Madrid, 27th October 1848

Rev A Brandram No.24

Madrid, 27th October 1848

My Dear Friend,

Your letter of the 9th inst. came duly to hand, as did also its precursor of the 18th of September. The former date inclined me to the understanding that I should soon leave this city and country, and the latter found me, in consequence, placing a Stone and an Inscription over Remains dear and affecting to my remembrance, and enhanced perhaps by the thought that I should soon take the last look at that sacred spot until the Lord come.

Your Resolution for my remaining is, we ought to think, of God, and the result of our prayers for his heavenly direction. We may, and I hope shall, seeing this idea justified in visible results. But yet God works often without showing us what he is doing.

I feel, I assure you, greatly thankful to God, and most kindly towards yourself and all the Committee, for the very friendly and favourable manner in which you have spoken of my poor movements and labours in this wilderness. Also, I feel in a similar way, as to your leaving me without any special directions, in the confidence, as you kindly say, that I "will do the very best that circumstances will admit of." It is my earnest prayer to God every day, and more than daily, that he would enable me so to do. I have also, I doubt not, your continued help in prayer. This is all we earthen, and earthly vessels can do. God only is the worker, and the producer of results.

I am glad, at such a time as this, to be able to give you a little encouragement. Soon after my reaching this city I learned that the subject of Religious Liberty had just been debated and advocated extensively in the two leading daily newspapers published here. One was for, and the other of course against this great act of Justice, Wisdom, and Good Policy. But the opposition was the means leading the advocate of the measure to fuller statements on the subject than otherwise he would have given. In these articles and defence of Religious Liberty there is an openness, a fullness, and the launching out into the subject, and I may add a compromise of the political party concerned, such as have never been seen or read before in this country.

I rejoice in these articles, and give thanks to God for them; and begin to think, that the night is far spent with us, and that our Spanish Bible day is near at hand. I have made it my business to see, and through suitable introductions, the writer of these articles, who is the chief Editor and Proprietor of the Journal. I have signified to him how honourable to himself these articles are, and how useful to this country, and have a gratifying they will prove to all truly enlightened people in England and other foreign countries, intimating to him at the same time, that I had taken measures for their being translated into English, and published in a London newspaper. I have grounds to believe that my visit and communications were acceptable, and may prove useful. This is one of the little ways I which perhaps I follow up my mission, and do as I can. – The newspapers containing the articles in question I have sent to England, and they will be translated by Mr. Rule, and printed in The Christian Times, a lately started Weekly Paper which you can see.

As to a plan and purposes of operations I have as yet formed none, but shall only apprise you of such when projected. In the meantime I have lost little as to travelling in the coming to this city, as our weather is singularly unfavourable. For more than a month past we have had quite winter weather, everybody fully wrapped up in their cloaks in the streets, frequent rains, a low thermometer, and even some frost and snow. This premature winter is noticed in all our journals.

I have, since my return to Madrid got acquainted with a Bible priest, rather a phenomenon in this country. But yet I believe there are many such in Spain. At present we cannot see them, but Religious Liberty will bring them out, and they will be our coadjutors. This Priest is a Bible man in two senses, for not only is he favourable to the diffusion and use of the Scriptures, but he is also a learned man in the original of the Old Testament. He is Professor of Hebrew in the University of Madrid, and has read the Hebrew Scriptures for 20 years. He some time ago finished a translation of the book of Psalms, on which he was occupied more or less for 13 years. This translation is now in my hands, and is entirely at your disposal. I have looked into this work with some attention, and with much interest. I like it much. It is close, clear, and elegant. It is accompanied by some notes by way of justifying the renderings he has given and in these the Vulgate is handled very freely, and with no deference to it.

When we have Religious Liberty in Spain, the appearance of this work in print will form quite an era in Spanish Biblical Criticism and advanced translation. It is necessary that it should first appear with the justifying notes, but afterwards you could print the text alone, and you would have the author's fullest consent for the same. – Before I leave this Bible and Biblical Spanish priest I must add of him, that he is perhaps the most advanced man in favor of Religious Liberty in Spain; and he is not a private friend to it merely, as some are, but an open bold advocate and herald of it. He was a member of Congress in 1837, and then and there boldly declared his views, and earnestly advocated the measure. He had few coadjutors, and was opposed by many, and more especially by one of great power at that time, and whose advocacy, he said, would have carried the measure. That opponent is now in banishment, and wandering in foreign lands, having by flight at Seville made his escape when on the way to the Philippine Islands, "where angry Spain sends her outcast sons."

