The lower orders of the Russians are very willing to receive

Transcribed from the 1911, Hodder and Stoughton edition by David Price,

email ccx074@pglaf.org

LETTERS OF

GEORGE BORROW

TO THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN

BIBLE SOCIETY

Published by Direction of the Committee

EDITED BY

T. H. DARLOW

HODDER AND STOUGHTON

LONDON NEW YORK TORONTO

1911

TO

WILLIAMSON LAMPLOUGH

CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMITTEE

OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN

BIBLE SOCIETY

THESE LETTERS FROM

THE SOCIETY'S DISTINGUISHED AGENT

ARE DEDICATED WITH

MOST SINCERE RESPECT AND REGARD

BY

THEIR EDITOR

To the Rev. J. Jowett

WILLOW LANE, ST. GILES, NORWICH,

_Feb._ 10_th_, 1833.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I have just received your communication, and

notwithstanding it is Sunday morning, and the bells with their loud and

clear voices are calling me to church, I have sat down to answer it by

return of post. It is scarcely necessary for me to say that I was

rejoiced to see the Chrestomathie Mandchou, which will be of no slight

assistance in learning the Tartar dialect, on which ever since I left

London I have been almost incessantly occupied. It is, then, your

opinion, that from the lack of anything in the form of Grammar I have

scarcely made any progress towards the attainment of Mandchou; perhaps

you will not be perfectly miserable at being informed that you were never

more mistaken in your life. I can already, with the assistance of Amyot,

_translate Mandchou_ with no great difficulty, and am perfectly qualified

to write a critique on the version of St. Matthew's Gospel, which I

brought with me into the country. Upon the whole, I consider the

translation a good one, but I cannot help thinking that the author has

been frequently too paraphrastical, and that in various places he must be

utterly unintelligible to the Mandchous from having unnecessarily made

use of words which are not Mandchou, and with which the Tartars cannot be

acquainted.

What must they think, for example, on coming to the sentence . . . _apkai

etchin ni porofiyat_, _i.e._ the prophet of the Lord of heaven? For the

last word in the Mandchou quotation being a modification of a Greek word,

with no marginal explanation, renders the whole dark to a Tartar. [Greek

text]; _apkai_ I know, and _etchin_ I know, but what is _porofiyat_, he

will say. Now in Tartar, there are words synonymous with our seer,

diviner, or foreteller, and I feel disposed to be angry with the

translator for not having used one of these words in preference to

modifying [Greek text]; and it is certainly unpardonable of him to have

Tartarized [Greek text] into . . . _anguel_, when in Tartar there is a

word equal to our messenger, which is the literal translation of [Greek

text]. But I will have done with finding fault, and proceed to the more

agreeable task of answering your letter.

My brother's address is as follows:

Don Juan Borrow,

Compagnia Anglo Mexicana,

Guanajuato, Mexico.

When you write to him, the letter must be put in post before the third

Wednesday of the month, on which day the Mexican letter-packet is made

up. I suppose it is unnecessary to inform you that the outward postage

of all foreign letters must be paid at the office, but I wish you

particularly to be aware that it will be absolutely necessary to let my

brother know in what dialect of the Mexican this translation is made, in

order that he may transmit it to the proper quarter, for within the short

distance of twenty miles of the place where he resides there are no less

than six dialects spoken, which differ more from each other than the

German does from the English. I intend to write to him next Thursday,

and if you will favour me with an answer on this very important point, by

return of post, I shall feel obliged.

Return my kind and respected friend Mr. Brandram my best thanks for his

present of _The Gypsies' Advocate_, and assure him that, next to the

acquirement of Mandchou, the conversion and enlightening of those

interesting people occupy the principal place in my mind. Will he be

willing to write to the Gypsy Committee concerning me? I wish to

translate the Gospel of St. John into their language, which I could

easily do with the assistance of one or two of the old people, but then

they must be paid, for the Gypsies are more mercenary than Jews. I have

already written to my dear friend Mr. Cunningham on this subject, and

have no doubt that he will promote the plan to the utmost of his ability.

I must procure a letter of introduction from him to Joseph Gurney, and

should be very happy to obtain one also from Mr. Brandram, for in all

which regards the Gospel and the glory of Christ, Joseph Gurney is the

principal person to look to in these parts. I will now conclude by

beseeching you to send me as soon as possible _whatever can serve to

enlighten me in respect to Mandchou Grammar_, for had I a Grammar, I

should in a month's time be able to send a Mandchou translation of Jonah.

In the meanwhile I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, your most humble and

obedient servant,

G. BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

18_th_ _March_, 1833,

WILLOW LANE, ST. GILES, NORWICH.

