Letters on the Moral and Religious State of South America / Written during a residence of nearly seven years in Buenos Aires, Chile, Peru and Colombia

by D.D. James Thomson

I am not sure whether I mentioned to you or not, on former occasions, the name of an esteemed friend and an able coadjutor in the work of education. It would in me be a dereliction of duty to pass over in silence the name and the character of this individual. The gentleman I speak of is Don José Francisco Navarrete, a clergyman in Lima. After an acquaintance with him for about two years, and experiencing during the half of that time his able co-operation, I beg leave to recommend him to the attention of the Society, in reference to the furtherance of education in Peru. I have had three letters from him since my return to England, and am happy to find that he continues his exertions unabated in promoting the instruction of youth, and that the schools left under his charge are doing well. He informs me that a school has been established in Huánuco, and that it is conducted by a native of that place, who attended our school in Lima several months when I was there. Huánuco is a very happy station for a school. It is situated in an interesting country, and is the key to the large uncivilized population which inhabit the banks of the Huallága, Ucayáli, and Amazon. From Huánuco as a centre I am persuaded much may be done on behalf of these poor creatures, who, though living in one of the richest portions of the world, wander about almost naked, half fed, and in complete ignorance of the arts and comforts of life; and what is still more to be regretted, no cheering ray breaks in upon them of a world to come, and of the everlasting felicity to be enjoyed there through our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us hope, and let us pray for it, that education may soon begin among them, that the Holy Scriptures may be put into their hands, and that the Spirit of God may descend upon these poor Gentiles, as it did on us in former days, that their sins may be washed away, and that they may enjoy an inheritance among all them that are sanctified.

Another favourable circumstance has taken place since my leaving Peru, in regard to the quarter I am now speaking of. In Ocopa, not far distant from Huánuco there has existed for many years a College of Friars, most of whom were natives of Spain. This College has been made to change its object, and instead of being as formerly a nursery of Friars, it has become a seminary for the education of youth on the British System, and its ample funds are now applied to this object. This happy change has been effected entirely through General Bolívar. After mentioning this circumstance, as bearing on the character of Bolívar, it might be thought unnecessary to say more respecting him, as the instance now mentioned very plainly indicates his desire to benefit South America, not by his military exertions only, but also by the gentler, more effectual means of early instruction. I must however add two circumstances more, in proof of Bolívar’s deep interest and active exertions in the cause of education. Some months subsequent to the decree referred to for changing the object of the College of Ocopa, he issued a decree for establishing a Central School on the Lancasterian System, in the capital city of each province throughout Peru, and from which Central Schools, masters are to be sent into all the towns and hamlets of the respective provinces. This is a most effectual measure for speedily enlightening all the inhabitants of that country. The other circumstance I have to mention in regard to Bolívar is a decree he issued about a year ago for sending two young men from every province in Peru to England, to receive here, at the expense of the Government, the best education that can be obtained. After finishing their studies in this country, these young men are to return to their native land, and to fill important stations in the great work of general illumination. I am sure the hearts of the Committee are by this time warmly attached to this useful individual, whom God Almighty has raised up to be so great a blessing to his country, in breaking their chains of oppression and of ignorance. Ten of the young men sent by Bolívar have arrived in this country, and are now pursuing their studies in the neighbourhood of London. One of these was a monitor in our central school in Lima. The rest of the young men are expected to arrive here soon. I am happy in being thus able to confirm, by unexceptionable instances, the opinion I formerly gave you of this great man, after enjoying the pleasure of an interview with him, and conversing upon these subjects.—To these things must be added the appropriation of 20,000 dollars for promoting schools in Caraccas through Mr. Lancaster.

In the lustre of Bolívar, I had nearly forgotten something more I had to say of our friend Navarrete, a man who only needs the station of Bolívar to do all that he does. In one of the letters I lately received from him, he says, he has obtained from the Government the grant of part of a nunnery for establishing a girls’ school. This nunnery is close beside the college where the boys’ central school is. This school, about to be established, is to be the model and the central establishment for the education of the female sex, a branch of education very much wanted in that country. May God speed the labours of our dear friend in this matter, and may mothers, and daughters, and sisters, embalm his memory for ages to come!

