495 reams of paper, which will be barely sufficient for the work, which
will consist of eight parts, instead of seven, as we at first supposed.
I take the liberty of requesting that when the books arrive you will
examine the texture of the paper on which they are printed. Mr. L. is
exceedingly pleased with it, and says that it is superior to the paper of
the first edition of St. Matthew by at least ten roubles per ream; and
that it is calculated to endure for 200 years. It certainly does possess
uncommon strength and consistency, notwithstanding its tenuity, and the
difficulty of tearing it is remarkable. By my direction it received a
slight tinge of yellow, as no books are printed in China upon paper
entirely colourless. I must be permitted to say that the manner in which
the book-binder, Mr. Lauffert, is performing his task is above all
praise; but he has been accustomed for many years to this kind of work,
the greatest part of Baron Schilling's immense collection of Chinese
works having been bound by him. We may esteem ourselves very fortunate
in having met with a person so competent to the task, and whose terms are
so remarkably reasonable. Any other book-binder in St. Petersburg would
have refused double the price at which he has executed this important
part of the work, and had they undertaken the affair, would probably have
executed it in a manner which would have exposed the book to the scorn
and laughter of the people for whom it is intended.
A few months since I saw Mr. Glen, the missionary from Astracan, as he
passed through St. Petersburg on his return to England. He is a very
learned man, but of very simple and unassuming manners. The doom which
had been pronounced upon his translation seems to have deeply affected
him; but he appears to me to labour under a very great error respecting
the motives which induced the Editorial Committee to reject his work, or
at least to hesitate upon publishing it. He assured me that all that was
urged against it was the use, here and there, of Arabic words, which in a
language like the Persian, which on an original foundation exhibits a
superstructure nearly one moiety of which is Arabic, is unavoidable. As
I was totally unacquainted with the facts of the case, I said nothing
upon the subject; but I now suspect, from a few words dropped in your
letter, that the objection is founded not on the use of Arabic words, but
on attempts at _improving_ or _adorning_ the simplicity of the Bible.
However this may be, there can be no doubt that Mr. Glen is a Persian
scholar of the first water. Mirza Achmed, a Persian gentleman now living
at St. Petersburg, who resided some time at Astracan, informed me that he
had seen the translation, and that the language was highly elegant; but
whether or not the translation was faithful, and such as a translation of
the sacred volume ought to be, he of course was entirely ignorant; he
could merely speak as to the excellence of the Persian. Mirza Djaffar
also, the Persian professor here, spoke much to the same effect.
Mr. Stallybrass, the Siberian missionary, is at present here on his way
to England, whither he is conducting his two sons, for the purpose of
placing them in some establishment, where they may receive a better
education than it is possible for him to give them in Siberia. I have
seen him several times, and have heard him preach once at the Sarepta
House. He is a clever, well-informed man, and in countenance and manner
much like Mr. Swan--which similarity may perhaps be accounted for by
their long residence under the same roof; for people who are in the habit
of conversing together every day insensibly assume each other's habits,
manner of speaking, and expression of countenance. Mr. Stallybrass's
youngest son, a lad of fifteen, shows marks of talent which may make him
useful in the missionary field for which he is intended. The most
surprising instance of precocious talent that I have ever seen, or ever
heard of, is exhibited in a young nobleman, who visits me every day. He
is the eldest son of Count Fredro, Marshal of the Imperial Court, and
though only fourteen years of age, speaks eight languages perfectly well,
is a good Grecian and Latinist, is one of the best draftsmen in Russia,
is well acquainted with physics, botany, geography, and history, and to
crown all, has probably the most beautiful voice that ever mortal was
gifted with. A admirable _Chrishna_ again by metempsychosis; the
religion of the family, with whom I am very intimate, is the Romish. I
now and then attend the service of the Armenian Church, for the purpose
of perfecting myself in the language, and have formed many acquaintances
amongst the congregation: there are several very clever and very learned
Armenians in this place; one of them I will particularly mention, a
little elderly gentleman of the name of Kudobashoff, who is the best
Armenian scholar at present in existence. He is on the eve of publishing
a work, calculated to be very interesting to us: an Armenian and Russian
Dictionary, on which he has been occupied for the space of thirty-seven
years, and which will be of the highest assistance to any future editor
of the Armenian Scriptures; and be it known, that no place in Europe,
with perhaps the exception of Venice, offers more advantages to the
editing of the A.S. than St. Petersburg.