DEAR SIR,--As yourself and Mr. Brandram expressed a desire to hear from

me occasionally concerning my progress in Mandchou, I now write to inform

you that I am advancing at full gallop, and am able to translate with

pleasure and facility the specimens of the best authors who have written

in the language contained in the compilation of Klaproth. But I must

confess that the want of a Grammar has been, particularly in the

beginning of my course, a great clog to my speed, and I have little doubt

that had I been furnished with one I should have attained my present

knowledge of Mandchou in half the time. I was determined however not to

be discouraged, and, not having a hatchet at hand to cut down the tree

with, to attack it with my knife; and I would advise every one to make

the most of the tools which happen to be in his possession, until he can

procure better ones, and it is not improbable that by the time the good

tools arrive he will find he has not much need of them, having almost

accomplished his work. This is not exactly my case, for I shall be very

glad to receive this same tripartite Grammar which Mr. Brandram is

hunting for, my ideas respecting Mandchou construction being still very

vague and wandering, and I should also be happy if you could and would

procure for me the original grammatical work of Amyot, printed in the

_Memoires_, etc. Present my kind regards to Mr. Hattersley, and thank

him in my name for his kind letter, but at the same time tell him that I

was sorry to learn that he was putting himself to the trouble of

transferring into Mandchou characters the specimens which Amyot has given

in Roman, as there was no necessity for it in respect to myself, a mere

transcript being quite sufficient to convey the information I was in need

of. Assure him likewise that I am much disposed to agree with him in his

opinion of Amyot's Dictionary, which he terms in his letter 'something

not very first-rate,' for the Frenchman's translations of the Mandchou

words are anything but clear and satisfactory, and being far from

literal, frequently leave the student in great doubt and perplexity.

I have sent to my brother one copy of St. Luke's Gospel with a letter;

the postage was 15s. 5d. My reason for sending only one was, that the

rate of postage increases with the weight, and that the two Gospels can

go out much cheaper singly than together. The other I shall dispatch

next month.

I subjoin a translation from the Mandchou, as I am one of those who do

not wish people to believe words but works; and as I have had no Grammar,

and been only seven weeks at a language which Amyot says _one may acquire

in five or six years_, I thought you might believe my account of my

progress to be a piece of exaggeration and vain boasting. The

translation is from the Mongol History, which, not being translated by

Klaproth, I have selected as most adapted to the present occasion; I must

premise that I translate as I write, and if there be any inaccuracies, as

I daresay there will, some allowance must be made for haste, which

prevents my devoting the attention necessary to a perfectly correct

rendering of the text.

I will conclude by observing that I believe myself at present competent

to edit any book in Mandchou, _if that be what is wanted_, and beg leave

to remain, dear Sir, your obedient humble servant,

GEORGE BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

_June_ 9_th_, 1833

WILLOW LANE, ST. GILES, NORWICH.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I have mastered Mandchou, and I should feel obliged

by your informing the Committee of the fact, and also my excellent friend

Mr. Brandram.

I assure you that I have had no easy and pleasant task in acquiring this

language. In the first place, it is in every respect different from all

others which I have studied, with perhaps the exception of the Turkish,

to which it seems to bear some remote resemblance in syntax, though none

in words. In the second place, it abounds with idiomatic phrases, which

can only be learnt by habit, and to the understanding of which a

Dictionary is of little or no use, the words separately having either no

meaning or a meaning quite distinct from that which they possess when

thus conjoined. And thirdly the helps afforded me in this undertaking

have been sadly inadequate. However, with the assistance of God, I have

performed my engagement.

I have translated several pieces from the Mandchou, amongst which is the

. . . or Spirit of the Hearth ([Greek text]), which is a peculiarly

difficult composition, and which had never previously been translated

into a European language. Should you desire a copy, I shall have great

pleasure in sending one.

I shall now be happy to be regularly employed, for though I am not in

want, my affairs are not in a very flourishing condition.

I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

GEORGE BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

WILLOW LANE, ST. GILES, NORWICH,

_July_ 3rd, 1833.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--Owing to the culpable tardiness of the post-office

people, I have received your letter so late that I have little more than

a quarter of an hour to answer it in, and be in time to despatch it by

this day's mail. What you have written has given me great pleasure, as

it holds out hope that I may be employed usefully to the Deity, to man,

and myself. I shall be very happy to visit St. Petersburg and to become

the coadjutor of Mr. Lipoftsoff, and to avail myself of his acquirements

in what you very happily designate a most singular language, towards

obtaining a still greater proficiency in it. I flatter myself that I am

for one or two reasons tolerably well adapted for the contemplated

expedition, for besides a competent knowledge of French and German, I

possess some acquaintance with Russian, being able to read without much

difficulty any printed Russian book, and I have little doubt that after a

few months' intercourse with the natives I should be able to speak it

fluently. It would ill become me to bargain like a Jew or a Gypsy as to

terms; all I wish to say on that point is, that I have nothing of my own,

having been too long dependent on an excellent mother, who is not herself

in very easy circumstances.

