16 Harpur Street, Red Lion Square
16th October 1851
My Dear Sir,
I shall feel obliged if you will kindly direct a copy to be made for me and sent of Lord Palmerston's note read in the Committee the other day. I wish to show this to a particular friend, and it will be considered – private.
I hope you are adjusting yourself nicely into our Bible Society business.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
16 Harpur Street, October 17th 1851
Dear Sir,
Please to send me here, this evening, 5 Spanish Bibles 8vo and 10 Sp. Test.
Yours Truly
James Thomson.
Rev George Browne
16 Harpur Street
29th October 1851
My Dear Friend,
I have the pleasure of informing you that you will receive a copy of the Geographical Statistical and Historical Description of Spain in 16 volumes 4to by Don Pascual Madoz. This is a present from the author to the Library of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Mr. Madoz is the gentleman who befriended your agent by giving him 29 letters of introduction, and by other favours.
I remain,
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev George Browne
16 Harpur Street
29th October 1851
My Dear Friend,
I have the pleasure of informing you that you will receive a copy of the Geographical Statistical and Historical Description of Spain in 16 volumes 4to by Don Pascual Madoz. This is a present from the author to the Library of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Mr. Madoz is the gentleman who befriended your agent by giving him 29 letters of introduction, and by other favours.
I remain,
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
16 Harpur Street
3rd Nov. 1851
Dear Sir,
The Books in question are the same I noticed to you the other day, but as I did not know how many and of each sort exactly would make up a little parcel, I desired Mr. Franklin to make it out and to tell you the result that you would be kind enough to get them and make them up as a grant.
The Books are for Capt. Knocker a good Christian man residing at Callao near Lima, and as manager there for the steam vessels that ply between Panamá and Chile. They can be sent out to him free of charge, and he can from his position and employ easily get them landed without risk. This is to be the beginning of I hope a considerable distribution in that part. He will sell the books in all cases where he can.
I hope these explanations will be satisfactory. I had no intention of taking the books direct from the Depository, but the case is as I mentioned. Nevertheless I like your great and full formality, and shall remember the same more closely in future and be myself always in order if possible like yourself.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
P.S. I suppose I shall have some little notification officially as to Madoz's dictionary, that I may transmit to him the same.
Rev George Browne
16 Harpur Street
18th December 1851
My Dear Friend,
I have the pleasure of transmitting to you a document I received yesterday from Madrid. It is an acknowledgment of receipt of the collection of Bibles sent by the Society to the University of Madrid some time ago, accompanied by many thanks for the boon.
I have often wondered that such a document should not have been received long ago. This is accounted for by a letter accompanying the document, in which it is stated that this is the third time in which it has been sent, but the two former it seems have somehow miscarried.
In acknowledging the arrival of this document to the Marquis of Morante I shall signify that we shall be glad to remit other copies of the Bibles forwarded at the low prices we charge for them. Perhaps in this way we may have some orders.
I have no hesitation in saying, from a full knowledge of this case, that this present from the Society of a set of their Bibles in various tongues to the University of Madrid has been very gratefully received, and that the Bibles are highly esteemed. They have had one of the best places in the Library assigned to them, and they are shown to visitors as an ornament and a treasure to the University. I would also mention all the Professors and all the students have full access to them daily.
I consider that the Society should gladly avail itself of making presents of this kind to the Roman Catholic Universities on the Continent in the full assurance that such generosity will greatly promote the objects of the Society.
I remain,
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
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Translation
I have learned to my great regret, that the document I addressed to you last year never came into your hands, in which I acknowledge the receipt of the Collection of Bibles that you had the goodness to remit to our Library, thanking you for your attentions to us. I now hasten therefore to tribute our thanks to you as is so justly due, and to beg you will forgive the long delay which has occurred.
I seize this opportunity of repeating to you my former offer of a copy of the Constitutions, Bulls and Reforms of the University of Alcalá for which you expressed a wish when you paid us a visit, and I will forward the same as soon as you shall inform me by what conveyance the same can be effected.
May God preserve you for many years.
The Marquis of Morante
Rector of the Central University of Madrid
Madrid, 5th December 1851
Dr. Thomson.
Rev G. Brown
Earl Street, 5th January 1852
My Dear Friend,
Please to let me have Five Spanish Bibles and Ten Testaments as a Grant in favour of my poor Spaniards.