I will now conclude, and repeat the assurance that I am ready to attempt
anything which the Society may wish me to execute; and, at a moment's
warning, will direct my course towards Canton, Pekin, or the court of the
Grand Lama. With my best respects to Mr. Brandram, I have the honour to
remain, Revd. and dear Sir, most truly yours,
G. BORROW.
To J. Tarn, Esq.
(_Endorsed_: recd. May, 1835)
ST. PETERSBURG, _April_ 28th [old style], 1835.
I send you an account of monies spent in the editing of the Acts of the
Apostles and the first volume of the Epistles. I beg leave at the same
time to acknowledge the receipt of Mr. Jackson's letter. I am sorry that
any mistake should have occurred, but the cause of the one in question
was, that at the time I last wrote to you, I was unable to refer to my
previous account; however, the mistake now stands rectified.
I take this opportunity of informing you that I shall be obliged to order
sixty or seventy more reams of paper, as the quantity which I at present
possess will not be sufficient to complete the work. You will see the
reason of this in the account which I now send you. In the first volume
of the Epistles there are forty-three sheets, and in the second there
will be nearly the same number; these two volumes in thickness will be
equal to three of the previous parts. During the last month I have
experienced great difficulty in keeping the printers at work on account
of the festivals of the season, but I am glad to say that I have never
failed to obtain six sheets every week.
I have received the Revd. Mr. Jowett's letter, and shall write to him in
a few days.
GEORGE BORROW.
To the Rev. J. Jowett
(_Endorsed_: recd. June 1, 1835)
_May_ 3, 1835 [old style], ST. PETERSBURG.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I write a few hasty lines for the purpose of
informing you that I shall not be able to obtain a passport for Siberia,
except on the condition that I carry not one single Mandchou Bible
thither. The Russian Government is too solicitous to maintain a good
understanding with that of China to encourage any project at which the
latter could take umbrage. Therefore pray inform me to what place I am
to despatch the Bibles. I have had some thoughts of embarking the first
five parts without delay to England, but I have forborne from an
unwillingness to do anything which I was not commanded to do. By the
time I receive your answer everything will be in readiness, or nearly so,
to be forwarded wherever the Committee shall judge expedient. I wish
also to receive orders respecting what is to be done with the types. I
should be sorry if they were to be abandoned in the same manner as
before, for it is possible that at some future time they may prove
eminently useful.
As for myself, I suppose I must return to England, as my task will be
speedily completed. I hope the Society are convinced that I have served
them faithfully, and that I have spared no labour to bring out the work,
which they did me the honour of confiding to me, correctly and within as
short a time as possible. At my return, if the Society think that I can
still prove of utility to them, I shall be most happy to devote myself
still to their service. I am a person full of faults and weaknesses, as
I am every day reminded by bitter experience, but I am certain that my
zeal and fidelity towards those who put confidence in me are not to be
shaken. Should it now become a question what is to be done with these
Mandchou Bibles which have been printed at a considerable expense, I
should wish to suggest that Baron Schilling be consulted. In a few weeks
he will be in London, which he intends visiting during a summer tour
which he is on the point of commencing. He will call at the Society's
House, and as he is a nobleman of great experience and knowledge in all
that relates to China, it would not be amiss to interrogate him on such a
subject. _I again repeat that I am at command_.
In your last letter but one you stated that our noble President had been
kind enough to declare that I had but to send in an account of any
extraordinary expenses which I had been put to in the course of the work
to have them defrayed. I return my most grateful thanks for this most
considerate intimation, which nevertheless I cannot avail myself of, as
according to one of the articles of my agreement my salary of 200 pounds
was to cover all extra expenses. Petersburg is doubtless the dearest
capital in Europe, and expenses meet an individual, especially one
situated as I have been, at every turn and corner; but an agreement is
not to be broken on that account.
I have the honour to remain, Revd. and dear Sir, your obedient humble
servant,
GEORGE BORROW.
To J. Thornton, Esq.
