LETTERS ON THE MORAL AND RELIGIOUS STATE OF SOUTH AMERICA. (continued 3)

I shall now detail to you a conversation which I had a few days ago, with a particular friend, upon the subject of religion, and more particularly upon the Catholic and Protestant controversy. The gentleman, with whom I had the conversation, is a man of superior education and abilities, and holds an important situation in one of our colleges. We have been acquainted with each other ever since I arrived in this city. We have visited each other occasionally during that time, and have talked upon religious subjects, but almost always upon those things in which we were agreed. A few days ago I had a visit from him, and we entered almost immediately into a close conversation or controversy upon some of the points of the Catholic religion. I had lying on the table one of the Pope’s bulls, which a young man had brought me a day or two before, as I had expressed to him a desire to see it. I enquired of my friend, where I could obtain a set of these bulls, as I wished to see each of them, in order to ascertain their nature, and what it was they promised to those who should purchase them. After he had informed me where this article was to be found, I told him that I understood that those who purchased one of these bulls at a certain price, namely, eight dollars and a half, were assured that they would get out of purgatory in two or three days after death. He said it was so as I had stated. Do you then really believe, said I, that the Pope can thus pardon the sins of men, and that men can obtain the pardon of their sins by means of expending such a sum of money in the purchase of this bull.—He said he believed the forgiveness of sins could be obtained in the way mentioned, and that the Pope had such authority in virtue of being the successor of the prince of the apostles, to whom Jesus Christ had granted the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and power to remit or to retain the sins of men. It is to be supposed, however, continued he, that confession of sins is to be made in order to this forgiveness. And in confession to whom can the penitent go but to the minister of Christ, in order that they may instruct him in the nature of repentance? To prevent him from deceiving himself, and believing he has repented when he has not, it is necessary to show him what are the signs of a sincere repentance; and when the priest finds the penitent as he ought to be, then in virtue of the power given by Christ to his ministers, they absolve him from his sins.—In answer to what he said, I told him that I considered it to be the duty of man to confess his sins unto God, as it is with him alone we have to do, and not with one another; and that the Scripture assures us, that if we humbly and sincerely confess our sins unto him, and beg forgiveness through the Lord Jesus Christ, we shall obtain the mercy we ask for. I then said, that I believed none could forgive sins but God only; and that as to the power given to the apostle Peter, and also to the other apostles to forgive the sins of men or to retain them, I conceived it to be a power of doing this only in a certain way, namely, in the way corresponding to the instructions which they had received from their divine Master. I illustrated this by the case of an ambassador sent by his sovereign with terms of peace to a neighbouring prince. The Ambassador, I said, is authorized to make peace between the two nations, that is, to put an end to the war or to continue it. He is not, however, at liberty to do this in any way he chooses, but only in that way which the instructions of his sovereign authorize. So was it, I continued, with the ambassadors whom the Lord Jesus sent into the world; they were sent to proclaim and to celebrate a peace between God and man, but they were to do so only in one way, that is, in the way prescribed to them, and of which, I observed, we shall presently speak. As to the superiority of the Apostle Peter, said I, to which you refer, or to speak more properly, the superior honour conferred upon him, it is easy to see in what it consisted, and how far it extended. To him were promised the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and also the power of remitting and retaining sins; this latter power was also conferred upon the other Apostles, so that the difference, or the superior honour conferred upon Peter, consisted in having the keys put into his hands. Keys are for the unlocking of doors, that a free entrance may be had to a place inaccessible before the gates were opened. Now, said I, the Apostle Peter was honoured by his Lord, to open the gates of the kingdom of heaven, in the first place unto the Jews, and which he accordingly did in his sermon on the day of Pentecost, and by which means three thousand entered the church of God at one rush. The same individual was afterwards honoured to open the door of faith unto the Gentiles, by a special commission from heaven to that effect. Having thus opened the gates of the kingdom of heaven unto the Jews, and also unto the Gentiles, there was no farther use for these keys. The Apostles of our Lord, in regard to authority in the church, were exactly upon a level, none was superior and none was inferior. And now, I continued, with regard to what we were speaking of before, namely, the forgiveness of sins, I conceive the Apostles could do it only by making known the message of peace and reconciliation to their fellow sinners, and by declaring, in the name of their Master, to those who believed their testimony, the remission of sins consequent upon their belief; and on the other hand, they retained the sins of men, by declaring unto those who disbelieved their testimony, that the wrath of God remained upon them. Further, I said, regarding the successors of the Apostles, I conceived that strictly speaking they had none, nor were there any required. In their life time they exercised their authority, and fulfilled their commission in the way I have stated. And knowing that they were not to continue long upon the earth, and being desirous that these sacred truths which they preached into men should always be held in remembrance, they committed them to writing, and these writings, through the blessing of God, remain unto this day. The Apostles, therefore, have made their own writings their successors, and thus, through them, they continue still to speak to mankind; they still publish the message of reconciliation, and whose sins soever they remit, they are remitted, and whose soever sins they retain, they are retained. I remarked a little before, I continued, that it was at their peril that the Apostles acted in any other way in the forgiving and retaining of sins, and I now add, that it is at the peril of men to receive the remission of sins in any other way than in that which the Apostles taught. The great and eventful day that awaits us all, will declare on what authority and foundation we have enjoyed peace in this weighty affair. The precious stones, the gold and the silver will stand the fire which is to try them, but the wood, the hay, and the stubble shall be burned up.

When I had finished the observations which I have now mentioned, my friend took his turn to speak, and stated his mind upon these topics with great clearness and eloquence to the following effect:—My dear Sir, in regard to the explanation of the passage on which you have now given your opinion, and also with regard to the explanation of the Scriptures in general, I conceive our best and surest plan is to have recourse to the uniform explanation and judgment of the church. If every one is at liberty to form his own opinion of the meaning of Scripture, there will be nearly as many opinions as there are individuals. Witness the divisions which exist among the Protestants, in consequence of this liberty which they take of explaining the Scripture, every one as appears best to him. One believes a certain thing, another denies it, and a third believes something different from both. Every truth in the Scripture has thus been defended and opposed, and torn in pieces by this principle, of every one explaining according to his own judgment and fancy. Under these circumstances, what a consolation it is to have an authority to which we can in all cases recur, and in whose decision we can rest fully satisfied. This authority is the church,—which Jesus Christ has invested with full power on all these points. In consequence of this, the noble truths of our religion continue as they were in the beginning. The judgment of the church has never varied upon them as it has done among the Protestants, neither can it vary. We have the promise of Jesus Christ that he will be with his church to the end of the world, and that whatsoever shall be bound by its judgment upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven, and that whatsoever shall be loosed by it on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. My dear friend, here is our foundation, here is our authority and consolation. The Catholic church has continued since the days of the Apostles and has had an uninterrupted succession of Bishops, from St. Peter until the present day. The Protestants cannot plead such a succession. They are but a sect which left the church a century or two ago, and still occupy a small portion of the world; whereas the Catholic church, descending from the Apostles, has spread on every side, and its doctrines have continued pure and uncorrupted from the beginning until now, yea, and they will continue so until the end of the world, for Jesus Christ has promised it. Here, my friend, is firm footing, and all else, be assured, is quicksand and uncertainty. I was born a Catholic, and I adhere to the religion of my country, and in which I was educated. It is not, however, from the circumstance of being brought up in this religion that I now adhere to it. No, Sir, on the contrary, when I came of age I began to entertain doubts about our religion. Upon this, I set myself to examine the subject with diligence and attention, and the result was a thorough persuasion of its firm and unalterable foundation, and of the beauty and grandeur of the structure. I look upon the Catholic religion, therefore, with great delight and confidence. It appears to me like a great and majestic river running through an extensive continent. On one hand it makes its way, tumbling over rocks, yet uninterrupted in its course by such impediments; again, it meets in its course with shelves and dykes, and after being retarded a little by these hindrances it breaks its way over, and then holds its noble and majestic course until it reaches the ocean, enriching and beautifying every place through which it flows. Such is our religion, and I clasp it to my bosom and esteem it my best and only treasure.

