward to purchase copies for themselves, according to our recommendation, and even some who can­not themselves read have obeyed our advice, and bought Bibles for their children. This has caused a scarcity with us of the Sacred Volume, and that notwithstanding the arrival of the £30 case you sent, and which reached this a short time ago. These, I may say, are all gone. I have advised our friends to write to you for more, but they say they cannot with any propriety do so, as they have not money to pay for them as yet: I therefore write for them, and beg you to send here, by the very first ship coming, either to this island or to Nevis, the following supply:—200 Bibles; namely, pearl, 20; ruby, 30; minion 24mo,  30; nonpareil, 110; quarto, 5. Also pearl New Testaments, 10; ditto, with Psalter, 10; minion 24mo, and brevier, both with Psalter, 10 each. We have still on hand a few Bibles of large sizes, but our small ones are all gone, and there is a great demand for more. In truth, we almost fear to form new associa­tions, lest, by thus creating fresh demands which we cannot satisfy, we should discourage the people by hope deferred in so important a matter. In Irish Town, our St. Giles, we had a request the other day from one of our collectors for thirty Bibles at once, and we were obliged to put him off with only half the number. I have added these items by way of urging you not to lose the opportunity of the very first ship coming this way, be it from London, Bristol, or Liverpool.

And now say a few words in regard to the Monthly Extracts for these islands. I consider it a matter of some importance to keep up an interest in Bible Society concerns here, and conceive that one grand means of doing so is by regular remissions of these Extracts from month-to-month, so that they may be look for and found as regularly as the packets pay their visits among these islands. After much consideration as to the mode of accomplishing this, the plan I would propose to you is the following: – to make interest (as I think you may easily do) with the Postmaster-General, or with the Commander on the Falmouth station who has the packets under his charge, and having obtained this, to make up and send every month by the Leeward Island Packet a parcel containing the proper supply for all the islands, and to forward it to Barbados. The Leeward Island Packet sails on the Saturday after the third Wednesday of every month, and this would suit well for the time of your publishing which is generally, I understand, in the middle of the month preceding the date. Should your interest be made with the Postmaster-General, your parcel might be put in at the General Post Office; but if with the Commander it Falmouth, you would have to forward your parcel by the van. Should you agree to adopt this plan and be able to do it, your parcel I think should be made up in the following mode: make a small separate parcel for each island, and tie it up by itself and address it. Then put the whole together And address this general parcel to Barbados. The contractors for the mail boats there, Messrs. E. B. and I. Haly, are as I formerly mentioned to you, very friendly and ready to afford us help. You could therefore send your large parcel to them, and they would open it and send the smaller parcels by the male boats to their several destinations. It would of course be well to write a few friendly lines to the Messrs. Halys when you send your first parcel, noticing former favors and begging their kind offices in this matter. The separate parcels for the several colonies should in quantity I think be as follows: – Antigua 100, Barbados 30, Demerara 20, Tobago 20, Grenada 20, St. Lucia 10, Dominica 10, St. Kitts 30, Nevis 20.The proportion of annual reports might be as one fifth of the above numbers, and the abstracts equal to the extracts.

By the last mail that arrived here I received your letters of May, June and July sent me from Barbados. The Postmaster there is very attentive in forwarding my letters whenever I notice to him where I am. Please continue to send all my letters there until I advise you to the contrary. I received your March and April letters in Antigua, and I believe all have come to hand.

 (P.S. Upon reconsideration I think the following paragraph should be private only.)

I am truly sorry to see that your funds are so deficient at the close of this year's account. This however will turn out to you for good, if you manage things right; it will prove to you like the conflagration of the Serampore Printing Establishment, which I believe did more good to the Society concerned than anything that ever came their way. Your funds, I am persuaded will turn out to be greater next year than ever they have been, if you manage these things right. Excuse my repeating this clause. I see you have put forth an appeal on the subject, stitched up with the anniversary speeches, and coupled with the Rules .......supplies for Sunday schools, new societies, remittances, and all that. Now this I would not call doing the thing properly, nor an appeal direct at all. You should move the whole country from Dan to Beersheba by a well and strongly written paper upon the subject and stitched up or combined with – nothing, but let it be a right direct thrust with a strong hand. And in addition to this or rather through this, get your friends here, there and everywhere over the country to preach and to cry aloud for you in the closet and in the Pulpit, and then will your coffers be filled, and you will be obliged to have new ones made in addition. Should any of our friends in the Committee say that this advice is not needed, nor comes seemly from a Servant, be so good as say, it is only to you I am speaking, and I know you can bear anything from anybody. But, for all I have said, I believe you are in truth making strong and direct appeals besides the one referred to, and upon a plan better than any I can advise you to. What therefore I have said above you will please consider as coincidence, and as sympathizing with you at the very appearance of a hindrance to the great and mighty work of sending the Holy Scriptures to all nations, and at a time when all nations are crying out for them, and from your hands.

I observe what you say in your last letter about Mr. Wray. I have written to him at your request, and have filled every nook of my sheet. I have also sent and will send him the newspapers containing articles on our Society.

Your letter also contains accounts from Mexico which have proved very gratifying to me as you rightly supposed they would. I had observed only the day before that Santana had been elected president, which verifies a prediction I made three years ago, and which I ventured from a knowledge of that man and of that country. Zavala is again Governor of the populous State of Mexico, and he is our friend. In Mexico with its eight millions, and Guatemala with its ­two, making together ten millions of humans souls have great claims on the Bible Society, and claims which I doubt not you will listen to as attentively as you have heretofore done. May the Lord bless your society, so evidently raised up in these latter days and bless to bless the Earth, and to bring the Son of Man in his Kingdom and Glory. May we stand in the happy place my dear friend, in the glorious day!

Ever affectionately yours,

            James Thomson.

P.S. I see Dr. Pinkerton is about to publish a work on Russia by subscription the price I think is a guinea. Please put my name down for one copy.

St Kitts, 23rd October 1833/Tortola, 31st October 1833/ St Thomas, 5th November 1833

Rev A Brandram No.25

St. Kitt's, October 23, 1833.

My Dear Friend

My last letter would apprise you of my intention to continue longer in this island than the time properly due to it, from its size and circum­stances, and would also inform you of the reasons which induced me to make this delay. I am now, however, about to leave it, and shall here give you some notices of what has occurred since I last wrote.

A good portion of the time which has elapsed between my last letter and this may be said to have been taken up by the weather; that is to say, its occasional storminess, wetness, and uncertainty, hindered me from doing what otherwise I might probably have done in the way of forming Bible Associations. I endeavoured to turn this vacuity to account, by printing in the newspapers some account of our Society, as you will see by the two newspapers formerly sent you, and by the two which accompany this letter. I found this useful, as the articles were pretty generally read, and tended to remove ignorance and misconception upon the subject, and thus prepared the way for forming Bible Associations, when the wea­ther should well permit.

During the latter four or five weeks we have been tolerably active, and have held meetings on various estates, and under pleasing cir­cumstances. The cheerful and active co-operation of some of the clergy has been very helpful in this work; and we are cheered with the hope that those Associations thus formed by their aid will be prosperous, having the constant superintendence of those who assisted in their formation. The Rev. Mr. Johnson, who has two small contiguous parishes under his charge, has been prominently active in our cause; and I trust he will continue the work he has so earnestly begun, until all his parishioners are in possession of the Holy Scriptures. For three successive days we rode through his parishes, visiting the proprietors and others in charge of the estates. We were cheered as we went along in finding that the planters we visited, with scarcely any exception, were friendly to our objects, and gave us full permission to hold our meetings and form our Associations, granting the people a quarter or a half a day's leave from work, to get themselves ready, and to attend our meetings. On the following days, therefore, several little Societies were formed in these parishes under Mr. Johnson; and, as I have already hinted, I have great hopes that much good will follow, as the gentleman mentioned pur­poses to keep up, by personal visits, a work which gave him manifest satisfaction to see begun, and under encouragements which he had not expected. The Rev. Mr. Perry, the incumbent of the adjoining parish, also visited with me the different estates within his limits, and gave me every assistance in forming our Associations. He promises to super­intend these infant institutions in his parish, and to keep up the interest of the negroes in what they have entered into.

We have had a feature rather new in these Associations, in the greater number of those who put clown their names for Bibles and Testaments at the close of our meetings: at one time we had eight subscribers for Bibles, and thirty-six for Testaments. Formerly, we chiefly looked to the collectors for getting subscribers; but here we had to write long lists of names immediately after our recommendations to get the Scriptures were heard. This, no doubt, is the best plan, as it is striking the iron when it is hot, and thus producing greater effects. Amidst this gratifi­cation, however, we were discouraged by the circumstance that we had no Bibles at hand to supply the people. Had we had these at the time, we should have done more good, as several, in all probability, would have advanced the sum required, in order to get immediate possession of what was recommended to them, and what they wished to have. You already know my wants on this score by my last letter, and I trust not long time will elapse before the 200 Bibles written for shall reach this island. An extract from a note from Mr. Johnson which I received the other day will show you how desirable it is that this supply should arrive soon. He says, - "A number of applications for Bibles have been made, without my having the means of supplying the parties. I hope the feeling will not subside before procuring the books."

The whole number of our Associations in St. Kitt's amounts to 25. They might, I believe, be increased considerably, were I to make a longer stay in this island. But a sufficient number is already formed to give a fair trial to their working.

Some days ago I went over to Nevis, where we had a meeting of the Committee of the Auxiliary formed there, and also of the Committee of the Ladies' Bible Association. On three estates on that island new Associations were formed, and under the usual favourable circumstances. One of them was on an estate belonging to the Hon. Mr. Webbe, the chief justice of the island, and the President of our Auxiliary there. This gentleman did all he could to encourage the people to enter into the object we set before them. He also encouraged them to learn to read ; not by words only, but also by promising a quarter of a dollar to every one of them who should read him a chapter of the New Testament by the 1st of March next. At the close of this meeting we had thirteen subscribers for Bibles, and forty-six for New Testaments. On the next estate where we held a meeting, twenty-two had their names put down for Bibles, and thirteen for Testaments. On this latter estate there are more people who can read than on Mr. Webbe's, which circumstance accounts, perhaps for the greater number of Bibles in the one case over the other.

I am not sure whether I noticed to you in my last that there is a more than common desire among the slaves in Nevis to learn to read. They flock to schools when they are opened, are eager-to buy spelling-books, and snatch a lesson in reading whenever they can. It is by no means rare, when the people come in from field, to see a tall man sitting down and taking most docilely his lesson of A, B, and C, from a boy not half his length; whilst, at the same time, two or three full-grown persons are looking over the man's shoulders, to pick up what they can from this little master and his great pupil. This scene affords a fine subject for a drawing or a painting, and I should be glad to see it delineated, as it would form a cheering sight after the many dark ones which have beclouded this region of the world.

Yesterday I returned from Nevis; not because there were no more openings where Associations might be formed, but because I cannot, with propriety, make a longer stay in this quarter, but must now pursue my journey onwards and westwards. In confirmation of there being more openings in Nevis, I would say, that when I asked Mr. Webbe on what estates there was a probability of forming Associations, he began by naming this one and that one; and, after going over several in this way, he added, "In short, excepting a very few, I do not know where you would not be able to form them." This was very encouraging; but "move onwards" sounded in my ears, and my duty said "obey it;" and, under these circumstances and feelings, I left Nevis. There are there one Auxiliary and five Associations.

On my return from St Kitts I found waiting for me a note, of which I give you a copy, as it tends to characterize the state of things here regarding our operations. It is as follows, and is addressed to Mr. Patty before mentioned: – "Dear Sir, I only this morning received Mr. C's answer to my note respecting Mr. Thomson's visit to this estate. It appears that my note was not given to him until yesterday. He quite agreed to Mr. Thomson's wish, but I  am afraid it is now too late. I now regret that I did not at once acquiesce." The latter expressions here evidently convey a strong wish that the thing in question has been done. This you see is a friendly feeling on our side, and this is by no means a solitary case. We have had more than permission to go upon the states, we have often had direct and much encouragement.

