LETTERS ON THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS STATE OF SOUTH AMERICA. (continued 2)

I have mentioned, in some of my late letters, the very gratifying circumstances of the rapid sale in this city of 500 Spanish Bibles, and 500 New Testaments. These were all sold off in two days, and as many more could have been sold in the two days following, but there were no more, and thus many were disappointed. From this cheering circumstance, I am daily looking with great anxiety for a considerable number of both Bibles and Testaments, expected from the Bible Society. The above-mentioned circumstance is truly encouraging, as no desire at all comparable to it, has yet been manifested in any other part of South America for the Holy Scriptures. From this, and some other occurrences, I am led to anticipate that the word of God will, indeed, have free course in this place, and let us pray that it may not be circulated only, but that it may be glorified also. I have another thing to relate to you, perhaps more cheering still. It is this: the nearly confident expectation of getting the New Testament introduced throughout Peru as a school book. I trust this expectation will not be disappointed, but verified in due time. Every thing promises fair at present for its accomplishment.

As soon as the Bibles got into circulation as above-mentioned, there was some ferment excited from reports that it was not fairly printed from the Spanish version of Scio, as indicated in the title page. This report was raised, or at least increased, by the discovery of a typographical error or two. An honest priest actually burned the Bible he had bought on the discovery of one of these oversights in the printing. The consequence of this stir was an examination of the Bible Society’s edition, by comparing it with the edition printed in Spain. The result of this examination was highly satisfactory, as the London edition was found to be an exact reprint from the latest Spanish edition, with the exception of some slight oversights in passing through the press. About the time this matter was under consideration, the deputy Archbishop (for there is no Archbishop here at present) having learned that a certain priest was likely to say something from the pulpit against the reading of the Bibles from London, sent a message to him, telling him “not to preach any thing against the reading of the English Bibles.” By English Bibles he meant Bibles from England, for the Bibles were in the Spanish language.

A curious little piece, in the poetic form, appeared about a fortnight ago in one of the newspapers of this city. There is a great deal of truth and force in it, and as it is but short, and will not occupy much room, I shall give you a translation of it. To do it justice it should be put in poetic dress, but as you know I am neither poet nor rhymester, you will please accept of it in plain prose. “Simon possessed a fishing bark, and just a fishing bark, nothing more he left to his sons. They however were great fishers; they caught much and grew rich, and could no longer be content with their small bark, but got a larger one. This bark afterwards became a brig, and then a ship. At last it grew into a man-of-war, and frightened the world with its cannon. How wonderfully is this ship of war now changed! how different now to what it was in former times! This great ship is now grown old, and, shattered by the storms it has encountered, it now lies rotting in the harbour. A thousand times has it been repaired, but at last it must be laid aside altogether, and its owners must once more be content with Simon’s fishing bark.” You will find no difficulty, I dare say, in applying this little piece, and, I believe, you will join with me in wishing that the concluding part may be verified as exactly as the preceding parts have.

There is a great revolution going forward in South America. I speak not of the revolt from under the Spanish yoke, for that in the present day may be said not to be going forward, but accomplished. The revolution I speak of, is a moral one. Those who have eyes to see this goodly prospect, and those who have ears to hear the harmony of this moral change, meet on every hand with indications of its approach. You will not understand me as saying, that South America has become like the land of Eden, like the garden of God. No. But a change has been begun, a happy change. Let us put our hand to this work. Let us bear it onward, and God Almighty will consummate it in due time.

Lima, 28th January, 1823.