We have another Bible and Biblical man in Spain. It is our friend Usoz. He has had the very best education Spain can afford, and three years at Bologna in Italy added to it. The Hebrew was an early object of attention to him, and he was a fellow student with the gentleman I have noticed, and both ordered that the same time a Hebrew Bible and Lexicon from Paris when neither were to be found in Spain. The Greek is as well known to our friend as the Hebrew. His daily occupation is the translation of the Holy Scriptures, both of the Old and New Testament, and to which he considers himself called in the Providence of God. I have just now under my hand for examination, the first eight chapters of St. Luke. – It is a curious circumstance that these two Bible and Biblical friends of old should have become unacquainted with each other, and that your foreign Bible messenger should be the means of renewing that acquaintanceship. Perhaps they may henceforth labour in union in the great work of giving to Spain an improved version in its noble language, of the Holy Scriptures from the original tongues.

I have had letters from Gibraltar, and am sorry to learn that my letter from Toulouse, containing directions to our Jew friend in Tangier, never arrived in Gibraltar, and still less of course in Africa. One of my letters is from a Mr. Benoliel,  a converted Jew, who is sent out by the British Missionary Society for the Jews. You will be glad to learn that it was one of your Hebrew New Testaments which he found in Gibraltar that was the means of his conversion. He is a native of Tangier, and our friend there is his cousin. His parents and family are all there, and are greatly grieved on account of his conversion, which they of course call apostasy. He is about to visit that place, and I shall be curious to know how he gets on there. I have written to him, and given him some names in Tangier and Tetuan that may be useful to him. – I have also made up the blank occasioned by the loss of the letter from Toulouse.

I am glad to learn that your purse is empty, and that you were obliged to make an Appeal to the Bible Public. It will have a happy effect, no doubt, more ways than one. What cause for thanksgivings that all old doors remain fully open, whilst two new ones, of an extensive nature, quite shut hitherto, have been burst open by the earthquake we have had, and which is still heaving the nations. O when shall we be able to add Spain and Italy and Austria? Perhaps your Appeal Money will not be all come in till you are enabled to extend and enforce your claim by telling the public that Spain is also open, and is crying aloud for the bread of life. – Please to put me down for Ten Pounds.

            I remain, My Dear Friend,

                        Affectionately Yours,

                                    James Thomson.

Madrid, 13th March 1849

Rev A Brandram  No.25

Madrid 13th March 1849

My Dear Friend,

An unusual space of time has elapsed between my last letter and this, and not intentionally, but from circumstances. These circumstances had been two in number; and first, because I had not much to write about, and secondly, because I delayed, waiting one occurrence after another, in order to combine the more at once, and our delays and hinderances have been quite in Spanish style. I am glad of your rallying letter of the 26th ultimo, in which you kindly say, that it appears an age since I wrote you. I am glad also that I have just anticipated this by a letter on the way, in which I say to Mr Hitchin, and desire him to inform you of the same, that I would write you this day. I am further glad to have erred for once on the right side, having erred so often on the left, in writing too much.

Now then for what I have to say about this wilderness. But please first to remember that it is a wilderness, and one of the characteristics of such a place is, that there is no way nor road in it. Your wilderness traveller therefore, as might be expected, is often at a loss which way to move or turn so as to get onwards. He thinks he sees opening enough to get along in one direction, and on attempting it, finds he cannot get through; and after losing much time has to turn back, and try to press on in another direction. This attempt perhaps turns out no better than the other, and so on and etcetera. This is really a true description rather than a figure of my operations here. Nevertheless, I sow, as I can, a few seeds in these various scramblings, and somebody may perhaps gather the fruit when the wilderness is more passable than it is at present.

The few books I dared to keep and hide away at Urgel, were to be sent after me to Lerida, but they did not arrive before my leaving that place. On reaching Madrid I corresponded about them, and after many delays, I received them in a case addressed to a friendly Bookseller in the city. Just then, a sort of colporteur came before me, in the shape of a poor Italian, wanting work and means. The books were all sold, and you will see an item of debit upon the subject, and one of credit, in my last Account to Mr. Hitchin.

After the loss of letters through the Carlists, and other long delays, I got a few Bibles from Barcelona. These also have been sold. I have had likewise a letter from the same place, from one of the French Protestants whom I engaged to circulate some books for us, saying he had been able to do a little in the way. I tried to get the Paris case at Bayonne brought here through General Saunders, but he was rather loth to enter on the business, owing to some unpleasant hinderances he had met with in bringing some books of his own, and also from new and stricter regulations as to Ambassadors' privileges.

In the mean time, I got leave to bring a case from Bayonne to the address of the French Ambassador, M. Lesseps, with whom I have got acquainted. This case consisted of the miscellaneous books sent from London, and a few Bibles.

