Lima, 12th July 1822

Mr J Thomson to Mr James Miller (BFSS)[1]

Lima, 12th July, 1822.

Dear Sir,

My last letter to you was written a few days before my leaving Chile. I then apprized you of the state of things there at that time, and of my intention of setting out for this place. Through the blessing of God, I arrived safely in this country on the 28th of last month, and have now to state to you how things look here, in reference to that truly important object—EDUCATION.

I believe I told you, some time ago, that from various circumstances I expected every encouragement would be given to our object here by San Martin. I have not been disappointed in this. My expectations have all been ful­filled, and more than fulfilled. San Martin is most decidedly a friend to general, to universal education. I hope none of the members of the Committee of the British and Foreign School So­ciety will be offended, but rather gratified, when I say, that they are not more friendly to this object than San Martin. Because I have come to Peru to promote this object, I have received from him every mark of respect and personal attention, as well as every encouragement to pro­ceed in this work. The Marquis of Truxillo, and each of the ministers of government, feel deeply interested in the same object. Blessed be God for this encouragement. In his hand are the hearts of all, and he inclineth them to whatsoever he will.

Surely the days draw nigh, when ignorance shall be ashamed to walk about anywhere in open day. May the glorious war now waged against her be a war of extermination. It will I trust be so, and when this enemy of mankind shall be slain, the British and Foreign School So­ciety shall be clothed with her spoils, and be crowned with never fading laurel. Is it wrong to indulge pleasing prospects of the future ame­lioration of mankind? Is it sinful to cherish the hope of better times for this poor unfor­tunate world? I think it is not. If it is right to pray "Thy will be done on earth, as it is done in heaven," it cannot be wrong to expect that this prayer, daily reiterated from the mouth of thousands, will one day be heard, and be answered in all its extent; and when the will of God is done in this world, as it is done above, then shall the felicity on earth resemble the felicity of heaven.

The following is a translation of a decree of this government relative to the Schools, and which was published in the Lima Gazette of the 6th current.

"Preamble.—Without education there is proper­ly speaking no society. Men may indeed live to­gether without it, but they cannot know the ex­tent of the duties, and the rights which bind them one to another, and it is in the right knowledge of these duties and rights that the well being of society consists. The bringing of education to any degree of perfection, is, from the nature of the thing, slow. To accomplish it, time is re­quired, and some degree of stability in the go­vernment, as well as some other circumstances, both natural and moral. All these must com­bine, in order that the education of the people may become general, and that thus a foundation may be laid for the continuance of those Institutions which may be established among them. Of the various improvements which the government has been desirous of making, none has been more earnestly and constantly kept in view since the moment of its commencement, than the refor­mation of public education. In those intervals of tranquility which have been enjoyed from the clamour of arms, this object has occupied their attention; and though the sun has not stood still, they have found in activity the secret of doubling the length of the day.

"It has already been announced, in various decrees of the government, that the introduction of the Lancasterian system in the public schools, was one of the plans in meditation. It is not yet possible to calculate the revolution which will be produced in the world by this system of mutual instruction, on its becoming general throughout the civilized world. When this shall take place, ignorance shall come to an end, or at, least shall be reduced to certain limits, beyond which it shall never be allowed to pass. The time is now arrived for setting this system agoing in this place, and the commencing of it is worthy of the month of July—a month in which pos­terity will record many events of importance; and we trust they will do us the justice to declare, that we have desired to make this time memorable by deeds which philosophy ap­plauds, and which spring from the noblest principles of all human actions, namely, the love of glory, founded on promoting the prosperity and happiness of mankind. The above are the reasons on which the following decree is founded.

"The Supreme Deputy, with the advice of the Privy Council, decrees—

"1. There shall be established a central or prin­cipal school, according to the Lancasterian system, under the direction of Mr. Thomson.

"2. The convent or college of St. Thomas shall be appropriated to this purpose. The friars at present residing in it shall remove to the large convent of St. Dominic, leaving only so many as are necessary for the service of the church at­tached to it.

"3. In this establishment the elementary parts of education shall be taught, together with the modern languages. The teachers necessary for this pur­pose shall be appointed agreeably to the arrangements which will be pointed out in the plan for the National Institute of Peru."

"4. At the expiration of six months all the public Schools shall be shut, which are not con­ducted according to the system of mutual in­struction.

"5. All the masters of the public schools shall attend the central school with two of their most advanced pupils, in order to be instructed in the new system; and in studying it they shall attend to the method prescribed by the director of the establishment.

"6. As soon as the director of the central school shall have instructed a sufficient number of teachers, these shall be employed, with competent salaries, in establishing public schools on the same princi­ples in the capital city of each province of the state.

"7. At the first public examination which shall take place in the central school, those masters who have been most attentive in learning the system, and shall have made such progress as to be able to conduct schools according to it, shall receive the reward of a gold medal, to be ordered for that purpose by the Minister of State.

"8. For the preservation and extension of the new system the Patriotic Society of Lima is particularly requested and commissioned to take such measures as may be considered necessary for these purposes; and they are desired to make known to the govern­ment those things in which its cooperation may be required, in order effectually to carry forward this important object.

"9. In order that the advantages of this system of education may be extended to the female sex, which the Spanish government has always treated with culpable neglect, it is particularly recom­mended to the Patriotic Society to take into con­sideration the most likely means for establishing a central school for the instruction of girls.

"10. The salary of the director, and the other ex­penses necessary for this establishment, shall be defrayed by the government. The Minister of State is authorized to issue all the orders necessary for the punctual fulfilment of this decree.

 "Given in the government palace in Lima, 6th July, 1822.

 (Signed)  "TRUXILLO".

"By order of his Excellency, countersigned,

"B.MONTEAGUDO".

As we go on in our operations, I shall com­municate to you the result.

P.S. Please send me five thousand slates by the first vessel for Lima.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 38-43; New Evangelical Magazine Vol IX, 1823, pp.189-191; Eighteenth Report of the British and Foreign School Society (1823), pp.125-128.

Lima, 4th September 1822

Mr J Thomson to Mr Smith[1]

Lima, 4th September 1822.

My dear Brother,

The  first of September has returned, and has gone by. I have not, however, failed in seizing an opportunity of writing you according to our agreement. You know, I dare say, that we have not a post that leaves Lima every morning for England. A vessel goes now and then from Callao to Valparaiso, and through these two place and across the Andes, and through Buenos Aires my letters to you are now obliged to travel. No vessel has sailed for Chile since the 1st current but in a few days the French frigate lying here to sail for Valparaiso.

I have now been upwards of two months in this city, and have all the while enjoyed my health very well.  I am inclined to think this climate is better than I was led to expect from the accounts I had heard of it.  The tertian ague,[2] however, is a disease very common, especially during summer,  of the Englishmen I know here, three have had it since my arrival.  The general opinion, I think, is that with great regularity of living,  this place is not unhealthy; but that the effects of irregularity in the general mode of living, is more hurtful here than in  most other places.  A good police would certainly contribute greatly to the  healthiness of this city.  This will be enjoyed, I believe, in due time;  but the Government has so many things at present to do, that some time may elapse before that improvement takes place.  This is the largest city  I have  yet seen in South America, and I believe  there is none larger in  it. I do not, course, include Mexico, which is in North America. The houses here, and the general appearance of the city, have a more commanding and richer aspect than what is met with in Buenos Aires Santiago de  Chile. The general appearance of  the population, however, I think, is considerably inferior to what is seen in these two places, parti­cularly in the latter. One thing which contributes to this difference, is the considerable proportion of slaves here. In Buenos Aires, there are a good many of this class of our fellow-men, but fewer than in Lima and Santiago; and in Chile, in gene­ral, there are very few; and this is one thing which inclines me to prefer the general appearance of Santiago to the other two cities I have men­tioned.

About three weeks after my arrival here, San Martin set out for Quito, to have an interview with Bolivar. They met in Guayaquil, as the Presi­dent of Colombia had left Quito, and reached that place before San Martin landed. The interview was, I dare say, interesting, and I trust it will be productive of good effects for the two countries of which they are the Governors, and also for South America in general. A good understanding, I trust, will be kept up between the nations of this continent, and war in it I hope will be a thing as rare, and rarer than peace has been in Europe, San Martin returned a few days ago, and has since re-assumed the reins of Government, as "Protec­tor of the liberty of Peru." Every exertion is making here for the formation of a Congress. The greater part of the representatives are already elected. All the liberated provinces elect their own members for Congress freely; the right of voting is, I believe, much the same as in the United States. Representatives are chosen for those provinces still under the dominion of the Spanish army, from among the inhabitants of those places at present residing in Lima. A fair representation seems to be desired and sought for, and I hope will be attained in a considerable degree. All acts emanating from such a body will, of course, give more general satisfaction, than if the representation were partial. I do not trouble you with my views of governments, whether monarchical or republican. Certainly, on this subject, "much may be said on both sides." Without fixing my mind for or against this or that form of govern­ment, I am strongly in the opinion of Pope, where he says, "Whate'er is best administered is best." I do not think, however, that all are fools, (as he insinuates) who, "for forms of government  con­test." The sum of the matter and the truth is, that honesty and uprightness are more required, and have been less found in all governments than anything else. Wisdom, therefore, requires, that such measures should be taken in arranging the form of government, as may secure good conduct in governors, in the greatest possible degree.

There were some suspicions, some time ago, and some flying words, which, if true, would have led one to suppose that San Martin wished to form Peru into a monarchy. Who was to be king according to these reports, I need not inform you, as I suppose you will find no difficulty in guessing it at the first trial. The prime minister was of course in the secret, if there was any such thing in hand. With this individual, on other grounds, there was a good deal of dissatisfaction. This dissatisfaction openly broke out a few weeks ago, on account of his interfering in the election of representatives for this city. The consequence was, that a petition was presented to the Marquis of  Truxillo, requesting that the minister might be immediately dismissed. This petition was signed by so many of the respectable and powerful inhabi­tants of the place, and presented with such firm­ness, that it had the desired effect. The minister resigned before the petitioners left the palace, and in a few days after, he was sent off by sea to Panama. All this took place in San Martin's absence, and the leaders in it were the republican party. San Martin has very wisely fallen in with these measures since his return, and has confirmed the new minister in his situation. A republic, I think, is the general wish of the people, and as the form of government is to be determined by the Congress, I have little doubt of what the result will be. I think this change in the ministry has been, and will be beneficial to the general interests and prosperity of the country.