I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, truly yours,

GEORGE BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

(_Endorsed_: recd. Aug. 13, 1833)

HAMBURG, _August_ 4_th_, 1833.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I arrived at Hamburg yesterday after a disagreeable

passage of three days, in which I suffered much from sea-sickness, as did

all the other passengers, who were a medley of Germans, Swedes, and

Danes, I being the only Englishman on board, with the exception of the

captain and crew. I landed about seven o'clock in the morning, and the

sun, notwithstanding the earliness of the hour, shone so fiercely that it

brought upon me a transient fit of delirium, which is scarcely to be

wondered at, if my previous state of exhaustion be considered. You will

readily conceive that my situation, under all its circumstances, was not

a very enviable one; some people would perhaps call it a frightful one.

I did not come however to the slightest harm, for the Lord took care of

me through two of His instruments, Messrs. Weil and Valentin, highly

respectable Jews of Copenhagen, who had been my fellow-passengers, and

with whom I had in some degree ingratiated myself on board, in our

intervals of ease, by conversing with them about the Talmud and the book

Sohar. They conveyed me to the Konig von Engeland, an excellent hotel in

the street called the Neuenwall, and sent for a physician, who caused me

to take forty drops of laudanum and my head to be swathed in wet towels,

and afterwards caused me to be put to bed, where I soon fell asleep, and

awoke in the evening perfectly recovered and in the best spirits

possible. This morning, Sunday, I called on the British Consul, Mr. H.

Canning, to whom I had a letter of recommendation. He received me with

great civility, and honoured me with an invitation to dine with him

to-morrow, which I of course accepted. He is a highly intelligent man,

and resembles strikingly in person his illustrious relative, the late

George Canning. Since visiting him I have been to one of the five tall

churches which tower up above the tall houses; I thought its interior

very venerable and solemn, but the service seemed to be nothing more than

a low-muttered chanting, from which it was impossible to derive much

spiritual edification. There was no sermon, and not more than twenty

persons were present, though the edifice would contain thousands

conveniently. Hamburg is a huge place, and the eastern part of it is

intersected by wide canals communicating with the Elbe, so that vessels

find their way into most parts of the city; the bridges are consequently

very numerous, and are mostly of wood. Some of the streets are planted

with trees, which have a pretty appearance, though upon the whole it has

certainly no claim to the appellation of a handsome town. But no

observer can fail to be struck with the liveliness and bustle which reign

in this emporium of continental Europe, worthy to be compared with Tyre

of old or our own Liverpool. Another city adjoins it called Altona, the

park of which and the environs are the favourite Sunday lounge of the

Hamburgers. Altona is in Holstein, which belongs to the Danish

Government. It is separated from the Hanseatic town merely by a small

gateway, so that it may truly be said here that there is but one step

from a republic to a monarchy. Little can be said in commendation of the

moral state of this part of the world, for rope-dancers were displaying

their agility in the park to-day, and the dancing-saloons, which I am

informed are most infamous places, are open to the public this evening.

England with all her faults has still some regard to decency, and will

not tolerate such a shameless display of vice on so sacred a season, when

a decent cheerfulness is the freest form in which the mind or countenance

ought to invest themselves. I shall depart for Lubeck on the sixth

(Tuesday), and shall probably be on the Baltic on my way to St.

Petersburg on the eighth, which is the day notified for the departure the

steamboat. My next letter, provided it pleases the Almighty to

vouch-safe me a happy arrival, will be from the Russian capital; and with

a fervent request that you will not forget me in your prayers, and that

you will present my kind remembrances and best respects to Mr. Brandram,

and also remember me to Mr. Hattersley and Mr. Tarn, I have the honour to

remain, Revd. and dear Sir, your most obedient and most humble servant,

GEORGE BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

(_Endorsed_: recd. Sept. 26th, 1833)

ST. PETERSBURG, No. 221 GALERNOY ULITZA.

[Undated.]

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--My last letter was from Hamburg, which I hope and

trust you received. I started from thence on the 24th, and embarking at

Travemunde I arrived at the Russian capital on the 31st July (old style)