The receiving of this through M. Lesseps, led the way to a fresh application to General Saunders, and the case was ordered, and has arrived here. But, as I mentioned in a former letter, Satan meets us at every turn, and the books are still in the Custom House, the authorities demurring and delaying in delivering them, because they are Bibles and Testaments. I doubt not however but we shall finally obtain them. There are in the case 50 Bibles, and 100 Testaments. I have an offer for all the 50 Bibles at once from a Bookseller.

In the case through M. Lesseps, came your present, the beautifully bound Bible and Testament, for the man of 29 letters. They were very gratefully received, and he has encouraged me to expect, that he will be able to aid me in getting books from Bayonne to San Sebastian, in the neighbourhood of which latter place he resides in the summer season, and where I am invited to spend some days when I am in that quarter.

My next attempt at getting along in our wilderness was an effort to obtain our six packed-up cases in London. I laid the affair before Mr. Ysturiz, who has always shown me kindness, and I had tolerable hopes that I should succeed through him in getting these long looked for cases into this country and city. But Satan found out what we were doing, and discomfited us, through exciting a sort of coldness or jealousy between this friend and Narvaez, connected with our present political circumstances.

Turned back here, I looked out for another opening among our brakes and thickets, and thought I saw one. I applied to the Rector of the University to procure an order for the coming of the sets of versions you have voted for that establishment, with leave to bring two cases of books for myself at the same time. That order is applied for, and is daily expected. I may mention, that our friend La Serna has been prevented from applying himself for such an order through the Government, on account of his being on the wrong side in politics at the present juncture. But it was he who introduced me to the Rector.

In this manner, I trust, we shall obtain to the six cases. And as to the other four, I count upon your efforts through the new Ambassador when he comes, which I would hope will be soon.

On a former occasion I mentioned to you are Hebrew Professor here as a Bible and Biblical Priest, and stated that I had read his translation of the Psalms, and thought highly of it. He has just finished a valuable Hebrew and Spanish Grammar in two volumes, which is nearly through the press. On this work being off his hands he began in good earnest to translate Genesis, intending to go through the Pentateuch, and the whole of the Old Testament, should life, health, and other circumstances favour the same. Would it be within your line of duty to encourage him? I should think it might, and in the following way. By stating, that, should his version be approved of by you, through competent judges, you would give him so much for the right of printing the text of it to any extent you might choose. I think you would be doing right in making such an offer, and perhaps some such encouragement is necessary to make him persevere. Under such an arrangement we should have considerable influence in modulating any passages which might not be altogether as we could wish that. It seems very desirable in every way to encourage such labours in this country. Mr.Usoz and he might combine, the one to produce a new and improved version of the Old Testament, and the other of the New.

A considerable time would elapse before such a version could appear. In the meantime Mr. Usoz and myself have had much conversation about the propriety and advantages of printing the Version of  Valera, revised so far merely as the modernizing of some of his words. Mr.Usoz strongly recommends this, and makes encouraging offers to aid in the costs of the work. He will himself make the revision required, and he will bear a good portion of the expense of printing. I have therefore to question, on his part, to state to me early what would be the cost of Plates for a Spanish Bible in Minion 24mo like your English Bible of that type and size. Also, what would be the expense of Paper, and likewise of Printing, each 1000 copies of the same. When he has ascertained these items, he will state how much he will offer in aid of the undertaking. Please to state likewise the cost of plain binding lettered of this Bible, in one volume, in two, three, and five respectively.

I have given more attention to the subject of late than formerly, and I agree with Mr Usoz in his wishes for the printing of this Protestant version, with the slight verbal alteration it requires. At present no version printed by you is, generally speaking, allowed to circulate here, and Usoz says, that probably Valera's version would even now get as good a circulation as Scio's. But further: we do expect that God will bruise Satan under our feet shortly in this country in his efforts to impede the spread of the Holy Scriptures. In some way or other the country will surely open before long for God's blessed Word; and when that desired time is come, it is our duty to be all ready to profit by it. In this way also you would meet the opposition about Romanist versions. There can be no harm, at all events, in your sending us the estimates I have indicated, and on learning the extent of our friends pecuniary aid you can further judge in the matter.

I now state to you what has been passing in my thoughts for some time as to my movements. I was purposing to lay before you, which I now do, the plan of leaving the city on the first of May, and going to San Sebastian and Bayonne, to do thereabouts what could be done in getting the Scriptures brought into Spain, and circulated in it. I then projected going at once through France to England should you wish it, but preferred going through the provinces of Asturias and Galicia, and on to Vigo, where I could get the Packet for England or elsewhere. Your proposition, now fully before me by your letter of the 5th yesterday received, of my going to Lisbon will correspond well with this visit to Vigo. But I could go also direct to Lisbon from this through Badajoz. You will please to consider these two routes, and say which I should take. It is desirable, I think, that I should go to Bayonne, and see about things there. I might afterwards go through the two provinces mentioned, or not, as might be judged best. I could get by a Havre steamer from San Sebastian to Lisbon.