A good while has elapsed since I mentioned to you any particulars of my affairs in reference to the schools. During this time, however, I have more than once thrown out hints, signifying that matters went on but slowly. I had too much reason for these complaints. The truth is, I was once and again on the point of leaving this place. My affairs here have been such, since my arrival, that I may truly say, my hopes and prospects in South America never were so high, and never were so low as they have been, at different times, in Lima. I formerly stated to you the very favourable reception I met with from San Martin, and from the first Secretary of State, Monteagudo. Both of these left this place a good while ago, although under different circumstances. To me their loss was severely felt. I never mentioned a wish to San Martin, or to Monteagudo, that was not granted, and granted immediately in the most obliging manner. After their going away, I scarcely mentioned any thing I wished done that was not refused. I should not, perhaps, say refused, for I was not actually denied; I was told that the things I stated would be done, but these promises were never fulfilled. Had I been plainly refused, there is every probability that I should have left this place long ago. After experiencing a number of delays, and when my little stock of patience was all gone, I asked for my passport. The same individual, however, who had so often put me off with fair promises, contrived to put off my passport also, and kept me waiting days together, with every thing nailed up for my departure. It was then agreed on between us, that since the school plan we had in view could not be carried into effect from want of funds, I should stop three or four weeks to instruct some individuals in the Lancasterian system. About twelve came, in consequence of this, to my lodgings once a day, for the instructions referred to. At the close of the time mentioned, these individuals were much pleased with the new plan, and some of them represented the matter to the minister, who gladly entered into it, and it was agreed that I should stop, and that what was wanting should be granted. I did think him for this time sincere, and I believe he was so; but I was again subjected to be put off from week to week, until I found that I was circumstanced exactly as before. I petitioned anew for my passport, and in the mean time wrote a letter to the Congress, detailing all that had happened from the time of my arrival in Lima, and concluded by stating, that I intended to leave this place by the first vessel that sailed, but that I would return or send some person instructed in the plan of the schools, if a desire should be expressed by the Congress to that effect. The result of this communication was far beyond my expectation. Upon my letter being read, a great deal of interest was taken in this matter, and it was unanimously agreed to that the school should be commenced as soon as possible. An order was accordingly issued, that every thing I wanted to set it agoing should be immediately granted. When I wrote to the Congress, I had little thought that they would be disposed to carry this object forward at the time, having not long before resolved to use the utmost economy with the public money, and to carry nothing forward that was not of an urgent nature. This resolution was very necessary from the low state of the public funds, owing to their limited resources, and the great expenses of the war. In consequence of the decree of the Congress in our favour, I at once gave up thoughts of leaving this place, and we have been since that time getting on as fast as can be expected. There is another circumstance of considerable importance, which has arisen out of this. The person who brought together those twelve individuals to be instructed in the system, as above mentioned, is a very respectable clergyman. This gentleman has interested himself much in the matter, and has been named by the Congress to take an active part in all the arrangements necessary until a School Society be formed. I have had much intercourse with this individual, and have good reason to esteem him highly. We go hand in hand in our affairs most comfortably. As this gentleman’s name is now connected with the schools, and being a clergyman, many prejudices are thereby removed. This is a matter of no little importance, as there was a strong idea, (whether well or ill founded, I cannot tell,) that the late Secretary, of whom I spoke, was atheistical in his views. Perhaps his atheism consisted in his making free with the convents and other church affairs. However that may be, my being favoured by him probably excited some prejudices, in addition to those arising from my being a Protestant. The counteracting influence, therefore, of my connexion with my present clerical friend will, I have no doubt, be greatly advantageous. When I add to this, that it is through this respectable individual that I expect the New Testament to be introduced into the schools, of which I formerly wrote, you will see that I have great cause for thanksgiving for the circumstances in which we now stand; and I am even inclined to believe, from what I have seen, that our present encouraging prospects have not been too dearly purchased by all the harassing delays that we have experienced. We are very short sighted in all things, and can seldom tell what string of circumstances may end most favourably. Hence it is that we are often joyous, when we have not much real cause for being so; and on the other hand, we are often sad, when every thing is going on in the most prosperous manner. How consoling is the thought, that we are permitted to cast all our cares upon God; upon him who knows the end from the beginning, and in whose hands, sooner or later, every thing must turn out well.