To-day I had a visit from a very respectable planter, and the object of his coming conveys the same encouragement as is noticed in the preceding paragraph. This gentleman had given us permission to hold a meeting and form an Association on a large estate under his care; but thinking our application referred only to that estate, he said nothing of another estate on which he himself resided. On finishing our operations in that parish, which is at the extreme end of the island, I returned to Basse­terre. But it seems the people (alias the negroes or slaves) were in expectation of a visit and a meeting, as on the other estate; and, when day passed on after day, and no visitors came, they began to think they had been overlooked from something unfavourable in themselves. They ac­cordingly spoke to their master upon the subject, and said, they supposed I had not come to them on account of their being "more wicked than others." Their master sympathised with them, and paid the visit in question, to signify his wish that a meeting might be held on that estate, if my arrangements would allow of it. Here, we see is a case in addition to the preceding, indicating that in leaving St. Kitts (as well as Nevis) it is not for want of more work to do, but for another reason, – I must be moving onwards.

To-morrow or next day I intend to leave St. Kitt's. I have found many individuals here who have showed me friendly attentions, on account of the object in which I am engaged. One of these it is my duty to mention, namely, Mr. M'Mahon, the Secretary to your Auxiliary here, and a respectable merchant and magistrate. This gentleman has not only aided us greatly, in facilitating the forming of our little societies, but has also very kindly entertained your Agent in his own house, during the greater part of my stay in this island. May the blessing of God rest on him and on his family, and may they be blessed in their substance, and with every spiritual blessing in Christ Jesus!

Tortola, October 31, 1833.

You see from the preceding line and name that I have obeyed the sound —"move onwards and westwards." l am now arrived at the last English island in this quarter. I left St. Kitt's on the 25th, and reached this in the middle of the following night. Things do not look well here: we are too far from Antigua in more ways than one. I have found it difficult to find materials enough and befitting for forming a committee for an Auxiliary Bible Society. Perhaps a longer stay than I can well afford would have pointed out to me what I wanted; but I must not now stay.

I have however formed what I may call a Committee of Correspondence, to see after your work here. That committee, though small, presents a very pleasing aspect; and you will find it efficient for your purposes here at the present time. There is one, and only one, clergyman in the island; and there are two Wesleyan missionaries. These three form your Committee of Correspondence for Tortola. It is very pleasing to me, and equally so to you, I believe, to see the ministers of Jesus Christ unite as one to further his kingdom. So do these three unite; and so may we all unite, of every name and in every place; and may the Lord only be exalted! The Rev. John Hutson, the Rector of this place, will be the organ of communication with you for the little committee mentioned.

I have received from the Rev. Mr. Cox, one of the Wesleyan mis­sionaries, ten dollars, which he had received for Bibles and Testaments which I put into his hands last year at St. Kitt's, as formerly noticed. Mr. Cox paid, besides this, about eighteen dollars to Mr. Garling, in Antigua, at the beginning of this year, and this sum will appear in Mr. Garling's accounts. I have made arrangements for a more public sale of the Scriptures in this island, by pulling them into two well-frequented shops, to which all may come to supply themselves with the word of Life. Tomorrow morning I intend to sail for the Danish island of St. Thomas, which is not far distant.

St. Thomas, Nov. 5, 1833.

Here at length I have arrived, and now stand on foreign ground. The English islands in these parts lie behind me; but I cannot help taking a glimpse at them before they are quite out of sight. Forget them I never can, as circumstances) and occurrences not a few, during my nearly two years' peregrination among them, have, I may safely say, fixed them as a permanent part of my thoughts and of myself for ever. I carried out with me, you will recollect, 5000 copies of the word of God; all these have been put into circulation, and, I believe, some 2000 more. The greater part of these have come into the hands of those who "in time past were not a people," but many of whom are now the people of God, through his Son Jesus Christ; and many more are looking Zion-ward, and inquiring the way, by getting the word of God to see the directions it gives upon this great and important concern. The manner too in which our operations have been carried on in many places, of holding meetings in forming Associations on the estates and witnessing the interest felt by the hearers in respect to the reading of the Scriptures, has greatly added to the interest of the subject, and conduced not a little to make the impression left on my mind respecting these islands of a permanent nature. May the Lord prosper greatly the work which is going on among these islands, until every one shall have the Holy Scriptures in his hands, and shall know the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world, and shall follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth!

You must not forget these islands; much may be done among them through your means. You should, I think, send some one to visit them again before long. My voyaging and work westward prevent the chance of my seeing them again; but, before I finally leave them I would anew recommend them to your care, and say, "send some one to visit them before long." The door is wide, and you may make it effectual.

In this island of St. Thomas, where I now I am, I arrived on the 1st instant. This and the two adjacent islands belong to the Danish government. I am quite uncertain as yet whether anything can be done here, but at all events I shall prolong my stay for a few days more, as this island is a stepping stone to several other places, and the medium of communicating with them.

I write this letter from New Herrnhut, an interesting spot, as it is the first missionary establishment for the slaves of the West Indies, and has led the way to all that is now doing for the religious welfare of the poor negroes. It was begun 101 years ago, and under circumstances of great interest, as the two first missionaries came out to preach Jesus to the poor slaves at whatever cost, and resolved to sell themselves for slaves, should there be no other way of getting access to the objects of their godly benevolence. May our God anoint us all with such a spirit!

I remain Truly Yours,

James Thomson.

Santa Cruz, 10th December 1833

Rev A Brandram No. 26

Santa Cruz, Dec. 10, 1833.

My Dear Friend,

After writing my last letter to you, I remained some time in the island of St. Thomas. The objects I had in view in that place were three: first, to find out conveyances for the small cases which you forwarded me there for the Spanish Main. These I found and then shipped all the cases, accompanying them with letters to the Governors of the different provinces to which they were sent. My second object was to ascertain what could be done in these three Danish islands towards promoting a greater circulation of the Scriptures in them, and to see if there was any prospect of forming a Bible Society. Some openings on these two points I thought I perceived, but found that the previous to doing anything, I would have to visit Santa Cruz where the Governor General of these islands resides. The third object which I had in view in St. Thomas was to learn what I could respecting Porto Rico, as there is a constant intercourse between the two islands. I had obtained information I was immediately in quest regarding that island, and received also the promise or some letters of introduction to persons who might be of use to me there. Having attended to the three objects here stated, I sailed from St. Thomas and came to the island from which this letter is dated. I write the name Santa Cruz for so it is universally pronounced, although it is most generally written St. Croix in the French form.

My first object in Santa Cruz was to see the Governor-General. Accordingly, very soon after my arriving in this island, I called on him ; and although he was ill, and confined to his bed, I was permitted to see him, and had a pleasing interview, which, at his request, was prolonged beyond the proper length of an introductory visit. I next visited Mr. Luckock, whom I had met with last year, as you will recollect, in Montserrat. He is now the minister of the English church in this island. Mr. Luckock I found, of course, a friend to all my Bible Society objects; and from several members of his church, to whom he introduced me, I received encouragement. Mr. Bagger, also, the minister of the Danish church, and several of his flock, gave me encouragement in a similar way. Having thus found materials for a little Bible Society, I called again on the governor, and formally proposed my objects to him, and was happy to find that he not only gave his permission and sanction, but also gave me leave to use his name and influence with all to whom I might have occa­sion to speak upon the subject; and further promised to put his name at the head of our Bible Society and be its patron. I then called upon some other persons, and in all my visits found my objects met with a favour­able reception. We next invited a number of those whom we had seen and knew to be friendly, to a private meeting in the house of a gentleman belonging to a Danish congregation. What took place at this meeting, and what followed, you will see in the newspaper which accompanies this letter. Our society was formed, and from the general good feeling mani­fested at the meeting now referred to, and at the first meeting of the Committee which subsequently took place, I am inclined to think that the Santa Cruz Bible Society will not be the least useful of the societies re­cently formed in these West India islands. At our Committee meeting two Ladies' Bible Associations were formed in Christiansted and Frederiksted, the two towns of the island.

You will perceive that this society is not named an auxiliary, either to your Society or to the Bible Society of Denmark, but is in connexion with both; and, as you will see by the Governor's letter, he wishes the prefer­ence to be in favour of the Society in his native country, to which these islands belong. Notwithstanding this connection however, we have avoided any participation in circulating the Apocrypha, by inserting in our rules, that our sole object is to circulate the pure word of God. I have explained it to the secretaries here how our society in London stands upon the subject, and that in forming a society or any other principles none of your agents could help out. I have also written to Dr. Möller of Copenhagen, and begged that our non-apocryphal rules might be generally respected and continued. But in truth there is no great danger circulating Bibles here with the Apocrypha by the Bible Society now formed. For, in the first place, only inhabitants of this island understand and speak the English language, and you therefore will be the direct provider of the Scriptures for them. And, in the second place, the case of Danish Bibles and Testaments which I brought here, will be sufficient for years to come I suppose for the few Danes that resides here. You will see by the advertisement in the newspaper, that the Scriptures, in English and Danish, are exposed to public sale in the two and only two towns in the island. The monies arising from the sales, I have you directed to be remitted immediately to you, and not to the Denmark Society. The free contributions to this society, should there be any, will according to arrangements be paid over to you; though perhaps they may pass through the hands of Danish Bible Society. – I have thus endeavored to keep you in all things clear on point of some delicacy, and hope I have succeeded.

I cannot leave Santa Cruz without saying a few words additional in regard to the Governor General of these islands. I have received many friendly attentions from him as your Agent. He has encouraged, as you see, the establishment of our Santa Cruz Society; he has also written a letter to the Governor of St. Thomas, begging him to aid me in getting up a society there; and further, he has furnished me with a letter of intro­duction to the governor of Porto Rico, which I consider a very particular favour, and a circumstance likely to be of great service to me. I might add, too, as bearing upon the same subject, that, on the day on which our Committee meeting was held, he had a dinner-party of 17, consist­ing almost exclusively of the members of the Committee, and evidently intended to mark his open approbation of our proceedings and object; and again, when I found I could not be ready to go with the packet to St. Thomas, he immediately gave orders that the packet should be detained till next day. Were I not afraid of asking too much, I would beg Lord Teignmouth it he enjoys sufficient strength in his advanced years, to write a that a few lines to the gentleman in question, to thank him for his friendly aid to your Society in the person of your agent. General Von Scholten's address you will see the verbatim in the account all the Bible Society in the newspaper.

St. Thomas, December 23, 1833.

A few days ago I returned again to this island, and have occupied myself am endeavouring to form a little Bible Society here, as in Santa Cruz. Difficulties have however presented themselves, and more than were anticipated after the encouragement met with at Santa Cruz, and the recommendation only object by the Governor General to the Governor of this island. Two or three private conversational meetings have been held, the last of which took place to-day. But the result has been to oblige us to give it up for the present, though not finally. In the mean time, how­ever, a public sale of the Scriptures has been established, and notice of it given by advertisement in the newspapers.

I now go to Porto Rico by the very first opportunity that presents it­self. I go in the midst of doubts and fears, but the Lord sends me, and I set out not knowing whither I go. I count on your prayers individually, and on the prayers of all the Committee on my behalf, as well as on those offered up daily and every where for the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One encouraging hope I console and cheer myself with, and that is, that now has arrived the time when God will have the Gospel preached, at least by the introduction of his word, in every country, continent, and island. Woe to the nation or place that refuses God's offer of mercy. Pray that at Porto Rico a wide and effectual door may be opened for the glorious Gospel of Christ, now approaching it in the form of the Sacred Scriptures. How happy I shall be to gladden your hearts in another letter, and soon, with good tidings from that island! "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered, let them also that hate Him flee before Him!"

                                                                                                James Thomson.

St Thomas, 5th February 1834

Rev A Brandram No. 27

St. Thomas, February 5,1834.

My Dear Friend

Since writing you last, I have been brought near to the gates of death; but the Lord has delivered me, and I am now far advanced to a recovery of my usual health and strength. Whilst I was waiting for a vessel for Porto Rico I was seized with a fever, on the 27th December, which lasted for eight days, and in that short space of time I was brought to a very low and weak state. This fever has prevailed here during most of the time since my arrival, and not a few have been carried off by it, among whom is one of our dear friends the Moravian missionaries. I have indeed great cause to be full of grateful thanksgiving to the Father of mercies for all his gracious dealings with me under this sickness; and my earnest desire and my prayer is, that it may truly produce in me "the peaceable fruit of righteousness," and zeal for the glory of God and for the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. The period of this illness I have passed at the Moravian settlement of New Herrnhut, where I have re­ceived every kind attention and treatment.