Have you full liberty to print the Bible in Portugal, and also to circulate it? I should like to know exactly how things are on these two points. You mentioned the sending me some sheets of errata. It would save a good deal of postage, if these were sent to Bayonne, instead of Madrid, as the lightest letter to this costs 2/2d. If therefore you to judge that I should go to that place, you could send your packet there, either to the "Poste Restante", or to the care of Mr. Pedezert.

I will now give you copies of two letters I have received from the muleteer who conducted me from Urgel to Lerida. They form good specimens of no inconsiderable portion of the peasantry of this country, and show us a sort of good ground for the sowing of our seed when we can get it amply from your barns. These letters also show some little results of my movements in the lines indicated by Mr. Hull. I would hope similar results have taken place, in other persons and places. And more and better no doubt might have been produced, by more and better workings on my part. I feel both ashamed and encouraged by these letters, and pray that God may fit me for every good word and work, with all persons, and in all places. The muleteer in question cultivates a small portion of ground of his own, and acts the muleteer at his more leisurely periods to eke out means. The good many so live in this country in all the provinces, though in some more than others. This portion may be considered as the superior stratum of the Spanish peasantry. – I might just add here, that I gave away a good many tracts on this last journey, and in all cases they were well received, and some of them were carefully read in my presence. In all these the Scriptures are taught and recommended. – Here follow the two letters referred to: –

"Agramunt 31st October 1848. – Dear Sir, I have received your esteemed letter, and have had much pleasure in learning that you are in good health. We are glad that you have us in remembrance, and my wife and I have frequently talked about you. I have got one book from Barcelona, and two from Lerida. We have spoken with some friends here about your country. They have said such things of it as I will not mention to you; but from what I learned in conversations with you, I showed them their mistakes, and overcame them. Several persons wished to obtain the books, but only one has said he would buy one, and as he is a friend of mine I gave him a book. Many have a desire to read them, and so much so, that one of mine is seldom in the house, but is lent out, and goes from one friend's house to another, and all say it is very good. It is customary here, that when anyone has a good book, it moves from house to house, so that many books are thus lost. You may rest assured that I will do all I can to serve them. If I can in any way be of use to you, you have only to write, and I shall immediately attend your requests, and if you should pass from Madrid to Barcelona, it will be a great satisfaction to me to see you. Since I got these books I read them every evening when I am at home, and never tire reading them till I get sleepy, and have to go to bed. I have not written to you sooner, as we are now working our lands, and sowing our seed, and as we have had no rain, the labour has been very hard. Please to excuse all the errors in this letter, as you well know my business is not that of a scribe. Kind remembrances from my wife and others in our house. Believe that I am your friend, and desirous of serving you. – Jayme Bonet."

"Agramunt 20th January 1849. – My dear Sir, with very great pleasure I received your kind and acceptable letter dated the 21st December. It has given me much satisfaction, as informing me of your welfare, and because of the valuable counsels you give me in it, which I doubt not are most true, and proceeding from the bottom of your heart. I feel grateful for the providential occasion of meeting with you, and of profiting by the estimable qualities you possess. In truth I cannot find words sufficient lay to express my thankfulness. – Every day I receive more pleasure in reading the books you had the goodness to favour me with, and my friends here feel the same satisfaction. We have had by them some of our ideas much cleared up which were before confused, and this is another favour I owe to your friendship.

In consequence of what you wrote me, wishing that I should purchase and sell some of your books, I sent to Barcelona, and got some of each kind at the prices you mention, and I shall see if they will find purchasers. In case they do, I shall send for more books, and of all I can sell you shall be informed. I give the books of the prices I have paid for them.

We have had rains in this quarter, but not in sufficient quantity to satisfy the fields. God will supply what is lacking.

You can come here whenever you will, and lodge with us in this house, which is open to receive you. You may be sure of being received if not with the attention which you deserve, at least with kindness and true cordiality. My wife and family are quite well, and join with me in wishing you all prosperity. Jayme Bonet."

Prosperity to you, my dear friend, to all your colleagues, and to your Society, is wished and prayed for by –

                        James Thomson.