I think you have not sent yet a copy of your Modern Greek Bible to the Propagation Society. They will be glad to receive one.
Yours Very Truly
James Thomson.
16 Harpur Street
29th April 1852
My Dear Mr Knolleke,
I have only one Spanish Bible remaining and no Testaments. Please to plead for 5 of the former and 10 of the latter for me the first opportunity that offers, as I may need them early.
Yours Truly,
James Thomson.
16 Harpur Street
11th June 1852
Dear Sir,
Would you be kind enough to send me for a few days, Villanueva's work on the Reading of the Scriptures in the vulgar tongues, a folio volume, and his Cartas Eclesiásticas, a Spanish 4to both of which I brought from Spain?
Yours Sincerely,
James Thomson.
6 Red Lion Square, 1 December 1852
My Dear Sir,
Please to favour me with Mr. J. R Mills' address.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Note on reverse; Kingswood Lodge, Buglefield Green, Surrey. (BM)
16 Harpur Street
7th February 1853
My Dear Friend,
I have recently received a letter from Aranjuez in Spain, where zealous Bible friend resides, and who uses every means for putting the Scriptures into profitable use. He wishes a supply of small Bibles, and small Testaments, and also copies of the Acts and Isaiah. I would recommend the 20 copies of each should in the mean time be granted to him, with encouragement to ask more.
I would seize this opportunity of suggesting the propriety of the Society printing a 32mo Spanish Testament, as it is the volume most in demand, but the high price of it hinders proper supplies being either granted or asked for.
I remain,
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev. G. Browne
P.S. It is wished that the parcel containing the boxes be sent to Mr. Adie's Optician Strand, to be sent by him as he can to W. Greene Esq., Aranjuez, Spain.
6 Red Lion Square
13th June 1853
My Dear Friend,
I received the other day a letter from the South of Spain from a gentleman whom I well know personally, and who holds the situation of Professor in one of the Universities there. He is very zealous in circulating the Scriptures among his countrymen. At this period of the year he has four months of vacations, and all this time he is willing and anxious to employ in visiting all the larger towns in the South of Spain in order to circulate the Scriptures there, and other religious books. I have engaged him him in this service, and guarantee him the expenses of the journey from funds at my disposal. My request to you is for a supply of Books, and the following kinds and quantities are required: namely,
50 Small Bibles
300 New Testaments 12mo
300 Luke and Acts
300 Isaiah, &c.
As these must be sent off on the 15th or 16th instant by the Peninsular Steamer you will much oblige me if you will at once order them, and direct that they may be shipped accordingly, and consigned to Messrs. Francia Brothers, Gibraltar. An invoice of course will be sent to that house, but I beg you to favour me with a copy of the same that I may send it to my friend, and that I may know what Books are sent.
As I am exceedingly anxious that the books may be sent off at the time mentioned, you will do me a particular favour by an early note to say they will be so sent, and thus I will be enabled early to apprise my friend on the subject.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev. George Browne
6 Red Lion Square
16th June 1853
Dear Sir,
I return you the letter from Valparaiso having now written today to Peru on the subject contained in it.
I received your note of the 13th and perceived by it that you could not immediately supply the copies of the Scriptures for Gibraltar which I had requested, and that the matter must stand over till Monday. I am glad to say that in the mean time I have received from the Christian Knowledge Society a supply of their improved version of the New Testament and which will be sent off today to Southampton along with other books for the object in question.
In regard to the Scriptures sent out two years ago to Gibraltar and Malaga, they were placed under the care of Mr. Bracebridge for the purpose proposed, and he is the party to put the inquiry to to which you put to me in your note.
Again, as to the upshot of the Hebrew Scriptures sent out to Barbary, I think notices must have been given you long ago. I have sought out the letters that I received on the subject, & they are now before me. By these it appears that Mr. Tapiero, the person in Tangier who was entrusted with them, had sent a large quantity of them into the Interior of the country, and that in passing a River they got quite wet, and this with the delay on the journey rendered them entirely useless. Secondly, that other copies that he had were sold to pay the costs that had been incurred in sending the Books into the interior and otherwise.