after an exceedingly pleasant passage, accomplished in the short space of

72 hours; for the wind was during the greatest part of our way favourable

and gentle, the sea being quite as smooth as a mill pond, so that the

paddles of our noble steamer, the _Nikolai_, were not at all impeded in

their working by any rolling or pitching of the vessel. Immediately on

my arrival I sought out Mr. Swan, one of the most amiable and interesting

characters I have ever met with, and delivered to him your letter, the

contents of which were very agreeable to him; for from applying himself

too un-interruptedly to transcribing the manuscript of the Mandchou Old

Testament he had in some degree injured his health; and the arrival of a

coadjutor in the task was exceedingly opportune. In a day or two I went

with him to pay a visit to Mr. Schmidt, who resides a few miles out of

town. He assured us that he had no doubt of permission being granted for

the printing of the Mandchou New Testament, and promised to make all the

necessary inquiries, and to inform Mr. Swan and myself of the result. He

was at the time we saw him much occupied with his Mongolian Grammar and

Dictionary, which are in the press. We have not heard from him since

this visit, and I shall probably call upon him again in a week or two to

hear what steps he has taken. I resided for nearly a fortnight in a

hotel, as the difficulty of procuring lodgings in this place is very

great, and when you have procured them, you have to furnish them yourself

at a considerable expense. During this time I collated with Mr. Swan the

greatest part of what he had transcribed, and eventually I took up my

abode with Mr. Egerton Hubbard, a friend of Mr. Venning's, where I am for

the present very comfortably situated, and I do assure you exerting

myself to the utmost to fulfil the views of the Society. I have

transcribed from the Mandchou Old Testament the second book of

Chronicles, which when I had done, I put aside the Old Testament for a

season, and by the advice of Mr. Swan began to copy St. Matthew's Gospel

from the version of the New, executed by the same hand as the Old, with

the purpose of comparing it with that of Mr. Lipoftsoff. This task I

have just completed, and am now about to commence a transcript of the

Acts. Respecting this manuscript translation of the Old and New

Testaments I must here observe, that with scarcely one exception it is

the most laborious and best executed work of the kind which I have ever

seen, and I cannot but admire the diligence and learning of him who,

probably unasked and unrewarded, engaged in and accomplished it. The

style, as far as I can judge, is to an eminent degree elegant and

polished, and likely to captivate those whose taste is cultivated, and

with this advantage, it exhibits none of that obscurity which too

frequently attends refinement of language; and as for fidelity--it is

upon the whole executed as literally, and with as much adherence to the

original, as the genius of the Tartar language and the understandings of

the people, for whose edification it is intended, will permit. But the

notes and elucidations (which I copy not) which follow every chapter,

both of the Old and New Testament, constitute the most surprising feature

of this work. They are so full and copious, that they occupy far more

space than the text; indeed, I think I speak quite within bounds when I

say that for every page of text there are two of explanatory matter. The

author was a French Jesuit, and when did a Jesuit any thing which he

undertook, whether laudable or the reverse, not far better than any other

person? Staunch Protestant though I be, I am not ashamed to say that all

the skill and talent of our own missionaries, in acquiring languages and

making versions of the Scriptures, are, when compared with the

capabilities displayed by the seminary priests, faint and seemingly

insignificant; and yet it is singular enough that the labours of the

latter in this line have had almost invariably no other fate than to be

buried in continental public libraries or in the literary collections of

the learned and curious; from which it is manifest that the Lord smiled

not upon their undertakings. They thought not of His glory but of the

glory of their order, and the consequence has been that 'He has put down

the mighty from their seat and has exalted the humble and meek.'

A few days since I called upon Mr. Lipoftsoff, and to my surprise

discovered that he was totally unaware of any plan being in agitation for

the printing of his translation of the Scriptures. He said that he had

had no communication with Mr. Schmidt for several months; and far from

being able to furnish me with any information respecting the probable

destiny of his work, he asked questions of me concerning it. He is a

gentleman rather advanced in years, probably between sixty and seventy,

but is nevertheless surprisingly hale and robust. He was very kind, and

promised to give me any assistance in his power towards acquiring a

thorough knowledge of the Mandchou; and, permit me to say, that

Petersburg is the only place in Europe where such a knowledge can be

obtained, for the manuscripts and printed books in that tongue are very

plentiful here, and there are moreover several individuals who speak and

write it. I of course most gladly accepted such an offer, and shall

endeavour to turn it to the best account. Mr. L. speaks no European

language but Russ, which I am not sorry for, because frequent

conversation and intercourse with him will improve my knowledge of that

language. It is a great error to suppose that a person resident in this

country can dispense with Russ, provided he is acquainted with French and

German. The two latter languages, it is true, are spoken by the French

and German shop-keepers settled here. French is moreover spoken (to

foreigners) by the nobility and a few of the officers in the army; but

neither are so generally understood as in England--German far less so;

and as for the Russians being the best general linguists in Europe, I am

totally unable to guess how the idea could have originated, but am

certain from personal experience that they are quite the contrary.

Petersburg is the finest city in the world; neither London nor Paris nor

any other European capital which I have visited has sufficient

pretensions to enter into comparison with it in respect to beauty and

grandeur. Many of the streets are miles in length, as straight as an

arrow and adorned with the most superb edifices. The so-called Nevsky

Prospect, a street which runs from the Admiralty to the Monastery of St.

Alexander Nevsky, is nearly three miles in length and for the greatest

part of the way floored with small blocks of wood shaped octagonally.

The broad and rapid Neva runs through the centre of this Queen of cities,

and on either side is a noble quay, from which you have a full view of

the river and of what is passing on its bosom. But I will not be diffuse

in the description of objects which have been so often described, but

devote the following lines which my paper will contain to more important

matters.