I think I have perceived, during the time I have been in this place, a greater desire to study the English language than I have met with in any other part of South America. I have uniformly encouraged this desire as much as possible, being fully persuaded that the knowledge of our language, and of the excellent works it contains, will contribute in no inconsiderable degree to the progress of this country in every point of view. Want of books suitable for beginners in this language has formed a considerable obstacle, as well as the want of suitable teachers. In order to remove these difficulties to a certain degree, and to carry forward this useful object, I some time ago set to work to prepare, in Spanish, a grammar of the English language. This is now finished, and nearly all printed. I have at the same time been getting ready a small book, consisting of extracts from various authors in our language, for something of this kind was equally necessary. This little work is also pretty far advanced in the printing. In the next place, in order to carry this object into immediate effect, I lately published my intention of giving instructions in the English language, and I now have twenty-three studying it with me, two of whom are members of Congress.

Accounts have reached us, that on the 19th November last, a severe earthquake was experienced in Chile. The first shock was felt about 11 o’clock at night, and was preceded by a frightful noise. During the night, and for several succeeding days, a number of shocks were felt, less destructive, I believe, but sufficiently alarming. We have not yet had full information as to the extent of country over which these shocks have been experienced, but from what reports have reached us, it seems to have extended over the greater part of Chile. The greatest damage, we understand, has been done in Valparaiso. In that place several houses have been thrown down, and all the churches have been severely injured. Accounts say that more than two hundred people have perished in Valparaiso alone. Many are the blessings which Providence has poured out on Chile, and one would almost think that earthquakes have been added, by way of giving to it its due proportion of evil. The same may be said of this country, which has suffered still more from this cause than Chile has done. We do not know the moment we may be visited in this city, by one of these dreadful calamities which have laid Lima nearly in ruins at different times. To remind us of our danger, as it were, we are visited by small shocks from time to time; a month rarely elapses without one, and about a week ago we had two in one day. One would naturally think that the being continually exposed to these catastrophes would be productive of some happy moral effects upon the inhabitants of this place. I am sorry to say there are no appearances of these good results. If a comparison were to be instituted between the people of this place, and those of other parts of South America, in regard to morals, I am afraid Lima would appear in the back ground. The most imminent danger, the most signal judgments, seem somehow or other to be productive of nothing but momentary effects on mankind. Wherever this danger or these judgments are, there the words of Jesus are verified; “If they believe not Moses and the prophets, neither would they be persuaded though one should arise from the dead.” I question much if we should, in one sense, find fault with this disposition of mankind; or shall I say rather with this arrangement of Providence. It points out to us, I think, how much happier and more solid effects may be produced by the wielding of the word of God, than by wielding the mountains, and casting them into the sea. The word of God is a fire, and is a hammer, and nothing shall be able to stand before it; every thing that opposeth shall be reduced into ashes or into dust; and these shall be blown away by the winds, to be seen no more for ever.

Lima, 3d March, 1823.

I have more than once, my dear friend, within these few days past, heard the exclamation, “happy are the countries that enjoy a settled and secure government.” The truth is, we have just experienced one of those occurrences which frequently happen in revolutionary times. I wrote you formerly, that three individuals of the members of Congress were exercising the executive power in this place. From events which have lately occurred, a general dissatisfaction towards this triumvirate was felt by the army in the neighbourhood of this city. The consequence of this was, that the troops drew near to the walls and shut the gates, sending at the same time a message to the Congress, requesting, or rather ordering, a change in the government. After a good deal of deliberation, the triumvirate was removed by the Congress. Another step was yet necessary, as a certain individual was pointed out as the only person capable of filling the vacant situation. There was no alternative in this more than in the other proposition, as a part of the troops kept their station, as before mentioned, whilst the rest or the greater part came into the great square in the centre of the city. Indeed the public opinion, not of the army only, but also of the great majority of the people, seemed clearly expressed in favour of the person proposed. The individual in question was accordingly appointed by the Congress as “President of the Republic of Peru.” This was done on the first current. The troops have retired, and there seems to be a general satisfaction with this appointment. Our President’s name is Don José de la Riva Aguera.