Neither myself nor Mr. Benoliel through whom part of this affair was inquired about, are quite satisfied in regard to Mr. Tapiero's conduct. But we have both done all we can in the matter with Tapiero; and having done so, and of course communicated this to you verbally or otherwise, it is not quite in order that acriminations, and more than one, be aired concerning it.
On Monday I shall hope to see you, and in the mean time, remain,
Yours Truly,
James Thomson.
6 Red Lion Square
Monday morning, 18th July 1853
My Dear Friend,
As we may have a little conversation today in Committee about Spain when Mr. Brunet's letter is read, I wish to make the following communication, if you should wish to bring it forward at some time, but leave it with you to decline it if you feel so disposed.
It was my intention on returning from Spain to come by way of the North, and to stay a short time that place where Spain borders on France. The River Bodasóa divides the two countries and on each side of the River there is a town. Now it appeared to me very desirable to have some arrangement on the French side for the sale of Scriptures in Spanish, as they might in this manner find their way extensively into Spain. Upon the subject I wrote to the Society at length some time before I left Spain.
My return by way of the South instead of the North, hindered the carrying the above purpose into effect.
I would now propose therefore, and in connection with our Jubilee operations, that the plan above noticed should be carried into effect. For this purpose I am willing, if you are so inclined, to visit the quarter mentioned and to arrange the plan indicated.
I am induced the more to make this proposition now on account of having had a letter last week from the Spanish gentleman who favoured me with 29 letters of introduction for my journeyings in Spain. He is now in that quarter, and has given me a very cordial invitation to spend a few weeks with him.
Mr. Greene, one of our warm English coadjutors is also in that quarter. Him also I should like to see, and also Mr. Brunet.
The quarter in question is where the Basque language is spoken, and I could wish much to get into circulation there the two portions of the Scriptures we have in their tongue.
I should like to start in the beginning of August, and the visit might occupy three months.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev. George Browne
Rev. George Browne
6 Red Lion Square
8th August 1853
My Dear Friend,
On full reflection I think it will be better to defer the further consideration of my proposed tour to the North of Spain.
I enclose you a letter lately received from my esteemed friend Captain Knocker of Callao in Peru. You will see he speaks particularly of having a Bible Depot on Panamá where there is now an excellent Missionary from the United States who would gladly and carefully take charge of it, and would use his exertions to circulate the Books, not only in that place but also all down the West Coast of South America.
I would recommend your sending him at present
50 Spanish Bibles 8vo
50 Spanish Bibles 12mo
100 Spanish New Testaments 8vo
100 " 12mo
100 " 32mo
100 Spanish Luke & Acts
100 " Psalms &c.
I shall endeavour to obtain a free passage for these by one of the coal vessels. The sooner the Books can be ready the better.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
P.S. Please to return to me Capt. Knocker's letter.
Rev. George Browne
6 Red Lion Square
9th August 1853
My Dear Friend,
Since writing you yesterday I have received the enclosed letter. I suppose you had better insert the sum received as "For sale of the Scriptures in the North of Spain", without putting Mr. Brunet's name.
Mr Brunet is an excellent Christian man, but being connected with a large establishment he is fearful of compromising the same in any way on the subject of religion. Another person there, not so connected, and not so timid, could do much more there than he has done for the circulation of the Scriptures, and to see about some arrangement for this end was one of my reasons for visiting that quarter as proposed, but which is now left till some future opportunity to consider the plan.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
Rev. George Browne
Monday, 5th September 1853
My Dear Friend,
From a hurry to supply a Spanish vessel at Leith I anticipated a little grant which now I beg you to sanction.
And now from a letter recd. today which I show you I would beg a grant of
100 Spanish Bibles 5 in 8vo, 5 in 12mo
50 ---------- New Testaments
10 Portuguese Bibles
50 ------------ Testaments
I ask these because there is now a regular plan in Edin. & Leith for attending to all issues from these two countries.
Yours Very Truly,
James Thomson.
P.S. To be sent to Mrs. Peddie, 6 Grove Street, Edinburgh.
Rev. G. Browne
2nd January 1854
My Dear Friend,
Mr. Saviñon is returning to Mexico, and I could wish to send with him 50 Spanish New Testaments 8vo, as these are wished for there.
I could wish also to send 50 English Bibles and Testaments for sale amongst English Miners in the neighbourhood of Mr. Saviñon's properties.
Yours Very Faithfully,
James Thomson.