Your letter informs me of the death of our dear friend Mr. Hughes, a man truly honoured of God in being the deviser, through the Holy Ghost we may well say, of the simple and glorious scheme of circulating the word of God, through means of a Society, among all nations and in all languages. In his death we have a monitor, and may the Lord give grace unto us all duly to attend to it! I pray that the Spirit of God may guide you in the choice of a successor to fill the important office of our departed friend.

In the letter you forwarded to me, from Lima, I perceive, as you will have seen, that my correspondent there never received the parcel addressed to him containing the translation of the New Testament into the ancient Peruvian tongue. I fear therefore that it is lost; but in a letter which I have just written, I have desired my friend in Lima to make some search for this parcel. In the meantime however it might perhaps be well to employ Mr. Pazos to translate the Gospel by Luke into that language. Be so good as informed me what translations Mr. Pazos has made for you, or is making into that, or the Aimará tongue. I may here notice, that in page 100 of your report for 1832, the Tarasco and Misteca languages are called South American. They are North American as being in Mexico; but perhaps it would be best to say, "of Mexico." I may also notice, that in some former report, I forget which, Central America, and Mexico are confounded; I think the latter is said to be in the former. Central America means Guatemala, and that State or Republic alone, whereas Mexico is totally distinct nation. In regard to the sending out of the Monthly Extracts to these islands, I see you fear difficulties. I hope they will be overcome. But should they not on the plan proposed, another may be adopted; and that is, to forward the parcels to the Secretary of the Falmouth Society, or any other particular friend you may have there, desiring him to see these forwarded by the Steward of the packet, giving him some little remuneration for his trouble. The Steward has liberty to do such things, and in this way the object may be accomplished. I hope you will do every thing in your power in this matter, and as early as you can, for much will depend on the doing of it, and your friends in these islands are anxiously expecting these communications from you. – Tortola, St. Thomas, and St. Croix wish for their share of the Extracts. Mr. Hutson, the Rev. Mr. Labagh, and Mr. Luckock are the persons to whom they should be sent, and please to direct these two latter parcels to the care of Messrs. Hjardemaal and Anderson, St. Thomas.

My next letters please direct to Jamaica, and if you know any secure person there address them to his care, a merchant if you can. In regard to our prospective operations in the Jamaica, I wish for your advice and direction. If that island opens to our work as Antigua and some of the other islands have done, my stay there will be required for several months. Shall I so stay? – Or shall I proceed onwards in my tour, after a moderate detention?

Please to consider what stock of Bibles you suppose to be in Jamaica, and if there are not a few hundreds, be so good as to send us out some early, that our operations may not be hindered.

            Believe me, My Dear Friend, Very Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

P.S.—20th Feb. I sail to-day for Porto Rico, being now, by the mercy of our Heavenly Father, restored to my usual strength.

Porto Rico, 17th March 1834

Rev A Brandram No. 28

Porto Rico, 17th March 1834.

My Dear Friend,

In a postscript to my last letter I apprised you of my intention, for the second time,  of proceeding immediately for this island. In the gracious dealings of God towards me, this second intention was realised, and I arrived here safely on the 21st of last month. ― Before however  I enter on our concerns here, I would notice what I forgot to state when writing the postscript above alluded to, namely, that on the 19th ultimo I succeeded in forming a kind of sub-society in St Thomas's, whose object will be to raise subscriptions in aid of the Santa Cruz Society, and to attend to the sale and general circulation of the Scriptures within its own limits.  This is the most I could succeed in, and even that with some difficulty. This beginning however may lead to better things at a future day, whilst in the mean time something will be done towards the main object. . ― A sale has been opened also in a public store or shop where the Scriptures are sold in English, Danish, French and Spanish; and of this due notice has been given in the newspaper of the place.

I mentioned to you in a former letter my doubts and fears as to the success we might have in getting the Word of God into circulation in this Island of Porto Rico. These certainly were not allayed but increased by my first contact with the laws and usuages of this place. I had of course to make my first appearance here, as I have to do every where, at the Custom house. In examining my luggage there, which consisted partly of clothes and partly of books, both for personal use and not for sale, I was allowed to take the clothes with me, but the books were interdicted. I rallied the Custom house officers upon the subject, saying that these books were as much for my own use as were my clothes, and begged that I be allowed to take a few or at least two or three for daily use. No, was the reply to all I could say: all books, said they, are interdicted until they shall have been examined by the Ecclesiastical authorities. This, said I to myself, omens bad in regard to my other books, but I must use all measures within lawful reach to accomplish the object of my visit to this Island.

I mentioned to you before that Governor Von Scholten gave me a letter for the Government here. After the rencontre mentioned I went and presented my letter of introduction, and was favourably received. I afterwards made out a representation to get my books for personal use out of the Custom house,  and after some delay succeeded. My chief object came next, and where my fears most lay. I made out, as I was directed, a formal representation praying that  certain books that I had brought with me for sale might be allowed to be brought out of the Custom house and disposed of in the Island as I might find occasion, and of these I gave a list, and a specimen of each for examination. Various delays occurred in getting the books examined, notwithstanding that the Governor's Secretary urged on the business. At length a decision was given which amounted to a summary prohibition of the books in  question, and this decision was founded on the late law of the press published in Spain and which reached this island after my arrival in it. This law though evidently intended to extend the liberty of the press has had in the first instance a contrary effect in regard to our work. The change in question will however ere long in all probability lead to other changes respecting books, and such as shall fully admit the free circulation of the Scriptures without note or comment in Spain and its dependencies.

Although the entrance of the Scriptures into this Island for sale and circulation was adjudged  and prohibited by the late law now mentioned, yet it was very plain, as I could perceive through the conversations with the Ecclesiastic entrusted with the examination, that the same result precisely would have taken place though by a different process under the old law.

I have thus made a trial, and under favourable auspices, to bring the Word of God into this Spanish colony, but have been unable to succeed. I endeavoured to get the Governor and his Secretary to help me in this matter, but though they were very friendly in other things, they did not think themselves justified in adventuring their responsibility in the case, but must, they said, let it pass through the usual course in matters of that kind. ― I have however put 9 of our books into circulation, 4 of which were sold and 5 given as presents.

I have lost more time in this visit than I could have wished, but none that I could avoid. The decision above mentioned was communicated to me only on this very day; and having thus finished my business here, I leave the Island by the first conveyance. I must again return to St. Thomas to get a passage from that Island to Hayti, as there is no intercourse between that Island and this. I consulted with myself several times when in St Thomas, whether I should pass by this Island altogether, and would in truth gladly have passed it by had it not been that I considered my duty in this mission forbad me to do so. Your duty is to offer the Scriptures unto all, especially to a place that lies directly in our way as this island does; but when the Scriptures will not be received, the responsibility lies not with the offerers, but with those who reject them. The Lord forgive this island for this rejection of God's holy word and message, and soon may it be led to repentance, and works meet for repentance.

From  Hayti I hope soon to have better accounts to give you: worse I cannot. But should Hayti too prove discouraging, Jamaica I trust will make amends for it, and for this Island also. Let us hope, and pray, and labour, and thus shall God be glorified in us both when we succeed and when we do not.

            Believe Me Most Truly Yours,

                                                James Thomson.

St Thomas, 22nd March 1834

Rev A Brandram No. 29

St. Thomas, 22nd March,1834.

My Dear Friend

My accompanying letter No.28 being finished, and being still in my hands unsent off to you, it has pleased Providence that its doleful strain should not reach you without its proper antidote.  ―In coming from St Kitt's in October last to Tortola, I sailed in the vessel belonging to a gentleman whom I knew in Antigua. This vessel after landing me at Tortola was to proceed to Crab Island,[1] lying not far from the Eastern Coast of Porto Rico. I had a case of Spanish Bibles and Testaments on board, and I thought this was a good opportunity of sending them to that Island, if peradventure they might make their way to the larger island westward. I saw this gentleman on his return, previous to my going to Porto Rico, and he told me that he had left the books in the house of a friend there. Fearing that no good result would follow from leaving them much longer in that place, I left a letter here for that gentleman, on my going to Porto Rico, begging him to bring the books to St. Thomas at his earliest convenience. On my return to this island, I found he had not been here to get my letter.  But this very day, I was agreeably surprised by meeting him unexpectedly in the street, just as he had arrived from Crab Island. He told me that he had sold the case of Bibles, and that they were purchased by a person from Porto Rico, and carried by him into that Island for sale. You may be sure this was very gratifying news to me. I had been labouring to introduce  God's holy word into that Island, and praying earnestly that now at length God would be pleased to remove every hinderance to its introduction, and that it might have ample course and be glorified. yet I had returned unsuccessful, and discouraged. Scarcely however had I left that Island and arrived here, when I learned, as above, that our object had been accomplished, and our prayers answered in another quarter of the Island, and at the very same portion of time.

Crab Island is, as above stated, near the Eastern Coast of  Porto Rico, I think about 7  miles distant. It is a small island, and nearly uncultivated. It is claimed by the Spaniards, and it is claimed also by the English. In consequence of our claim to the island, the British will not allow of any interference with goods carried by them into it, nor that any duties should be charged on them. On the other hand, in consequence of the Spanish claim, when goods of any kind pass from Crab Island to Porto Rico, they are considered as merely passing from one part of the Spanish dominions to another, or rather from one district to another, as the places are so near. It so happens therefore that all articles have free ingress and egress into Porto Rico, and from it, through means of this channel.

This channel then now being open to us, it becomes a duty to turn it to good account. The gentleman who sold the Bibles is about to establish a sugar estate in Crab Island, and is going and coming frequently between it and Antigua.  He carries with him on his return to Antigua, timber and other articles the produce of Crab Island and Porto Rico, and these articles he receives in barter for goods of British manufacture. Thus were the Bibles brought to a sale, and they were paid for in timber. This timber is to be sold in Antigua, and the produce of what was received for the Bibles will be paid to Mr Garling, who will remit the same to you.

In consequence of the foregoing circumstances, I would advise, that one case of Spanish Bibles, Testaments, Psalters, and Luke, assorted, should be sent to Peter Walter Esq., Antigua, accompanied by a letter requesting him to have the goodness to take them to Crab Island, and to dispose of them there as he had formerly done, and to inform you of the result.  Perhaps, it would be better to send two cases, desiring him to take them one by one or otherwise as he may judge best. ―You desired me once, I recollect, to say what I meant by a case. I always mean by this expression, except otherwise stated, a case of the size sent out to Mexico, and which can be easily ascertained by a reference to the quantity put into those cases.

We shall require a case half the size of the above for this Island. Let it be of Bibles and Testaments only, and sent to the Rev. Mr. Labagh, stating to him that it is for the sale at Mr. Lindeman's in connexion with the St Thomas Correspondence Committee of the Bible Society.

Another encouragement arises to us from a consideration of the position and circumstances of  Crab Island. The Cayman Islands lying off Cuba on the South, are I suppose, in the same predicament respecting Cuba as Crab island is to Porto Rico. If so, there is then an opening for the Scriptures, through that channel, into the large and populous island of Cuba, in the event of the Ecclesiastical Authorities there shutting upon us the direct door as they have done in Porto Rico. It would be well therefore to forward me to Jamaica one case such as is to be sent to Mr Walter, in order to its being sent to the Cayman Islands. ―But,  as the Havanna is next to an open port for all goods, and less under ecclesiastical influence than Porto Rico, another case or two will be required for Cuba direct through the Havanna, should it be proper to visit that port. Please therefore to forward me 3 cases of Spanish Scriptures to Kingston; nor should I think 4 cases too many, let it therefore be four.

The printed letter of the Committee respecting Mr Hughes came into my hands  immediately on my landing from Porto Rico. May our life be like the Righteous and our death as theirs!

                        I remain, My Dear Friend,  Very Sincerely Yours,

                                                                                                James Thomson.

P.S. I have just taken a passage in a French Brig, for the city of Santo Domingo in Hayti. We expect to sail in a couple of days.

[1] Vieques (BM).

Santo Domingo, 30th April 1834

Rev A Brandram No.30

Santo Domingo, Island of Hayti, 30th April, 1834.