When he had finished, I observed to him, that the plan of the Church explaining all doubts and difficulties regarding the meaning of every part of Scripture, and of our resting in that decision, had the appearance of possessing many advantages. How desirable is it that we should be able to set our minds at rest on subjects of such importance, and wherein a mistake or an error might be attended with very serious consequences. But there appears to me, I said, a great difficulty to be got over, before we can allow our minds to enjoy the ease and confidence referred to, by resting in an infallible interpreter. The difficulty I speak of is this: How shall I know that the church has indeed the authority you speak of? If I were fully satisfied that the church possesses this authority, I would, I assure you, fully confide in it. You remember that, in a former conversation, you promised to prove your positions regarding the Catholic Church with evidence as satisfactory as the proof, that the three interior angles of a triangle are equal to two right angles. Now, I continued to observe, I cannot see evidence for believing that the church has the power in question, and I cannot receive it as a doctrine until I be convinced. On what then do you build this doctrine?

I build this doctrine, said he, in the first place, on the promises of Jesus Christ to his church, which are these: “whose sins soever ye remit, they are remitted, and whose soever sins ye retain they are retained; whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and again, I will be with you always even unto the end of the world.” In the second place, said he, from the consideration that the promises of Jesus to his church, must necessarily have been fulfilled, I maintain that the church has been guided by the Spirit in the manner I have stated, and in consequence thereof, she has held the same doctrine from the days of the Apostles until the present time.

I differ from you, I replied, regarding the meaning and application of the passages you have quoted from the Scriptures. But as you will have the church to explain them, and as the church does actually explain them as you have stated, we cannot therefore meet each other here, on open ground. Let us then pass on to the other fundamental principle which you hold, namely, the fulfilling of this promise in the way you have explained it. How then do you prove to me, that the church has never varied in her doctrines?—I prove, said he, the constancy and stability of the church by the uniform voice of ecclesiastical writers, from the days of the Apostles until now. No sooner did any pastor or bishop broach any new doctrine, than his own flock, and the whole body of Christians, every where raised the cry against him. Errors now and then arose, continued he, and errors too of great consequence, but in this manner they were publicly reprobated, and the individuals who had erred were thereby brought to repentance, or else expelled the church.—As I wished to drive this subject to its proper issue, and to fix upon the very point upon which we differed, and which point it was necessary to settle before we could proceed farther with any advantage, I put this question to him: Do you maintain that the writers upon ecclesiastical affairs, from the days of the Apostles downward, have all held the same opinions regarding the interpretation of Scripture? Not exactly so, said he, for there have been differences among them regarding the interpretation of several passages of Scripture; and he here instanced several opinions of St. Augustine, St. Cyprian, &c. But so far, continued he, as respects what are strictly and properly called the doctrines of the church, I maintain that there is no difference among them, although in points of discipline they are not all agreed. You hold then, said I, do you, that so far as the doctrines of the Roman Catholic church are concerned, the writers we speak of do not vary? I expected he would here give an answer at once in the affirmative, but he withdrew a little farther, and said that he would not affirm to the question I had put, as to all that these writers had said; but so far only, as they had given their testimony to the doctrines in question as existing among them, he wished to speak, and not as to their own opinions of these doctrines. He here stated some opinions of the fathers, and said, that so far as they acted as witnesses to what existed among them, and in the ages previous to their time, thus far and no further were their writings to be considered respecting the argument in hand. I here reminded him by the way, of what I had before urged, but which he did not concede, namely, that there were a great variety of opinions among the Catholics as well as among the Protestants. I stated, at the same time, that I did not urge this particularly as an objection to their system, but merely as a counterpart to his objection to the Protestants, arising from their differences. I then put the question: Do you maintain then, that so far as ecclesiastical writers have given testimony to the doctrines of the church, they do not vary, nor can vary?—Yes, said he, I do maintain that position.—I then replied, I am glad we have come at length to this one definite point, and I am glad, also, that you have excluded the opinions of the writers on these subjects, and that you rest solely on them as witnesses. I now see the point you maintain, and here we will come to issue. My answer, for the present, shall be short. This position which you maintain, is a position which I believe to be insupportable, and which, in consequence, I deny. Here, then, let the subject for the present rest; we have got a great length in seeing the very line which divides us, and we have now the matter free of mystery. It is reduced to a mere historical question. We shall, therefore, decide it as such on some future occasion, when I shall take in hand to prove that the church has varied.

We have now seen, said I, the very point in which we differ, let us also see where we agree. I believe, said I, that all mankind are sinners, and stand in need of a Saviour. I believe that God pitied our race, and sent his only begotten Son to seek and to save the lost. I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the true Mediator and Saviour of mankind, and that there is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. I do sincerely believe, I continued, in the Lord Jesus Christ as my Lord and my Redeemer; and, I trust, also that I desire to know all his precepts and instructions, and to conform my thoughts, and words, and actions thereunto.—I then said to him, is not this exactly what you believe?—He said it was so. Well then, I replied, may not we look upon each other as fellow disciples, and may not we each expect, if we hold on, that the Lord will give unto us both that crown of righteousness which he hath promised to them that love him? He here seemed to hesitate, and did not give a direct reply. You see that I was here touching upon the point of there being no salvation out of their church.—He said that what I had stated regarding my faith was well, but that there was something farther necessary, and upon saying so, he seemed to digress a little, or, at least, not to speak directly to the point in hand. My dear Sir, said I, pray let us settle this point. Have the goodness to speak your mind freely; speak out, what do I still want, what more must I believe, than what I have stated, in order to obtain eternal life. Did not the Lord Jesus himself concede eternal life to those who believed what I have told you in my belief? And did not the Apostles, according to the power invested in them, remit the sins of those who believed and acted in the manner I have stated? He then said something about the necessity of believing the church, in order to salvation.—Can I not look for salvation without this? said I.—Take care that you do not put obstacles in the way to heaven, which the God of our salvation has not put. Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, pray then, do not with stumbling blocks fill up this narrow way. Let the Lord Jesus and his Apostles guide us in this, and in all matters that concern the kingdom of God.

Upon arriving here we found our time was gone, and that we had been upwards of two hours in a very close conversation. As my friend could stop no longer, we broke up our conversation at this point, he still stating it as necessary to salvation, that I should believe the church. When we thus dropped our disputation, he arose, and as I accompanied him out, he threw his arms around me, and said, “We shall yet, I trust, be united together, and companions in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

I have lengthened my account of this interview, perhaps unnecessarily, and it may be till I have tired you. By way of excuse, I would say that I felt real interest in the conversation, and my endeavour has been to make you participate with me, as I believe what interests and pleases one of us is not unpleasing, nor without interest, to the other. It often happens, however, that what interests us in a conversation or narrative loses its effect upon others by the imperfect way in which we repeat it. In the present instance, this is very likely the case, but I leave you to judge.

I have only to remark, before I conclude, that the point in dispute between us is now reduced to narrow limits; and it was my main endeavour to bring it to this bearing, nor was he averse to it. He is, as I said at the outset, a man of good talents, and reasons clearly. I do not promise to you that we shall be able to set the subject at rest in our next conference, notwithstanding all the accuracy and honesty of my good friend. You know there are many things which prevent such an anticipation. I shall, however, endeavour to prove to him, in the first place, that the church at Rome, and other churches in the days of the Apostles, held the doctrines and followed the practices which are contained in the New Testament. With these doctrines I shall then compare the doctrines of the church of Rome in the present day; and if I can show a disparity between them, I think impartiality should give the judgment in my favour, even without entering upon ecclesiastical history; as I shall thus have proved that the church has varied, and hence that those passages he referred to, must be misinterpreted by Romish writers, and that they do not apply to their church, whose infallibility must, of course, fall to the ground, agreeably to the principles stated in the preceding conversation. Should, however, justice not speak out in my favour, I shall pass on to show, from ecclesiastical writers, that the doctrines of the Church of Rome differ in the present day from what they were in the first and second centuries, and even later. By this means I hope to arrive at the same conclusion, as in the way before mentioned, and thus to disprove my friend’s position of the church never having varied, by the very means by which he maintains it. This I conceive, is the only way of managing the controversy between the Catholic and the Protestant. Until you settle this point about the authority of the church, you can do nothing effectually. If you cite, for instance, a passage of Scripture to disprove any one of the doctrines of the Catholic church, you are met immediately with the interpretation which the church puts upon that passage, and there is an end of it. If you should allege that the passage plainly and evidently means something very different from each interpretation, then you are reminded that our judgement is weak and erring, and that the judgment of the church is infallible. So that to whatever hand you turn, you never can get out of this circle. It is therefore necessary to demolish this outwork entirely. What I have said of course applies chiefly to the mode of reasoning with those who are thorough-paced in their theological arguments; but with regard to others, you can attack them in any particular part, and carry your argument forward on the principles of common sense, and by the doctrines of Scripture taken in their plain and obvious meaning.