You will naturally wish to know how our new President is likely to act regarding the schools, and other such matters. Respecting what his conduct will be in these things, I have great confidence. I have known him, and visited him occasionally since my arrival in Lima, in consequence of a letter of introduction to him, with which I was favoured on my leaving Chile. I have uniformly found him very obliging, and much interested in our concerns. In short, he is the very individual I should have named, had I been asked what person I wished to have in this high station. I called on him this afternoon in company with my clerical friend, whom I formerly mentioned to you. We were well received, and encouraged to go forward in our work, with the assurance of his protection and support.

I forgot to mention to you in my last quarterly letter, that I had about that time got one added to the number of my friends. This person is a very respectable clergyman, and a member of the Congress. We have had several conversations together, in a very open and friendly manner. I have been much pleased with his candour and frankness. He told me that when he first heard of my having come to Lima, he resolved to oppose me, but that when he learned that I was not an opposer of religion, but a friend to it, he changed his mind, and resolved to befriend me as far as lay in his power. There is a kind of idea among several of those who are the most religious in this country, that many or most foreigners who arrive here are deists or atheists, or at least men no way friendly to religion. Grounds have, no doubt, been given for forming this opinion, although I think it is generalized among the class of people I mentioned, with some degree of illiberality, as is, indeed, commonly the case. The books which come here in favour of deism and atheism strengthen the opinion. Most of these are printed in France, but some of them, I am sorry to say it, are printed in England. From all I have seen here, both in the Congress, and out of it, I am strongly inclined to think that those who oppose toleration, or at least many of them, do so with a view to prevent the influx into the country of such as oppose or scoff at religion. As a proof of this, I refer to the member of Congress, of whom I have just been speaking. This man opposed toleration when it was discussed in the Congress, and spoke publicly against it; yet when conversing with him upon the subject, he told me that he was not opposed to the toleration of Protestants in the country. I have taken occasion at different times to point out to some of the members, in private conversation, that their law prohibiting the public religious exercises of those who differ from the Catholic church, does not hinder atheists and deists from settling in the country, as these have no form of religion they wish to practise; and that this law serves only to prevent the coming of those men who are sincerely religious and moral, and who, as they themselves admit, would be of great use in the country, by bringing into it many branches of the arts and manufactures. I think I have observed some good effects arising from these conversations, and I wish it may so appear when, the subject comes before Congress a second time.

Lima, 26th May, 1823.

A considerable time has now elapsed since I last wrote you. I confess I have acted wrong in delaying so long; but I know that yourself and the Committee of the British and Foreign School Society are ready to forgive. The truth is, I have had no heart to write you; I have had nothing encouraging to communicate; and I am never fond of being a messenger of evil tidings. I have been bandied about these many months past, without being able to make any progress in those highly important affairs in which you feel so deeply interested. I have been more than once on the eve of leaving this part of South America, but one little encouragement or another called me back just as I was going to embark, and flattered me into a belief that all would go on well. I shall not detain you with a long list of grievances, but shall pass at once to the more pleasing task of calling on you to join with me in thanksgiving unto Him who comforteth those that are cast down, and who hath turned my darkness into light. Blessed be his name, the prospects of something being done in this place brighten daily, and I hope yet to communicate to you something gladdening from the land of the Incas.

We have, at length, got our school fairly begun, and under very favourable auspices. I formerly mentioned to you that the government had given us for our schools, the College belonging to the Dominican Friars. The whole of the edifice is at our disposal for school objects. We have fitted up for our present school-room, a large apartment, formerly the college dining-room, which will contain 300 children. The number attending at present is upwards of a hundred; and we intend to increase it gradually rather than rapidly, as we might do were we inclined. The experience I have had has taught me the necessity of this. It is an easy matter to tell what the system is, and to say things are to be managed in such and such a way; but the great difficulty consists in reducing it to practice, in training the children to method.