My Dear Friend,

A postscript in my last letter advised you that I was about to sail for this city, from which I now write you. On the 28th of March we sailed; and, after a fine passage of fifty hours, arrived here safely. You are well aware that the eastern end of the island of Hayti was, till very lately. a colony of Spain, like Porto Rico. Considering, then, the reception  met with in the island last named, on the one hand, and on the other the peculiar circumstances of this island in its class of inhabitants, the confusion and evil work in it some years ago, and other things that might be mentioned, I felt what I may call a novel kind of interest and anxiety as to the reception your agent would meet with in this place. In my last letter but one, when telling you of our debarrment from Porto Rico, I said, "From Hayti I hope soon to have better accounts to give you." This, in truth, was said half against hope; but I like always to hope for the best. In this case my hopes have not been disappointed; and, I think I may add, they have been exceeded. In the first place, instead of being troubled here, and ultimately forbidden to pass our books through the custom-house, as at Porto Rico, I had the pleasure of seeing them obtain in this place a free entrance and without any scruple: the only books prohibited from entering this island are those of an immoral tendency; and surely your books, on this score, secure themselves from all inter­ruption. In the second place, in the way of encouragement, there were no duties charged on our books. But the third instance of encourage­ment on our commencement in this island is better still. Your books have been sought after, bought up, and read. When I had got our books brought to my lodgings, I sent them out to parade the streets in the hands of hawkers. The return of these, from time to time, for more and more books, was a refreshment to our souls that you will be able to enter into; and we (two) bowed our knees, again and again, and prayed to our Heavenly Father that His Word, which he had brought here through our weak hands, and which was thus so readily received, might be carefully read, rightly understood and obeyed, in His Son Jesus Christ, for the salvation of all whom he had stirred up to get it into their hands. Through means of these hawkers, and by sales made in my own lodgings, I have disposed of nearly all the stock I brought for this place; and I have received in return somewhat more than £46 sterling. The Spanish Scriptures which I had with me formed the stock for this place; the French Scriptures are for the other end of the island. All the Spanish Bibles and Testaments I have sold; and about one of the two cases containing the two small volumes of Spanish Bibles, parti­cularly of the larger size, I could have sold many more if I had had them. Of the French Bibles and Testaments I have sold several; and in truth, find myself with a more scanty supply than I could wish for the other portion of this island.

One of our encouragements here, and not the least, is the free introduction of the Scriptures into the schools of this city. I spoke to General Carrie, who is the Governor of this quarter, respecting the use of the New Testament in the National School here; and the pleasing result followed that seventy-two New Testaments were bought for this school, and for these I received payment direct from the public treasury of the district. French is chiefly taught in the National School, and the French Scriptures are taken for it. The other schools in the city are Spanish schools. I visited these, and recommended to the masters and pupils[1] our two little volumes, as also the New Testament. In all these schools these books have been readily received, and in considerable num­bers. You may now, therefore, enjoy the pleasing contemplation, when you turn your thoughts this way, that the Holy Scriptures furnished by you are in daily use in all the public schools of this city.

I have taken my passage in a French vessel for Jacquemel, and we expect to sail tomorrow. From that port I intend to go overland to Port au Prince, the capital of the island. When I have finished my business there, I will have to return again to Jacquemel, to get a passage in our Mexican Packet, which touches there, and then goes on to Kingston.

            Believe me, Truly Yours,

                        James Thomson.

[1] One containing four books of the Old Testament, and the other the Gospel of St. Luke and the Acts.

Port au Prince, 10th June 1834

Rev A Brandram No.31

Port-au-Prince, 10 June 1834.

My dear Friend,

In my last I told you I was about to sail for Jacmel, and to proceed from thence to this city, the capital of Hayti. I reached Jacmel on the 5th ultimo, where I was detained about a week, and arrived here on the 14th following.

One of my objects in this city was to dispose of the remaining part of my stock of French Scriptures brought from Saint Domingo. The other, and the chief object, was to see the President, and to encourage him to introduce the Scriptures into the schools of the island, and among the soldiers, after the example of the French and the Prussians. I accordingly drew up a representation to him upon the subject, after consulting his secretary, and indirectly himself. I had afterwards an interview with him, at which he told me that he had carefully read over my representation, and fully approved of the objects pointed out in it, in regard to the supplying of the schools and the soldiers with the Holy Scriptures, and that his principal secretary would arrange with me as to the number of copies necessary for these purposes. I had offered him the Scriptures at a reduced rate for the use of the schools and the mili­tary, following your example with the government of France and with the Prussians. He begged me to thank you for your friendly assistance, and to say that he would have pleasure in co-operating with you in the benevolent purpose you are pursuing.

Subsequently, I conversed with the President's secretary, according to his suggestion, and the number fixed upon for the purposes mentioned, is 3000 New Testaments and 200 Bibles. These are to be all in the French language, and sent direct to the government. I have offered the New Testaments at a quarter of a Spanish dollar each and the Bibles that one Spanish dollar. Be so good therefore as get these packed up as soon as this comes to hand, and send them by the first ship sailing direct to this sport.

(It would be better I think to send the Bibles in cases of about 100 pounds weight, or not exceeding 150. The specimen of the New Testament I have shown to the president, and his secretary is the edition or impression you sent me to St. Thomas, and the Bible is the 12mo , both of Ostervald's translation. It would be well perhaps to include in the order some copies of your other editions also. You can address the cases G.I.H. and the consign them to Messrs. John Herne and Co., requesting them to receive for you from the Government on delivery of the books, 950 Spanish dollars, or their equivalent in Haytian currency.)

General Inginac, the President's chief secretary, tells me that the government would willingly lend its aid to the formation of a Bible Society here, and contribute also to extend such institutions over the island at some future day, when the Scriptures now ordered are come into circulation and use. Though, therefore, the supply now requested from you will be issued from your stores at a loss to the Society, yet there is a prospect of that loss being fully made up on a subsequent day, when a Bible Society shall be formed in this Capital, and Auxiliaries to it in other parts of the country, under the auspices of the government. But, important as it is for you to get a proper return for the books you issue, in order that your benevolence may extend the wider, and more early supply the whole world—the field of your labours—yet you will look forward, I am persuaded, to the formation of Bible Societies in Hayti, in reference to a more particular and interesting purpose. Nothing, you are aware, is so important in making the Scriptures to be spread and read as the forming the very people to be benefited into Bible Societies and Associations. If you are able, therefore, to get Societies formed here on a subsequent day (and may it be early!), you will make sure of the Scriptures spreading over the island, and also of their being pretty generally read. Means, too, in all probability, will be obtained by these Societies and Associations for effecting this desired cir­culation ; and perhaps, also, some aid will in due time be sent you from this island for your great general purposes. "Ainsi soit-il," you will say, in the language of this place; "and so be it, and soon be it," I would reply.

I would now suggest, with all deference and respect, as a means for bringing about these hoped-for objects, that a few lines should be written by Lord Bexley to the President of Hayti, recognising his kindness in procuring the circulation of the Scriptures in the schools, and among the military under his government; and at the same time hinting at further measures in this way; and particularly noticing the advantages that would arise to the island, directly and in various ways, by the formation in it of Bible Societies and Associations. Such a letter, from such a quarter, would, I am certain, be very well received, and would greatly tend to advance the object which Lord Bexley, I am sure, has much at heart.

You see by the preceding paragraph that I am apprised of the demise of him who has so long and so worthily headed your Society. He rests, I doubt not, with the Lord; and may we rest there, when our Saviour has served himself of us here below. I learned the death of Lord Teignmouth by the New Monthly Magazine, which I found in a friend's house on my arrival at Jacmel. That Lord Bexley would suc­ceed to Lord Teignmouth's place, was, I thought, a matter of course, as no other individual, of his rank and character, has taken so deep and practical an interest in the concerns of the Society. I have learned his election by the English newspapers just arrived in this city. It is thus in directly that I have obtained these notices, having received no letters from you since I left St. Thomas. In Jamaica I expect to find waiting for me at least two or three notes from your hand.

There is another subject respecting this island which I would now notice as bearing upon our concerns. The language is spoken in this end of Haiti is French; but proper or good French is spoken only by the better classes of society, whilst the great body of the people, both in the towns and in the country, speak a kind of Patois called here Creole French. I have endeavored to ascertain the difference between the pure French and this Creole dialect, and I find it is considerable, perhaps sufficiently great to justify you in procuring a translation into it of one of the Gospels, or even the whole New Testament. I have got the parable of the Prodigal Son translated into Creole to enable me to judge, and you can be furnished with this when the subject comes more immediately before you.

Your report for 1833 I have been looking for for several months past, and as you may suppose with some interest. It has at length come into my hands, and only in this city. I have found one copy here in the possession of the Rev. Mr. Baudry the Wesleyan missionary. I considered it a very providential circumstance to find it here, as it enabled me to present this document to the President along with my Representation; Mr. Baudry having kindly granted it to me for this purpose. Be so kind as to forward along with the books, a copy of your report for 1834 to the President, or accompanying the solicited letter, which would be preferably, and also a copy to General Inginac. I hope I shall find a supply of the report for 1833 waiting me in Jamaica; and begged you will forward to me there, as early as you can a proper supply of that for the present year.

Mr. Baudry whom I have noticed above, is connected with the Wesleyan Mission House, No.77 Hatton Garden. He has had copies of the Scriptures on sale here for some time, which were received from you either directly or in directly through Hatton Garden. He has sold a good many and has paid me some money for you to account, which will be duly noticed in my quarterly statement to the Finance Committee at the end of this month. He tells me that he remitted you through Hatton Garden, two sums, one of £6: 5: 6 on 6 March 1830, and the other of £3: 14: 3 on 30 September 1831. He has got no acknowledgment of receipt of these sums, and of course wished to know whether or not you received them. Be so good as notice this to Mr. Tarn, who I dare say will lose no time in supplying the notice requested.

Before I leave this island, I would beg you to send a case containing 50 large Spanish Bibles, no small ones, to the city of Santo Domingo. Consigned them to I.F. Dupons Esq. of that place, and desire him to sell them, or procure their sale, at three Haytian dollars each, and to advise you of the result, remitting the proceeds direct or through Thomas Lawrence Esq., an English Merchant established there.

I forgot to tell you in my last when writing from Santo Domingo, that the chief Ecclesiastic of that place was kind enough to introduce me into the only remaining Nunnery of that city. I took occasion at the interview to recommend to the mountains the study of the Scriptures, and offered to bring them a New Testament next day if it would be acceptable. As I concluded this recommendation and offer, I looked to my friend who had introduced me for his consent to what I had said and proposed. I obtained it, and consequently that of the Prioress and her family. I called next day accordingly and presented my New Testament, which was well received.

I have now finished my business in this Capital and island; I leave this city, therefore, in a day or two, to return to Jacmel, there to await the English packet to take me to Kingston, Jamaica.

Jamaica appears to me to be now close at hand, and, conse­quently, my thoughts often turn to it. I know the interest you and your associates feel in respect to that island, from what you formerly wrote me. Be assured I fully participate with you all on the subject. I hope a large and open field is being prepared for us there of the Lord. Kingston will first need to be cultivated, then the other towns in the island, and then the estates. I am rather sanguine in my expectations of Jamaica results in our cause and concern, and I hope and pray that they may be verified. You know I have already written to you for specific instructions as to the time I should spend there. I look for these on my arrival at the post-office in Kingston, and you may be sure to find me, in regard to them,-- Your Most Obedient Servant.

But, in the meantime, not overlooking Jamaica, but looking over it for a little, and beyond it, to Cuba, I think you had better send me to Jamaica, for the last-mentioned island, two cases of 50 large Spanish Bibles each, in addition to those already ordered. Either Cuba or Gua­temala will, I think, require these; and I should be sorry that our work were impeded or time lost through want of supplies at hand.

One paragraph more, my dear friend, will conclude this letter; it will chiefly bear upon yourself. Allow me to thank you most sincerely for your request at the annual meeting, and in the Report, of the prayers of all our friends in behalf of your poor agent in the West Indies. This is the greatest favour you could possibly have done me, and for which again I thank you, and most cordially and affectionately. I feel, in truth, a new help and a new strength from this circumstance: it comes to me like a new and large reinforcement to a giving-way army. Often have I prayed for you, my dear friend, individually, in return for this act of kind­ness; and I pray also for all who may have been stirred up to remember me at the Throne of Grace, the refuge of the weary and heavy laden; and such we must needs always be in forcing our way through this evil world into heaven. The Lord bless you, My dear Brother,—the Lord bless you all! Farewell.