Lima, 1st June, 1824.

In the conclusion of my letter of the 1st of March, I noticed that this city had been taken possession of by the Spanish army. It is still in their possession, and there does not appear, at present, any immediate prospect of a change in this respect. You will not expect from me political news under present circumstances, and I pass on to note what little affairs have come under my observation during these two or three months past, respecting that kingdom which cannot be moved by the strifes of men, nor the clangour of war.

My letter to Mr. H. of 25th March would inform you of the protection which the Spanish General granted to our schools. In consequence of that encouragement, I resolved to remain her some time longer, in order to put our establishment upon as sure a footing as possible. Nothing material occurred in our school upon the arrival of the Spaniards, except the losing of some of our scholars. The cause of this was the dread their parents were in, lest their children should be seized on their way to and from the school by the recruiting parties, who not infrequently take some of the bigger boys as they find them in the street, in order to make drummers of them. Our number, in consequence of this, is less than it was about three months ago. In these times, when party spirit runs high, we endeavour in our school to maintain a strict neutrality in words and actions. We found some difficulty during the first days, after our change of rulers, to establish this neutrality among the children themselves. They would, from time to time, be forming themselves into sides, and calling each other respectively Patriots and Goths. We have in the school, children whose parents have taken opposite sides in this contest, and as might naturally be expected, the children on the one hand and on the other have imbibed the sentiments of their parents. We succeeded at length in putting an end to these strifes among the children, and we now all live in peace and unity. The government holds out to us no immediate encouragement, and on the other hand, it never in any shape interferes with our operations. On the whole, this school is going on very well. The children are making progress in their learning, and advancing in moral dignity; and some are lisping out, and some are reading with readiness, the gracious words which proceeded out of the mouth of our blessed Saviour, as they were taken down by the Holy Spirit. I may add, that we are not losing the estimation of our friends here, but on the contrary, if I mistake not, we are gaining more friends in both parties, and making advances in public confidence.

About three weeks ago I was on the eve of leaving this place, and had, as on a former occasion, every thing packed up with that intention. I had indeed resolved to sail for Guayaquil with the first ship, and was inquiring for a passage. My reasons for doing so were quite solid. My salary, as I suppose you know, is paid by the government. Under present circumstances, the payment of the troops is the first thing attended to, and to procure funds sufficient for this purpose, requires great exertions in the present exhausted state of this place. To obtain this supply, all the ordinary sources of revenue are laid hold of, and pretty heavy contributions also are laid on the inhabitants to make up deficiencies. This being the case, there was no prospect of my obtaining any supplies, more especially as persons in the immediate employ of the government, and who have salaries assigned them, could obtain nothing. To make certain, however, I made application, and found it impossible to obtain any thing, on account of the circumstances mentioned. As you know I have no supplies but what my own hands provide me with, it became an imperative duty to remove when my usual resources were dried up. These were my reasons for going, and I suppose you will consider them sufficient, especially if you take into consideration the high price of all kinds of provisions in this city. Sugar for instance, which grows and is manufactured within a few miles of the city, is now selling at twenty-pence and two shillings the pound.

Being ready for setting off, as above mentioned, and having given notice to the children to that effect, I waited only till the following day to send my luggage down to Callao, and to follow it immediately. Whilst I was thus prepared, my good friend the clergyman, whom I have frequently mentioned in my former letters, called upon me, and said that he believed I would not go away yet, notwithstanding all my preparations. I smiled at what he said, and replied, that my going appeared very certain and very near too, for I intended to send my luggage to Callao next morning.—Well, I do not think you will go away for all that, said he.—Upon my asking him what reasons he had for saying so, he stated, that he had been speaking with some of the parents of the children, and that they had expressed to him their concern at my going, and said they would very willingly contribute what they could, and would speak to some others who had children in the school, and that they hoped by that means something might be raised, which might, in a great measure, remove the reasons I had stated for my going. Whilst my friend and I were talking to this effect, a person came in who had a son at school, and repeated the same things. I replied, that I felt very much obliged by the confidence they reposed in me, and for their friendly interference for my continuance in this place. I noticed also that I had candidly stated my reasons for going away at this time, and that though they had kindly proposed a way of removing these difficulties, yet I felt a delicacy in calling on the parents of the children on my own behalf. They replied to this by saying that they would speak to some of their friends upon the subject, and that in fact they had spoken to some of those of most influence who were very cordial and anxious in the matter; and my friend the clergyman proposed to write notes to others of the parents, in his own name, to remove any delicacies I might have as to the application. Upon seeing so much interest taken in this matter, I recognized the hand of God in it, and agreed to their proposal. Their plan has been carried into effect, and this has the Lord opened, as it were, a window in heaven, and let down before me a sheet full of supplies. In this same manner, I may say, has the Lord provided for me during the years of my pilgrimage in this foreign land. He has set a table before me, he has anointed my head with oil, he has made my cup to run over. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and O may I dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Lima, 15th July, 1824.

Your very acceptable favour of 6th January last, came safely into my hands on the 22d ultimo, and I have now the pleasure of writing you a few lines in reply. Your notice of the progress of Bible Societies in France is very interesting, and it is not less so what you mention regarding the circulation of the Holy Scriptures in Egypt, and in Jerusalem, the city of the great King. To whatever quarter we turn our eyes, we behold the word of God silently making its way into the hands of men of every nation and of every language, saying unto all, Fear God, and give glory to his name, for the day of his merciful visitation is come. The strains of the Bible Society remind us of the song of the heavenly messengers upon their announcing the Advent of our great Deliverer. The language of both is, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will towards men.”

It affords me much satisfaction to observe the interest which the Society takes on behalf of South America, and I hope the day is coming when we shall be more sensible of your favours to us, and when we shall join together in grateful acknowledgment of your godly benevolence. Have the goodness to convey my sincere thanks to the Committee, for the readiness with which they have acceded to my request respecting the translating and printing of a part of the Holy Scriptures into the ancient Peruvian tongue. I thought I should, by this time, have been able to give you a very favourable account of the progress of this work, but we are subject here to sad vicissitudes, for war rages in the land, and of late the sword has reached unto our very soul. How long we shall be visited with this scourge I cannot tell. The Judge of all the earth will do right, and it is our duty to submit to his holy will.

The translation of the whole of the New Testament into the Peruvian language was finished about two months ago. The Gospel by Luke has been very carefully revised and corrected by four individuals, one of whom is a Clergyman, another is a Theological Tutor in one of the colleges of this city, and the other two are of the medical profession. These four, along with the gentleman who made the translation, went over this gospel verse by verse, with great care. The present corrected version, therefore, is the joint work of five persons, and I trust it may be relied on with some confidence. It has not yet been put to the press, for we have not had a printing press in Lima during these four months past. There are two indifferent ones in Callao, one of them in the castle and the other under its guns, but I have not yet been able to ascertain, since I received your letter, whether any thing can be done at these or not. In my next I shall inform you more particularly upon this subject, and if the printing shall be then begun, I shall forward you a copy of the first sheet.

In my letter to Mr. Ronneberg of 29th March last, I noticed the safe arrival of the Grecian in Callao, bringing the 2,500 Spanish New Testaments addressed to me, and the 1,592 addressed to Mr. Lynch. Of the six boxes which came to me, I have sent two to Guatemala by a favourable opportunity which offered. I have also sent one to Arequipa, and one to Truxillo, and two yet remain on hand. A few weeks ago I received from Captain Robson, of the Sesostris, two boxes of New Testaments, (Paris edition,) containing about 500 each. These he received, I believe, from the Merchants’ Bible Society, or from some other of the Societies in London.

In the letter already referred to, I noticed what had taken place with regard to 50 New Testaments, which I sent to Truxillo some time ago. I mentioned the impossibility of getting them conveyed to Truxillo under the circumstances then existing in that place, and that in consequence they were carried to Guayaquil. I have since received a very pleasing letter regarding their reception in that place, of which the following is an extract.