The Congress and the Government here are decidedly in favour of education. Their object is not merely the education of the few, but the education of the many, namely, of every individual in Peru. The attention of the Congress is, at present, engaged in drawing up a constitution for the nation. One of the articles already sanctioned is, that no one can vote for a member of Congress unless he can read and write. From the consideration, however, of the shameful neglect of the Spaniards in promoting education in the country, these literary qualifications are not to be exacted until the year 1840. Time is thus given for every individual to qualify himself in these matters; and the anxious desire of the Congress is, I am fully persuaded, to carry forward education with all possible rapidity.

You are aware, I suppose, that the inhabitants of Peru do not all speak the Spanish language. The descendants of the ancient Peruvians are very numerous, and most of them speak the language of their ancestors. In some parts of the country they have assumed the manners and the language of their conquerors and oppressors; but in other parts, and these by far the most populous, their ancient tongue is their only medium of communication. I have long had my eye on this interesting part of the population of this country. I have, at length, obtained a fair prospect of being able to plant schools among them, and also to hand to them the word of God in their native tongue. An officer belonging to a regiment, called the Peruvian Legion, and who thoroughly understands the Quichua, or Peruvian, language, has taken a great liking to our system, and is extremely desirous of benefiting his countrymen by communicating instruction to them. He is, at present, attending our school for this purpose, and I entertain a pleasing hope regarding the future results of his operations.

I beg you to express to your Committee my sincere respect and gratitude for the very obliging manner in which they have come forward in aid of the great work of education in South America.

Truxillo, 15th July, 1823.

When I wrote my last letter to Mr. S. I little thought my next letter would be written in this place. Such, however, is the case, and I proceed to mention the circumstances that have brought me here. It is probable that what has lately taken place in Lima will reach your ears some days before this comes into your hand. The Spanish army entered that city on the 18th ultimo, the Government, the Congress, and a great number of the inhabitants having left it on the preceding day. You will wonder at this, I dare say, after the favourable account of our affairs in my last letter. It has also been a subject of wonder unto us all, and of consternation to not a few. I mentioned in my last, that the Spaniards had collected a considerable force in Jauja. They had left Arequipa, and collected in Jauja with the intention of coming down upon Lima. They had made this movement when the independent army was sadly crippled, and when there was no efficient force to oppose their taking possession of the capital. When, however, reinforcements had arrived from Colombia, and an expedition had been sent off to Arequipa, we little thought they would persevere in their intention of attacking Lima. On the contrary, we thought they would immediately retrace their steps with all speed towards Arequipa or Cuzco, to secure to themselves the possession of these valuable provinces. The event, however, has turned out otherwise, and we now understand that they were badly informed as to the real state of their opponents. The Spaniards crossed the Andes, and came down towards Lima in a very rapid and unexpected manner, with a force of seven thousand well disciplined men. Upon their presenting themselves in the neighbourhood of the city, they were reconnoitred by the Independent Generals, and as soon as the number and discipline of the Spanish army were known, it was judged imprudent to risk a battle with them, as the patriot army is but about five thousand strong, and many of them recruits. The independent army considered it most advisable not only to avoid a general battle, but also to avoid defending Lima, and chose to retire to the forts in Callao. The Government and the Congress, together with a great number of the principal inhabitants, retired at the same time to Callao. A few days after, the President and Congress judged it most suitable to remove from the scene of military operations, and to take up a temporary residence in this city. They accordingly sailed for this place, and arrived about a fortnight ago.

We were going on with our schools in a prosperous way on the 16th (June) 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.

Thus, you see, the Lord’s work goes forward, even in this remote corner. 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.

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.