                        James Thomson.

Jacmel, 20th June 1834

Rev A Brandram No 32

Jacmel, 20th June 1834

My Dear Friend

According to the intimation in my last letter, I have returned to this port, to await the arrival of the Packet from England to get a passage to Jamaica. The packet is at present the only communication vessel allowed on our part between the two Islands, but by and bye no doubt we shall have it otherwise, though that is another subject and foreign to us as Bible Society folks, in which capacity we know nothing but the Bible. I came here some days ago as I wished to be sure to be in time for the packet, for should I have missed it by being an hour too late, I should have had to wait a whole month. The packet however is now due in regular course, and we are looking out at our window many times a day to see her heave in sight, our house being conveniently situated for that purpose close to the ocean's side.

Among other persons whose acquaintance I have made here, is the Priest of this town and parish. He is a native of Italy; but though from that quarter, the Pope's residence, he is far removed from the Pope's views of the Bible and of Bible Societies. He, in short, reads the Bible, and forms his own views of its contents; and like all who have such a view of things, he wishes others also to read the same volume and in like manner to form their judgment of what it contains.

I pressed upon the attention of this individual the duty of turning to account his knowledge of these subjects, and his influence as a Priest, by using all proper means to lead the people to procure the Scriptures for themselves, and diligently to read them. He seemed to be aware that this was his duty, and said he would, in attendance to it, facilitate your objects in this place. I sold him 4 New Testaments, the last remains of my stock, and we agreed that for commencing his and your operations a trial should be made with a case of one hundred Testaments. Be so good therefore as send such a case to this port at your earliest convenience, and consigned to Messrs. Frith and Hodge. I should also notice that he does not wish Catholic Testaments, but Protestant ones. Those I sold him are Ostervalds, and you can send him the above supply of that version. Please send him 2 or 3 copies of the latest Report of the Paris Bible Society, as he cannot use yours, not understanding English.

Have the goodness to write a few lines to Messrs. Frith & Hodge along with the case of Testaments you consign to them, desiring them to put it into the hands of the Priest. From both Mr Hodge and Mr Frith I have received most friendly attentions, and I should be glad you would be kind enough to notice this in the letter written to them with the books. I scarcely know when or by whom I have been more obliged and served, and with unaffected courtesy and kindness. Mr Hodge is British Vice Consul in this place, and from his public situation and standing, he has been able to serve you, in your agent, efficiently. He is just about to embark for England, but will probably be back by the time your case and letter arrive. He may perhaps see you in London, though it is rather doubtful, his business lying chiefly elsewhere in England, and his stay very short.

I send you two Port au Prince newspapers containing articles on Bible Society concerns. The inaccuracies are not mine.

                                    Believe me, Sincerely Yours,

                                                                        James Thomson.

Kingston, 3rd July 1834

Rev A Brandram No.33

Kingston, Jamaica, July 3, 1834.

My dear Friend,

I have the pleasure of informing you of my safe arrival in this island, an object long looked for by me, and now happily come to pass, through the goodness and mercy of Him who has preserved me all my life long unto this day, and in all my wanderings. Glory be to his blessed name and may his blessed name be glorified in me in this place! I arrived or the 27th ultimo, after a short and pleasing voyage, from Jacmel, which we left on the 25th. I have here received three letters from your hand of the dates 2nd January, 6th March, and 5th April. The accounts you give me in them are all very interesting; but we turn to self and our own little sphere of things, as sure as the needle turns to the pole; and hence it is, that, though gratified with all you say about the progress making in the kingdom of heaven over the world, I am particularly so at what you say about flocks of Missionaries coming out to these West Indian islands, and to us poor slaves, long, long neglected, but at length remem­bered in heaven and on earth. Come along to the Lord's work, my dear fellow-labourers; and come all of you, for there is work for you all, and for ten times more than will visit us at this time. But come those who are ready, and let the nine-tenths follow afterwards. Perhaps, my brother, it will not be a wide deviation from my usual communications, if tell you that I and my companion in travel have been constantly praying to the Lord of the harvest, to send Missionaries out to this quarter, when we have seen the fields waving and yellow from place to place as we moved along, and with almost nobody to gather in this falling corn. The Lord has heard our prayers, and abundantly answered them. Your letters and others were waiting us in this island, all full of these pleasing notices;  and the gratifying intelligence has come all upon us in an hour by the accumulation of letters in this spot. Now our supplication is turned into thanksgiving, for the mercies in prospect for these long neg­lected and injured islands! May the Lord send us right and true men to labour here, and may he crown their labours with most abundant success.

In the midst of this joy, my dear friend, from these blessed notices and prospects, I have met with a great disappointment in our particular sphere, the Bible cause. I said to you from port (on the 10th ultimo: "I hope I shall find a supply of the report for 1833 waiting be in Jamaica." But I am truly disappointed in finding none. Whilst I was thus regretting, Mr. Jackson's letter of 8 May came into my hands with invoice of books. The reports must be here I said. I looked at the invoice, but none were noticed in it. I thought this was an oversight in the invoice, but that with certainty I should find them in the top of one of the cases. I opened one. There was none. I opened another, and so on the five cases but not a single report was there. My Dear Friend, I know not how to excuse you all for this great oversight. I expected to put your report into the hands of the Governor and others here, to show them your Society generally, and more particularly what had been done in other islands of the West Indies under the patronage of the Planters, Merchants, and other chief inhabitants, so as to take off suspicion here, and induce them to act on the same plan. But I am disappointed, and I am afraid that if our cause and objects are not seriously

(remainder of letter missing)

Kingston, 26th July 1834

Rev A Brandram No. 34

Kingston, Jamaica, 26th July 1834.

My dear Friend,

Your letter, and the resolutions and circular of the Committee of June 2nd, came into my hands by the Packet a few days ago. We are, you may be sure, delighted to see the British effusions issuing from your Society, in favour of the spiritual interests of the negroes, and in that sure and certain way, of giving them the Book of God to be the found­ation of all their principles and practices; whilst at the same time it will serve both now, and for ages to come, "as an act of congratulation from British Christians to the negro on receiving his freedom; and as an appropriate means of calling his thoughts to that better freedom with which Christ makes free them that are his, and without which earthly liberty is but of little value."

On contemplating the subject more coolly, when the first feelings were over which such an effusion and such an object present, it crossed my mind, that this gift might perhaps impede the reading and use of the Scriptures on the part of the negro, considering that the plan of making him buy them is, of all others, the most effectual means of inducing to a proper perusal and value of the book, which comes into his hands after the cost of many thoughts and many pence. But reflecting further, that you have confined your gift to the New Testament and the Book of Psalms, I should think not much harm will arise in the manner referred to; and that the feeling and interest on your part towards the negroes, which this gift will convey and long keep in remembrance, will greatly overbalance the disadvantage I have noticed, and prove very conducive to the diffusion and knowledge of the Scriptures in this island, as well as in the other British colonies concerned. In the opportunities which I hope soon to have of addressing the negroes on the estates in various parts of the island, I shall endeavour to make your kindness move them to further advancement in the possession of the Holy Scriptures, by urging them on to procure for themselves, by their own exertions, a copy of the whole Bible. Had you at once, and by your gift, put the Bible entire into their hands, I would have said that you had done hurt; but as things now stand, I trust all that has been done will be found to have been well done, and will promote and rapidly increase a blessed state of things among us. I am greatly induced to hope for such and such things, not merely from your congratulatory gift, but also, and not the least, from the expression in your circular, where you say, that "the gifts will be accompanied with many prayers, that the blessing of God may attend the reading of His own Holy Word, and that multitudes may be led by it into the possession and enjoyment of the glorious liberty of the children of God." So, pray for us, all of you, and we must do well, and prosper in the ways of the Lord.

We have had a Committee Meeting of the Jamaica Bible Society, and I send you the result in the present sheet. We think about 50,000 copies of your donation will be required for this island; perhaps more, but not less. I shall inform you as we proceed further.

            Believe me, My Dear Friend, Very Truly Yours,

                                                James Thomson.

Kingston, 18th August 1834

Rev A Brandram No 35

Kingston, Jamaica, 18 August 1834.

My dear Friend,

I am still in the city, having made a longer stay here than I at first contemplated. There are two reasons for this. In the first place the arrival of your resolutions and circular respecting your gift to the emancipated Negroes at this all memorable time, has induced me to remain in the city to form and forward measures for counting your benevolent purpose into effect. And in the second place, I have prolonged my stay in Kingston, is not considering it wise to commence my operations in the interior in the beginning of August, when another subject than ours most fully engrossed the attention of all, and when to navigate between Scylla and Charybdis would have been perhaps more than usually critical and dangerous. I wish to give no offense in anything, and that my ministration of your concerns may be on blamable. Even as it is, and in the city, I have not escaped the notice of a couple of editors; one of whom is pleased to inform his readers that "there is an individual here of the name of Thomson seeking whose money he may pocket on behalf of the Bible Society. And "it is a good joke," he says, "to persuade our Negroes took part with their money to translate the Scriptures for the Chinese." He therefore advises in these words, – "let him go as he came, and let those at home who can afford it, contribute to his object." Thus you see is verified what I said in my last letter but one, "that we stand here on more delicate ground than elsewhere in the West Indies." But on the other hand, to editors have taken a different view of the subject and the person referred to, so that we have made a balance of it, and hope henceforth to keep even and clear.

 Well, our Great Transition Day here has come, and has gone by. The First of August, and the few beginning days of that auspicious yet critical month, have passed over our heads under most merciful circumstances. We have had scarcely any untoward occurrences, and these very few are now at an end. The whole population, I may say, are working peaceably as before. The jubilee day, and the Sunday following, were festivals in religion rather than in common rejoicing. The negroes on these days flocked to hear the Word of God, and filled every place of worship open to receive them. On these occasions much instruction was given, and many prayers were offered ; and to those means, and to the prayers of our good friends in England, we owe it, in the hand of God, that all has passed off so very favourably, so mercifully, and graciously. I am not a foreboder, yet I had my fears and doubts of the working of things on our critical days. Monday, the 4th, was the great trial day, being the first day of working for our new apprentices ; and from what I have said above, you see how happily things have turned out. Glory be to our God for these his mercies to us. May we be truly thankful; and may his mercies be continued to us. I think there is a very good general feeling among the planters, respecting the changes in operation; and I look for­ward, with good hopes, for great and happy advancements among us in all that is good. Many British eyes are no doubt fixed on us here at the present time, and only withdrawn from us at intervals, to be raised to heaven on our behalf. We are forcibly taught the power of prayer in temporal salvation, in Abraham's intercession for the cities of the plain. God is still the hearer of prayer, and his modes of acting are the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever. And now, dear friend, pray for our spiritual salvation. A great spiritual work is, I do think, in operation in this place, and throughout all these colonies. Help us on in it by fer­vent, frequent prayer; and by and by you will see how our wilderness will blossom, and it will shed its fragrance abroad, till it reach your isle, and prove a sweet savour in Christ unto you all.

Your offered gift has come upon us opportunely, and has helped on our general rejoicing: there is a good deal of stir created by it, and many are learning to read, who never learned nor thought of learning before, in order to get one of your books on the ensuing Christmas-day. Whilst I write this sentence, I hear the sound of spelling and reading among our servants below; and sometimes, when I awake in the night, I am cheered with the same sounds; and the doling out of the letters and syllables resemble the tick-ticking of the clock in the dead of the night. We have had some letters from the interior of the island in answer to our circular; and there, too, it appears, the same stir and interest are at work.

Soon after my arrival in this island, I went to Spanish Town, and paid a formal official visit to the Marquis of Sligo, our Governor, who received me with his usual courtesy. I noticed to him our Society and our West Indian operations, and did not forget to tell him of the friendship we received from the Governors there. I intend to return to Spanish Town in a few days; and hope to see the Governor again, and to state to him more fully what is wished to be done here, and what part we could wish him to take in our operations.