You know, I dare say, that Colombia is free. The longest and severest struggle of South Ame­rica has been in that quarter. The first news I heard on casting anchor in Callao, was that Quito had fallen into the hands of the patriots. I think Bolivar, who has been the chief instrument in the Colombian contest, is a great man. I was not at the interview between him and San Martin, that I might take their comparative dimensions at one view; but I may observe, that the general opinion, from a view of the operations of  both, is in favour of the Northern [Chief]. As far as my own infor­mation and knowledge of each extends, I fall in with this opinion. I do so, not from any dissatis­faction [with San Martin]. He is to me, and has been uniformly, more than I could have expected, and I may say, all I could wish. I believe both of these men are most sincerely desirous of the real welfare of the countries which they respec­tively govern, and of South America. There is no unholy alliance yet formed in this country, and I think there never will. On all hands, light and information are encouraged, sought after, and pro­moted. Knowledge, rich with the spoils of time, has just unrolled her ample page in this city, in a public library. This public institution is very re­spectably got up, and already possesses a num­ber of the best works in the various branches of literature. It is inferior to the similar institution in Buenos Aires; but superior, if we consider the short reign of civil, literary, and religious freedom in Peru. Every individual is free to attend this library every week-day, from eight to one o'clock, and from four to six, without expense; and every book in it is at his command during that time. This one view of the present state of things here, shows at once the immense advantages gained here by the revolution, and the blessings that tread in the steps of liberty. I shall add one thing more to confirm what I have just said. The Bible is now publicly sold at a short dis­tance from the place where used to sit the dread­ful Inquisition. Perish all unrighteousness from the earth! May the knowledge and love of God everywhere abound!

Till next opportunity of writing to you, my dear brother, adieu, ever yours,

                                                                                                                        J. Thomson.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 43-49; New Evangelical Magazine Vol IX 1823, pp. 191-2. Smith was a pastor in Leith Walk Tabernacle, Edinburgh.

[2] "tertian ague"--i.e. malaria. (BM)

Lima, 10th September 1822

To BFBS (Rev John Owen)

Lima, 10 September 1822

Dear Sir,

 A considerable time has now elapsed since I informed you of my intention of visiting Peru. Through the protection & goodness of the Almighty I arrived safely in this city about two months ago. I expected to find on my arrival here the 200 New Testaments that you had the goodness to send me to Valparaiso by the Fair Ellen which sailed from London in July 1821. Through an unfortunate oversight these had not been forwarded to this place as I had requested. Instead therefore of having a supply of the Holy Scriptures to circulate in this place, I find myself unhappily placed without a single copy. As soon as I learned the oversight I have mentioned I wrote to Valparaiso desiring these 200 be sent to me without delay, and I accordingly expect them very soon.

 The last letter I received from your society gave me the pleasing information that the whole Bible of Scio's translation would be finished in a few months from that date. As your letter was dated 30th June 1821, I have for months past been waiting for a supply of this edition of the Bible complete, for which I have manifested my desire to you more than once, as thinking that it would be more sought after than the N.T. alone. I have however up to this date heard nothing of them. Under this anxiety for the arrival of these I heard accidentally a few days ago that Bibles in Spanish were on  sale in a merchant's house of this city. I immediately made enquiry & found that what I had heard was correct. These were the 500 Bibles and 500 N. Test. sent by you to the house of Mr. Lynch.

 It gives me unfeigned pleasure to communicate to you the reception these met with in this city. It is altogether unprecedented in South America. The whole were sold off in two days. This is a most extraordinary exercise, and opens up a most encouraging prospect for the future. Had these been in addition to those sent five thousand more, they would before now have been all in circulation, such have been the repeated enquiries made for them after they were all gone. Under these circumstances every day appears a month whilst I look for your long expected supply. Indeed I am beginning to think some accident has befallen them as you would no doubt send them off by the first vessel to Valparaiso after they were out of the printer and binder's hands. I have written to Valparaiso that upon their arrival there they may be forwarded to this place without delay.

 A few days at most will I hope turn my anxiety into satisfaction, and this satisfaction will be greater in proportion to the largeness of the quantity you have shipped for me. Still however I am sure your supply will be insufficient for this place from the unprecedented circumstance I have mentioned. I beg you to send off a large supply for Lima immediately upon my letter coming into your hands. Some eight months hence these may arrive, to fertilize this country. I am not certain I shall be here until their arrival. You will please therefore to send the invoice to me care of John Thwaites, Esq., Lima; and write on the outside of the letter desiring Mr. Thwaites to open the letter should I have left Lima. Should I leave this place before your treasures arrive I shall make full arrangements with Mr. Thwaites for their disposal.  I will also arrange with him for sending some hundreds on to Guayaquil, Popayan, and Santa Fe de Bogotá. Through these place if the Lord will, it is my intention to pass, and I shall endeavour to find some one in each place, to whose care they may be entrusted. Forty copies of the Bible sold by Mr. Lynch have gone to Quito, which I hope will quicken the desire for more in that quarter, a desire which your bounty will enable me in some measure to satisfy.-- I have a fine opportunity just now of sending some copies to Guatemala. But, alas! I have none to send.--Pray keep all the things I have mentioned in view when you make up your supply, and I earnestly request that no time may be lost in sending it off; may the Lord protect the ship that carries them, brining her safely and speedily to this place!

             I remain,

                        With much respect,

                                    Your Most Obedient Servant,

                                                James Thomson.

Ref.: BSA-D1-2-A

Lima, 9th November 1822

Lima, 9th November 1822.[1]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lima, 2nd December 1822

Lima, 2nd December, 1822.[1]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Lima, 28th January 1823

Lima, 28th January,1823.[1]

A good while has elapsed since I mentioned to you any particulars of my affairs in reference to the schools. During this time, however, I have more than once thrown out hints, signifying that matters went on but slowly. I had too much reason for these complaints. The truth is, I was once and again on the point of leaving this place. My affairs here have been such, since my arrival, that I may truly say, my hopes and prospects in South America never were so high, and never were so low as they have been, at different times, in Lima. I formerly stated to you the very favour­able reception I met with from San Martin,  and from the first Secretary of State,   Monteagudo. Both of these left this place a good while ago, although under  different  circumstances. To  me their loss was severely felt. I never mentioned a wish to San Martin, or to Monteagudo, that was not granted, and granted immediately in the most obliging manner.    

After their going away, I scarcely mentioned anything I wished done that was not refused. I should not, perhaps, say re­fused, for I was not actually denied; I was told that the things I stated would be done, but these pro­mises were never fulfilled. Had I been  plainly refused, there  is every probability that I should have left this place long ago. After experiencing a number of delays, and when my little stock of patience was all gone, I  asked for my passport. The same individual, however, who had so often put me off with fair promises, contrived to put off my passport also, and kept me waiting days toge­ther, with every thing nailed up for my departure. It was then agreed on between us, that since the school plan we had in view could  not be carried into effect from want of funds, I should stop three or four weeks to instruct some individuals in the Lancasterian system. About twelve came, in con­sequence of this, to my lodgings once a day, for the instructions referred to. At the close of the time mentioned, these individuals were much pleased with the new plan, and some of them represented the matter to the minister, who gladly entered into it, and it was agreed that I should stop, and that what was wanting should be granted. I did think him for this time sincere, and I believe he was so; but I was again subjected to be put off from week to week, until I found that I was circumstanced exactly as before.

I petitioned anew for my pass­port, and in the meantime wrote a letter to the Congress, detailing all that had happened from the time of my arrival in Lima, and concluded by stating, that 1 intended to leave this place by the first vessel that sailed, but that I would return or send some person instructed in the plan of the schools, if a desire should be expressed by the Congress to that effect. The result of this commu­nication was far beyond my expectation. Upon my letter being read, a great deal of interest was taken in this matter, and it was unanimously agreed to that the school should be commenced as soon as possible. An order was accordingly issued, that everything I wanted to set it agoing should be immediately granted. When I wrote to the Congress, I had little thought that they would be dis­posed to carry this object forward at the time, having not long before resolved to use the utmost economy with the public money, and to carry nothing forward that was not of an urgent nature. This resolution was very necessary from the low state of the public funds, owing to their limited re­sources,  and the great expenses of the  war. 

In consequence of the decree of the Congress in our favour, I at once gave up thoughts of leaving this place, and we have been since that time getting on as fast as can be expected. There is another cir­cumstance of considerable importance, which has arisen out of this.  The  person who brought toge­ther those twelve individuals to be instructed in the system, as above mentioned,  is a very  respectable clergyman. [2]This gentleman has interested  himself much in the matter, and has been named by the Congress to take an active part in all the arrange­ments necessary until a School Society be formed. I have had much intercourse with this individual, and have good reason to esteem him highly.  We go hand in hand in our affairs most comfortably. As this gentleman's name is now connected with the schools, and being a clergyman, many preju­dices are thereby removed. This is a matter of no little importance, as there was a strong idea, (whe­ther well or ill founded, I  cannot tell,)  that the late Secretary, of whom I spoke, was atheistical in his views. Perhaps his atheism consisted in his mak­ing free with the convents and other church affairs. However that may be, my being favoured by him probably excited some prejudices, in addition to those arising from my being a Protestant. The counteracting influence, therefore, of my con­nexion with my present clerical friend will, I  have no doubt, be greatly advantageous.

When I add to this, that it is through this respectable individual that I expect the New Testament to be introduced into the schools, of which I formerly wrote, you will see that I have great cause for thanksgiving for the circumstances in which we now stand; and I am even inclined to believe, from what I have seen, that our present encouraging prospects have not been too dearly purchased by all the harassing de­lays that we have experienced. We are very short sighted in all things, and can seldom tell what string of circumstances may end most favourably. Hence it is that we are often joyous, when we have not much real cause for being so; and on the other hand, we are often sad, when everything is going on in the most prosperous manner. How consoling is the thought, that we are permitted to cast all our cares upon God; upon him who knows the end from the beginning, and in whose hands, sooner or later, everything must turn out well.