“It is with the utmost pleasure I sit down to write these few lines to you, to inform you of the hunger and thirst after the word of God in this part of the world. You may remember, that when I last left Lima you gave me a box containing Tracts and Testaments, for Dr. O’Donovan in Truxillo, but from the then existing state of the country it was out of my power to forward the above mentioned box to Truxillo, and as we were not allowed to enter that port, we were consequently obliged to proceed to Guayaquil. I wrote you from that place, saying, that I was bound for the coast of Mexico, but as affairs would not permit it, I made a trading voyage to Jipijapi, Monte Cristi, and the Bay of Caracas. But before leaving Guayaquil some one got knowledge of my having these Testaments, and the demand was so great, that it was almost out of my power to save any of them, although it was my intention to do so, for the other above mentioned parts; and as I had no likely opportunity of forwarding them to Mr. O’Donovan, I thought it best to circulate them, and not to let such a treasure lie hid in darkness; and I am convinced that it is in general considered as a treasure; for with pleasure have I seen, in passing through the streets of Guayaquil, not once or twice, but mostly every day, the shopkeepers, and the poor people who have stalls, read in the blessed Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. If I had had ten times as many, I am persuaded I could have sold them all. On my arrival in this port, (Monte Cristi, latitude 3° south) I had no Testaments, but a few tracts, and some of the instructions of the Lancasterian system of teaching; I gave the latter to different school-masters, and likewise a few tracts along with them. A day or two after it was known that I had tracts on board, it was astonishing, but at the same time pleasing, to see both old and young coming after me in the street, and to where I lived, requesting me either to sell or give them one of each kind. There was one tract in particular, which, to my knowledge, was sent twenty leagues to a curate, an acquaintance of mine, and on my going to some of the inland towns, which I had occasion at times to do, there was always particular inquiry for Tracts and New Testaments. I had once, about four years ago, distributed a few Testaments in Monte Cristi, one or two of which I saw this time. Such is the thirst after the word of God, that the Governor and two or three more, requested me as a particular favour, that I would leave a New Testament I had for my own use, until I should return, and begged and even offered money, so that I would bring either the New Testament or the whole Bible on my return. The Governor, after reading the rules of the Lancasterian plan of teaching, gave orders in my presence to some of the school-masters to conform to some of the rules as near as they could. He seems to be a young man very much inclined to forward any thing that tends to promote the education of youth. At this moment I am surrounded with children requesting tracts, but as my stock is small, I am very particular to whom I give them, making every one read a sentence or two before they get a tract.—It gives me infinite pleasure to be thus employed in distributing the word of God to those that hunger and thirst after righteousness; and after the fatigues of the day, I feel refreshed to be thus employed.”

The information contained in the above extract is very interesting, and I trust many other instances will be witnessed upon this continent, of a sincere desire to possess, and to read the Holy Scriptures. I shall take care to seize the first opportunity of sending a supply of New Testaments to Guayaquil and parts adjacent. It often occurs to me that it might prove very useful to make journeys through various parts of this country, in order to dispose of the Scriptures to the best advantage, and to the greatest extent possible. I felt much inclined to employ a person in whom I have confidence, in such journies, but did not like to do so at your expense without orders, and my own funds at present cannot afford it.—I have as yet received no answer to my letter to the Viceroy, and am quite uncertain as to the time I remain here. I had almost forgot to mention to you the safe arrival of the parcel containing the Brief View, in Spanish. Many copies of this have already been circulated, and they have produced a good effect.

I conclude, my dear Sir, by praying that an abundant measure of the Holy Spirit may be poured out upon yourself, and upon all your associates.

Lima, 1st September, 1824.

Many feelings, my dear friend, rush upon my mind on the present occasion. I shall, at once, give you to understand something of the number and the nature of these, by telling you,—that I have just now shut up my house, have taken leave of the children and of several warm friends, and go down immediately to Callao, to embark for Truxillo and Guayaquil; and from the latter place I intend to go to Bogotá; and thence onward from one place to another, until perhaps, and if the Lord will, I shall see you face to face. In consequence of these things, as you may easily suppose, I have my mind full of past, and of present, and of future objects. I think of my parting from you more than six years ago; I think of the wonderful way by which the Lord has preserved me, and led me, and blessed me in this foreign land; I think of the goodness of God in having allowed me to drop a seed here and a seed there in this continent, which appears a world of itself; I think of the affectionate parting I have this day had with many warm friends, and who are mostly priests, and of their sincere and earnest entreaties for my speedy return to them; and further, I think of the prospect of sowing the word of God on my journey,—of the pleasure, if such be the will of our Saviour, of seeing again all my dear brethren and friends in England,—of spending a few months with you in endeavours to forward the cause of our Redeemer in South America; and finally, I think of parting from you once more, and of returning again to this quarter of the world, to spend in it the remaining days of my life in seeking its welfare.

It is time to tell you the immediate cause of these projected movements. I say the immediate cause, for I suppose you know that these are not new arrangements. The reason, then, of my setting off at the present time is, because I conceive it the most favourable time I am likely to have of reducing these arrangements to practice. You know how the war rages here, and how it defeats every attempt to forward the education of youth, and the promoting of general improvement. What I have said applies to Peru in general, but more particularly to this city, where the sword has truly reached to the heart. We are here, I may say, in a beseiged city, having the enemy on all sides. Guerilla parties surround the city by land, and have several times come in at night, and carried off people and property; and on the other hand the port of Callao is actually blockaded by the Peruvian squadron under Admiral Guise. The distress which prevails in this city, in consequence of every thing being thus at a stand, is very great, and it is augmented by heavy contributions. This, perhaps, in former times, was, without exception, the richest city in the world, but now, I may say with equal certainty, that it is the poorest. The luxury and dissipation which prevailed, in consequence of this abundance of wealth, may be easily imagined; and I have often thought upon that passage in the 18th chapter of the Revelation, and have seen it applied, I think, to our case, “How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her.”

Until, therefore, some change take place here, nothing more can be done than has already been done. Our school goes on, and I may say, with as much prosperity as could be expected under the circumstances above mentioned. The number of scholars has decreased from 230 to about 200. There are two causes for this decrease; the one is, that the bigger boys are afraid to go out lest they should be taken up by the recruiting parties; and the other is, the real poverty which exists, and which prevents many parents from sending their children, as they are unable to procure them shoes and clothes to enable them to appear decently among others. Whilst these two causes exist, the number may diminish, perhaps, still more, but the school will continue to maintain itself, and to support its character, I expect, in the progress of those who attend. There are two masters in it, who are well instructed in the plan, and the whole is under the direction of my good friend, the clergyman, of whom I have often spoken to you. What I have said applies to the model or central school. There is also another school in the city on the same plan, with about eighty scholars, which, I hope, will also continue to go on well, though subject, of course, to the same disadvantages.

I have thought, then, that I was called upon to seize this time as the most suitable for visiting other parts of this Continent, and for the objects I have in England. My principal business upon my journey will be the circulation of the Scriptures in the different places I may visit, and I hope that something may be done in this way, so as to make my journey not unprofitable. Of my progress on my road, and in my objects, I shall endeavour to inform you from time to time. I shall only farther observe, in regard to my intentions, that my route, &c. will be a good deal determined by the circumstances which may occur in the way by which the Lord may lead me.

These movements have, I trust, been entered upon in the fear of God, and after mature deliberation, and fervent supplication to the Father of lights, who has promised to guide in judgment those who seek his face in sincerity.

Guayaquil, 5th October, 1824.

I arrived in this place a few days ago, and seize the earliest opportunity to state to you the cause of my being here. You already know that the single object which I have in view in South America, is the promoting of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are, of course, various ways of doing this, and I have thought it best to allow myself to be guided in the manner of doing it, by the various circumstances and occasions which the providence of God opens up to me from time to time. The two things to which I have more particularly given my attention all along are, the education of youth, and the circulation of the Holy Scriptures. In regard to the latter, with which you are more immediately connected, I have stated to the Society, at different times, my desire of forwarding their work in this quarter, in every way which lies in my power. I have also informed the Society, on various occasions, as to the progress of their work in this continent. It has afforded me much satisfaction to observe the interest taken by you all for supplying South America with the sacred volume, and to read the repeated assurances you have communicated to me of your desire to carry forward this object in the most extensive and effectual way possible. The confidence I reposed in the Society in regard to this country, induced me to commence the translation of the New Testament on your account into the Quichua, or ancient language of Peru, and the answer I received from you some time ago, has shown me that I was not mistaken in regard to your views.