I paid an early visit also to the Bishop, but had not the pleasure of seeing him, as he is now residing in the mountain district during the pre­sent hot months in Kingston, I addressed a few lines to him respecting your gift to the negroes, and as to the preliminary operations necessary for properly distributing the books; and to the note I received a friendly and courteous answer. I shall make a point of seeing him as soon as we are properly within reach of each other.

I have visited the different chapels here, with a copy of your Gift-Book in my hands; and, showing it, have stated to the large negro con­gregations your kind and liberal intentions, and have fixed their eyes on Christmas day next for the verification of this giving and receiving. All were highly pleased, and full of gratitude for your kindness. You will be pleased to hear that your Gift has been announced in the Roman Catholic Chapel by the priest, who tells me that he will cheerfully help forward your generous object.

On the 1st of September I intend to set out on a tour round the island; and on finishing it, I shall most likely be able to state to you what prospects there are for our operations in this Colony.

            Believe me, Very Sincerely Yours,

                        James Thomson.

P.S. I here advise a bill drawn by me on the 15th instant in favour of Messrs. Atkinson Hosier & Co. of this city, for £90 at sixty days sight. - To be placed to my Travelling Account.

I have been under the necessity of purchasing a horse and Gig for my journeyings over the island. I have done so reluctantly, but by the advice of all my friends here, as my only mode of doing, and ultimately the cheapest. To hire a conveyance for one journey only would cost more than purchasing; and further, on closing my operations in this island, I hope to get a considerable part of my purchase money back again, by then selling what I have now been obliged to buy.

A note will be presented to Mr. Tarn by Mr. William Jones.

Kingston, 22nd September 1834

Rev A Brandram No.36

Kingston, Jamaica, 22nd September 1834.

My dear Friend,

Your letter of the 8th of August is now before me, having had a rapid conveyance from England of just one mouth. We are glad to see the kind sympathy which you good people of England feel for those of us here who once were slaves, but who are now apprentices, and hope, in a few years, to be free indeed. By the expression here, "free indeed," you will perceive that I refer to British freedom, when we shall be eman­cipated from our apprenticeship as well as our slavery. But the phrase in itself has, as you well know, another meaning, and a higher one; namely, that meaning given to it by the Son of God, whose words you have, in your Resolutions on our behalf, conveyed to us, along with your wishes, and your prayers, arid your promised magnificent gift. Your donation will, we hope, soon be here ; and will on the appointed day be put into the hands of all concerned. In the meantime, it is truly gra­tifying to learn that so many in England met together, in various places, and of all denominations, on the first of August, to give thanks to God for what he has wrought in setting the captives free, and to pray for us, that our redemption may prove a temporal and an eternal blessing. Your prayers and your alms-deeds in this matter, will surely come up for a memorial before God; and some angel will be despatched to us from on high with blessings to this island, and to our other colonies, as ample as your expectations, and beyond them.

I believe I stated to you in my last letter, that it was my intention to set out from this city on the first of this month, in order to make a tour round the island. That intention has not been verified; and the cause is the weather and the season. On the day I had intended to set out, as well as the day before, it rained all the day long. The consequence of this was the rising of the rivers I had to pass, and also the injuring of the road. It was some days before the elements settled, and my setting off was delayed for a week. During this time I was necessarily led to make particular inquiries about, the season, and the weather that might be expected after this break up. The result has been the putting off my journey altogether until the unsettled season is over. Having so arranged, my attention was forthwith given to what, could be done in this city and neighbourhood in our concerns; the great civil question among us having passed by, as to its immediate engrossment of public and private attention. We have, in consequence, had several Committee Meetings of our Bible Society. I am anxious to see something done in a system­atic way in this island, and on a large scale; I have, therefore, recom­mended the revision and reorganisation of the Jamaica Bible Society, and the connecting with it a Branch Society in each of our twenty-one parishes, if it possibly can be done: and again I recommend the filling of each parish with Bible associations. This arrangement would cover our whole island with Bible institutions; and would, I trust, soon, or at least in a few years, put a Bible into every house, and into the possession of every individual of our whole population. For this object we have bent our bow, and to this object we aim our arrow; but whether we shall soon, or at all, hit our mark, is of God, and to Him do we pray for success.

I shall inform you more particularly of our plans and operations as we go on. My present arrangements are to occupy the three or four months of the usual rainy season in this city and neighbourhood, in­cluding Spanish Town, and places adjacent to it. After that—say in December or January—I would propose making my long tour, and would make it leisurely; occupying probably about four months, or per­haps six. This, you see, is calculating upon a tolerably long stay in Jamaica; but you know this is done at your request, and in obedience to direct Resolutions of the Committee, conveyed to me in different letters since my arrival. I should not have projected such a stay, but for the instructions referred to. I think, however, the Committee have done well in making their arrangements to give a good trial to the Jamaica field, and to see what, with proper culture, it may produce in your work, and in what ought, from every consideration, to be their work also. I trust the results will be good. I have good hopes, and will not give them up until I see experiments made and their failure.

Your last letter contains nothing additional respecting your ample gift; but I suppose we should look for the books by the next Frigate that arrives. I should like to see them come so, I confess, though perhaps there is both pride and vanity in my wishing it. Nevertheless I should like to see the Bible inscribed upon the Nation more than it is.

It has occurred to me that, in addition to the Pica Testaments with Psalter, &c. for your gift, it would be desirable to have on hand a consi­derable number of the same kind of books above what the gift requires; as undoubtedly we shall find many of the free blacks, to whom the gift does not apply, anxious to possess the identical volume they see others having; and it is desirable we should be able to meet their wishes without delay, by having the same book at hand to offer them on sale. It would be well, also, to let us have a good supply of the Brevier Testament, with the Psalms bound up with it. The additional expense in putting in the Psalms is small, whilst the additional value is great.

It is very pleasing to us here, though at your cost, to see your anxiety to learn the result of your gift upon our population, so far as it can be at present seen. My letter, now in your hands, or near you, will relieve you somewhat of your anxiety on this score; your own ideas and mine have coincided exactly in the matter, as you will see; but the effects, I think, are still better than the favourable calculations of us both upon the sub­ject. What I have already written will show this; and to show it yet more, I now give you extracts from several letters received from various places and persons, and of different dates, in the interior of the island. They are as follow: ―

"Accept my thanks for your kindness in sending me the printed Resolution of the Parent Society. I do feel grateful for their intended magnificent Christian gift to the negro population on their liberation from earthly bondage. May the precious gift received by each individual be duly prized, and prove the inestimable blessing intended by their kind friends! It was a happy thought; and may our Covenant God pour His richest blessing on both the givers and receivers on the occasion! I gave the printed letter to Mr. S  yesterday (the 1st Aug.) and, according to your request, he communicated its pleasing contents to a most crowded congregation, which we were favoured to see assembled at N. E., to return thanks to the Lord for his wonderful dealing in bringing about so great an event as the abolition of slavery in peace; and enabling so many, of different classes and grades, through the sanctifying influences of his religion, to meet together to bless his glorious name. Christian pro­prietors, who had encouraged the instruction of the negroes when they belonged to them, could meet with them in the house of their God, to rejoice at the termination of their earthly bondage, while also they united in the prayer and entreaties of their faithful minister, to seek for deliver­ance from the bondage of sin and Satan. It was, indeed, a fine sight. The hill was crowded, and the church could not contain half the assembled multitude. Joy and peace beamed in every countenance; the quietness, considering the numbers, surprised me, and proved their joy was sancti­fied. It was pleasing to witness the happiness and gratitude of the regular congregation, in seeing many negroes there for the first time: it was a hopeful omen to them that more would now seek the Lord and his ways, which alone can give peace and happiness to a never-dying soul.

"P. S. (3rd Aug.) I cannot help taking up my pen to communicate to you what must be pleasing to every Christian to hear, that, if possible, the numbers that were at N. E. to-day, exceeded what we were privileged to witness on Friday last. Most attentive were all, and anxious to be instructed."

Another:—" I have been favoured with your letter, which informed me of the Resolution of the Bible Society. I need not say how much I was surprised and pleased with the intelligence it conveyed. What will Infidels say? Can they boast of so noble an act since the beginning of time? The idea was grand, the sentiment noble! Surely nothing but true philanthropy and real piety could have dictated such a noble, disin­terested, and Christian act. When I read the letter to our congregation, they were as much surprised as myself. I had just received nine pounds' value of books and cards from the Tract Society, for the use of our con­gregation: and those in the neighbourhood who could read. Some of the most sensible of the slaves came to me afterwards, and showed their gra­titude by tears of thankfulness. One man, an Ebooe, said, "The good people in England must have formed a better opinion of us than we deserve. They send us out missionaries to teach us to know the Lord, and send us books, and all that is for our good. People of the world may say what they choose, but the Lord's way is a good way."

Another: — "On the first of this month, when my congregation assembled to give God thanks for the abolition of slavery, I read the resolutions of the Bible Society, to present to every emancipated slave who can read a copy of the New Testament and the Book of Psalms ; which produced a very strong sensation of gratitude for the kindness, congratulations, and prayers of the Christian friends connected with the Bible Society. The catholic and truly Christian spirit which they evinced, called forth a similar feeling among my people, to a degree which surprised myself. After reading and commenting on the resolution, I asked whether I should convey to the Committee of the Bible Society their thanks for the very handsome donation this presented; to which I received a sufficiently explicit answer in the affirmative by a number in front of me standing up and making a bow."

"On my leaving the pulpit, however, my attention was arrested by one of the most intelligent of the emancipated slaves addressing me, and requesting me to express their sincere gratitude to the Committee of the Bible Society for their handsome donation, as well as for their kind feeling in behalf of the emancipated slaves ; in which sentiments a great number expressed their concurrence. May I beg you to convey the thanks of myself and congregation (nine-tenths of which are emancipated slaves), for their very suitable present. And may their prayers on our behalf, which I hope will be answered by a most copious effusion of the spirit of grace, also descend in rich blessings on their own souls! I fear, how­ever, that the Committee did not think of the large expenses which the carrying their resolutions into effect will occasion. In my congregation alone, there are 130 adults who can read, besides children, who will amount at least to the same number."

Another from the same person, at a later date:—"The following is a list of adults connected with my congregation, and of the young people attending the school, as well as of those who belong to the estate where I give lessons, who are able to read.

"I fear the number is much greater than what was expected; but I could not curtail it without doing injustice to some. A few of the children are not yet able to read the New Testament; but they are making such fair advances, as to warrant the hope that they will be able to peruse it by the time the books arrive. During the last two years, my congregation has made more rapid improvement in reading than during the previous seven years I was in the country; and the promise of the New Testaments has given a considerable impulse to their diligence, as I assure them, that if any are found unable to read them with tolerable fluency, the books will be given to others who may be more industrious."

Another: — "I understand that several of the people have sent their children a considerable distance to learn to read of a man of the name of Allen."

Another: —"Our people anticipate with great pleasure the time when the Christian donation of the British and Foreign Bible Society shall be conferred upon them. Many of the young, especially, appear anxious to improve themselves in reading."

Another: — "Our hearers, and members generally, received the wel­come news contained in your circular with joyful hearts; their gratitude was seen in their countenances, and expressed with their tongues."

Another :—"I subjoin a list of apprentices above 12 years of age, on this property, who are able to read. Were I to mention the names of those who are desirous of learning, it would be necessary to enume­rate the whole. To encourage this disposition, and in furtherance of the benevolent views of the Bible Society, I intend to open a school, next week, for the gratuitous instruction of the apprentices attached to this place, and upon such terms for others as will, I trust, induce the neigh­bours to avail themselves of the opportunity."

Another:—"At present there is certainly a great and most pleasing excitement among our people, both to hear, and to learn to read, the Word of God; and both of us are fully employed on the Sabbath days, as our chapel, which may contain 700 people, is by far too small. It is pleasing to hear that this is the case every where in this island."