I think I have perceived, during the time I have been in this place, a greater desire to study the English language than I have met with in any other part of South America. I have uniformly encouraged this desire as much as possible, being fully persuaded that the knowledge of our language, and of the excellent works it contains, will contri­bute in no inconsiderable degree to the progress of this country in every point of view. Want of books suitable for beginners in this language has formed a considerable obstacle, as well as the want of suitable teachers. In order to remove these diffi­culties to a certain degree, and to carry forward this useful object, I some time ago set to work to pre­pare, in Spanish, a grammar of the English language. This is now finished, and nearly all printed. I have at the same time been getting ready a small book, consisting of extracts from various authors in our language, for something of this kind was equally necessary. This little work is also pretty far advanced in the printing.[3] In the next place, in order to carry this object into immediate effect, I lately published my intention of giving instruc­tions in the English language, and I now have twenty-three studying it with me, two of whom are members of Congress.

Accounts have reached us, that on the 19th No­vember last, a severe earthquake was experienced in Chile. The first shock was felt about 11 o'clock at night, and was preceded by a frightful noise. During the night, and for several succeeding days, a number of shocks were felt, less destructive, I  be­lieve, but sufficiently alarming. We have not yet had full information as to the extent of country over which these shocks have been experienced, but from what reports have reached us, it seems to have extended over the greater part of Chile. The greatest damage, we understand, has been done in Valparaiso. In that place several houses have been thrown down, and all the churches have been severely injured. Accounts say that more than two hundred people have perished in Valparaiso alone. Many are the blessings which Providence has pour­ed out on Chile, and one would almost think that earthquakes have been added, by way of giving to it its due proportion of evil.

The same may be said of this country, which has suffered still more from this cause than Chile has done. We do not  know the moment  we may be visited in this city, by one of these dreadful calamities which have laid Lima nearly in ruins at different times. To remind us of our danger, as it were, we are visited by small shocks from time to time; a month rarely elapses without one, and about a week ago we had two in one day. One would naturally think that the being continually exposed to these catastrophes would be productive of some happy moral effects upon the inhabitants of this place. I am sorry to say there are no appearances of these good results. If a comparison were to be instituted between the people of this place, and those of other parts of South America, in regard to morals, I am afraid Lima would appear in the back ground. The most imminent danger, the most signal judgments, seem somehow or other to be productive of nothing but momentary effects on mankind. Wherever this danger or these judgments are, there the words of Jesus are verified; "If they believe not Moses and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded though one should arise from the dead." I question much if we should, in one sense, find fault with this disposition of mankind; or shall I say rather with this arrangement of Providence. It points out to us, I think, how much happier and more solid effects may be produced by the wielding of the word of God, than by wielding the mountains, and casting them into the sea. The word of God is a fire, and is a hammer, and nothing shall be able to stand be­fore it; everything that opposeth shall be reduced into ashes or into dust; and these shall be blown away by the winds, to be seen no more forever.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 70-76.

[2] P. José Francisco Navarrete.

[3] Both the grammar and the extracts were, in fact, published in the same volume: Epitome de Gramática Inglesa. Lima: J.A. López, 1823. (BM)

Lima, 3rd March 1823

Lima, 3rd March, 1823[1]

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

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

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

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

Lima, 26th May 1823

From Mr. Thomson, dated  Lima, May 26, 1823[1]

Dear Sir,

A considerable time has now elapsed since I last wrote you. I confess I have acted wrong in delaying so long; but I know that yourself and the committee of the British and Foreign School Society are ready to forgive. The truth is, I have had no heart to write to you – I have had nothing encouraging to communicate, and I am never fond of being a messenger of evil tidings. I have been bandied about these many months, without being able to make any progress in those highly important affairs in which you feel so deeply interested. I have been more than once on the eve of leaving this part of South America, but one little encouragement or other called me back just as I was going to embark, and flattered to me into a belief that all would go well. I shall not detain you with a long list of grievances, but pass at once to the more pleasing task of calling on you to join me in rendering thanksgiving unto Him, who comforteth those who are cast down, and who hath turned my darkness into light. Blessed be his name! the prospects of something being done here brighten daily, and I hope yet to communicate to you something gladdening from the land of the Incas.

We have at length got our School fairly begun, and under very favorable auspices. I formerly mentioned to you, that the Governor had given us, for our School, the college belonging to the Dominican friars. The whole of the edifice is at our disposal, for school objects. We have fitted up, for our present school-room, a large apartment, formerly the college dining-room, which will contain 300 children. The number of children actually attending is upwards of  100. We intend to increase it gradually rather than rapidly, as we might do, were we inclined. The experience I have had has taught me the necessity of this. It is an easy matter to tell what the System is, and to say, things are to be managed in such and such a way; but the great difficulty consists in reducing it to practice, in training the children to method.

The Congress and Government are decidedly in favour of education. Their object is not merely the education of the few, but the education of the many, namely, of every individual in Peru. The attention of the Congress is at present engaged in drawing up a constitution for the nation. One of the articles already sanctioned is, that no person can be a citizen of Peru, unless he can read and write. From the consideration, however, of the neglect in promoting education in this country, these literary qualifications are not to be exacted until the year 1840. Time is thus given for every individual to qualify himself in these matters; and the anxious desire of Congress is, I am fully persuaded, to carry forward education with all rapidity.

You are aware I suppose that the  inhabitants of  Peru do not all speak  the Spanish language. The descendents of the ancient Peruvians are very numerous, and most of them speak the language of their ancestors. In some parts of the country they have assumed the manners and the language of their conquerors and oppressors; but in other parts, and these are by far the most populous, their ancient tongue is their only medium of communication. I have long had my eye on this part of the population of the country. I have at length obtained a fair prospect of being able to plant schools among them, and also to hand to them the Word of God in their native tongue. An officer belonging to a regiment called the Peruvian Legion, and who thoroughly understands the Quichua language, has taken a great liking to our system, and is extremely desirous of benefiting his countrymen by communicating instruction to them. He is at present attending our school for this purpose, and I entertain a pleasing hope regarding the future results of his operations. I have got acquainted also with another gentleman who speaks the Peruvian language, and who also feels deeply interested in the present and future welfare of this people. This individual is at present engaged in translating a portion of the New Testament into this ancient tongue. As soon as one of the Gospels is translated and thoroughly revised, we intend to get it printed with all speed, and to put it into immediate circulation.

The types and the lessons came to hand all safe about two months ago. All the articles mentioned in your last letter came to hand in due time, and I shall notice them more particularly in my next.

I beg to express to your Committee my sincere respect and gratitude for the very obliging manner in which they came forward in aid of education in South America.

                                                I remain, dear Sir,

                                                            Yours sincerely,

                                                                        James Thomson.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 80-82; New Evangelical Magazine, Vol X, 1824, pp. 58-59; Nineteenth Report of the British and Foreign School Society (1824), pp.152-153.

Trujillo, 15th July 1823

Truxillo, 15th July, 1823.[1]

When I wrote my last letter to Mr. S. I little  thought my next letter would be written in this place. Such, however, is the case and I proceed to mention the circumstances that have brought me  here. It is probable that what has lately taken place in Lima will reach your ears some days before this comes into your hand. The Spanish army entered that city on the 18th ultimo, the Government, the Congress, and a great number of the inhabitants having left it on the preceding day. You will  wonder at this, I dare say, after the favourable account of our affairs in my last letter. It has also been a subject of wonder  unto us all, and of consternation to not a few.  I mentioned  in my last, that the Spaniards had collected a considerable force in Jauja.  They had left Arequipa, and collected in Jauja with the intention of coming down upon Lima. They had made this movement when the independent army was sadly crippled, and when there was no efficient force to oppose their taking possession of the capital.

When, however, reinforce­ments had arrived from Colombia, and an expedition had been sent off to Arequipa, we little thought they would persevere in their intention of attacking Lima. On the contrary, we thought they would immediately retrace their steps with all speed towards Arequipa or Cuzco, to  secure to themselves the possession of these valuable provinces. The event, however, has turned out otherwise, and we now understand that they were badly informed as to the real state of their opponents. The Spaniards crossed the Andes, and came down towards Lima in a very rapid and unexpected manner, with a force of seven thousand well dis­ciplined men.

Upon their presenting themselves in the neighbourhood of the city, they were reconnoitred by the Independent Generals, and as soon as the number and discipline of the Spanish army were known, it was judged imprudent to risk a battle with them, as the patriot army is but about five thousand strong, and many of them re­cruits. The independent army considered it most advisable not only to avoid a general battle, but also to avoid defending Lima, and chose to retire to the forts in Callao. The Government and the Congress, together with a great number of the principal inhabitants, retired at the same time to Callao. A few days after, the President and Congress judged it most suitable to remove from the scene of military operations, and to take up a temporary residence in this city. They accord­ingly sailed for this place, and arrived about a fortnight ago.