A few days after the arrival of the Spanish army, and as soon as things were a little tranquillized, I wrote to the Spanish General, in reference to our school, telling him what we had done, and the state in which we were at the time. I represented to him the nature of our schools, and stated that establishments of a similar kind had been introduced and encouraged in various parts of the world. I of course mentioned particularly what had been done in Spain. After stating these things, I requested him to inform me whether we should go on, or whether we should immediately shut up our school. In answer to this, I received from him a very polite letter, saying, that he was informed and fully persuaded that the school under my direction was a very useful establishment, and that he wished it to go on until the Viceroy should communicate his mind upon the subject. In my letter to the General I inclosed a copy of a letter, which I intended to forward to the Viceroy, and requested his opinion of the letter, and whether I should send it on to Cuzco. He replied, that he thought the letter was suitable, and that if I wished he would himself forward it to the Viceroy, in order that it might go with greater security. You may be sure, I thankfully accepted his offer, and sent him immediately my letter to forward. Next day I called on the General to thank him for his kindness in protecting our school, and in taking the trouble of forwarding my letter to the Viceroy. I was very kindly received by him, and encouraged to go on. Thus, you see we have a new instance of the gracious goodness of our God in giving me favour with the Governors of this quarter of the world, however much opposed to each other.

I informed you, I think, soon after my arrival in this place, that the government had ordered the college belonging to the Dominican Friars in this city to be put at my disposal, for the use of our school establishment. The removal of the Friars, and the giving up of the college, was accomplished without the smallest murmur, or at least audible murmur, on the part of the monks. This college is an extensive building, and very well adapted to the purposes of a central school. We have a large school room, which will hold very conveniently 300 children, and another large room connected with it, which would contain 200 more. We have also several other rooms, very suitable as lodgings for the masters whilst studying the system, and there is convenience for a printing office, &c. &c. The apartments formerly occupied by the Rector of the college, have formed my own lodging the greater part of the time I have been in Lima. Besides the places now mentioned, which are all connected with each other, we have a large hall, finely adapted for a female school, with rooms for the mistress and her assistants. These are entirely separated from the parts mentioned before, so that though in the same building, they are quite distinct places, with separate entrances a gun-shot from each other. Our boys’ school contains, at the present time, 230 children, and we have often been talking of commencing a girls’ school as a thing greatly wanted in this place. But such has been the unhappy state of public affairs here for so long a time, that nothing has yet been done in it. From the description I have given you of the building we occupy, and the use to which it was formerly destined, you might naturally expect that the Friars gave it up reluctantly, though without complaining, and that they would still have their eye upon it, if a favourable opportunity should present itself for reclaiming it. I am told, that when the Spaniards were in possession of this city in June last, the Friars had resolved on petitioning the government upon the subject, but the short occupation of the city by the Spanish troops did not allow them to carry their purpose into effect. At the present time, the Spaniards seem to have taken a more permanent possession of the place, with the intention of continuing in it for some time, and their possessing the fortresses of Callao will enable them to do so. We were, therefore, in greater danger than ever of losing our college, and indeed application, as I am informed, was actually made to that effect to General Monet, the commander of the division in this quarter. But from what I have stated above, you will see the happy resolution of the General in our favour. I should have mentioned, when describing the college, that there is a church connected with it, as there is with all the colleges here. The church and the court connected with it, are separated by a wall from the parts formerly mentioned. They were formerly not entirely separated from each other, as there were two openings, like gate ways, between the two places. These, however, I caused to be built up, as I did not know what kind of companions I might have in the two Friars who were left to perform the service of the church; and from the character of some of this class, and the circumstance of the loss of their college, and its being put into the hands of a Protestant, I did not augur much good from their neighbourhood. We have, however, lived all along on good terms, and our longer acquaintance with each other has grown, I think, into friendship. I met with a proof of this friendship since the entrance of the Spaniards, which I did not expect. The Friar who has the principal charge called upon me one morning, and informed me that he had heard that the Conde de Villar de Fuente was to be appointed Governor of Lima. Now, says he, although he is a very good man, yet being very friendly to the Friars, it is very likely they will press him hard to regain their college. You should therefore, continued he, endeavour to see the Governor as early as possible, lest they get the start of you to your disadvantage. I thanked him very kindly for his intimation and for his advice, and told him that I was very happy in having this proof of our living in such friendship with each other. I called upon the Governor soon after his appointment, agreeably to the advice of my friend, and found him very well disposed to continue our establishment and to encourage it.