The same confidence as to the views of the Society, and a hope of being able to do something in the way of circulating the word of God, in places not yet visited, or but very partially, by this messenger of peace, has induced me to come to this city at the present time. It is my intention to set out from this place in two or three days for Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. In my way I shall pass through Riobamba, Ambato, Tacunga, Quito, and Popayan, all of which are populous cities, and where I expect to sell a considerable number of copies of the Spanish New Testaments.

The present state of the war in Lima renders abortive every attempt to forward education there, and very little can be done in the circulation of the Scriptures by sale, on account of the very great pressure of the war, which has reduced the city to much distress. Under these circumstances, I thought the best time I could find for visiting the quarters above mentioned, and perhaps for visiting my native land, was the present. I set out then from Lima with this intention, and to perform the part of an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. I am not sure, but I may feel myself under the necessity of petitioning you for my travelling expenses. I never intended to charge you for any services I might be honoured in doing for your Society, if possible to avoid it; but the low state of my funds at present, on account of the war here, may urge me to do what otherwise I should not have done. I mention this at present, only in case it should be necessary. The prosperous turn the war has lately taken in Peru, encourages me to hope that what is due to me by the government of that country will be paid in due time, and in that case my little services shall cost you nothing.

I left Lima on the 5th ultimo, and at that time the supply of New Testaments, and of the four books of the Old Testament, printed with a small type, of which you wrote me, had not arrived. I had anxiously looked for their arrival for some weeks before my coming away, as by the date of your letter, I thought there was sufficient time for their reaching that place. I was very sorry in not having been furnished with this supply before entering upon my present journey, as I think the volumes printed with the small type would have been very acceptable, and the whole Bible also would have been equally so, as it has been often sought for. I have just one Bible with me to show as I go along, by way of specimen, in order to incite curiosity, and a desire to possess it, when it may be supplied to all those places. This copy I bought in Lima for this express purpose, and hope it will serve the end in view. I have brought about 800 New Testaments with me, and in this place I have found the supply you sent by the Grecian to Mr. Lynch, and which I thought had gone to Chile. I am glad at finding these here, as it enables me to send a quantity to Guatemala by an opportunity which offers from this place in a day or two. The rest I will dispose of otherwise. I mentioned to you some time ago, that I had sent two boxes to Guatemala of those which came to me by the Grecian. I have however learned, that the vessel in which they were sent had changed her destination, and that they have not yet arrived at that place. The accidental finding, in this place, the cases brought by the Grecian, enables me now to supply this deficiency, and also to send by the same person a supply to California. As to the boxes formerly sent, though they did not arrive at the destination intended, I entertain no doubt of their safety, and of their being profitably disposed of somewhere, and of which I expect to hear in due time.

I shall now state to you what has occurred in the part of my journey already performed. The first object I had in view, was to visit Truxillo, where I expected to find my good friends who take so much interest in the Peruvian translation of the New Testament, and who had laboured so diligently to accomplish it. I accordingly embarked on board a vessel bound for that place, and where I safely arrived in due time. I was sadly disappointed in not finding my friends there as I expected. Not one of them was to be found, nor could I ascertain with certainty where they were, but heard that one had been seen going to one place and another to another. The suddenness of their leaving Lima prevented us from making any arrangements about our translation, and we had not even time to bid each other adieu. The abruptness of our parting, rendered more severe my disappointment in not finding them in Truxillo, where I intended to make arrangements with them for carrying forward thin work during my absence. I had brought from Lima the manuscript of the whole New Testament in the Quichua language, together with the Gospel of Luke, thoroughly revised and prepared for the press. I mentioned to you in my last, that I would endeavour to carry your resolution into effect regarding the printing of 1,000 copies of this revised part. I mentioned also that all the printing presses had been removed from Lima, but that two were to be found in Callao, and that I would ascertain whether the work in question could be done there. Upon enquiry, I found it could not. In consequence of this, I wished to get the Gospel of Luke printed in Truxillo, and for that end carried the MS. to that place, that it might be carried through the press there. And in regard to the MS. of the other parts of the New Testament, I expected that our friends, in their exile, might go on revising and correcting it. All these plans, as you see, have been frustrated. I therefore carefully packed up the whole MS. and addressing it to one of our translators, gave it into the hands of an English gentleman going to Lima, to be delivered according to the address, when the expulsion of the Spaniards from Lima (which is soon expected) would enable our friends to return. I also wrote a few lines explaining my wish regarding the revising of the MS., and regarding the printing of the part already revised. The English gentleman of whom I have spoken, has kindly offered to advance all the money that may be necessary for carrying this into effect. From these arrangements I expect that the work will be set agoing again in the course of two, or at most three months from this date; for according to the present aspect of the war, the Spaniards will not be able to continue longer in possession of Lima, although they may, and probably will, retain the fortresses of Callao till a later period.

Having touched upon this subject of the Spanish cause here, I cannot forbear mentioning to you the singular interposition of Providence on behalf of the cause of liberty in this quarter. On the 6th of August last the two armies came in sight of each other at a place called Junin, between Pasco and Tarma. The consequence was, that a battle took place between the cavalry of the two parties. There were 1,200 of the Spaniards and 800 of the Patriots. An eye witness says, “The concussion was tremendous, as they came up to each other at full gallop. In a quarter of an hour, upwards of 400 men lay dead upon the field, more than three-fourths of whom were Royalists. All this havoc and slaughter was caused by the lance and sword, principally by the former. Not a shot of any description, was fired.” In a short time victory begin visibly to declare for the Spaniards, and the General at the head of the patriot cavalry was made prisoner. At this critical moment, by some scarcely explained movement, the Spaniards got somehow into disorder, and began to give way. This was followed up by the Patriots, and in a very short time they obtained a complete victory. The whole of the Spanish army was, in consequence of this defeat, struck with a panic, and by forced marches endeavoured to get out of the way of the enemy as fast as possible. Bolivar immediately advanced, and the Spaniards continued to flee before him with all speed. On the 22d August, only 15 days after the battle, the advanced guard of the patriot army entered Guamanga. Five of the finest provinces of Peru thus fell into their hands in the short period of about a fortnight. The Spanish army has been sadly reduced and dispirited by their rapid retreat, and the army of Bolivar has increased in numbers and in strength. I consider this to be a deadly blow to the Spanish cause in this quarter of the world, from which I think and hope they will never recover. With this cause will terminate, I trust, the reign of oppression and violence, of ignorance and fanaticism in Peru, and by which it has been borne down for these three hundred years. So perish all tyranny and ignorance from the earth!

I should perhaps beg your pardon for having drawn your attention so long to the concerns of war and of politics, as you are men of peace and of no party, and your only occupation is speaking peace to them who are far off and to them that are nigh. Still, however, you will remember that the book whose circulation we are engaged in, detains our attention in many places with the account of wars and revolutions. But you will say that all these are related there merely from their being connected with the grand moral and religious revolution of the world through that great prophet who was to come. This is certainly a right view of the subject; and motives of a similar nature, I trust, and not party nor malicious principles, have induced me to detain you a moment upon the wars of this quarter of the world. I firmly believe that the deliverance of this country from bondage and oppression, and the mental emancipation of its inhabitants, depend upon the success of this revolution. The Spaniards, as is well known, have greatly impeded, not to say prohibited, the progress of knowledge and of true religion in America. It is not easy therefore, nor is it proper, to remain indifferent as to the issue of this struggle.