Another, from the same as the first extract:—"I received your printed circular, and have endeavoured to accede to the wishes of the Bible Society therein specified, and herewith forward you as correct a statement as the limited time would permit, of the number of adults and children on this property and the two adjoining ones, who, according to the proposed munificent gift of the Parent Society, will be entitled to Testaments, &c. I can truly say I am within the number of those who are trying to learn. We have 90 names down from the adjoining property, of those who have begun, since the first of this month, to come here in the evenings, and on Sundays, to learn ; and, from the earnest­ness with which they are applying to their books, I have little doubt of the greatest proportion being entitled to a Testament at Christmas next. Still I have kept within the number, knowing that we must meet with some disappointments. At the same time t must acknowledge that we have great cause for encouragement from the diligence shown by these hitherto ignorant people to learn to read, and to attend to the concerns of their never-dying souls. May He who alone can effectually do it, lead them to the truth, as it is in Jesus!"

The extracts which I have now given you, will, I doubt not, gratify and encourage you; and will dilate your heart, too, I am sure, on behalf of this interesting people; whilst we shall receive a benefit through these your feelings, in another and another prayer for us, as you think and talk upon the subject. You will see by these extracts, that not only is there great anxiety on the part of the people to receive your boon, and gratefully to receive it; but also that you have created a mighty move­ment among them to learn to read. This is most happy, and will have most favourable results, connected as it is with the Holy Scriptures. There is with us here in Kingston, a full correspondency to our friends in the country, about learning to read; and several adult and children's schools have been opened, both on Sundays and week-days. Spelling-books, and more spelling-hooks, is now the cry. Some months ago I fortunately had ordered a case of such books to be sent here, and found it on my arrival; but it is long ago empty, and those who have received the books are just like Pharaoh's lean cattle after they had eaten up the others, that is—seem not a bit the better for all they have got; thus great is our demand. A month ago I received another case, and shall, by this opportunity, order a third, which must be nothing less than a Noah's ark, to satisfy our wants. Again, schools and more schools are desired, both by those who wish to learn, and by all others. Every body is now favourable to education, and none against it.

Will you tell all the people of England, when you see them, or at least make them all hear you, or at all events print these words for them. Tell them our need of spelling-books and of schools — our pres­sing, very urgent need. Tell them they should instantly set up a "West India School Society," for the purpose of aiding, say with a £5 donation, and annually, to set up and keep up a school in one place; £10 similarly, for the same in another place; £20 in a third; and so on, according to need. This, with proper supplies of school-books, is all we want of such a Society. The plan is simple — good people of England, set it a going if you can (and there is no doubt of the can), and let the next packet that leaves England after this letter arrives, make us leap for joy at hearing of its establishment, and its ample disposable funds. This is, I know, not Bible Society business; and I seldom or never trespass on such forbidden ground, but keep, in my correspondence with you, to our own single and glorious concern to circulate God's Word only, and know nothing else. But the present occasion is extraordinary, and I may be allowed, perhaps, or at least pardoned for this transgression ; and so may you, for winking at my error, and publishing all I have said. The time and the occasion will justify and applaud you ; and those who are least your friends, will say, that your failing here "leans to virtue's side,"— and such will be the truth.

But, returning to our business from this digression, I must tell you, that I have two more extracts to give you of letters from the interior of our island respecting your gift, and the communications sent out from this city to the country in annunciation of it. These two extracts might well be spared perhaps, and you would be spared by my not giving them. But it would not be a fair register of the weather to notice all the sunshine days and leave out all the others that may be rainy and stormy. I will treat you fairly, then, and give you both sides. The first of the two extracts now in question is dated at some rectory, in some parish, and is as follows: – "Rev. Sir, – I received your circular of the 12th instant, and would cheerfully comply with your request, but with one solitary exception, I have not had any application made to me, neither do I believe there is a single Negro who places the least value, or can in any way appreciate, the gift intended for him. There are but few, very few, who can read; and those who can are, I think, in general provided already with a copy of the New Testament. It is very far from my wish to say anything which may be in the remotest degree considered disrespectful of so pious a body as the Gentlemen composing the Standing Committee of the British and Foreign Bible society undoubtedly are; but I cannot refrain from observing, that the resolutions entered into on this occasion is only another proof of how little is really known of our peasantry by persons in England. To use a homely phrase, it is putting the cart before the horse. If the Society had granted a small sum of money to assist in the founding of schools for the infant children of our Apprentices much practical good might, by God's blessing, be effected: but until this is done (and I hope I may yet see 50 such schools in this extensive and wealthy parish) we cannot reasonably expect to see the pious wish of George III, of blessed memory, fulfilled, 'that every cottar in his kingdom might be able to read, and be in possession of the Bible.' Most ardently do I echo this wish, convinced as I am, that except a man frame his life according to its blessed precept he cannot attain that holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord. Wishing you every success, and God's blessing on I doubt not, your sincere and pious intentions, I remain, &c."

The next extract, if not solecism to say so, comprises the whole letter, and what it wants in length, it has got in strength. It likewise, as its foregoer, is dated at some Rectory, and begins and ends as follows: – "Sir, I cannot act under any instructions but those of my Diocesan, I beg leave to return your circular of the 12th instant. – I am Sir, Your Most Obedient Servant."

I close this part of my letter by copying for you the note I received from the Bishop, in answer to one I sent, as noticed in my last.

"The Bishop of Jamaica presents his compliments to Mr. Thomson, and begs to acknowledge the receipt of his letter of the 7th inst. and the enclosed papers, which he takes the opportunity of returning. The Bishop regrets that he was absent from home when Mr. Thomson did him the favour to call at Bishop's Pen. With respect to Mr. Thomson's proposal, the Bishop feels assured that, without any direct interference on his part, or any official instructions to the clergy in a matter of private judgment, and which had much better be left to the spontaneous suggestions of their own minds, the clergy of the Established Church will generally be found anxious to avail themselves of the opportunity now offered for distri­buting among their parishioners, duly qualified to benefit by the precious gift, copies of the Scriptures, and co-operating, at this crisis more espe­cially, in furtherance of that great cause which sincere and well-disposed Christians, of all denominations, have equally at heart.   Union Hill, August 9, 1834"

September 26.-—This letter was pretty well advanced to a close on the morning of the 23rd, the day the mail was made up for the Packet; but, whilst I was going on with it, I was seized with fever, which laid me up completely all the day, and until the Packet was gone. The truth is, I am, in regard to fever, something like our negroes here in their new condition; that is, both free and not free; for, ever since that severe attack in St. Thomas, which had so nearly cut the thread of life, I have been seized, again and again, by partial attacks of about a day's con­tinuance, but so strong as to put all business, or any thing akin to it, entirely out of the question: these returns have come nearly at periods of six weeks. I was told, on my recovery in St. Thomas, that I might expect this for six or twelve months after; otherwise, blessed be the Lord! I am as well as ever.

The "John" arrived a few days ago, and the books were landed yesterday. I opened the three English cases, and had the happiness to find four reports for 1833, together with some copies of the speeches at the annual meeting of this year. I am glad of these few reports and the other papers. Do you have the goodness to beg your clerks and warehousemen to notice always in the invoice, and in what individual case reports, papers and parcels may be placed, and that all such be put in one case only of a given shipment. There is not the slightest notice of these reports in the shipment of the John.

That is nothing else I believe that requires special notice of the moment. I might say perhaps, that I am as occasion offers preaching and making collections for the funds of the Jamaica Bible Society, and in order also to make our object more generally known. – My letters in future may be addressed to my own name only, putting on, Agent of the B & F Bible Society.

            Believe me, My dear Friend,

                        Always Yours and Truly

                                    James Thomson.

Spanish Town, 5th November 1834

Rev A Brandram No.37

Spanish Town, Jamaica, 5 November 1834.

My dear Friend,

Since I last wrote you I have received Mr. Jackson's letter of 21 August, and two from your hand over the 6th and of the 16th September, the letters came to hand by the Mexican packet yesterday. – I am very glad that Lord Bexley has so kindly acceded to my request in wishing that he might write a few lines to General Boyer, the President of Hayti. In suggesting that it would be profitable to do this, I felt that I was making a kind of demand upon Lord Bexley's time and attention, but the thing suggested seem to me so likely to promote our object that I could not do less than notice it; but on the other hand, being fully sure that are worthy President's grand object in life is to promote the Kingdom of Christ, I felt that it would be a pleasure to him to have this opportunity of serving the Lord in the hope of thereby extending his kingdom. The President and chief men in Hayti, as might be expected, have their feelings fully alive to what the people of Europe, and more particularly of England, think of them, and say of them. And I have been well assured from different quarters the most effectual way of working on Hayti for its good is through the expressed opinion of the great ones and of the public in Europe and mainly in England. Be kind enough to keep this point in view, and keep blowing by degrees gently and more strongly the dying embers of Hayti until they rise into a flame.

The two cases of books sent to Jamaica Bible society some time ago, and which were missing, I have sought for from place to place, and at last have found them. The case of Reports notwithstanding all inquiry after it, is still missing. – I have opened the Spanish cases at a venture to find Reports, and have found few. It is really very wrong not to mention in the invoice when Reports are put into cases. Be so good as noticed this to the warehousemen.

I have within these few days past removed my tent from Kingston to pitch it for a little at Spanish Town. This is the nominal capital of the island, but the virtual one is Kingston. The population of this place is about 6000, whilst Kingston may be reckoned at six times that number. Here the governor resides; and here the legislative and the chief law courts are held; but Kingston holds the sway numerically and commercially.

You will see by the newspaper I sent you by last conveyance, that we are getting on somewhat in our work. The plan arranged, as I think I noticed to you before, is to get up, if possible, a Bible Society in each parish of the island, as Branches of the Jamaica Bible Society. Again, as far as practicable, we wish to form Bible Associations in each parish, so as to cover, if practicable, every spot, and to include every soul. I say soul, for it is souls we want, and for souls we labour; and may the Lord give us many souls as a reward in his grace—grace to us and to them.

The Kingston Parish Bible Society is, then, as you see by the news­paper, already formed and formally installed by a public meeting. Our Committee is formed with some care, and I trust it will work well: it is of all colours, from white to black; and we meet, talk, and act, as brethren, and brethren in unity. The first work of the Kingston Parish Bible Society was to arrange and commence operations for forming Bible Associations. Things being thus on the way, I have removed from Kingston for awhile, in order to try what can be done for establishing a Bible Society in this town and parish. The Council and Assembly are now met in this place, and we wish to turn this circumstance to advantage for the better accomplishing of our purpose.

In regard to the Jamaica or Island Bible Society, it is our intention to hold the annual public meeting about the end of the year; and at that time we purpose to re-model and extend it. Towards this we have already taken some steps. I have applied to the Marquis of Sligo, our Governor, to have the goodness to become the Patron of the Society ; and he has kindly and cordially condescended to do so, expressing in letter, and in italics, that he does it "with much pleasure." We have also received from him a donation of £10. The patronage of the Go­vernor will, no doubt, be of considerable service to us. Another step taken and succeeded in, is to make our Society embrace, more formally and fully than before, all denominations among us.

Our letters from the country continue favourable as before, in regard to the excitement among the negroes to learn to read, through the sti­mulus of your books, and other circumstances. I give you a few ex­tracts :—

"We had as noisy a Sunday yesterday as the preceding; but I assure you, you would be surprised to find how fast our pupils are getting on. They have been learning only three Sundays, and among them all they get through both alphabets, without my having occasion to tell them a single letter; and yesterday I put them into an easy reading lesson, which appeared to please them very much, and they learned several words so well as to be able to point them out whenever they saw them, and could spell them also. It is astonishing that their memories can retain what they learn from one Sunday to another so well; but the secret is, that most of them are very anxious to learn, and I suppose they make use of the least opportunity that falls in their way through the week, of prac­tising what they learned on Sunday. But there is, very likely, a better reason — it may be the work of the Lord."

Another:—"I am preparing my lists to send you for the Testaments ; and as I visit twelve different estates, in each of which the people are learning to read, you may expect my lists to be pretty extensive. I am frequently asked by the negroes if the Testaments are come yet; which shows their anxiety to obtain so precious a boon."

Another:—"The negroes on an adjoining property have continued to evince, since the 1st of August, an insatiable desire to learn to read ; and it is to us quite surprising, how those very people, who, till this now period, were not allowed to attend a place of instruction, have made progress in their learning. Numbers, who on the 1st of August knew not a letter, are now, with ease, spelling words of three, four, and five letters; and have learned hymns, &c. The negro-houses are not above ten minutes walk from our residence ; and to our evening family worship they have been in the habit of coming in numbers since the 1st of August, from which they go to the school-room, and are taught in classes, for an hour or two; and, indeed, it is sometimes with difficulty they will give up."