Lima, 29th March, 1824.

The Grecian which brought your letter of 24th April, and the cases of New Testaments therein mentioned, arrived at the port of Callao at a very unfavourable time. The garrison in the castles of that place had mutinied some ten days previous to her arrival, and every thing there was in confusion. The fortresses and town of Callao were in the hands of the Spaniards, whilst the patriots governed in Lima. Under these circumstances, I thought it most prudent not to land the New Testaments, but to wait some time to see what turn things would take, and for the same reason I deferred writing you. On the 29th ultimo, the Spaniards took possession of this city; they have continued here since, and seem likely to do so for some time. From various circumstances, we have been led to believe that the Spanish government will not allow those freedoms which the Patriot government allowed, in reference to the introduction of books, &c. In consequence of this, I still considered it hazardous to land the New Testaments, and therefore kept them on board so long as the Grecian continued here; and when she sailed for Chile, which she did a few days ago, I got them put on board his Majesty’s ship Fly, now lying in Callao. I shall thus keep them afloat until I see something like a certainty of landing them safely. What I have just said refers only to the 2,500 copies addressed to the care of Mr. Thwaites, as the rest which were addressed to Mr. Lynch have been carried back to Chile in the Grecian, and are to be delivered there according to instructions given. After being landed in Valparaiso, they will be forwarded to Santiago, the capital, and put into the hands of Mr. Christopher Collis for sale. I have offered the whole to Mr. Collis at 850 dollars, to be paid in one month after receiving them; or should he decline taking them at the rate mentioned, I have desired him to sell them on my account, charging the commission he usually takes. The price I have put upon the New Testaments, when sold one by one, is eight rials each, and when sold in quantities to sell again, at six rials each. This you see will about cover the original cost and expenses if the whole are taken by Mr. Collis, and if he retails them they will bring something more. I think this is a rule that should pretty generally be attended to, and as few as possible given gratis. What I have said, applies to these countries of South America, but other rules may be better elsewhere. I do think it injurious to make a general distribution gratis. Individual copies may be given in this way by a time, but it should be only at times, and when a clear case presents itself. The committee will correct me in this if I am wrong.

On the very day that I received the 610 New Testaments from Valparaiso, I received a letter from Truxillo begging most earnestly, and “for God’s sake” that I would send to that place without delay a supply of the Holy Scriptures. With the writer I am well acquainted, and we had many pleasing interviews during the few weeks I remained in that place, in June and July of last year. My friend and correspondent in Truxillo is a medical gentleman and a native of Ireland. He has been long in this quarter of the world, and may be considered rather as a South American, than a native of the British Isles. He is of the Roman Catholic religion, but is free from those prejudices to be found among many of his own communion. He studies the word of God himself, and recommends the study of it most earnestly to all his friends around him. I found him with a single Spanish New Testament of one of your earlier editions. This was to him quite a family piece, and his wife and children take great pleasure in reading it. A copy of the whole Bible in the Spanish language he had not been able to procure at that time, but in the letter referred to, he tells me he had obtained one from a friend who purchased it in Lima at the time of Mr. Lynch’s sale. When we were together in Truxillo, I inculcated upon him strongly the importance of doing every thing in his power to make the Word of God have free course and be glorified as far as in him lay. To this he most cheerfully agreed, and indeed was more ready to enter into it than I could be to lay it before him. He told me that he was personally acquainted with most of the rectors in the various districts throughout the extensive province of Truxillo, which contains a population of about 300,000 souls. To each of these rectors he promised to write upon the subject, and was pretty confident that they would, in answer to his letters, request large supplies of the Scriptures. I promised on my part to supply him amply with New Testaments very soon, and with Bibles as soon as I could have a supply from England. Upon my return to Lima, I sent him 50 Spanish New Testaments, some of the Annual Reports of the Society, some religious tracts, &c. These were sent under the particular care of a mutual friend, who sailed for Santa, and intended to send them overland to Truxillo. This happened to be at the time of one of our civil commotions, and when our friend landed at Santa all communication was interrupted between that and Truxillo. From Santa he sailed to Guayaquil, and not finding a convenient opportunity for sending them back to Truxillo, he sold them there, and wrote our friend to that effect, saying he would account to me for the price of them. This was a great disappointment to Mr. O’Donovan, for that is the name of our fellow-labourer; and to remedy it, he wrote me the letter above mentioned. He urges his claim from the circumstance of the great need there is of the Word of God in that quarter, from his having promised to send copies to his friends, the rectors, agreeably to what was before stated, and from the circumstance of a number of copies of two infidel books which had been just landed from a French ship in that place, and which have done much evil in these countries. Often do I think, my dear Sir, and often do I say, that this is a most critical time for South America, in a religious point of view.