We were going on with our schools in a pros­perous way on the 16th (June) when the reports of the rapid approach of the enemy, and the general confusion throughout the city, induced us to suspend our operations on that day for a week, till we should see what would take place. It was on that day quite uncertain whether the city would be defended, (for it is surrounded by a good wall,) or whether the army would retire from the city to Callao. On the following day, however, all doubt on these points was removed, as it was agreed in a council of war to abandon the city, and the army accordingly left it on the same day. At three o'clock I left Lima and went down to Callao, being assured that the enemy would enter the city that night, or at all events on the following day; I slept that night (the 17th) on board of an English vessel, lying in the harbour. It was my intention to return to Lima in four or five days, in which time I supposed the Spaniards would be in quiet possession of the place, and that order would be again restored, so that as an Englishman I might pass to Lima with a passport from the English Commodore on the station. I accordingly remained some days on board the vessel, but there was no possibility of passing from Callao to Lima with any safety during that time. On the 20th the vessel I was in clear­ed out for the port of Casma, about 200 miles to the north of Lima, and I conceived it most ad­visable to go along with her, as there was no prospect of re-entering Lima for some time. I therefore supplied myself with some dollars from a friend, as I had left Lima without money, and with scarcely any other clothes than those I had on. In two days we arrived safely in the port of Casma, and on the day after our arrival I went up to the village, which is about 8 miles distant. I was accompanied from Callao by an old friend, a priest, and a pre­bendary of the cathedral of Lima. We made our­selves acquainted with the Vicar, and were most hospitably lodged in his house. Here we staid a week. During this time the accounts from Lima continued as unfavourable as before, and numbers of people who had fled from it were arriving at Casma, and others coming on towards it. I re­solved, therefore, to come on to this city, where I arrived safely after four days travel through roads of burning sand, which were very fatiguing to our horses and to ourselves. The roads all along the coast of Peru are of this description. Here and there, at distances of from twenty to forty miles, there is a river, and in the valley through which it runs, vegetation of every kind shoots out luxuriantly, and nothing is wanting but hands of industry to raise cotton, sugar, coffee, and all the tropical fruits. My friend, the preben­dary, remained in Casma, but I was accompanied to this place by two other emigrants from Lima, and on our arrival here we found not less than a thousand people of all conditions under similar circumstances with ourselves. Numbers have since arrived, and reports say that nearly ten thousand have left Lima, some having gone to one place and some to another. Notwithstanding these unfavourable circumstances, we expect all to return to the capital before long; it may, however, be three or four months.

            From what has been stated, you may perhaps think that the cause of independence here is losing ground fast, or that it is in a hopeless condition. This, however, is not the case. The Spaniards will, I believe, be under the necessity of leaving Lima in the course of a very few months; and in the mean time they have lost the valuable province of Arequipa, as there are accounts of the safe arrival of the expedition which sailed some time ago for that quarter, and of some advantages they have already gained, and also of the speedy prospect of taking possession of all that place, the Spanish force there being but small. The independent army will probably march on towards Cuzco, where the Viceroy is stationed with a force of about 15,000 men, and the ancient capital of the Incas may very soon become the scene of the contest for liberty—the contest of truth and freedom, with ignorance and oppression; and may the righteous cause prevail.

            I have long had a great desire of visiting some of the interior parts of this country, and present circumstances offer a favourable opportunity. I intend, in a day or two, to leave this city for Caxamarca, and from thence I purpose to go to Jaen de Bracamoros. If the accounts I there obtain are favourable, I shall go down the great river Marañon or Amazon, as far as the mouth of the Huallaga or the Ucayali. I may then perhaps as­cend some of the rivers which fall into the Marañon from the north, and go on in this way towards Quito. If  I should be able to get on so far, I shall then descend from Quito to Guayaquil, and from thence by sea to Callao. I have got leave of absence for four months, and have obtained a letter of recommendation from the President to the governors of those places through which I intend to pass. I trust this journey is undertaken with the same views which induced me to leave my native country. I trust the Lord will protect me from every evil, will surround me with his almighty arm, and will guide and comfort me by his Spirit.

P. S.—21st July, 1823.-—On the day after writing the above, some accounts reached this place that the Spanish army was beginning to retreat from Lima. In consequence of this, I deferred my journey until certain accounts upon this subject should arrive. These accounts have now been fully confirmed. The Spaniards be­gan their retreat on the 8th current, and the last division of their army was to leave Lima on the evening of the 16th, or on the day fol­lowing.

            As Lima is now open, from the retiring of the Spaniards, I have given up for the present my journey to  the river Amazon,  and to-morrow I set out for Lima overland. The day before yesterday the Congress was dis­solved here, and a Senate has been appointed in its stead.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 83-89.

Lima, 8th August 1823

Lima, 8th August, 1823.[1]

My last letter to you was dated 9th November last, and which I hope came safely into your hands. Though the interval between my letters to you be considerable, yet I always suppose you acquainted with what occurs to me here during these intervals, through my letters to our mutual friends in Edinburgh. I therefore consider it unnecessary to go over all that has happened here since I last wrote to you, and shall confine myself to what is going forward at the present time. I am sorry that I have so much to say that may be called of an unfavourable nature. In my letter to Mr. H, from Truxillo, I stated the cause of my removal to that city, and also the favourable change which had induced me to return. I arrived safely in this place on the 2nd instant, after an absence of nearly seven weeks. I found, on my return, all that I had left behind safe, nothing had been touched. The Spanish army continued in possession of Lima just twenty-eight days, during which they did considerable injury to the place, by levying contributions, confiscating property, &c.

The amount of the loss sustained, in one shape and another, is reckoned at two millions of dollars. All the property belonging to the English merchants, which was in their own ware­houses, was respected, and no loss was sustained thereon. What goods they had in the Custom­ house they were allowed to withdraw, upon paying a duty of forty per-cent. The other goods in the Custom-house, belonging to the natives of the country, were confiscated and sold on the spot. The favour thus experienced by the English, was owing to the intervention of the British Naval Com­mander in this place.[2] The Spanish General, how­ever, intimated to the English merchants that al­though he had respected their property at this time, yet in future he would not do so, but would confiscate all that belonged to them, should he return again to Lima, and that thus they might consider themselves as warned beforehand, of what they might expect, I had heard in Truxillo that the Spaniards had destroyed the palace, the mint, and some other public buildings. This, how­ever, I am happy to find, was incorrect: they have destroyed no buildings. The machinery of the mint was destroyed; and they have carried off or destroyed all the printing-presses and types they could lay their hands on. The govern­ment printing-presses and types have escaped, as they had been removed to Callao in good time. One or two presses also, belonging to private indi­viduals, have likewise been saved, having been hid at the time the rest were carried off.

I suppose you have read (and correctly too,) in the descrip­tions of this city, that the churches are immensely rich in silver. This, however, is not the case at pre­sent, I assure you. They are now completely stripped of all their former grandeur in that respect. The independent government at different times ordered considerable quantities of the silver in the churches to be taken to the mint, which was accordingly done. Upon their retreat from the city on the approach of the enemy, a few weeks ago,  nearly everything  of silver that could be well spared from the churches, was carried to the castle in Callao, to prevent its falling into the hands of the Spaniards. This proved a proper foresight, for the enemy took almost everything that had been left in the churches, and thus thoroughly stripped them. A priest observ­ed to me the other day, that it should seem the time is now come when God chooses to be served with less splendour, and with more humility. The ob­servation was good; and I wish the time were in­deed come when the supporters of this system would lay aside their own riches and righteousness in every respect, and would clothe themselves with the righteousness of Christ, and with true humility. That period is, I trust, advancing, although per­haps not so fast as we could wish. The Lord, how­ever, will bring it about in due time. The way we generally wish to do things, in our impatience, is to jump to our object; or in other words, to gain our benevolent ends all at once. This, however, is not the way the Almighty has established mat­ters in the depth of his wisdom. The end, he tells us, may be gained, yea, and shall he gained, but it can be gained only by the use of the appointed means, and by patient continuance in well doing.

The Spanish army has marched towards Arequipa along the coast. The first division under General Valdés is already at some distance, but the second division, under Canterac the Commander in chief, is only about 100 miles to the south of us. There is, however, I believe, little danger at present of his returning to Lima, as the main object of the Spaniards is to attack as early as possible the patriot army in Arequipa. That army is now of considerable strength, and much better equipped every way than the former one in that place, which was so completely defeated by the Spaniards at Moquegua. I wish the result may be favourable to the independent cause, as much certainly depends on the result.

I mentioned in my letter to Mr. H. that the Congress had been dissolved in Truxillo, and that a Senate had been appointed in its place. This was the single act of the President, and it was certainly a very bold and imprudent step, not to say anything of its injustice. The President has not yet returned to Lima, and in the mean time a strong opposition has been stirred up against him here for having dissolved the Congress. The representatives now in Lima have solemnly pro­tested against this measure, have reinstalled them­selves as the supreme council and government of the nation, and have elected the Marquis of  Truxillo to exercise the executive power. What will be the result of these operations I know not. It is probable, I think, that Riva Agüero, the Pre­sident, will give in, and be banished from the coun­try for some time. It is certainly a very unfavour­able time for internal disputes. A short time, I hope, will make all things wear a more smiling aspect, and may the Lord who reigneth in the earth, grant that this may indeed be our case. All things are in his hand. He ever reigneth, although his benignant hand may at times be invisible to us.

During the time I was at Truxillo, I formed the plan of visiting some of the aboriginal inhabitants of America, on the banks of the river Amazon. I had calculated that the Spaniards would keep pos­session of this city for about three months, and I supposed, that time would about suffice me for my intended tour. I had bought a number of glitter­ing buttons, needles, scissors, knives, fish-hooks, ribbons, &c., for presents to the natives. I had also taken out my passport, and was arranging for setting out, when accounts reached Truxillo, that a part of the Spanish army had evacuated this city. In consequence of this, I put off  my intended jour­ney, though with regret, in order to return to my duties in this place. I have long had a desire to visit those parts, and though I have not been able to effect my object at this time, my purpose is not laid aside, but only postponed until a more favour­able opportunity occur; and in the mean time I will go on collecting all the information I can, re­garding those quarters. I have a considerable de­sire to spend the greater part of my remaining days on the banks of that great river, or on the borders of some of its tributary streams.

In the Mercurio Peruano, a work of which I dare say you have heard, there are some very interesting accounts of the entrance of the Jesuits and of the Franciscan Friars into that part of the country. Their suc­cess was various. Numbers of the missionaries lost their lives in prosecution of their object, through the cruel hands of those whom they went to instruct. At length the missions in those parts made some progress, but they never were very flourishing; and even in their best state, missions under such a system were open to many objections. One single Moravian village in the midst of some wilderness would be a more gratifying sight than all the Jesuit missions put together. Though we may thus condemn their system, because truth re­quires it, yet the Missionaries themselves, generally speaking, in point of zeal and devotion to their object, are worthy of great commendation, and in many instances their conduct forcibly attracts our admiration. The accounts they have published are extremely interesting. In another point of view, also, the Missionaries have done a great service, by their study of the original languages, and by the grammars and dictionaries of these which they published. The whole of these works are by the Jesuits, and not a volume has been published since their fall. These grammars and dictionaries are now extremely scarce in this place. It has cost me a great deal of labour to obtain some of them, and others I have not yet been able to procure, but hope in time to get a copy of all their writings on those subjects, as well as of the geographical works they have published.