I hope your books will be here in time. The disappointment will be truly great if we are not able to give them out on Christmas-day. I begin to fear a little; and should have liked to have been now in possession of an account or notice of their shipment. Your last letter does not give any information upon this point. I hope now, whilst I write, the books are all half-way across the ocean that intervenes between us. By the way, what a pretty sight it would be to have a bird's-eye peep at all these ships now bestudding the seas, and flying with outspread sails, with their pre­cious cargoes, on their mighty errand! One hundred thousand copies of the Holy Scriptures, in numerous ships, thus moving along, sent with such motives, and sent to such a people! Did the ocean ever exhibit such a sight before? Certainly not.  Is not the Kingdom of Heaven now coming, think you, with observation? O Britain! how has the Lord favoured thee, to have thy ships and thy sons employed in such a work as this! Blessed art thou in giving, and blessed shall we outcasts be in receiving: and let God only be exalted !

            Believe me Most Truly Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

P.S. I shall write Mr. Tarn soon, but cannot do it now as the documents needed for writing him are in Kingston.

I beg leave to advise a bill drawn this day at 60 days sight for fifty pounds sterling, in favour of Thomas Groom Esq. of this place. Be so good as to notice this to Mr. Tarn and desire him to place this sum to my Salary Account.

Spanish Town, 27th November 1834

Rev A Brandram No.38

Spanish Town, 27th November 1834

My Dear Friend

A few days ago our regular packet arrived, but brought me no letters from Earl Street, and hence no notification of the shipment of our much expected Books destined to form our Christmas rejoicing. My fears therefore mentioned in my last, and perhaps prematurely, are now becoming more real. Still I hope for the best, and trust the Mexican packet every hour now expected, will bring satisfactory intelligence.

I noticed to you in my last that I was induced to come to this town at the present time in the expectation of our objects being promoted by the sitting of the Council and Assembly, hoping to find friends and supporters among the members of these bodies. But we walk among such quicksands here, that we are not long sure of our footing. Excitements have arisen bearing upon religious points and religious societies that render it wise to delay for the present a public meeting and installation of a Bible Society for this town and parish in pursuance of the plan we have arranged. The arrival with you of the packet bearing this letter will bring by the public papers pretty full information regarding the excitement I have referred to. I leave you to form your own opinion respecting them from these public statements, reserving my own opinion for some other opportunity.

In the mean time, and under the circumstances mentioned I am endeavouring to do something in our concerns in a more private way. To be properly in order, we ought to form a Society for the entire parish in any place, before we form Bible Associations in any part of it. But under our present hinderances we are obliged to reverse this order, or to do nothing. My lodging is pretty near one extremity of our town, and casting my eyes around I thought I would try what could be done in this spot which I at present call home. We first summoned a meeting of the people of the district, which was well attended. I then commenced a series of visits from house to house, and am happy to say that my reception was always friendly, and often very encouraging. In such a place as this, you must always be prepared to meet the question, "But we cannot read, Sir, and what therefore should we do with a Bible or a Testament?" This is evidently a fair question, and it should meet with a fair answer, or rather to be effectual, it should meet with something more than a fair answer. The answer should give encouragements on the point in question.  So prepared I made my visits. When the question therefore, as above noticed, was put, I immediately replied, Do you wish to learn? Yes, was the prompt reply to this in almost every instance where old age had not interposed and shut out hope in this matter. My next question generally was, and can you spare a small sum weekly to pay a person to teach you, and are you willing  thus to give a little for so useful an acquirement?  Yes and yes, were the answers generally obtained in this case also. Well then, said I, there will be an evening school opened for men in such a place, on such a day; and on the day following, there will be a school opened at such another place for women.

On the day appointed for the opening of the men's school, namely the 25th current,  I went at the proper hour, and was gratified to see so many present. We had 26 who put down their names as scholars, and each and all seemed in good earnest on the subject. Our first school evening was spent religiously: we gave thanks unto God for bringing about such times as to make learning to read acceptable unto all in this place, and for having stirred up so many to come together as in that meeting for learning to read, and prayed that the blessing of God might rest on this school. I then  read, and shortly expounded the 3rd chapter of  Proverbs, and particularly and solemnly set before them that the object for which I had called on them to learn to read, and had got up this school for them, was, that they might be able to read God's Holy Word, and I charged them all in the name of the Lord to make the reading of the Scriptures an every day concern when they should be able to read. I next read and explained a Bible Association Address which I had got printed, and told them that as the school had risen entirely out of the Bible Association, I hoped they would encourage and promote it as far as they could, by subscribing  for Bibles and Testaments for themselves, and for helping you send forth Scriptures in so many languages among so many millions of their fellow creatures, multitudes of whom I told them, knew nothing of the Bible, nor of God, nor of our Lord Jesus Christ. ― On the following evening, the same plan was pursued in opening the women's school, and we had 15 names put down.

All this I consider Bible Society work, and I may say perhaps, both directly and indirectly. The doing this does not impede my objects in any shape,  and it greatly forwards the circulation of the Scriptures in every way. I attend to the schools only as subordinate and auxiliary to our Bible Associations.

It is hinted above, but I should mention it more particularly, that these two schools are pay-schools, though the sum paid is small. It is a Fippence as we call it per week, that is, a little more than 3d. sterling. The gentleman and the lady who have opened these two schools in different streets and altogether unconnected with each other, are religious persons, and would gladly enough have given their services gratis for this object. But I am fully convinced that there is no chance of making education general among people unless on the plan of them paying a little for it themselves. On this occasion, it is true, we have met with two persons who would have franked their services, but such persons we cannot expect in every place, and indeed they must be found rarely. Our plan therefore must be formed on the pay-system in order to be general.  Now it is for schools of this kind chiefly and for placing such all over the island that I lately recommended the formation in England of a West India School Society. Five pounds sterling a year to one such school,  £10 to another, &c. according to circumstances would, with what is paid by the scholars, enable to schools to be planted and to proceed prosperously all over this interesting colony.

Now this you perceive is Deviation second, from Bible Society notices, in my correspondence with you: and as I suppose you have already overlooked the past deviation, I now plead that you will pass over this one also. Whether I shall transgress a third time I cannot say, as it will depend on our circumstances; but if you interpose with your pen, then my deviations on this score are, as this letter now is ― ended.

                                                            James Thomson.

Spanish Town, 1st January 1835

Rev A Brandram No.39

Spanish Town 1st January 1835

My Dear Friend

In my last and preceding letter I expressed some fears least our much wished for Books might not perhaps arrive in time for our Christmas distribution and rejoicing. To a certain extent these fears have been realized, inasmuch as some of the vessels bearing the Sacred Treasure have not yet arrived, and those that have reached us did not come in sufficient time before Christmas to enable us to have the Books  sent to their respective destinations in the interior by the appointed day. We have however endeavoured to do the best we could under the circumstances in which we found ourselves placed. The Millicent arrived in Kingston on the 3rd ultimo with two cases, and the Packet with ten cases on the 20th. A supply was thus afforded for that place and neighbourhood, but not quite in time to give full announcement before hand for a formal and ceremonial distribution on the given day; and here in Spanish Town, we only received our supply, and that a partial one, on Christmas eve after dark. Our distributions were also affected by two other circumstances on the same left hand side of the equation. One was, the very partial cooperation we obtained from the Clergy, notwithstanding the Bishop's note, as very few lists were sent in by them. One class of this body cooperated with us fully; the other class, I may say, not at all; and unfortunately our friends are at present the fewest. The other adverse circumstance affecting our case, was, the giving out of the customary annual supplies on the estates on Christmas day.

In these misfortunes we do not attribute any blame to our friends in Earl Street. All your time, we are aware, was required to get your books ready; and on the other hand, we know that ships leave England for the West Indies with the intention  of reaching only a few days before Christmas, and hence through adverse winds, they often arrive after it. ― Contrary to our expectation, you sent the Books to various ports in the island. This you did no doubt through advice, and for the best. It would however have been better to have sent the whole to Kingston, for from that port we could with more readiness and cheapness have supplied all the ports around the island by means of the various small vessels that leave Kingston almost every day, and touch at all the outports as they move along. One of the first things we did on learning of this unintentional misdirection of our supplies was to order a great number of the cases to be sent to us to Kingston from those ports where they have arrived in too great number, that we may remit them more readily from this quarter in proper quantities according to the demands that may be made for them.

Thus far the unfavourables, and we must now see what good we can find as likely to arise from these partial evils. By the distributions that have been made we expect that a more full announcement will be effected to all the persons concerned, than by any other means; for we were persuaded that after all the measures we had adopted many would still remain uninformed of the gift in question, and that it would in fact require some months to make a full distribution, even supposing all the vessels had arrived in ample time. We have therefore lengthened our period three months, and expect to make another and probably a more ceremonious distribution on Good Friday ensuing. In the mean time notices of this have been circulated, and will probably be more fully circulated in the course of this month. ― We are also not without hopes that some or several of the Clergy will give us a little more aid in this second distribution than in the first. Your Books will now be found in the hands of the Chapel-goers, which will lead the Apprentices who go to Church to inquire how and wherefore they have not been supplied as well as others; and this again will lead to applications for Books and distributions of them on the part of the parochial clergy who have hitherto kept back. We hope therefore at our second period to have gladder tidings to send you than we now have.

In the mean time, we are much cheered by what took place in our distributions on Christmas day. The Books of your Gift were eagerly sought after, and joyfully received. Some we found who had but just begun to read or rather to learn, wished to be considered as already readers, and thought, as many wiser or at least whiter folks sometimes do, that to put on and to put off the harness was the same thing. One woman being well rallied about her being able to read, and still affirming that she could read, was tried with this question, ― and what can you read? To which she courageously answered that she could read A.B.C. ― I attended the distribution in the Baptist and Wesleyan Chapels of this town, on Christmas day, giving a short address in each place. I should have been glad to have done the same in the Parish church also, but was not invited, and no distribution took place there. On the Sunday following the distributions it was truly gratifying to see the people going along the streets to the house of God with their newly acquired book under their arm. I hope this will be the commencement of a new fashion with us, and that we shall soon see it generalised, and extending to all classes. You will thus become the leaders of the fashion to us in this unmodish place, an honour perhaps you did not expect; and yet I suppose you did, as you wished no doubt to change our fashions here for the better; and we could bear in this respect to be still more fashionable than we are.

By the way, I cannot help connecting this circumstance, and the new  fashion of the book under the arm going to church, with two circumstances elsewhere. One is, that in one of our delightful associations meetings in delightful Antigua, the Proprietor of the estate where our meeting was held, and a Member of His Majesty's Council for the island, in delivering a very excellent address to his people, told them among other good things,  that a poor man, decently put on, with a Bible under his arm going to church was ― a most respectable person. ― The other circumstance is Mr Wray's Toby in Berbice, with your present, his noble quarto, under his arm, crossing the river, and hastening along the King's high way to the house of God.  If I go to British Guaiana again I must see Toby and his quarto, and our dear fellow-labourer Mr Wray, whom may God preserve many years to make many such Tobies in that place. Our good friend regretted that I did not see him when in his neighbourhood, and I also regret and have regretted the same. But Time drove me, and I had to hasten away. We may perhaps yet meet, may I trust we shall meet, and when we do, whether in time or eternity, Toby and his fellows and the West Indies will no doubt form parts of our happy intercourse. Give my kind love to our dear friend, for in this odd world, you are nearer him than I am though we two are both in the West Indies, and you 5000 miles from us. Tell him to remember me to Toby.

We have had a noble accession to our missionary strength in this island within these few days. Ten new missionaries have arrived, six from the London Missionary Society, and four from the Wesleyan Society. Glory be to God for all his mercies to us in this island. We shall be up with you in England soon, and past you too, if you do not take good care and hasten onward.

I have just now received your letter of the 5th November brought by Mr Bourne. He arrived the other day at Kingston and has sent me your letter by post. Many thanks for your parcel, so kindly made up. It is still in Kingston, but I expect it in a day or two.

                                                Yours always,

                                                                        James Thomson.