Mexico City, 23rd February 1843

Rev A Brandram  No.129

Mexico 23rd February 1843

My Dear Sir,

In my last I mentioned that our Packet brought no English letters, and consequently no letter from you. The mail however was afterwards forwarded from St. Thomas by a hired vessel, which reached of Veracruz on the 27th ultimo, and your letter of the 2nd December came into my hands on the 30th and also Mr. Jackson's dated the 30th November. The mail by last month's Packet reached the city on the 13th instant, and brought me the Bible Society Reporter, but no letters from any in your house where contained in the letter-packet received.

My business here in two of its important branches, namely, as respects the getting of the New Testament into the schools, and the providing the word of God for the poor Indians, is now brought to a point, and I am sorry to say the termination is unfavourable. The Lancasterian Society which received my Representation so favourably, has been obliged to decline the offer made of your assistance in an edition of the New Testament without notes for the use of their schools, and this owing to the Ecclesiastical opposition manifested in the case. This door then, about which I felt so anxious, is for the present shut. I have done everything I could think of to succeed in this important object, and am grieved at its failure. But there is One that openeth, and no man man shutteth; and may he soon and effectually open this country for his own word as it came from himself; and he will in due time open, and no man shall shut after him.

On the other hand, and previous to this discouragement, I received a letter from the Bishop of Michoacan declining to do what he had before tacitly at least consented to, namely, the giving his license to publish a portion of the Scripture in the Indian tongues. This refusal effectually shuts this door, as the Bishop in question is decidedly the most liberal of all the Bishops in this country, so that his refusal makes sure that all will refuse.

The third and only other branch of our business here is the circulation of the Scriptures you have forwarded. I am sorry to say these are not yet arrived in this city. In shipping the Books there should have been a document procured from the Mexican Consul, and forwarded with the bill of lading. This it seems was not done, for no such document reached Veracruz. The Books were therefore detained, and I had to make application to the Government here to overlook this omission, and to permit the Books to be taken out of the Customs House. This has been granted, and the Books are now about to leave Veracruz for this place. In regard to future shipments it would be well to apprise your agent at Liverpool of the necessity of procuring in forwarding this consular document.

By the above mentioned negatives and failures my way in Providence is made clear as to this country, namely, for my leaving it soon. I wish it had cleared up in the opposite direction, but the will of the Lord be done. There is a time for every purpose under the sun, and the time will undoubtedly come when the word of the Lord will have perfectly free course in this country as it is with you. May the Lord hasten that time: and surely our prayers for this country will not be all cast away and forgotten. But I had hoped also that we should have done something here in regard to getting the Scriptures into the schools, and getting translations for the Indians that would have had a powerful effect as an example on all the other countries of South America. But this hope you see is blasted with the other, and so I will proceed to these other countries downcast rather than animated in regard to our work.

Whither now shall I go, and what arrangements shall I make, in order that our labour in the Lord may be as little in vain as possible? I think of going first to the Havana, then afterwards to Yucatán, if it is not inaccessible through the present hot war there, and then onwards to Guatemala. After leaving Guatemala, if the Lord will I should I should live, I would be for making my way in the best manner to Panamá. And from Panamá I would visit the countries and towns lying on the Pacific Ocean. From Peru I have had thoughts of descending the Amazon River to Pará in Brazil, and then visiting the large Brazil towns on the Atlantic Ocean, and thence going on Southward to Monte Video and Buenos Ayres. I give you this sketch that you may reform or alter it as you please; or that you may cut short the course mentioned, and send me, if you will, to China, direct westward across the Pacific. Your way is my way, and may yours be the Lord's.