I believe it is not generally known in Europe that a great part, the majority of the inhabitants of Peru, are of the descendants of the ancient Peruvians under the Incas. An idea, is, I believe, pretty general with you, that the Spaniards nearly exterminated this race, as they did the inhabitants of St. Domingo and Cuba. That they destroyed vast numbers of the indigenous inhabitants of this part of the world is, alas, too true still, however, the majority here are Peruvians, and not Span­iards. There are, of course, a good many of a mixed race, and on the coast there are not a few of the sons and daughters of unhappy Africa, and their descendants. The Peruvians who live in the towns on the coast, all speak the Spanish language, and know nothing of the ancient language of Peru, called the Quichua. Between the coast and the ridge of the Andes, called the Cordillera, there are many towns, the inhabitants of which generally speak the Quichua and the Spanish, with, however, a predilection for their own native tongue. On the east of the Cordillera of the Andes, the Spanish language is but little spoken, and both Peruvians and Spaniards speak the Quichua. It is spoken, of course, with more or less purity, in these different places, a circumstance to be fully expected of an unwritten language, and among an uneducated people. I have had my attention turned to those parts of this country where the Quichua language is spoken ever since I came to Peru. I have had a great desire to communicate, in one way or another, to this ancient people, the blessings of educa­tion and the light of the Sacred Word. The Spaniards have kept them in the lowest state of mental existence, and it may be truly said, that under the Incas, the Peruvians were less igno­rant, and more virtuous, than they are at this day. At the time the Spaniards (these enemies of know­ledge) drove us from our post here, on their en­trance into Lima, we had in our school two de­scendants of the ancient Peruvians studying our system, with a view to carry instruction among their countrymen; whilst another of the same peo­ple was actually engaged in translating one of the Gospels into the Quichua language. I hope we shall be able to muster our forces again, and to go on in this good work. Pray for us that the blessing of the Almighty may be upon us, to crown us with speedy and certain success.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp.89-97. Written to a friend in Edinburgh, also 9 Nov 1822. Tabernacle?

[2] Captain Henry Prescott, HMS Aurora (later Sir Henry Prescott) BM

LIma, 16th August 1823

Mr Ronneberg

Lima, 16th August 1823

Dear Sir,

Your letter of the 20th February last came into my hands a few hours ago. I haste and to make a reply to your query, regarding the reception the Spanish Bible might meet with here without the Apocrypha. Before however I go further; permit me to condole with you all the heavy loss you have lately sustained in the lamented death of Mr. Owen. He was indeed a man of worth, and none are more able to bear testimony to this than the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible Society. O that we may be all imbued with such a spirit as he had, in forwarding the Noble Cause of the circulation of the Holy Word of God throughout all the earth.

I return to the subject of your query. Immediately upon receiving your letter, I went to consult with some persons regarding the matter in question, and I am happy to say the result of all my inquiries was favourable. I called on two highly respected clergyman who are members of Congress. I stated the matter freely to them without concealing anything. I showed them a list of the books which would have to be omitted, and then asked their opinion as to the sending of the Bibles with these omissions. They had once replied: let them be sent with these omissions. In the course of conversing further upon the subject, I mentioned to them that the parts committed might be printed by themselves that those who chose might have them. They both thought that this would do very well. Now although you cannot print the Apocrypha from your own funds yet you might recommend the matter to some bookseller, and if it were printed and bound in the same way as the Bible it would sell along with it, and might perhaps turn out of profitable speculation to the person who might take it in hand.

I have now answered your question, and I hope satisfactorily. You will therefore have the goodness to send us an ample supply as soon as possible. I think you may send us two thousand by one vessel, and three thousand by another vessel a month or two afterward. You will please make your consignments to Mr. Lynch as formerly. I recommend you to forward, whatever you may have to send to this quarter, overland to Liverpool, as there are a great many more vessels from that port for Lima than there are from London. Everything you may have to send direct to me, please forward to Richard Hancock Esq. Liverpool, who is instructed to ship all my little concerns to this place by the first opportunity. You will also please address me to the case of Messrs. Cochran & Robertson, Lima. I believe my stay in this place will be much longer than I had first anticipated, but on this subject I shall write you more fully in my next, which shall be immediately upon receiving the 5000 New Testaments you have mentioned.

I have already signified to you in former letters that it would in my opinion be prudent and not unprofitable to bind the Bibles and Testaments in many instances somewhat extra. I think they should be all lettered neatly on the back, and I think the Bible would be better bound in two volumes or even three. These things will create to use some more expense in the first instance but less in the end. The price is very low even after all the additions I have spoken of, and nobody here would grudge the increase. You will please excuse my frequent notice of the subject. I understand that some of those you sent to Mr. Jerauld last, are bound in the manner I requested. I have written for the whole of that supply, but they have not yet arrived.

I have just one thing more to state to you for the present. It is a request that you would print in Spanish a brief and interesting view of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and of other kindred Institutions, together with some interesting and instructive letters from your reports. The whole might be comprised in two sheets or less. I am sure this would greatly contribute to forward the object of the Society. I beg therefore that you would endeavor to get this ready as soon as possible. You will keep in mind in drawing up this abstract that you are preparing it for a Catholic country. You will please also to get it well translated, and carefully printed. Mr. Lynch thinks the abstract referred to would do much good, and he is very anxious to have it, to put into the hands of his friends, to let them see what mighty efforts you are making everywhere, to put the Holy Scriptures into the hands of all. – Wishing you every success in your Holy Work, I bid you for a while, adieu, and remain,

Very Truly Yours,

            James Thomson.

Ref.: BSA-D1-2-A

Lima, 1st September 1823

Lima, 1st September, 1823.[1]

I mentioned in a former letter,[2] that the mem­bers of the Congress who were in Lima had united and re-installed this assembly. Their number daily increased, by the arrival of those who had fled to various quarters upon the arrival of the Spaniards. Riva Agüero was left in Truxillo with a very few only of those he had chosen for his senate. The public opinion in favour of the Con­gress, is very strong, and all seem to rejoice in its restoration.

Several accounts have reached us of advantages gained by the patriot troops in the south, but the good effects of these upon us are greatly lessened by the continual dread we are in of the operations of Riva Agüero, who has got collected together about 3000 men. Fulminations by the Congress have been issued against him, calling him tyrant, &c. &c. and exhorting every good patriot to use his endeavours to bring him to this city, dead or alive.

This commencement of internal war is looked upon by all who feel an interest in the indepen­dence of the country, as a very unfortunate cir­cumstance. A powerful enemy is at hand, and ready to seize every opportunity which such divisions may occasion, in order to subject the coun­try to its former state. In fact we were, about a fortnight ago, in great alarm for some days, from a rumour of the return of the Spanish army. A happy circumstance, however, has this day taken place, which will, I trust, unite all parties in one. This fortunate circumstance is the safe arrival of Bolivar. He landed this morning in Callao, and entered Lima this afternoon, to the very great sa­tisfaction of all. He has brought with him up­wards of 2,000 men, and more it is said are to follow. The general aspect of the war is now greatly in our favour, and I think the Spanish army is rather critically placed. Some letters have been intercepted from one of the Spanish Generals to La Serna, giving rather a sad account of his situation, and mentioning some of his officers of whose loyalty he had not great confidence. From all these circumstances, I trust the time is not far distant when this unhappy and destructive war will give way to peace and to liberty.

When in Truxillo, I made some arrangements for the circulation of the Scriptures in that quarter. There is a medical gentleman there, a native of Ireland, of the name of O'Donovan. He is of the Roman Catholic  religion, but he has none of those prejudices against the Bible which many of the Catholics have. So far is he from being prejudiced upon this point, that he takes a very great interest in its circulation, and recommends it strongly to all his friends. This is a very happy circumstance,  and I hope the results will  be truly beneficial. Being a Roman Catholic himself, what he says upon this subject has more weight than the same things would have from a Pro­testant.    Since my return to Lima, I have sent him 50 Spanish New Testaments, and a num­ber of Spanish   tracts, which I got some time ago.  He mentioned to me the effects produced by some tracts which   he formerly had.  He said he gave a few of them to his neighbours, and some time after inquired how they liked them. Some of them told him plainly that they did not like them at all, and that these  tracts were  not the Gospel, because there was nothing said about the Sacraments in them. You would not, he replied, have the Sacraments spoken of everywhere, and nothing but the Sacraments? Let me  read, continued he, a chapter of one of the Gospels to you.  He then took his New Testament, and read to them accordingly a chapter from one of the Gospels. Now, said he, is there anything about the Sacraments in what I have just read to you? They said there was not.  And is not this the Gospel, said he?  They agreed that it was.  Well then, he continued,  may not these tracts  be Gospel too, although there is nothing of the Sacraments in them?  I trust the Lord will bless the  exertions of this worthy individual to circulate the knowledge of God around him.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 97-99.

[2] 8th August 1823.

Lima, 17th November 1823

John Thornton, Esq.

Lima, 17th November 1823

Sir

            I have this day drawn on you, as Treasurer to the British and Foreign Bible Society, a bill of  Exchange to the order of Messrs Cochran  & Robertson of this place, for one hundred pounds sterling. The object for which I have drawn this sum upon the funds of the Society you will find particularly noticed in my letter to the Revd. Mr. Hughes of this date. Your honouring this bill will very much oblige.

            Your Most Obedient Servant,

                        James Thomson.