The lower orders of the Russians are very willing to receive Scriptural

information, and very willing to purchase it if offered to them at a

price which comes within their means. I will give an interesting example

of this. A young man of the name of Nobbs, in the employ of Mr. Leake,

an English farmer residing a few _versts_ from Petersburg, is in the

habit on his return from the latter place, whither he is frequently sent

by his master, to carry with him a satchel filled with Russian New

Testaments and religious tracts, with which he is supplied by an

excellent English lady who dwells there. He says that before he has

reached home, he has invariably disposed of his whole cargo to the

surrounding peasantry; and such is the hunger and thirst which they

display for the word of salvation that his stock has always been

insufficient to answer all the demands made, after it was known what

merchandise he brought with him. There remain at present three hundred

copies unsold of the modern Russian New Testament at the shop which has

the disposal of the works of the late Russian Bible Society; these

copies, all of which are damaged from having been immersed during the

inundation of 1824, might all be disposed of in one day, provided proper

individuals were employed to hawk them about in the environs of this

capital. There are twenty thousand copies on hand of the Sclavonian

Bible, which being in a language and character differing materially from

the modern Russ character and language, and only understood by the

learned, is unfit for general circulation, and the copies will probably

remain unsold, though the Synod is more favourable to the distribution of

the Scriptures in the ancient than in the modern form. I was informed by

the attendant in the shop that the Synod had resolved upon not permitting

the printing of any fresh edition of the Scriptures in the modern Russ

until these twenty thousand copies in the ancient language had been

disposed of. But it is possible that this assertion is incorrect.

I must now conclude; and with an earnest request that you will write to

me speedily, and deliver my kindest remembrances to Mr. Brandram and to

my other good friends at the Society House, I remain, Revd. and dear Sir,

your most obedient servant,

G. BORROW.

To the Rev. A. Brandram

ST. PETERSBURG, _August_ 27, 1833.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--The bearer of this letter is Mr. Glen, the son of

the celebrated missionary of Astracan. He is desirous of forming your

acquaintance, and I take the liberty of making him known to you. He is a

young man of considerable learning, and a devout Christian. His object

in visiting England is to qualify himself for the missionary calling, in

the hope that at some future period he may tread in the steps of his

father and proclaim a crucified Saviour to the Oriental heathens. I am

at present, thanks be to the Lord, comfortable and happy, and am every

day busily engaged in transcribing the Mandchou Old Testament and

collating with Mr. Swan.

In the hope that these lines will find you in good health, I have the

honour to remain, Revd. and dear Sir, your most obedient servant,

G. BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

(_Endorsed_: recd. Feb. 17th, 1834)

ST. PETERSBURG, 20_th_ _January_ (old style), 1834.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I received in due time your epistle of the 2nd

January, which gave me considerable pleasure, as it is exceedingly

cheering in a foreign land to hear from one's friends and to know that

one is not forgotten by them. I now proceed to give an account of my

stewardship up to the present time, which account I humbly trust will

afford perfect satisfaction to the Society which has honoured a frail

creature like myself with a charge, the importance and difficulty of

which I at present see much more clearly than I originally did.

My dear Sir, even when transcribing the Mandchou Scripture, I was far

from being forgetful of the ulterior object of my mission, and therefore,

as in duty bound, applied to Dr. Schmidt for advice and information, who

was the person upon whom I mainly depended. But I found that gentleman

so involved in a multiplicity of business that it was utterly impossible

for him to afford me either; and though he was kind enough to promise to

make inquiry, etc. etc., it is very probable that he forgot to fulfil his

promise, for the result never came to my ears.

Thus circumstanced, and being very uneasy in my mind, I determined to

take a bold step, and directly and without further feeling my way to

petition the Government in my own name for permission to print the

Mandchou Scriptures. Having communicated this determination to our

beloved, sincere, and most truly Christian friend Mr. Swan (who has

lately departed to his station in Siberia, shielded I trust by the arm of

his Master), it met with his perfect approbation and cordial

encouragement. I therefore drew up a petition, and presented it with my

own hand to his Excellence Mr. Bludoff, Minister of the Interior. He

having perused it, briefly answered, that he believed the matter did not

lie with him, but that he would consider. I now began greatly to fear

that the affair would not come to a favourable issue, but nevertheless

prayed fervently to God, and confiding principally in Him, resolved to

leave no human means untried which were within my reach.