I go to the Havana in order to see how our work goes on there, and to try to forward it, and also I may say from necessity, because I cannot in the present state of the war get from Veracruz to Yucatán. I am aware that I run some risk of imprisonment in the Havana, according to the order issued against me in 1837. But from the change of the Governor and other circumstances I may probably not be troubled, and on the other hand, I know not any just charge they can bring against me. Nevertheless I should be glad that you would procure for me a letter from the Foreign Office to our Consul there, in case I should stand in need of special British protection. This letter which I now write will reach you most probably about or before the middle of April, and I beg you will write me by the first of May Packet to the care of the British Consul in the Havana, enclosing the letter referred to from the Foreign Office. I shall sail from Veracruz in the Packet, say on the 26th May, and so as to be in the Havana probably on the last day of the month, about which time, or a day or two later your letter referred to may be there: and I judge it prudent not to be there long before your letter arrive. Some little time will be lost here by this delay, but I do not see well how I could arrange better. A sort of compensation will be made for this retardation by my quicker movements afterwards. It will be some weeks yet before the Books arrive from Veracruz, and two or three weeks more will be required here to make full arrangements for continued sales, so that the real loss of time will be only about a month.

In order to meet the quicker movements referred to, and that the most may be done with the least loss of time, it would be desirable to have supplies of the Scriptures waiting me on my arrival in the several places I may touch at on the course pointed out. As to the quantities and kinds to be sent to each place you must form your best judgment, and the kinds and proportional numbers of each in the supply lately sent here may perhaps aid you in your apportionings. I think then you should send without delay to Panamá, Guayaquil, and Lima. You will do your best to find out proper consignees for these shipments, and will be so good as early to apprise me of the names of said persons, together with giving me copies of the Invoices. Places beyond Lima can be afterwards arranged for. There are some cases of Spanish Scriptures in Jamaica, I believe, sent there from Carthagena by Mr. Watts. I shall write to Kingston to have these forwarded to Belize. I know not whether I shall visit Carthagena, but when in the Havana I shall judge that, and I may perhaps cross Jamaica in order to sail from Kingston to that place.

Through means of Mr. Jackson's letter I have at length found out the Mexican Gospel of St. Luke which you printed and sent here. Some of these I have disposed off, and shall distribute the whole in the best way I can before I leave the country. I have had no letter as yet from Dr. Mora, and I am still ignorant as to who is the translator.

I cannot close this letter without joining in thanksgivings and congratulations with you for the grand opening which God has granted to Britain and to the Gospel into the Great and Populous Empire of China. May God give all of you....

(final part of letter missing in archives)

Glasgow, 4th October 1845

Rev A Brandram

Glasgow, 4th Oct. 1845

My Dear Friend,

            I am moving about and about in this great city, and perhaps some good may follow, if not immediately, more remotely. I have also from this as a centre point been visiting several places in the neighbourhood. Of these movements I intend giving you a more particular account in due time. My present object in writing is respecting China. I enclose you a letter for Singapore which I obtained from a friend of Mr John Henderson's, in conformity with Mr Browne's note of the 2nd ultimo. I hope you will find it useful, and I may perhaps obtain one or more similar letters before I leave Glasgow.

            But my main object in writing at present is in regard to a communication I had today bearing much on Bible operations in China. Mr. W. P. Paton in this city has just received a letter from one of the Missionaries in China, in which he informs him, that he and his fellow Missionaries are getting on slowly with the Revision of the Chinese Scriptures, and that slowness he says is owing to a disconfidence about you printing what you they revise, for (from what I could gather from what was read to me) you have distinctly stated to the Missionaries that you will not pledge yourselves for printing their Revision when ready. Mr. Paton's correspondent greatly laments this, and clearly signifies how much the progress of the work is thus retarded. I confess I was a good deal surprised to hear these statements, as I always thought you were urging on the Missionaries with every encouragement in this so great a work, whereas it seems you are doing the very reverse. It is only a few hours since I learned what I have here stated. But I would not by any means lose a post in communicating the same to you, and more especially as Monday is Committee day. I consider the subject very grave and shall be glad to hear from you regarding it, say by Tuesday's post.