Dumfries, 1st December 1849

Rev A Brandram

Dumfries, 1st December 1849

My Dear Friend,

I am now finishing my tour in Scotland, and expect to be in London next week, but not in time for your meeting on Monday. There is however a subject pending, as I may say, between us, which I wish you to initiate on Monday, and refer to a sub-committee say on the following week. I wish this to hasten discussion of the subject in question as I have had letters from Madrid upon it since I saw you, and I am anxious to send a notification of your decision to the party concerned.

The subject is the translation of the Old Testament direct from the Hebrew into the Spanish Tongue by the present Professor of Hebrew in the University of Madrid. In one of my letters from Madrid last winter I noticed this subject formally and at some length. That letter can be read over at the sub-committee indicated, and I can then add to the same the further information which recently I have received. Be so good therefore as favour me with the initiation on Monday which I have noticed, and also a reference to sub-committee, that I may fully and duly discharge the obligations which I feel myself lying under in regard to this matter.

Since leaving London I have encouraging letters from Spain, Lisbon and Mexico respecting the circulation of the Scriptures in those quarters, and which I shall bring before you when we meet.

            I remain,

                        My Dear Friend,

                                    Yours  Very Truly,

                                                James Thomson.

London, 13th December 1849

Rev A Brandram

Harpur Street 13th December 1849

My Dear Friend,

I write this letter preparatory to our meeting tomorrow, where will be formally discussed the subject of the translation of the Old Testament direct from the Hebrew into Spanish by the present Professor of Hebrew in the University of Madrid.

To aid you in finding the letters in which I formerly brought the matter before you, I would observe that there are two, and dated in Madrid, the 27th of October 1848, and the 13th of March 1849.

Since my return to this country I have had three communications from the Professor referred to, in each of which the subject in question is more or less noticed. In the first of these he enters at some length into the grounds and reasons which exist for desiring and executing a new translation of the Scriptures into the Spanish Language and direct from the Original tongues. In this statement he finds ample fault with the Vulgate, and points out defects in the present versions into Spanish made from it.

In the second communication he says, "I am resolved to fulfill my word, and to carry into effect my purpose of translating the Bible, if your Society would aid me in thus contributing to the great work in which it is concerned, namely, the extending of Bible knowledge by means of reading in its purity the immortal book of the goodness and wisdom of God. The necessity for such reading here in Spain becomes every day more sensible, because impiety increases among us from want of the reading of this precious book, whilst the reading of trifling and bad works abounds. It appears to me very desirable that you should return again to this country, and that the Society should improve the occasions that may offer for conferring a blessing of the greatest amount on Spain, even upon this unhappy country, by contributing to deliver it from the condition of religious indifference, and of practical atheism in which it now is, and into which it has been brought by our ignorance, and by wicked devices of the prelates and priests of our religion."

In the third letter, he says, "I have pursued my work of translating the Scriptures, and this day, (24th November) I have finished a clean copy of the Book of Exodus. I hope, with the help of God, to conclude Leviticus by the end of the year, and to finish the entire Pentateuch by the commencement of our vacations in June next. I should like very much previously to see you here that we might converse together, and that I might consult you on some points of difficulty which have occurred, and which I have in the meantime, rendered as God has enabled me." – "Have the goodness to propose to the Bible Society to favour me, should it not be inconvenient, with 1000 or more copies of  the octavo Hebrew Bible in sheets, or slightly bound, and to say what would be the cost of the same per 100 copies. My object in this is, that I may publish my translation interleaved with the Hebrew, to facilitate the comparison of the one with the other, to all who might choose to do so."

In closing this communication, I would repeat, what I have above indicated, namely, that the prosecution of the work in question, and its publication would, greatly contribute to forward the Bible cause in Spain. I should be glad to find that the Society was disposed to give its aid to the Translator, as I fear that without some aid the work cannot be completed.

            I remain, My Dear Friend,

                        Yours Very Truly,

                                    James Thomson.

Liverpool, 4th October 1850

Rev A Brandram

Liverpool 4th Oct. 1850

My Dear Friend,

            I have recently received a letter from Madrid, from the Hebrew Professor there, and translator of the Old Testament direct from the Hebrew into Spanish. He informs me that he has now finished the Pentateuch, and that he purposes to print the same, and simply in the text, in order that he may have the observations of persons able to judge of its qualities, and that it may also be of service to all who read it.

            He wishes to know whether you could aid him in printing such an edition, and by means of buying a certain number of copies at a fixed price. I write to you therefore accordingly, that you may lay the proposition before the Committee, say on Monday next, on which day I have hopes of being with you.

            I remain,

                        Yours Very Truly,

                                    James Thomson.

P.S. I received from Mr. Knolleke a copy of your letter to Dr. Marriott. We can talk on the subject of it when we meet.