Since residing here I have assiduously cultivated the friendship of the

Honourable Mr. Bligh, His Britannic Majesty's plenipotentiary at the

Court of Russia, who has shown me many condescending marks of kindness,

and who is a person of superb talents, kind disposition, and of much

piety. I therefore, on the evening of the day of my presenting the

petition, called upon him, and being informed that he was out of town,

and was not expected till late at night, I left a letter for him, in

which I entreated him to make use of whatever influence his high official

situation was calculated to give him with the Minister, towards procuring

a favourable reply; assuring him that the Mandchou version was not

intended for circulation nor calculated for circulation in any part of

the Russian Empire, but in China and Chinese Tartary solely. I stated

that I would call for an answer the next morning. I did so, and upon

seeing Mr. Bligh, he was kind enough to say that if I desired it he would

apply officially to the Minister, and exert all his influence in his

official character in order to obtain the accomplishment of my views; but

at the same time suggested that it would, perhaps, be as well at a

private interview to beg it as a personal favour; and to this I instantly

assented. He spoke twice to Mr. Bludoff upon the subject; and I shortly

afterwards received a summons to appear at the Asiatic Department,

whither I went, and found that Mr. Bludoff had been enquiring whether any

person was to be found capable of being employed as Censor over the work,

and that it had been resolved that Mr. Lipoftsoff, who is one of the

clerks of the Asiatic Department, should be appointed Censor, and that I

should be the Editor of the work, provided permission were granted to

print it. I went away, and having received no intelligence during the

space of a fortnight, I waited upon Mr. Bligh and begged that, provided

it were not disagreeable to him, he would make a fresh application to the

Minister. And, singularly enough, Mr. Bludoff was to dine at Mr. Bligh's

that evening, and the latter amiable gentleman assured me that he would

not let so excellent an opportunity slip of saying what was calculated to

bring the matter to a conclusion. That same night I received a message,

whereby I was requested to wait on Mr. Bludoff the next day, at one. I

did so, and he received me in the most polite manner and said that the

matter did not entirely depend upon him, but that it would be necessary

to obtain the permission also of the Director of Worship, that however he

would give me a letter to that Dignitary, which he doubted not would have

some effect. I received the letter, and without losing any time repaired

to the Director's Office and having delivered my letter, after waiting

some time, was told to call at the Asiatic Department on the first day of

the next week (the very day your letter arrived). On calling there _I

found that permission had been granted to print the Mandchou Scripture_.

I hope that the honourable Committee and yourself will feel no

displeasure at my presuming here to make a slight suggestion. We are

under great obligations to Mr. Bligh; and I have certainly taken great

liberties with the friendship with which he has thought proper to favour

me, liberties which I should certainly not have felt myself authorised to

have taken in any affair, the end of which was not the glorifying of God,

as the aim of this certainly is. I therefore should wish to hint the

expediency of a letter in which the thanks of the Committee be presented

to Mr. Bligh for the interest which he has been pleased to take in this

business, and for the trouble he has given himself. You are well aware

that a handsome acknowledgement of a kindness received is never taken

amiss; and as it is not impossible that Mr. Bligh, at another time and

even at another place, may have an opportunity of promoting the excellent

views of the Society, I cannot help thinking that such an acknowledgement

would be unwise neither in respect to what has occurred or may occur

hereafter.

In reply to your inquiries respecting my progress in the Mandchou

language, I have to observe that for some time past I have taken lessons

from a person who was twelve years in Pekin, and who speaks Mandchou and

Chinese with fluency. I pay him about six shillings English for each

lesson, which I grudge not, for the perfect acquirement of Mandchou is

one of my most ardent wishes; as I am convinced that it is destined by

providence to be the medium for the spiritual illumination of countless

millions of Chinese and Tartars. At present I can transcribe the Manchou

character with much greater facility and speed than I can the English. I

can translate from it with tolerable facility, and have translated into

it, for an exercise, the second homily of the Church of England "On the

Misery of Man." I have likewise occasionally composed a few hymns in

this language, the difficulty of which I am at present more fully aware

of than when I left England. It is one of those deceitful tongues, the

seeming simplicity of whose structure induces you to suppose, after

applying to them for a month or two, that little more remains to be

learned, but which, should you continue to study a year, as I have

studied this, show themselves to you in their veritable colours, amazing

you with their copiousness, puzzling with their idioms. In a word

Mandchou is equally as difficult as Sanscrit or Persian, neither of which

languages has ever been thoroughly acquired by any European, though at

first acquaintance they flatter the student with their deceitful

simplicity. I take the liberty of sending you a short original epigram

in rhymed Mandchou, which if it answers no other purpose will afford you

some idea of my running Mandchou hand, which, as I now write

perpendicularly, is very different from that hand which I wrote

previously to my coming hither. The epigram is upon the exploits of the

Tartars.

[Here follow four upright lines in Manchu characters.]

Milites qui e Manjurico deserto exierunt, bellando silvas, campos et

oppida Sinensis imperii captarunt.

Want of room obliges me to defer making a report upon Mr. Lipoftsoff's

translation until my next letter, which will follow in a week or two; for

I am unwilling in a matter of such immense importance to deliver a brief

and hurried opinion. I have much to communicate also respecting the

proper means to be pursued for the introduction and circulation of the

volume, when printed, in China and Tartary. This information I have

derived from the most authentic sources, namely from individuals who have

spent many years in these countries, and whose acquaintance I have

eagerly sought.

From England I have lately received a letter in which is an extract from

an epistle of my brother in Mexico, amounting to this--that there is no

native language in that country entitled to the appellation of _the_

Mexican language; that it is as incorrect to make use of such an

expression, as it would be to say definitely _the_ European language;

that setting aside the Spanish there are upwards of twenty languages and

dialects spoken in Mexico, none of which are read (except perhaps here

and there by a few individuals) but communicated by the mouth and only

acquired by the ear; that my brother has shown the sheet of St. Luke's

Gospel, which I transmitted to him, to various Spaniards and Indians, but

it was unintelligible to them, the latter not recognising the words when

read to them. I should therefore advise that the copies of this version

be sent, if possible, to the place where the version was purchased, as it

was probably made in the language or dialect of that place or

neighbourhood, and where there is a chance of its being of some utility.