I now return to our work of peace, and to Truxillo. I wrote the Society some time ago, of having found a useful and zealous co-labourer in that city, and that I had forwarded to him from Lima a supply of New Testaments. At the first he met with some difficulties, owing to the ecclesiastical authorities of the place. These were at length overcome, and he was allowed to commence the sale of the Scriptures publicly. When he had obtained leave to do so, he printed an advertisement, and posted it up in the public places of the town, intimating the sale. The consequence was, that he had sold when I was there about 100 copies. He had also written to his friends the Vicars in the provincial towns, but he had not then, from the shortness of the time, received the answers to his letters. When these arrive, he expects several orders for New Testaments to be sent to the various towns in the department of Truxillo, which contains a population of upwards of 300,000. In addition to this mode of circulating the Scriptures, my friend informed me that he was about to put in practice a method of lending the New Testaments in the different houses which he is in the habit of visiting, and in others which he intends to visit for that purpose. Our friend’s medical duties give him a facility for carrying this into practice. He intends to lend the New Testament for a day, or for two or three days, as circumstances may direct, and to call again for it himself at the given time. Upon calling for it, he says he will ask them if they wish to purchase it, and if so, he will sell it at a price corresponding to the circumstances of the individual; and if they do not wish it, he will take it with him and lend it to some other, to whom in turn he will put the same question, and thus sell it or take it with him, as circumstances require. You will easily see that this way of doing will cost him a good deal of labour and care, but he seems to count nothing of these, if in this manner he may be the means of circulating the word of God, and of drawing the attention of the people around him, to its all-important contents. As he makes all his rounds on horseback, he will, I hope, be enabled fully to verify his benevolent purpose. He showed me a pair of saddle-bags, which he told me he had got made for the very purpose of always carrying about with him a supply of New Testaments. He gave me one hundred dollars to account of sales, which was rather more than what he had received.

The next thing I have to notice in Truxillo, is, I conceive, of some importance, and will prove, I trust, the means of greatly extending the operations and diffusing the blessings of the British and Foreign Bible Society. What I refer to is, the finding of an additional agent who takes a lively interest in the diffusion of the Scriptures, and in every other means by which his countrymen may be benefited. The individual in question is a clergyman, and a man of rank in that order. He is Vicar-general to the army, and possesses a considerable influence. His residence, at present, is at Moche, a little village about four or five miles from Truxillo, and of which place he is rector. This, however, is only a temporary residence, during the occupation of his home by the Spaniards, and from which, in consequence, he was obliged to flee. The place of his nativity and of his permanent residence is in the province and near the city of Arequipa, towards the southern extremity of Peru. It is this circumstance in particular, that will render his services valuable, as we have already an active agent in Truxillo. He intends to return to his native province as soon as the course of the war will permit. Arequipa is in the centre of a populous country, and he will have an extensive field of operation. Another circumstance renders the acquisition of this gentleman very valuable, and that is his thorough knowledge of the Indian or Peruvian language, which is very extensively spoken in that quarter. To this I add another feature in his character of yet more importance, which is, his compassion for the oppressed and degraded state of the indigenous population of Peru, and the lively interest he takes in ameliorating their condition, by his representations to the government upon the subject, and by his personal labours. No individual I have yet met with in these countries, has offered himself so decidedly and so heartily to promote the cause of your Society, as this gentleman; and from all the circumstances I have mentioned, you will see that his good will and his services must be considered a great acquisition.

I considered the time spent in visiting Truxillo abundantly recompensed in meeting with this fellow-labourer, and I found, in this circumstance, some relief from the disappointment I had met with in not finding there the friends I had expected. My falling in too with that individual was perfectly accidental, for I had no knowledge of such a one being in that place. But then again we must remember, that “all chance is but direction which we cannot see.” Blessed be God who leadeth us by ways we know not, but which he knows, and which will lead us to the glorifying of his name, when that is our object. I must not omit to give you the name and address of our fellow-labourer. It is “Dr. Don Manuel Fernandez de Córdova, Vicario General del Ejército del Peru, y Cura de Salamanca del Obispado de Arequipa.” I have given you this address in Spanish to enable you to write direct to our friend, should you feel so inclined.

I shall now leave Truxillo, but before I go on board, shall just notice a little incident. Truxillo is about six miles distant from Huanchaco, which is the sea port town of that quarter. In going down to this port, I happened to get a very bad horse, which soon becoming restive, I was obliged to leave it at a house upon the road, and to walk down under a burning sun. After I had walked more than half the way, a person came riding up to me and offered me a horse, which of course I accepted. He told me he had observed me on foot from a distance, and had pushed forward to offer me assistance. Upon entering into conversation I found my obliging friend was a peasant, belonging to a neighbouring village, where he had a family to which he was returning. We spoke a little about education in general, and of his family in particular. I learned from him that he could read, and was anxious that his children should be well instructed. I asked him if he had ever seen the New Testament, to which he replied in the negative, and from less to more, he intimated to me that he would be glad to purchase one if he could find it, for the use of himself and of his children. When we arrived at Huanchaco, he would accept of no remuneration for his kindness, and as I found my luggage there not embarked, I brought him a New Testament and made him a present of it, in return for his unsolicited and friendly attentions. He received it most thankfully, and we parted.

On the 24th we sailed for Guayaquil, but as we carried a gentleman with us at the request of the government, we had to call at Paita to land him there. We cast anchor in that port on the 26th, after sun-set, and early next morning I went ashore to see the place, and took three New Testaments with me. I went into a store near the landing-place, and being invited, took a seat upon a bale of cotton. After some general conversation, I opened my treasure, and offered the New Testaments for sale at one dollar each, and in a few minutes they were bought. Some little time after, I was asked if I had any more. I replied that I had, but that they were in the ship. I immediately went on board, and just as we had got our anchor up, a boat came along-side, in which I recognized the person who had asked me for more New Testaments. He came on board and bought two dozen, for which he paid me eighteen dollars. As we were by this time under way, the boat had to return ashore without loss of time, whilst we, with a most propitious gale, made for this port.—On the evening of the 29th we cast anchor off the small town of Puná, on the island of the same name. You will remember that this island is famous in the conquest of Peru, by the Spaniards. According to the accounts of it that remain, it seems to have been very populous at that time. It is not so now. There is, on the whole island, only one little village, namely, the one I have mentioned, and which does not contain above 200 inhabitants. We landed at this little place for a pilot to conduct us up the river. I took with me, as I had done at Paita, three New Testaments. When we landed, we found some people on the beach, to whom we communicated intelligence of the rapid progress of Bolivar. We were invited into one of the houses, and after having talked a little upon various subjects, I opened my casket and presented my New Testaments, which they were all very curious to see. Whilst they were looking through them, one of the neighbours came in. “Here!” said one who was examining the New Testament, “here is a book that will tell you about the beginning of the world, and a great many other things.” His friend replied, that he cared very little about the beginning of the world, but that he wished to know something about the end of it. Upon hearing this, I told him that the book he had in his hands was the very book that would suit him, as it would inform him particularly about the end of the world. I sold the three New Testaments in this same house, and as our captain had by this time made arrangements with the pilot, we got on board again, and set sail. On the following night (the 30th) we arrived at this place, at eight o’clock. Before we cast anchor, an English gentleman came on board, to whom I had a letter of introduction. He kindly invited me to his house, where I am comfortably lodged, and from which I now write you.

I intend to stop in this place only a few days, during which I shall endeavour to dispose of as many New Testaments as I can, and in the way that may be most profitable. I now close this letter, and shall inform you of the success I meet with here, in my next communication.

Guayaquil, 11th October, 1824.

My letter of the 5th current will inform you of the motives and objects which have brought me to this place. It will also inform you of what progress I have made in the circulation of the Holy Scriptures, and in objects connected therewith, from my leaving Lima till my arrival in this quarter. I proceed, therefore, to state to you the occurrences of Guayaquil in reference to these matters.

Some time ago, and of which I believe I informed you, I sent from Lima twenty New Testaments to a Gentleman here, to be sold at one dollar each, if opportunities should offer, of disposing of them among his friends. This gentleman holds a principal situation in the government, and had been recommended to me by a relation of his in Truxillo, as a person desirous of doing good. Upon my arriving here, I called upon him, and found him to be a person worthy of the honourable appellation just mentioned. He told me he had disposed of the New Testaments, and he gave me twenty dollars which he had received for them.

As soon as I had reached this place, I mentioned to some persons that I had a supply of New Testaments for sale, and in consequence I sold one hundred and sixty-eight copies. After thinking for some time upon what would be the speediest and most effectual way of disposing of the New Testaments, it occurred to me that the best thing I could do would be to print an advertisement, and to give notice of the sale by posting these up in the public places of the different towns I pass through on my journey. This, you will see, would at once draw the attention of the public. The only objection that occurred to me was, that it would be a kind of challenge to our opponents, or at least an intimation of our hostile operations. This obstacle I kept in mind, but did not think our adversaries would be able to make any effectual resistance. More powerful, I believe, are those who are for us than those who are against us. The encouragement to make such an attempt as this, arises from the great and happy changes already effected by the revolution going on in this country, and, I trust, now concluding. I could not have ventured upon such a thing under the Spanish government. What is going forward in these countries is truly a revolution in every sense of the word.