Two days after having received his letter, I sent him off 250 copies, in common binding, and ten in calf extra. The patience, however, of our friend has again been put to the trial, for notwithstanding that the box containing this supply was sent down to Callao immediately, yet on account of the confusion in that place, as above mentioned, it only went off a few days ago. I imagine him just now opening it, and satiating his eyes with its sacred contents. In the conclusion of his letter, he says he intends to go from house to house to urge these “ignorant but docile Christians” to receive the treasure offered them. Let us pray that his benevolent and zealous efforts may be crowned with happy success.

Lima, 30th March, 1824.

We have at present three masters learning our system, and whom we expected to place in other schools before now; but this war literally devours up every thing, and ties us down to a spot. When we shall clap our wings and fly over the Andes, to teach the poor Peruvian in his native tongue, I cannot tell: God may, perhaps, bring this about sooner than we expect. In the course of a week, the whole of the New Testament will be translated into the vernacular language of Manco Capac, and by a descendant of that ancient race of kings.

I have written to the Viceroy La Serna, who resides at present in Cuzco, requesting to know his determination regarding the continuing of our system, under his government, in this city, and whether he is desirous of extending it throughout the country. In something less than two months I shall probably hear from him, and shall communicate to you the result. If the answer be favourable, I shall most likely repair immediately to Cuzco, leaving one of the masters before mentioned in charge of this school; and should his answer be unfavourable, I shall leave this place and go northwards.

We have often been very desirous of commencing a girls’ school in this city, and we have very good accommodations in our college for this purpose; but we have never been able to effect it, in consequence of the extreme scarcity of money at present in this city. If Lima had been in its former state of abundance, we could have effected it with great ease; and it would have been a very great blessing to this place. We would, in that case, have been very desirous of receiving a well-qualified teacher from your Committee, to direct our female department. It would still be preferable to send two, as one of them could attend to the public school, and the other might keep a respectable boarding-school for the higher classes. Regarding this last-mentioned part, several parents have spoken to me; and on the whole, I think it would turn out well for those who might come out for that purpose. Such an establishment I am sure would be the means of doing a great deal of good in this country. Female education, in my opinion, is the thing most wanted in every country; and when it shall be properly attended to, the renovation of the world will go on rapidly. Let us know if you could aid us in these matters, if we were directly to apply to you. I notice these things that you may write me upon the subject, and knowing, from experience, how ready you are, at all times, to listen to every proposition which bears on knowledge and benevolence.

Lima, 12th April, 1824.

You have, more than once, requested me to state to you any interesting conversations I might have at times with individuals of this country, upon the subject of religion. I have not, I believe, been very communicative in my letters to you on this subject. I believe such details might, in many cases, be interesting, but generally speaking, the questions and answers upon these matters are so nearly what we might expect them to be before hand, under the given circumstances, that little of what can be called solid information is derived therefrom; besides, I understand you print some of my letters, and there is some delicacy and caution to be used under such a consideration, more especially as I have never seen any of your printed accounts, and am thus unable to judge of the freedom you use in such matters. I hope in your selections for the press, you will be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.