Should my brother have survived the late dreadful commotions in Mexico, I

have no doubt that he will be exceedingly happy to assist in flinging the

rays of Scriptural light over that most benighted and miserable region;

but having lately read in the Russian newspapers that the town of

Guanajuato, where he resided, has been taken and sacked by the murderous

bands of the insurgents, I have great reason to fear that his earthly

course is terminated, for the former, incited by their demoniacal

priests, in comparison with whom the Shamans of Manjuria and the lamas of

Mongolia and China are innocent and holy, lay hold of every opportunity

of shedding the blood of Protestants and foreigners.

I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, most truly yours,

G. BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

(_Endorsed_: recd. March 10th, 1834, with Report on the Mandchou New

Testament.)

ST. PETERSBURG, GALERNOY ULITZA,

4 _February_ (old style) 1834.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--In compliance with the request of the Committee,

expressed in your epistle of the 2nd January, I herewith send a report

upon Mr. Lipoftsoff's translation; and as there were many things which I

wished to mention in my last letter, but was unable from want of room, I

take this opportunity of stating them, with the hope that they will meet

with your approbation.

In the first place, whatever communication you wish to make to Mr.

Lipoftsoff I think you had best charge me with to him, for in that case

you will be certain that he will receive it, without loss of time. But I

must inform you that he is rather a singular man, and to all appearances

perfectly indifferent to the fate of his excellent translation, caring

nothing whether it be published as a powerful instrument to open the

closed eyes and soften the hard hearts of the idolators of China and

Tartary, or whether it be committed to the flames, and for ever lost to

the world. You cannot conceive the cold, heartless apathy in respect to

the affair, on which I have been despatched hither as an _assistant_,

which I have found in people, to whom I looked, not unreasonably, for

encouragement and advice. But thanks be to the Lord, the great object

has been accomplished, permission has been obtained to print the New

Testament, and have no doubt that permission for the whole Bible is

within our reach. And in regard to what we have yet to do, let it be

borne in mind, that we are by no means dependent upon Mr. Lipoftsoff;

though certainly to secure the services which he is capable of performing

would be highly desirable, and though he cannot act outwardly in the

character of Editor, he having been appointed Censor, he may privately be

of great utility to us. Therefore let the attempt to engage his services

be made without delay.

At the Sarepta House is a chest containing Mandchou characters, belonging

to the Bible Society, which I shall cause to be examined for the purpose

of ascertaining whether they have sustained any injury from rust during

the long time they have been lying neglected; if any of them have, my

learned friend Baron Schilling, who is in possession of a small fount of

Mandchou types for the convenience of printing trifles in that tongue,

has kindly promised to assist us with the use of as many of his own as

may be necessary. There is one printing office here, where they are in

the habit of printing with the Mongolian character, which differs but

little from the Mandchou; consequently the Mongolian compositors will be

competent to the task of composing in Mandchou. There are no Mandchou

types in St. Petersburg, with the exception of our own and Baron

Schilling's.

I suppose that it will be thought requisite to print the town for a year

or so, it is my humble opinion, and the opinion of much wiser people,

that if he were active, zealous and likewise courageous, the blessings

resulting from his labours would be incalculable. It would be by no

means a difficult thing to make excursions into Tartary and to form

friendships amongst the Tartar hordes, and I am far from certain that

with a little management and dexterity he would be unable to penetrate

even to Pekin, and to return in safety, after having examined the state

of the land. I can only say that if it were my fortune to have the

opportunity, I would make the attempt, and should consider myself only to

blame if I did not succeed.

In my last letter I informed you that I had procured myself an instructor

in Mandchou, and that I was making tolerable progress in the language. I

should now wish to ask whether this person could not be turned to some

further account; for example, to assist me in making a translation into

Mandchou of the Psalms and Isaiah, which have not yet been rendered. A

few shillings a week, besides what I give him for my own benefit, would

secure his co-operation, for he is a person in very low circumstances.

He is not competent to undertake any thing of the kind by himself, being

in many respects very simple and ignorant; but as an assistant I think he

might be of considerable utility, and that between us we could produce a

version which, although it might not be particularly elegant, would be

clear, grammatical and faithful to the original. In the mean time I

shall pursue my studies, and be getting every thing in readiness for

setting the printers at work; and with a humble request for _speedy

instructions_, in order that as little time as possible may be lost in

the work of the Lord, I have the honour to remain, Revd. and dear Sir,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

GEORGE BORROW.

P.S.--My kindest regards to Mr. Brandram and my other dear friends at the

Bible House. I thank you heartily for your kind advice in the latter

part of your last epistle. Do me the favour to inform Dr. Richardson

that I have followed his instructions in regard to clothing, etc., and

have derived great benefit therefrom.