I accordingly wrote out an advertisement, and got it printed in the government printing-office in this place. Translated into English it runs thus: “To be sold in (a) the New Testament of our Lord Jesus Christ, in one volume, well printed, and neatly bound, at the low price of eight rials. This sale will continue for (b) days only, and it is expected that those who wish to procure for themselves this sacred code of our Holy Religion, will improve the occasion now offered them.” As this advertisement was intended not for this place alone, but for others also, I left the blank (a) to be filled up with the pen to suit each place, and the blank (b) I leave for the number one, two, or three, as my time will permit, and as the importance of the town visited may require. When these notices were finished, I caused some to be put up in this place, saying that the sale would be for three days only. In a few minutes after putting them up, I enjoyed the great satisfaction of seeing it produce much better effects than I had anticipated. At noon the notices were put up and at one o’clock I had sold fifteen copies. In the next hour I sold forty-seven. In the course of an hour and a half during the time the store was open in the afternoon, I sold one hundred and twelve. Next day I sold 262 copies. The day following, which was also one of the three days of sale, happened to be a festival day held to celebrate the declaration of independence in this town four years ago. The stores in consequence were all shut, and public business suspended. Nevertheless, there were eleven copies sold during a few minutes before breakfast, when the store was open for some particular purpose. To-day I set out on my journey to Quito, bu I may perhaps sell some before I go, as I cannot go off before four o’clock in the afternoon, having to sail up the river with the flood tide.

The whole number disposed of in this place is 615, and for these I have received 542 dollars 2 rials.—The greater part were sold one by one at eight rials each, but sometimes I sold a dozen or two together, and in that case sold them somewhat cheaper. To the number of copies already mentioned, I add the 30 disposed of, as noticed in my last, and three copies sold in Truxillo of those in superior binding, making in all 648 copies since the commencement of my tour. To the amount of monies received in the same time as above, I add, what I received from Dr. O’Donovan, from the gentleman here as previously mentioned, and for those sold in Paita and Puná, and the three just noticed, making 153 dollars, amounting in all to 695 dollars 2 rials. Of this sum, I have remitted 500 dollars to Messrs. Cochran and Robertson, of Lima, with whom I keep my accounts. This sum will be applied to carrying forward the translation and printing of the Scriptures into the Peruvian language, agreeably to your resolution upon the subject, communicated to me some time ago.

Need I add anything to the above by way of comment or observation? Is it not most gratifying to see so many seeds sown in this town? Let us join together in prayer, that He who causeth the rain to descend from heaven to fertilize the ground, and to raise into fruit the puny efforts of man, may cause his blessing to be upon the seed sown in this place. As it is sown in weakness may it be raised in strength, and produce at least a hundred fold.

P.S.—12th October.—Our boat did not sail yesterday, and thus gave me the opportunity of adding 71 to the number of copies formerly mentioned, and 71 dollars to account.

The preceding sentence was written in the morning, and now, in the afternoon, I add 52 copies more, making in all, in Guayaquil, 738.

Guaranda, 25th October, 1824.

My last letter to you was written in Guayaquil on the 12th instant. On that occasion I noticed that I had taken that freedom with you in regard to writing, which we often take with our friends without the danger or the thought of offending on the one hand or on the other. The letter referred to was short and could not well be longer from the circumstances in which I was then placed. Before I had finished it, the master of the canoe in which I was to leave Guayaquil, had knocked at the door according to appointment, at four o’clock in the morning. Although, however, that letter was short, I did not consider that I had left you uninformed as to the circumstances that had occurred during my journey from Lima to Guayaquil, as well as those that had occurred in the place last mentioned. I wrote upon that subject two letters of some length, to the British and Foreign Bible Society, detailing these matters with some degree of minuteness. Of these two letters I requested Mr. B. to forward you copies, and doubt not that such will be forwarded to you immediately upon their arrival.

In the two letters referred to, I stated the measures I had taken in circulating the Scriptures in Guayaquil, and the unexpected and happy results which followed in the sale of 738 copies of the New Testament. It was gratifying, I assure you, to see in this manner almost the whole city come together to hear the word of God, and it was not less so, to pass along the streets and to count one, two, three, a dozen perhaps, diligently engaged in reading their New Testaments. Who could pass along under such circumstances, in any other frame than that of thanksgiving and prayer?—thanksgiving to God for having disposed so many to attend to the things which belong to their everlasting peace, and which I may say, have been hitherto hid from their eyes,—and prayer, that the eyes of their understanding might be enlightened, that they might be turned from darkness to light, and might enjoy that inheritance which the Lord hath prepared for them that love him. Nor could I feel otherwise, nor withhold from expressing those feelings, as I walked over the spot where sin has deposited his spoils won in that place. The small and the great are there. My prayer to God was, that through means of the word of life then circulated, many from that spot might, at the voice of the Archangel, awake to life and everlasting glory.

We read in the sacred page upon a certain occasion, some thousands of years ago, when the sons of God came to present themselves before him, Satan came also among them. The same seems to have been his practice in Jerusalem, in Antioch, in Philippi, as well as upon other occasions of ancient and modern date. That he was not absent on this occasion in Guayaquil, we may a priori be assured of. That he was successful, however, I have not yet learned. I did, indeed, overhear that some priest had said something against the reading of the New Testament, but I had some suspicion that the information was not quite correct. As a counterpart to this, several priests and friars bought of the New Testaments. At one time, I think there were five friars in the store at one time to purchase, and one of these took thirteen copies. At another time, a friar, who had bought a New Testament, came afterwards inquiring very anxiously for the whole Bible, and was much disappointed upon learning that there was none. I told him that some two months after, some Bibles might be expected, and that as only 50 copies were ordered, he had better put down his name if he wished to secure one for himself. Upon my telling him so, he immediately subscribed for two copies. This person told me that all the friars in his convent had bought New Testaments, and that they were all highly pleased with them. It is really encouraging to see the word of God circulate in this quarter with little or no opposition.—I may add further regarding this matter, that I was upon very good terms with the rector of Guayaquil during the few days I remained there. I paid him a visit, accompanied by a friend to introduce me, and next day I received a very courteous visit from him in return, accompanied by the ecclesiastic next in rank to himself. He has, besides, given me two letters of introduction, warmly recommending me to his friends in Quito. Do not all these things, my dear friend, lay us under obligations to give thanks unto him in whose hands are the hearts of all? And are not such occurrences calculated to encourage us to labour in this sacred cause and to ask of the Lord liberal things according to his promise? I am persuaded you so feel, and so act, but still it is not unnecessary to remind you of these matters, to stir up your pure mind by way of remembrance, and thus to add line upon line. Let us then continue instant in prayer, that the Lord would pour out his blessing upon this country, already white unto harvest.

A little after four o’clock on the morning of the 14th, I got into the canoe which was to conduct me from Guayaquil to Babahoyo. The river Guayaquil is navigable at all seasons as far as the latter place, a distance of about 40 miles, and in the rainy season, when the river is high, boats pass some 15 miles farther up. The navigation is performed in balsas, and in large and small canoes. The small canoes are made of a single tree hollowed out, and the large ones are built like our boats, and capable of carrying several tons, but made in the shape of the small canoes. It was in one of the large ones I took my passage to Babahoyo. It is in general by no means a pleasant voyage that is made between these two places. On the one hand, the heat is very great; and on the other, the mosquitos are numerous and active. The effects arising from the bite of this troublesome insect are still, at the distance of more than a week, very visible on my hands, and also on my legs, where they were defended by the stocking only. On the first day, owing to the excessive heat, I felt very unwell, but enjoyed good health on the following day. On this occasion I experienced from some of my fellow-passengers those friendly and soothing attentions which adorn the female character, and which, on several occasions, I have seen exhibited in regard to myself and to others during my residence in this country. We were nearly three days in our passage. The river abounds with alligators. I might almost say, it is full of them. Great numbers lie basking on the banks with their horrible mouths wide open, and upon coming close up to them they plunge into the river, and swim about like so many logs floating around you. At one time I counted, in a very short distance, all at one view, on one side of the river, to the number of forty, and at another time I saw twenty, close together. Very few are found at or below Guayaquil, as the water is salt for some miles above the town. In the rainy season, however, when the great quantity of fresh water keeps the salt water down below the town, the alligator is found farther down. I made several inquiries as to the feeling of this animal towards man in this quarter, but could not get any well authenticated information of its seizing upon human kind, and the frequency of bathing in the river speaks the same language. It seems, in this river, still to observe that fear and regard to man which all the animal creation once possessed, but which has now in regard to several animals been effaced, and in most cases, I believe, through the cruelty of man towards the animal creation. All accounts, however, agreed in affirming that the alligators here often seize upon hogs, and other small animals, when found close to the river. Whilst speaking upon this subject I may also notice, that in all the low lands between the sea and the mountains in the parts subject to periodical rains, lions, tigers, and serpents abound, particularly the latter. The lions I am told do not attack man, nor does the serpent, except when trode upon.