            I remain, My Dear Friend,

                                     Ever Truly Yours,

                                                James Thomson.

Glasgow, 11th October 1845

Rev A Brandram

Glasgow 11th October 1845

My Dear Friend,

Being now about to leave this city and neighborhood, I sit down to give you some account of my movements and operations since my last dated in Inverness the 26th of September.

From Inverness Westward through the Lakes, and Southward to Glasgow, I travelled in company with several of the Free Church Ministers who had been attending the General Assembly in Inverness, and were then returning homeward. Our Bible Society was of course at times the theme of our conversations. Most of the persons referred to were on the Edinburgh Bible Society side, but they were with one exception better minded towards our Institution than is indicated in the Edinburgh documents, and I include in this one of the Committee of the Edinburgh Bible Society who was with us. The said documents were disapproved of. And I may here state that this is a feeling I have generally met with all over the country among those not joining with us, but rather with the Edinburgh Bible Society. They are not adverse to us. They wish your improvement in some things, but rejoice in your operations.

In Glasgow I have paid many visits, and two Public Meetings have been held, besides several Committee meetings. Favourable notice of these public meetings was taken by most, if not all, of our newspapers here, including the Free Church organ, and not a syllable has appeared against us in any quarter.

One of the acquaintances I made on the way from Inverness to this city was that of Dr. Smyth, one of the two Secretaries of the Glasgow Bible Society, a Society considered always to side with the Bible Society of Edinburgh. This gentleman I have since seen on different occasions, and been kindly treated by him at his table. Dr. Smyth is a Minister of the Free Church. He coincided in the Edinburgh Bible Society statements, and in their separation from you, and still he sees things much in the light of former times: but with all this he has a kindly feeling toward us, and rejoices in our prosperity, though very anxiously desirous of our amendment in some things. Previous to our Public Meetings I ascertained from Dr. Smyth that no part would be taken by him and his friends in opposition to us. Had I found a different disposition we would not have held any Public Meeting, being desirous of avoiding such exhibitions us took place after our Public Meeting in Edinburgh. Dr. Willis the other Secretary is also a Minister of the Free Church, and whom I may describe in Dr. Smyth's own words: He is more liberal, said he, in regard to your Society than I am. This gentleman has also shown me his hospitalities, and has distinctly expressed goodwill towards you.

In conversations first, and afterwards formally by letter, half private half official, I have set before these gentlemen and their Society the claims we have on all Bible Institutions for help, inasmuch as we are the only Bible Society that is in any measure providing the Scriptures for the heathen and Mohammedan world, in all their millions, besides destitute Christendom also. Your objections to us, I said, applies only to a few versions in our European operations. May you not, inconsistency with holding these objections, still help us in our vast work in Asia, etc., where these objections have no place? And were you then kindly to aid us, your suggestions for our improvement would most likely tell better upon us. In this manner I have represented things, and Dr. Smyth says that as soon as a pretty full meeting can be convened, after parties absent returned to the city, he will read my letter in Committee; and I shall have a friendly, he says, if not unfavourable answer.

As regards the Established Church, in addition to various private visits, we have had two conference meetings, at which a number of Ministers were present. The latter one was at the close of the Presbytery meeting with all the members present. From what occurred in our communications it was agreed that a Committee should be formed consisting of all those then assembled, in order to take the Bible Society subject into consideration. No pledge was given as to the course they would pursue, but the expressions uttered by various individuals were decidedly in favour of having a Society formed in connection with you. Of this Committee, Dr. Hill, Professor of Divinity in this University, and the present Moderator of the General Assembly, is convener.

In respect to the Dissenters here, as in other parts of over Scotland, they are our friends, and have all along been so. But I may say of them, that they are rather sleeping than active partners in our concern, owing to the long inactivity in Scotland in our favour. One of my objects here has been to a wake these sleeping partners, and make them open their eyes wide to see the nature of our great work, and our need of their active cooperation. Perhaps something has been done in this way, and it will now lying with you to keep shaking these are friends less they falll again into slumber.