To the Rev. Joseph Jowett

(_Endorsed_: recd. March ---, 1834)

ST. PETERSBURG, _Febry._ 15 (old style), 1834.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--Having forgotten in my last letter to say something

which I intended, I take the liberty of troubling you with these lines.

But first of all I must apologise for certain slips of the pen in the

Report which I transmitted; for it left me without having been corrected,

Baron Schilling having called upon me just as I sat down to the task, and

when he had departed, I had barely time to seal it and despatch it by

that week's post. There was in it, I believe, nothing of much importance

which required alteration, but, if I mistake not, I had written, in the

third side, vibebam, instead of _viverem_, and unaparelled, or some such

word, instead of _unparalleled_, in the fourth. Now to the point.

What is to be done with the transcript of Puerot's translation of the

Acts of the Apostles, which I made, and which is now in my possession?

The translation is in every respect an admirable one; clear, faithful,

and elegant. It would not do to print it in lieu of Mr. Lipoftsoff's

translation of that part of the New Testament; because the styles of the

two individuals are so different, that to mix up the writings of the one

with those of the other would only serve to disfigure the work, and Mr.

Lipoftsoff's translation is well worthy of being printed separately and

entire; but I conceive that we possess a treasure in Puerot's writings,

and that it would be a great pity to hide any portion of them from the

world. Pray communicate this hint to the Committee, and pardon me for

troubling you.

I remain, Rev. and dear Sir, most sincerely yours,

G. BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

(_Endorsed_: recd, May 16th, 1834)

GALERNOY ULITZA, ST. PETERSBURG,

15_th_ _April_ (old style) 1834.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--Upon the receipt of your letter of the [21st] ult.

[date omitted], I lost no time in endeavouring to obtain the necessary

information upon the points to which you directed my attention; and I

have some hope that what I am about to communicate will not be altogether

unsatisfactory; but I must first of all state that it was not acquired in

a day, and that I have been obliged to go to many people and many places,

which will account for my not having sooner returned an answer.

First, respecting the most important point, the expense of printing the

New Testament in Mandchou. I was quite terrified at the enormous sums

which some of the printers to whom I made application required for the

work. At length our friend Dr. Schmidt recommended me to the University

Press, and I having spoken to the directors of the establishment, they

sent me in the course of a week an estimate which neither Dr. Schmidt nor

myself considered to be unreasonable, and of this estimate I here subjoin

a translation:

To Mr. Borrow.

'After much consultation with the compositor, I have come to the

following result concerning the Mandchou business about which you

consulted me. If the work be printed on as thin paper as that of the

original, it can only be printed on one side. Now supposing that the

size is to be folio like that of the original, two sides will make a

sheet, and the price of composition will be 26 roubles, 20

copecks--that is to say; 12R. to the compositor, wages 2R. 50c.,

percentage to the printing office 11R. 60c., making 26R. 20c. The

printing of 1000 on one side 2R. 50c., percentage 2R., making 4R.

50c. Thus for composition and printing 30R. 60c. for 1000; for 2000,

35R. 10c.; for 3000, 39R. 60c.--

Your very obedient servant,

KORLER.'

In the meantime I had become acquainted with two German printers, Schultz

and Beneze, who being young men and just entered into business are very

eager to obtain the printing of a work of such importance, which they

hope will serve to bring them into notice, as well as being advantageous

to them in a pecuniary view. The difference, as to the expense of

printing, in the estimate made by these gentlemen and that of the

University Press, will doubtless as much surprise you, as it did me.

Here it follows:

'In respect to the printing of the New Testament in the Manchou

language, the undersigned oblige themselves to undertake the printing

of the said work. In the first place, as the Bible Society, and in

particular their agent Mr. Borrow, think fit to furnish the printers

with the necessary types and paper, the undersigned offer to supply

the sheet consisting of four pages with composition, clean and black

printing, at the rate of 25 roubles, paper currency, for a thousand

copies; for two thousand copies, five additional roubles assignats,

so that the same sheet, only by a greater edition, amounts to 30

roubles assignats; thirdly, for 3000 copies in the above proportion,

35 roubles. Fourthly, we promise during the interval of a certain

period to supply at the rate of three sheets per week.

SCHULTZ & BENEZE.'

You will perceive that the amount of this estimate is less, by more than

one-half, than the amount of the other. Schultz and Beneze's sheet

consists of four sides, and they charge less for it than the printers of

the University charge for theirs which consists only of two. I should

therefore think that upon this ground they are entitled to the

preference, were there nothing else to recommend them, which, in my

humble opinion, there is; for being young beginners, and not having very

much to do, they are more likely to push the work forward, than a firm

overwhelmed with business, from whom, whatever might be promised, a sheet

per week is the utmost to be expected, by which much valuable time must

be lost. Dr. Schmidt is acquainted with Messrs. S. & B., and highly

approves of their being employed.