I believe the Committee is now aware that I have given up any intention of returning to Peru, and that I have fixed on another spot of South America, where I intend to spend my remaining days. I would beg leave, therefore, to solicit the attention of the Committee to Peru, and would suggest the propriety of their sending out a fit person to that place, to be actively employed in the establishment of schools. I have no doubt of such an individual meeting with a favourable reception, and of his being immediately employed by the Government in this work.

Before leaving Peru, I wish to notice one of the articles of the constitution of that state, as it has an important bearing upon the cause of education. The article in question states, that the elective franchise is open to all, but with the express preliminary qualification, that the voter be able to read and to write. It is, however, added that in consequence of the ignorance in which the Spaniards have kept the people in general, this pre-requisite shall not be required until the year 1840. The measures which the Government is pursuing for promoting general education, bid fair, I think, to qualify all by the given time, in the manner referred to.[9]

In regard to education in Colombia, I have hitherto said but little, and that little is contained in a letter to you from Quito, in November 1824. In that communication, I mentioned a plan for establishing a seminary for the education of the female sex in that city. The difficulties of converting a monastery into such a seminary are considerable, and although I am pretty confident of the ultimate success of that measure, I cannot speak definitely as to its progress. The last notice I had upon the subject, was in a letter from one of the members of Congress, in which he says, that the question was to be forthwith discussed in Congress. I hope no long time will elapse before we have the gratifying intelligence of the complete success of this measure, and, in expectation of this, I suggest the propriety of having a well qualified person ready to occupy this station. I am thus particular upon this point, as I conceive the carrying into effect the proposed plan, will have a most beneficial tendency on the welfare of that large city (the largest in Colombia), and on that of the populous and interesting district in which it is situated.

In passing along from Quito to Bogotá, I found three schools established on the British or Monitorian System; one was in Yahuará, and the other two were in Popayan; one of the latter was for boys, and the other for girls. The establishment of these schools, in the provincial parts of Colombia, is the result of a general plan of education upon this system in connection with a central school established some time ago in Bogotá, the capital. On arriving at that city, I visited this model school, and hoped to meet there the director of the establishment, to converse with him in regard to the number and efficiency of the various provincial schools. I was however disappointed of seeing him, as he was then actually engaged on a tour through some of the provinces to promote the formation of new schools. I cannot, therefore, state how many schools were then in operation, but I have good reason to think the existing number is calculated to encourage the friends of education, and that it goes on increasing.

I received from Mr. Restrepo, the minister of the interior, a set of the lessons used in the schools. One regrets to find the Scriptures not there, nor any extracts from a volume so much calculated to benefit us, in youth and in age, in time and in eternity. With this important exception, the lessons are good, and every way superior to the trash formerly used in the schools of South America. One part of the lessons is worthy of notice. The constitution of the country is divided into portions and sections, and is read in the schools. By this means the children get acquainted in early life with the real nature and circumstances of their native land, and thus become better citizens, and more useful to each other. This plan is worthy of imitation in other quarters. It is to be hoped that ere long this judicious plan, which has been adopted for imbuing the early mind with a knowledge of the statutes of their country, will be adopted also with regard to the statutes of God unfolded in the Holy Scriptures.

The next part of what was formerly called Spanish America is Guatemala. This is properly neither in North nor South America, and it has, in consequence, been denominated Central America. Not having visited that quarter, all I have to say of it in regard to education is but little, and that is, of course, from the information of others, I understand several schools have been established in the capital and elsewhere, but none of these are on the monitorian plan. In conversing with Mr. Zebadúa the envoy of that government in London, and with Mr. Herrera, a gentleman from that country who feels a great interest in education, I have learned that they are very desirous of obtaining a person thoroughly versed in this system, in order to establish a central and other schools in that republic. I hope the Committee will have this quarter in view as well as the others recommended above, when properly qualified teachers can be obtained.