Ref.: BSA-D1-2-A

Lima, 25th November 1823

Lima, 25th November, 1823[1]

What a cheering thought it is, to contemplate the glorious exertions of the present day, to put the Sacred Scriptures into the hands of all. The names of barbarian, Scythian, bond and free, have disappeared in the distribution of this noble cha­rity; and the only distinction known is, those who have this volume, and those who have it not. The present mighty efforts bid fair to make this only distinction among mankind disappear also; and may it be soon fulfilled; thus leaving every soul in possession of that treasure which can alone make his soul valuable.

I am happy to say that something has already been done here, and that the prospects for the future are encouraging. Perhaps there have been cir­culated, during these few years past, about one thousand copies of the whole Bible, in the Spanish language, and considerably upwards of that num­ber of New Testaments, in the same tongue. It is true, this is but a small number among so many; yet it is a good beginning; and you know we ought not to despise small things, but receive them with thanksgiving, and as encouragements to per­severance.

Immediately after the rapid sale of the 500 Spanish Bibles, and 500 New Testaments in this city, as mentioned in my letter of October 18th, I wrote to London for a large supply, although I was then in daily expectation of some arriving. The supplies sent by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and which I was then expecting, arrived, as I afterward learned, in Buenos Aires and in Chile, but none of them reached this place. I re­mained for a long time in great anxiety about the arrival of a supply for this city, and country adja­cent. After waiting for several months, I received a letter from the Society, informing me that the whole edition of the Bible had been disposed of, but that 5000 New Testaments would be sent me as soon as they could be bound. These have not yet arrived, but I am in hourly expectation of them.

I come now to speak of a new translation of the New Testament, which I am endeavouring to procure in this place. I suppose you are aware that the greater part of the inhabitants of Peru are the descendants of the ancient Peruvians. The language spoken by the Peruvian nation in the time of the Incas is called the Quichua; and this language, with some variation, continues to be spoken to the present day by two-thirds of the inhabitants of this country. Since my arrival in Peru, I have been desirous of procuring a translation of a part or the whole of the New Testament into this language. I have, at length, got it begun, and under favour­able circumstances. Two of the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and the two Epistles of Peter, are already translated into this ancient tongue. The translation of the rest of the New Testament is going forward, while the parts I have mentioned are a revising by four gentlemen, who have cheerfully offered to take this labour upon them. I am much pleased to see the interest these in­dividuals take in this matter; and it will, as it were, authorize this translation, when it is con­sidered that they have revised it. All the four are members of Congress, and one of them is a cler­gyman. The gentleman who is engaged in the translation is a descendant of one of the Incas, or kings of Peru, and a native of the city of Cuzco. As soon as the parts I have mentioned are tho­roughly revised, I intend to print them at the ex­pense of the British and Foreign Bible Society. In the mean time, the translation of the whole New Testament will go forward until it is com­pleted. I am also desirous of beginning with the Old Testament as soon as the New is translated. This translation of the whole Bible, and the print­ing of an edition of two or three thousand copies, will cost a considerable sum, especially as printing is expensive in this country. I have written to the British and Foreign Bible Society, requesting their instructions regarding the extent to which they might wish me to go in this matter at their expense. I trust they will authorize me to go forward in this work, and to carry it into completion. As this, how­ever, is an American work, I believe the American Bible Society would gladly come forward with their aid to carry it into effect. This language is spoken by about a million of people; and no other inducement, should be necessary to interest Bible Societies in regard to it. There are also two other languages spoken in this country, namely, the Aimara and the Moxa.[2]About four hundred thousand people speak these two languages. I am desirous of getting, at least, one of the Gospels translate into each of these, but have not yet got anything done. It is my intention to take a journey through the interior of Peru; and, when passing through the places where these two languages are spoken, I shall endeavour to procure the translations when on the spot.

            Thus, you see, the Lord's work goes forward, even in this remote corner. South America has hitherto been a neglected and benighted country; but thanks be to God, this long night of darkness is now far spent, and the day is at hand. From the time I set my foot on board on my voyage to South America, I have considered myself as an American. Ever since that day the interests of America are the uppermost in my heart. You too, my dear Sir, and the members of your Society, are Americans. I would, therefore, call upon you, as my fellow-citizens, and would rouse you up to the mighty importance of that sacred work in which you are engaged.  America, North and South, is the field for your operations. Lo! the poor In­dian, begging from you the "bread of life." Can you shut up your bowels of compassion?—"Come over and help us," breaks upon our ears from every quarter. Surely this is not the time to sit down with folded hands, to rejoice in what has been ac­complished. No. It is the time to blush, and to be ashamed for our past supineness: it is the time for calling forth all our energy, for plying every nerve, in order to make the Light of Life shine from one end of the earth to the other.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet,1827), pp. 100-104. Written to American Bible Society. (BM)

[2] Thomson's note added in editing letters for publication:  Although I resided upwards of two years in Peru, yet during that time I did not meet with any person qualified to translate the Scriptures into either of these two languages. But after leaving that country, I met with a person fitted for translating into the Aimará, in a place where I little expected to find one. In London, last year, when in one of the Paddington coaches, I perceived that one of my fellow passengers was a foreigner, from his countenance and manner of speaking. After we had conversed a little with each other, I took the liberty to ask him from what part of the world he came. He told me he was from South America; and upon inquiring more particularly, I found he was a native of La Paz, in Peru, the very spot where the Aimará language is spoken. This in­dividual I found to be perfectly acquainted with this language, having spoken it from his infancy; and from his education and other circumstances, I conceived him to be a suitable person for translating the Scriptures into that language. Our acquaintance increased, and led to his, being engaged by the British and Foreign Bible Society to translate the New Testa­ment into his native tongue; and he has now nearly com­pleted this work.

                We call a meeting of this kind accidental, and it was truly so, in the common sense of the term. But the Christian looks higher, and finds the directing hand of God in such matters. What adds to the interest of this circumstance is, that besides the person mentioned, there is not an individual in England who understands a word of the language referred to.

Lima, 1st December 1823

Lima, 1st December, 1823[1]

I mentioned to you in my last,[2] that Bolivar had safely arrived in this city.  Some days after his  arrival, I was introduced to him, and was very favourably received. He is, in appearance, a very  modest unassuming man, as far as I can judge from the short conversation we had together. He appears very active and intelligent, but I could not read anything of an extraordinary nature in his  countenance. He has not the eye of San Martin, whose glance would  pierce you through in a moment.  Bolivar's weather-beaten face tells you that he has not been idle. No man, I believe, has borne so much of the burden, or has toiled so hard in the heat of the day, in the cause of South American independence, as Bolivar. His labours in his own country are already crowned with nearly complete success; Colombia may be considered free and independent. According to all the  ac­counts which reach us, the Congress of that coun­try is going on with great  steadiness. 

The following, I conceive, is a very pleasing trait in Bolivar's character. When invited to come here, he replied, that he would very gladly come with­out a moment's delay, but that he could not al­low himself to obey his feelings in the matter, as an article of the  constitution of Colombia pro­hibits the  President from  going out  of the state without leave from the Congress. From this circumstance, he said, and from a desire to give an example of subjection to the laws, he could not come until he should obtain leave. He accord­ingly wrote to the Congress for permission, and although, from the distance of the capital, he was long, in receiving an answer, and in the in­terval was urgently solicited from this quarter, yet he remained in Guayaquil until the permission from the Congress came, and immediately after sailed for this place. Since his arrival here, he has been chiefly occupied in military occupations, and in endeavouring to make an accommodation between the Congress and Riva Agüero.  Everything has been done by him in this matter, and I am sorry to say without effect. The last re­medy only remains, and it has been resorted to; Bolivar in person and 6,000 men have gone against him. I am told he is pretty confident of reducing him in a very short time, and that he expects to return in three or four weeks.

            Lima is no longer that city of wealth it formerly was. The number of people who have been reduced from tolerably comfortable circumstances to poverty, is not a few. The affairs of our school suffer greatly from the present state of this place. The Government is very friendly towards us, and very desirous of giving us succour, but they can­not do what they wish, as this war rivets the at­tention of all, and devours all the resources. But the Lord reigneth, and all shall yet be well. The Congress has, for  some months past, been busily occupied  in framing a constitution for Peru, and which they  have now brought to a close. A few days ago it was published, and it has since been sworn  to with great formality by the members of Congress, the members of Go­vernment, and other public functionaries. It is very probable that this constitution will be trans­lated into English, and published in London. You will, in that case, have an opportunity of seeing it, and of forming your opinion regarding its  merits. When you have passed your judg­ment upon it, I shall be obliged to you to state particularly what that judgment is, in order that I may inform my friends here of the result. In this  manner you may perhaps contribute to its improvement afterwards, as the opinions of fo­reigners upon the subject will, I am persuaded, have some weight. 

To find a perfect constitution would be as difficult, perhaps, as to find a perfect man. The political constitutions of most coun­tries might be altered for the better, I believe, especially on your  side of the world.  There is certainly a striking difference between the old world and the new in reference to these matters. You Europeans, generally speaking, may be compared to an old man, whose evil habits have grown up with him from the days of his ignorance and foolishness, but which he either cannot see, or seeing, is unwilling to correct. If you  point out these to him, he gets impatient and angry, and then draws his sword, by dint of which he con­vinces you that he is in the right. We, on the other hand, who live in a new world, have new ideas, and, I may add, true ideas, upon these subjects. America may be compared to a young man just come of age, and inexperienced, but who is endeavouring to learn wisdom from seeing the stubbornness of old age on the one hand, and from the true principles of philosophy on the other. We are not fettered down by old habits, and we are endeavouring therefore, and I think with some success to look upon the subject of government philosophically, and as free as may be from the influence of prejudice.

The single object, I believe, of the rising states of South America is the forming such laws or constitutions as may truly secure the liberty and protection of every member of the political body, to the greatest de­gree possible. Political codes have been drawn up with this view, and all of them, I believe, have an article of great importance, namely, that the constitution shall be revised and improved from time to time, in order that it may move on to­wards perfection, as science and wisdom increase in the world. You will be saying to yourself, per­haps, that I am too favourable to my new friends, and you will be ready to produce against me the article upon religion as found in most of the constitutions of this southern continent. You are likely, I believe, to form an improper judgment of this country in reference to that article. You may be sure I feel the want  upon this matter more than you do, but I endeavour to look upon the subject with as little prejudice as possible.

