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.
[3] 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._
I mentioned to you in my last, 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 any thing 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 Aguera. Every thing 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 all 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 Aguera and his friends, are now prisoners, and his troops have
returned to their duty.
* * * * *
_Lima, 1st March, 1824._
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 be
sold to them at a small expense, and the consequence was, that many of
them were bought immediately. I mentioned to my clerical friend what I
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.
* * * * *
_Lima, 3d March, 1824._
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 leaned 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.
* * * * *
_Lima, 25th March, 1824._
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 29th 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 troop 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 sound 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.