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 3,000 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 Huallága or the Ucayáli. 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.
* * * * *
_Lima, 8th August, 1823._
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 2d 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. 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 every thing 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 every thing 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 be 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 Valdes is already at some distance, but the second
division, under Canterác 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 any thing 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 re-installed 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 Aguera, 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.
* * * * *
_Lima, 1st September, 1823._
I mentioned in a former letter, 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 Aguera 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
Aguera, who has got collected together about 3,000 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 _every where_, 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 any thing 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.
* * * * *
_Lima, 25th November, 1823._
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 Aimará and the Moxa.[3] About four hundred
thousand people speak these two languages. I am desirous of getting, at
least, one of the Gospels translated into each of these, but have not
yet got any thing 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.