When toleration was obtained in England, it was wrung from the government, I may say, by main force. The safety of the state demanded it, and this I suppose had more weight in obtaining for us this precious blessing, than any qualms of con­science or political wisdom. Things are quite different here. There is nobody, I may say, who needs toleration, and of course nobody is asking it for himself. I speak of the inhabitants of America, exclusive of the few foreigners who reside in it. One of the  members of Congress, at the time of discussing this subject, very pertinently said, "Why such ado about toleration? Who is asking for it? or who stands in need of it?  We, our­selves, do not need any such thing, and foreign­ers, who are here, seem very little concerned about the subject. It was not religion that brought them to this country, but commerce. Give them money, therefore, in exchange for their goods, and they will seek nothing else." Now all this was very true, however unpalatable. Yet, notwithstanding the real state of the country in regard to the need of toleration, a very strong party exists in the Congress in favour of it; so strong indeed, that it was thought at one time that it would be gained; and when it was lost, a considerable number entered their pro­test upon the subject; the first of whom was an aged priest, and the head of the principal college in Lima. Now can you tell me when such things took place in any other country, and originating wholly from a philosophical view of the matter? Having seen these things take place, under my own eye, and having conversed with several members of Congress and others upon the subject, I feel con­fident in stating, that liberal views upon it are pretty general, at least in this city, and I believe that this evil will be removed from the Constitution ere long, perhaps at the first revival of it.

P.S.—Riva Agüero and his friends, are now prisoners, and his troops have returned to their duty.

[1] James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827)., pp. 105-110.

[2] 1st September 1823.

Lima, 1st March 1824

Lima, 1st March, 1824.[1]

I stated to you, some time ago, my expecta­tion of being able to introduce the New Testament undisguised into our school. Blessed be God, that object is now accomplished. I have sold several copies to the children publicly in the school. In the usual course of our lessons, we have occasion to speak of several incidents in the Gospel history. On these occasions, I desire our pupils, particularly on Saturdays, to find out in their New Testaments where such a thing is spoken of, giving them cer­tain limits. On the Monday following, a number are well prepared with their New Testaments marked with slips of paper at the places in ques­tion, and often through their pretty impatience to communicate their discoveries, they tell me be­fore we get into the school, that they have found out the parable of the sower, the conversion of Paul, &c.

 You may easily imagine that these circumstances are great sources of enjoyment to me, and make up for many disadvantages. I  have said that we have got the New Testament intro­duced into our school undisguised. You probably perceive what I mean by using the word undis­guised. The truth is, the New Testament, in one sense, has all along been used in our schools in South America, not however in the open manner we now use it in Lima, but, as I may say, dis­guised; that is, we have used for lessons extracts from it, printed on large sheets, and in little books, thus introducing the Scriptures as it were by stealth. Each part of these lessons I cause to be read repeatedly in the classes, until the children can read them readily. By the time they can do so, the substance of what they have read, and the instruction contained in it, is tolerably imprinted on the memory. Children, you know, have a habit of repeating to themselves what they have been saying or reading frequently. In conse­quence of this, what portions of Scripture they have read in the school, they repeat in this way at home.

 My excellent friend and companion, the clergyman, already well known to you, informs me that several of the parents of our scholars tell him that their children are talking about the Gospel at home all the day long. From other quarters I have heard the same thing, and always with satisfaction expressed on the part of the parents. Some of the elder boys, at times, have requested me to lend them the little books of Scripture extracts, that they might read them at home; and sometimes the request is, "My mother desired me to ask you for one of the little books, as she wishes to read it." These re­quests have been listened to with satisfaction, and you may be sure, complied with. Seeing this good disposition in regard to this matter, and considering the advantages which might flow from this silent unpresuming introduction of the Holy Scriptures, I intimated to the children that the little books would he sold to them at a small expense, and the conse­quence was, that many of them were bought imme­diately. 1 mentioned to my clerical friend what 1 had done, and my motive for doing it, namely, that the children and the parents might be improved. He replied, the books must prove useful to both, parents and children, as what they contain is the word of God.

 You will, perhaps, think I am lengthening out this subject too much, in talking of our school affairs. It is a subject, however, of some interest, considering where our school is, and I am per­suaded you will look upon it as such. I shall, therefore, proceed a little farther, even at the risk of being tedious. We have, at certain times, an exercise for the more advanced boys, which I con­ceive to be very useful, and in which they take a great deal of interest. A Scripture narrative, or parable, is proposed, which they are required to read over, by themselves, with great attention, and to note in their memory all the circumstances and instruction contained in it. Thus prepared, as many as choose, to exhibit, sit down on a form by themselves, and one after another stands forward, without book, and delivers the parable or narrative, not in the very words of the text, but giving all the circumstances of the parable in their own artless way. It is pleasing, and not uninstructive, to hear them go over their exercise in this manner. Instead, for instance, of saying that the servant in Matthew, chap. 18, owed his Lord ten thousand talents, one will say, he owed him a thousand dollars, another, perhaps, will say a hundred dollars; whilst, on the other hand, they will say that the one servant owed the other "unos pocos cuartillitos," or, as we would say in English, a few halfpence. By this way of saying it, they get into the sense of the pas­sage themselves, and it is thus also brought down to the level of the understandings of their younger com­panions, all of whom are listening, whilst the attention of many is rivetted. One of the boys the other day, in noticing the concluding verse of the 18th of Mat­thew, made a very beautiful allusion to the  corresponding petition in the Lord's Prayer, forgive us our trespasses as we forgive others. A premium of two rials (equal to a shilling) was awarded to the boy who delivered his parable in the best manner. Several times this reward was proposed and given. One day they asked me what parable we should have. I told them I was not sure that we should have any at all that day, because money was very scarce with us, and I did not know if we could spare two rials. But, said they, we may say the parable, although there be no premium. You take a pleasure then, said I, in this exercise, do you, independently of the premium ? Yes, said they, with one accord. Well, I continued, it gives me great pleasure to see you take so much interest in this matter, and I can assure you, it is a very useful exercise, as well as a pleasing one.

 I now go on to notice what has occurred here since my last, in reference to supplies of the Holy Scriptures, and their distribution. I stated to you formerly, that we were entirely without a supply of the Spanish Bible here, and that we had but a few New Testaments. In hopes of obtaining some Bibles which were much sought after, I wrote to a gentleman in Valparaiso, to whom some Bibles and Testaments had been consigned some time before by the British and Foreign Bible Society, with an intimation that they should be at, my dis­posal, if I wished for them. On learning this, I immediately wrote to Valparaiso upon the subject, requesting the whole to be, sent me without delay. After more than the time necessary for their arrival had passed by without their appearing, I wrote a second time, making the same request. I received an answer to my second letter, as it seems the first had miscarried, but I was sorry to learn that the Bibles were all gone. When I say I am sorry for this, I speak rather in reference to the supplying of this place, than in reference to the grand object of distributing the Scriptures in South America. These Bibles, to the amount of 200, were all dis­tributed, and mostly by sale, in Valparaiso, so that, if I am sorry in not being able to supply those who want here, I am, on the other hand, glad that my friends in Chile have obtained so many copies of the sacred word in their own tongue.

After the accounts which I have now given you, which are of an encouraging nature, I am sorry in being under the necessity of giving a gloomy close to my letter. The Spanish army entered this city yesterday. I feel as if I were no longer in South America, but as transported to Spain; and as one in the visions of the night, finds himself in foreign climes, he knows not how, and sighs to return home, so do I sigh to return to South America. My next letter may,  perhaps, inform you, that our school has been shut up, and that I have taken my departure for — heaven knows where. There, however, I shall be, as now, affectionately yours.

[1] Letter to BFSS. James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 110-115.

Lima, 3rd March 1824

Lima, 3rd March, 1824.[1]

 Soon after the arrival of the Bibles here, there were many observations made regarding the faithfulness of this reprint from the Madrid edition; and many observations were made also as to the reading the Scriptures without notes, for the Spanish Bible had never been seen before without these in this country. On one of these occasions, in the street one day, when a priest was speaking freely to some people about him against reading the Scriptures without the notes, a friar came up and joined them; and, hearing the ob­servations of the other against reading the Bible without notes, he took up the other side of the question, and by strong arguments and some wit, he put his adversary to shame, and convinced those who were present that it was the best and most natural way to read the divine instructions just as they proceeded out of the mouth of him who spoke as never man spoke, and just as they flowed from the pens of the inspired messengers.

I have very great satisfaction in stating, that many of the clergy in this place encourage the reading of the word of God. This is a cheering circumstance, and affords good grounds to expect a large diffusion of divine knowledge; for the word of God cannot return unto him void, but will accomplish his gracious will in the instruction and salvation of mankind wherever it is read. I have learned this friendly disposition of the clergy upon this subject more particularly, since I set agoing the translation of the New Testament into the  Quichua language, as mentioned in my last.  All with whom I have talked upon this subject, both clergy and laity, are pleased with the object, and I have not yet heard of any one condemning the doing of it.

I spoke to a canon, in this place, some time ago upon the subject, and he voluntarily offered to cor­rect the proof-sheets in passing through the press, if I should be at any loss for one to do it. Blessed be God for this encouragement. May he carry on and prosper this work, and make it a blessing unto thousands. In about three months, or less, I ex­pect the whole of the New Testament will be translated into the Peruvian tongue. The revision also is going forward, and from the character and qualifications of those who are revising it, I trust the translation will be very faithful, and at the same time adapted to the capacities of the poor, to whom, in an especial manner, the gospel is preached.