The other day the Relief Presbytery in this city passed the following resolution: – "The attention of the Presbytery having been called to the operations of the British and Foreign Bible Society, the court agreed to record their high approbation of the Institution, and to recommend that, on the second Sabbath of November next, (or, in cases where that day is found unsuitable, on some Sabbath as near there to as convenient,) the Minister in the bounds should call the attention of their several congregations to the operations and claims of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and that they should in other ways according to their influence and opportunity, endeavour to promote the interests of said Society, and the great cause to which it is engaged."

The Presbytery of the United Secession Church usually assembling in this city will, I believe, pass a similar resolution at their next meeting. The Independents are equally friendly towards us, and most probably will correspondingly serve us, by the several Ministers addressing their congregations on the subject. The Baptists though friendly to us seem to think that their own translation Society has the greatest claim on them for help.

From this place as a centre, I have visited, and on different occasions, Paisley, Greenock, Irvine, Ayr, and Kilmarnock. Public Meetings have been held at all of them, except Ayr, which I have yet to visit in my way Southward, and collections have been made to aid in our work. Our meeting that Greenock was held in the church of one of the Vice Presidents of the Greenock Branch of the Edinburgh Bible Society, and the same gentleman was present with us, as was likewise a member of the Edinburgh Bible Society Committee there on a visit. Steps have been taken in some of the places above named for forming Bible Societies in connection with us.

I have spoken with some Merchants here as to our China work, and have procured a letter to a gentleman in Singapore, to be sent to that place along with copies of the Scriptures in the Chinese language, in the full expectation that he will take an interest in their proper distribution. Towards your China Fund, Mr. John Henderson of the city has given me one hundred pounds, and also another hundred for your general objects. Some other donations have got besides this handsome one, partly for China, and partly for our whole work.

I know purpose going Southward through Ayr to Stranraer, and then along the South of Scotland to Dumfries and Annan, where I will take my departure for England, and expect to be in London on the first of November.

I am, My Dear Friend,

Very Truly Yours,

James Thomson.

P.S. I should have mentioned what I now do that the Rev. I S Taylor, one of the Secretaries of our Auxiliary here, has very kindly entertained your Agent during all his stay in Glasgow, and has also in every other ways contributed to forward our objects.

Glasgow, 13th October 1845 - 3

Rev A Brandram

Glasgow, 13th Oct. 1845

My Dear Friend,

            The accompanying letter of the 11th should have been forwarded on Saturday, but I was hindered in finishing it in time for the post.

            I have not as yet heard from you on the China subject I noticed in the 4th. I said to Mr. Paton that there must be some misunderstanding in regard to this matter, as I had always understood the state of things to be quite different from what he had heard from his friend. I felt anxious to be able to explain things to him, and looked for your answer to my note to this end. But I shall not be able to do it now I fear, as I purpose leaving this city about the time this note arrives in Earl Street. Yet I may hear from you tomorrow or next day.

            I have heard you have been as far North as Durham. I always wonder how you can travel so much with so much secretariship on hand. I rejoice in the power given you to do so much work.

            I hope Mrs Brandram, and Miss B. are well. Please to remember me kindly to them.

                 I remain, My Dear Friend,

                                     Affecty. Yours,

                                                James Thomson.

Glasgow, 14th October 1845

Rev A Brandram

Glasgow, 14th Oct. 1845

My Dear Friend,

            Your note of the 6th came into my hands today by mere accident, owing to its being imperfectly addressed by some hand different from yours. It has just come however in time for the purpose I wished it for. It is very satisfactory on the point in question. I have showed it to Mr. Paton, and he sees it in this light. I am sure you will remove every anxiety from the minds of the Missionaries on the highly important subject of China and the Scriptures.

                                    Yours  Very Truly,

                                                James Thomson.