Many topics of conversation occurred during our passage up the river. The sale of our New Testaments was known to every body, and thus afforded a subject of conversation in which we could all take a part. Of course I had also something to say upon this subject, as it was well known that I was the seller of them. Two copies were on board, one of which had been purchased by the captain of our canoe, and the other by one of the passengers. I have already told you of the evangelical aspect of the streets of Guayaquil, and the same aspect at times was exhibited on board, both of the New Testaments being frequently in use at the same time. During the many things that were said, arising from what was read, (the reading being frequently aloud,) a conversation took place, the relation of which will probably interest you, and more especially as it affords a specimen of the progress of thinking upon religious subjects in this country. The subject was a delicate one, but so much the better, as a specimen. The worship of saints was the matter treated of, though I do not remember what gave rise to it. I stated my views upon the subject, appealing to the Scriptures and to common sense in support of my opinion. A very keen and interesting conversation immediately took place, in which four, besides myself, took a part, and you will be surprised when I tell you that three of the four took my side of the question. The one who was opposed to us happened to be a stout disputant, and thus gave occasion to a thorough discussion of the matter. Among other things brought forward to show the incongruity and sinfulness of the worshipping of saints, I stated that the Apostle Peter himself, (who according to them is the prince of Apostles and saints,) refused this worship, and in proof of this, I referred him to the tenth chapter of the Acts. This passage was turned up and read by one of the company, and it appeared to all of us, except one, conclusive upon the subject. Our opponent, however, defended himself, by alleging that although Peter, upon that occasion, refused worship, he refused it because he was not glorified, but that after death things were otherwise.—You agree then, I remarked, that worship is not to be given to the saints when upon earth, but it is lawful, you say, to give this worship to them after their death. Let us then go to another passage, I said, and see who of the inhabitants of heaven are to be worshipped. I then referred to the last chapter of the Revelation, namely, “When I had heard and seen, I fell down before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them who keep the sayings of this book: Worship God.” This passage cut off the refuge which our friend had taken in his distinction between worshipping a saint on earth, and a saint in heaven. He then took refuge in the church, alleging that since authority had been given to it by Jesus Christ to order and direct the concerns of his kingdom after his ascension, it was our duty to obey its orders, and one of these orders was, the praying to the saints. You know, of course, how I would have got rid of this objection, that is, by sweeping away this authority of the church altogether, and I stated this to be my opinion. The captain of our canoe, who took a large share in the conversation, and who saw in the church an authority to which he considered himself bound to submit, assailed our opponent by another argument, and a very effectual one. He came close up to him, and with an air of having something in his mind worth saying, “Is it not,” said he, “the duty of children to reverence their parents, and to obey them readily and constantly?”—“Certainly it is,” replied his friend. Our Captain continued: “And if a parent should tell his child to steal, to lie, and such like things, should the child obey?”—“Certainly not,” was the reply. “You are right,” says the Captain, “and that is just our case with the church. It is our duty to obey it, as it is our duty to obey our parents, but if our parents or the church bid us do what is obviously wrong, in that case it is our duty to disobey.” You see what an excellent argument this was, and it completely silenced the other, and left him without any thing to say upon the subject, except mere general talk and repetition. Our Captain having gained this triumph, turned to one of the four, who seemed rather to acquiesce in the strength of our arguments from the Scripture, than zealously to defend our side, and put this question to him. “Can you tell me,” said he, “why the priest reads all the service and prays in Latin, a language of which I do not understand a word, and thus leaving me, when in church, as a mere statue, without knowing what I am saying or doing?” This was a hard question, and it was answered significantly, but without words. Our Captain next comes up to me, and says, “You see every one sets up his little machine to gain his dollar.” I thought I understood his meaning, although couched under a figure, but as I wished it to be well understood by all, I asked him what he meant by it. After a short delay he answered me, by stating, that the church and the priests had made various laws and ceremonies for their own benefit, and that they might thus put a dollar into their pocket.—Various other things were said, and among which the New Testament was praised as a book any one might read and understand, and not like the prayers of the priests, which no one understood, perhaps not themselves. One of the four alluded to, towards the end of the conversation, said, in a very distinct voice, and in the hearing of all, “If I were going to die, this is my faith; I believe that there is one God who made all things, and that there is one Redeemer who died for us, and who rose again; and as to the worshipping of saints, and all the rest of it, I know nothing.” I should not omit an observation of one of our female passengers. When two of us were debating about the worship of saints, she observed to me that she did not like such conversation. Why so, I replied. Because, said she, if saints are not to be worshipped, then it will follow that we are not to pray to the Virgin Mary neither. I said, in reply, that I thought her reasoning worth being heard, as it was a fair deduction, and requested her to put it in the form of a question, to the one of the four who appeared the coolest, and who, as I said before, rather acquiesced in the strength of our arguments than defended our side. As soon as silence was obtained, the question was put, and the answer returned was just what I would have said if called upon to reply.

You will see in the whole of this conversation a freedom of thinking and of speaking, which you probably did not expect, and I confess that I was myself greatly surprised at it, notwithstanding the many opportunities I have had of observing the sentiments of the people of this quarter. In the higher and more enlightened classes of society, I have often met with liberal sentiments, but as the two persons who took the chief part in the above conversation were of the lower class, it was both new to me and interesting.

On our arrival at Babahoyo, I found lodgings difficult to be procured, as the houses seemed all occupied. As soon as this was known to one of my fellow-passengers, he took me to his father’s house, where I enjoyed comfortable bed and board, kindly bestowed and free of expense, during the two days I remained in that town. As I intended to make no stay in this place, but push on, I gave no public intimation regarding the sale of New Testaments; yet, through means of my fellow-passengers it came to be known that I had these for sale, and in consequence I disposed of fifty-one copies for which I received fifty dollars, one copy being a present. I may mention, before leaving this place, that it lies very low on the banks of the river, and is overflowed in the rainy season. The church stands upon a spot elevated some feet above the surrounding parts; and I am told it is common for the people in that season to go up to the church door in their canoes. The usual practice in passing from Babahoyo to Quito, is to hire mules at the former place to Guaranda, and again to hire anew from that to Quito. I accordingly hired mules for this place, which cost me five dollars each, on account of the badness of the roads, though four dollars is the usual charge. The weather at the present time is very unfavourable, and it is singular to see it so at this season of the year. I had counted upon fair weather in this quarter during the whole time of my journey, according to the information which I had obtained in Lima, and am thus less prepared for rain than otherwise I would have been had I expected it. I may add also, that I like rain now worse than ever, as during these two years past I have not seen any. From Babahoyo to the base of the mountains the roads were very deep and bad. When we began to ascend the mountains, we found ourselves still worse situated. The very steep ascent, and the clayey slippery roads, rendered the journey very unpleasant, and not a little dangerous from the slipping of the mules, which were frequently brought down upon their knees. I shall not detain you for the present with a minute account of the journey to this place, suffice it to say, that I arrived, here, the day before yesterday in the afternoon in perfect health and safety; and I feel, I assure you, upon looking back upon the road over which I have passed, a new motive for thanksgiving to the Father of mercies for my daily and hourly preservation. I shall just farther add, as descriptive of the mountains, that on the first day of our ascent, the barometer in the valley, in the morning, stood at 29.950, and where we lodged in the evening it stood at 26.141, which indicates a great rise. Where we lodged on the evening following it stood at 22.085. On the next day we passed the highest part of the ancient Indian road, where the barometer stood at 21.322.