You will observe by my former letter, that be­sides the Quichua, there are two other languages spoken in Peru, into which it would be desirable to get a part or the whole of the New Testament translated. I mentioned to you my application to the British and Foreign Bible Society for means to carry forward these translations. I also hinted that this is properly an  American work, and that it would not be unnatural to look for some assistance in it to the American Bible Society. Will you therefore have the goodness to lay this matter before the board of managers, and request them to favour me with a communication upon the subject, as early as convenience will permit. The object is, to translate the whole Scriptures into the Quichua language, spoken by upwards of a million, and also into the Aimará and Moxa languages, spoken each by upwards of two hundred thousand souls. I add no more upon this subject for the present, but at the same time, think it not improper to hint, that I shall probably have another claim upon your liberality, in regard to the native languages of Mexico. This claim may come before you perhaps some twelve months hence, should our heavenly Father be pleased to uphold me so long.

[1] Letter to the American Bible Society. James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 116-118.

Lima, 25th March 1824

Lima, 25th March, 1824.[1]

 My last letter to Mr. S. closed with a foreboding in regard to our concerns here, from the circumstance of the Spanish army having entered this city. On the 20th of February, the Spanish troops, to the amount of about 2,500, took quiet possession of this place, there being not the smallest oppo­sition. The patriot troops had retired a few days before, leaving us altogether unprotected, and exposed to those depredations which never fail to take place in a large city where there is no government to restrain. We were, in fact, in a very unpleasant state for some days, and the first sounds of martial music from the Spanish army filled me with thanksgiving, as a deliverance from the anarchy and confusion we had lived in for some time.

 A few days after the arrival of the Spanish army, and as soon as things were a little tranquillized, I wrote to the Spanish General, in reference to our school, telling him what we had done, and the state in which we were at the time. I repre­sented to him the nature of our schools, and stated that establishments of a similar kind had been introduced and encouraged in various parts of the world. I of course mentioned particularly what had been done in Spain. After stating these things, I requested him to inform me whether we should go on, or whether we should immediately shut up our school. In answer to this, I received from him a very polite letter, saying, that he was informed and fully persuaded that the school under my direction was a very useful establish­ment, and that he wished it to go on until the Viceroy should communicate his mind upon the subject. In my letter to the General I inclosed a copy of a letter, which I intended to forward to the Viceroy, and requested his opinion of the letter, and whether I should send it on to Cuzco. He replied, that he thought the letter was suitable, and that if I wished he would himself forward it to the Viceroy, in order that it might go with greater security. You may be sure, I thankfully accepted his offer, and sent him immediately my letter to forward. Next day I called on the General to thank him for his kindness in protecting our school, and in taking the trouble of forwarding my letter to the Viceroy. I was very kindly received by him, and encouraged to go on. Thus, you see we have a new instance of the gracious goodness of our God in giving me favour with the Gover­nors of this quarter of the world, however much opposed to each other.

 I informed you, I think, soon after my arrival in this place, that the government had ordered the college belonging to the Dominican Friars in this city to be  put at my disposal, for the use of our school establishment. The removal of the Friars, and the giving up of the college, was accomplished without the smallest murmur, or at least audible murmur, on the part of the monks. This college is an extensive building, and very well adapted to the purposes of a central school. We have a large school  room, which will hold very conveniently 300 children, and  another large room connected with it, which would   contain 200 more. We have also several other rooms, very suitable as lodgings for the masters whilst studying the system, and there is convenience for a printing office, &c. &c. The apartments formerly occupied by the Rector of the college, have formed my own lodg­ing the greater part of the time I have been in Lima.

 Besides the places now mentioned, which are all connected with each other, we have a large hall, finely adapted for a female school, with rooms for the mistress and her assistants. These are entirely separated from the parts mentioned before, so that though in the same building, they are quite distinct places, with separate entrances a gun-shot from each other. Our boys' school con­tains, at the present time, 230 children, and we have often been talking of commencing a girls' school as a thing greatly wanted in this place. But such has been the unhappy state of public affairs here for so long a time, that nothing has yet been done in it. From the description I have given you of the building we occupy, and the use to which it was formerly destined, you might naturally ex­pect that the Friars gave it up reluctantly, though without complaining, and that  they would still have their eye upon it, if a favourable opportunity should present itself for reclaiming it. I am told, that when the Spaniards were in possession of this city in June last, the Friars had resolved on petitioning the government upon the subject, but the short occupation of the city by the Spanish troops did not allow them to carry their purpose into effect.

 At the present time, the Spaniards seem to have taken a more permanent possession of the place, with the intention of continuing in it for some time, and their possessing the fortresses of Callao will enable them to do so. We were, therefore, in greater danger than ever of losing our college, and indeed application, as I am informed, was actually made to that effect to Ge­neral Monet, the commander of the division in this quarter. But from what I have stated above, you will see the  happy resolution of the General in our favour. I should have mentioned, when describing the college, that there is a church con­nected with it, as there is with  all  the colleges here. The church and the court connected with it, are separated by a wall from the parts formerly mentioned. They were formerly not entirely se­parated from each other, as there were two openings, like gate ways, between the two places. These, however, I caused to be built up, as I did not know what kind of companions I might have in the two Friars who were left to perform  the service  of the church; and from the character of some of this class, and the circumstance of the loss of their college, and its being put into the hands of a  Protestant,  I did not augur  much good from their neighbourhood.

 We have, how­ever, lived all along on good terms, and our longer acquaintance with each other has grown, I think, into friendship. I met with a proof of this friend­ship since the entrance of the   Spaniards, which I did not expect. The Friar who has the prin­cipal charge called upon  me  one  morning,   and informed me that he had heard that the Conde de Villar de Fuente was to be appointed Go­vernor of Lima. Now, says he, although he is a very good man, yet being very friendly to the Friars, it is very likely they will press him hard to regain their college. You should therefore, con­tinued he, endeavour to see the Governor or him as early as possible,  lest they get the start of you to your dis­advantage. I thanked him very kindly for his intimation and for his advice, and told him that I was very happy in having this proof of our living in such friendship with each other. I called upon the Governor soon after his appointment, agreeably to the advice of my friend, and found him very well disposed to continue our establishment and to encourage it.

[1] Letter to BFSS. James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 119-123.

Lima, 29th March 1824

Lima, 29th March, 1824.[1]

Dear Sir,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

            Yours sincerely,

            J. Thomson.

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

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

Lima, 30th March 1824

Lima, 30th March, 1824.[1]

I find my last letter to you is dated so far back as the 26th May 1823. It will, therefore, be necessary to go back to that period, in order to bring up my account current with you, if I may so speak. Not long after writing that letter, the Spanish army came to this city, and took possession of it. The Patriot army, which was inferior in strength to that of their opponents, retired to the fort of Callao; to which place also an immense number of the inhabitants of the city withdrew. The day previous to the entrance of the Spaniards, I retired with a multitude to Callao, to avoid the unpleasant circumstances which might occur in the absence of government and laws, from the going out of one army until the entering of the other. It was my intention to return in a few days, when things were settled, and to see whether we might not go on with our work of peace in the midst of war. For some days, however, there was no passing from one place to the other with safety; and as the vessel in which I had taken refuge was bound for Casma, a port about 160 miles to the north of this place, I went there with her. In the village of Casma I stopped about 10 days, being kindly entertained in the Rector's house.

 From thence I went on to Truxillo by land, to the place the Government and Congress had removed. The Spaniards continued in Lima about one month, and then retired southwards to engage the Patriot army, which was in some strength in Arequipa. As soon as we heard in Truxillo that the Spaniards were all gone, I returned to this city along with many others. I arrived on the 2nd August, after a voyage of nine days, from the port of Truxillo, called Huanchaco. Our School had been shut all the time I was absent: and, from the various circumstances, which it is not necessary to particularise, we could not set it agoing again till 11th of September, on which day it was opened. We had to begin, as it were, anew; and for the first few days we had very few scholars. By and by they increased in number, and since that time they have been gradually increasing until the present day. Our number, at present, is 230, and the School is going well.

 We have at present three masters learning our system, and whom we expected to place in other schools before now; but this war literally devours up everything, and ties us down to a spot. When we shall clap our wings and fly over the Andes, to teach the poor Peruvian in his native tongue, I cannot tell: God may, perhaps, bring this about sooner than we expect. In the course of a week, the whole of the New Testament will be translated into the ver­nacular language of Manco Capac, and by a de­scendant of that ancient race of kings.

 By the time this comes into your hands, you will probably have heard that the Spaniards are now again in possession of Lima.

 I wrote to the Spanish General who commands the division in this place, soon after his arrival, to know what was his determination regarding our going on with our School, or stopping altogether. I received a polite and friendly answer, saying, that he was well informed of the advantages arising from our School, and that he wished it to go on, until the will of the Viceroy should be known respecting it.  I have written to the Viceroy La Serna, who resides at present in Cuzco, requesting to know his determination regarding the continuing of our system, under his government, in this city, and whether he is desirous of extending it throughout the country. In something less than two months I shall probably hear from him, and shall commu­nicate to you the result. If the answer be favourable, I shall most likely repair immediately to Cuzco, leaving one of the masters before mentioned in charge of this school; and should his answer be unfavourable, I shall leave this place and go north­wards.

 We have often been very desirous of commencing a Girls' School in this city, and we have very good accommodations in our college for this purpose; but we have never been able to effect it, in con­sequence of the extreme scarcity of money at present in this city. If Lima had been in its former state of abundance, we could have effected it with great ease; and it would have been a very great, blessing to this place. We would, in that case, have been very desirous of receiving a well-qualified Teacher from your Committee, to direct our Female Department. It would still be prefer­able to send two, as one of them could attend to the public school, and the other might keep a respectable boarding-school for the higher classes. Regarding this last-mentioned part, several parents have spoken to me; and on the whole, I think it would turn out well for those who might come out for that purpose. Such an establishment I am sure would be the means of doing a great deal of good in this country. Female education, in my opinion, is the thing most wanted in every country; and when it shall be properly attended to, the renovation of the world will go on rapidly. I notice these things to you for the present, that you may write to me what occurs on that subject, and let us know if you could aid us in these matters, if we were directly to apply to you. I notice these things that you may write me upon the subject, knowing, from experience, how ready you are, at all times, to listen to every proposition which bears on knowledge and benevolence.

[1] Letter to BFSS. BFSS 1825 Annual Report, pp. 120-122 and  James Thomson. Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America. (London: James Nisbet, 1827), pp. 128-130.