(_Endorsed_: recd. July 20, 1835)
ST. PETERSBURG, _June_ 15, 1835.
SIR,--Having drawn upon Messrs. Asmus, Simondsen & Compy. of St.
Petersburg for the following sums, I have to request that you will honour
this draft to a like amount,
1000 roubles (one thousand), received the 11th May.
2000 (two thousand), received at the present moment.
I take the liberty of stating that the printing of the Mandchou Testament
is brought to a conclusion, and that six of the eight parts are bound.
As soon as the other two are completed I shall take my departure for
England.
I have the honour to remain, Sir,
Your most obedient and most humble servant,
G. BORROW.
To J. Tarn, Esq.
(_Endorsed_: recd. 17 Aug. 1835)
ST. PETERSBURG, _July_ 16, 1835.
MY DEAR SIR,--I herewith send you a bill of lading for six of the eight
parts of the New Testament which I have at last obtained permission to
send away, _after having paid sixteen visits to the House of Interior
Affairs_. The seventh part is bound and packed up; the eighth is being
bound and will be completed in about ten days. It would have been ready
a month since, having been nearly six weeks in the book-binder's hands,
but he was disappointed in obtaining the necessary paper; I hope to have
shipped all off, and to have bidden adieu to Russia, at the expiration of
a fortnight. I take this opportunity of informing you that I was obliged
to purchase additional 85 reams of paper, of every sheet of which I shall
give an account. 1020 copies of every sheet I ordered to be printed, that
we might have a full 1000 at the conclusion. 20 reams have at various
times been sent to the binder for frontings and endings to the work, and
there were 36 sheets in the seventh and 33 in the eighth part,
consequently the demand for paper is not surprising. Since my last
drafts upon the Treasurer I have received two thousand roubles from
Asmus, Simondsen and Co., for which I shall give them a draft on my
departure when I receive my salary. My accompt since the period of my
last writing to you, when I held in hand 518 roubles of the Society's
money, I shall deliver to you on my arrival.
I have the honour to remain, Dear Sir,
Truly yours,
G. BORROW.
Pray excuse this hasty letter, which I write from the Custom House.
To Rev. J. Jowett
(_Endorsed_: recd. Sept. 14th, 1835)
ST. PETERSBURG, _Aug._ 12, 1835.
As it is probable that yourself and my other excellent and Christian
friends at the Bible House are hourly expecting me and wondering at my
non-appearance, I cannot refrain from sending you a few lines in order to
account for my prolonged stay abroad. For the last fortnight I have been
detained at St. Petersburg in the most vexatious and unheard-of manner.
The two last parts of our Testaments have been bound and ready for
shipping a considerable time, and are at present in the warehouse of a
most pious and excellent person in this place, whom the Bible Society are
well acquainted with; but I have hitherto not been able to obtain
permission to send them away. You will ask how I contrived to despatch
the first six volumes, which you have doubtless by this time received.
But I must inform you that at that time I had only a verbal permission,
and that the Custom House permitted them to pass because they knew not
what they were. But now, notwithstanding I obtained a regular permission
to print, and transacted everything in a legal and formal manner, I am
told that I had no right at all to print the Scriptures at St.
Petersburg, and that my coming thither on that account (I use their own
words) was a step in the highest degree suspicious and mysterious, and
that there are even grounds for supposing that I am not connected with
the Bible Society or employed by them. To-day, however, I lost patience,
and said that I would not be trifled with any longer; that next week I
should send away the books by a vessel which would then sail, and that
whosoever should attempt to stop them would do so at his peril--and I
intend to act up to what I said. I shall then demand my passport and
advertise my departure, as every one before quitting Russia must be
advertised in the newspapers two weeks successively. Pray do me the
justice to believe that for this unpleasant delay I am by no means
accountable. It is in the highest degree tormenting to myself. I am
very unwell from vexation and disquietude of mind, and am exposed to
every kind of inconvenience. The term for which I took my chambers is
expired, and I am living in a dirty and expensive hotel. But there is
One above who supports me in these troubles, and I have no doubt that
everything will turn out for the best.
I take this opportunity of sending my accounts to Mr. Tarn; if there be
any inaccuracy let him excuse it, for the post hurries me.
G. BORROW.
Report of Mr. George Borrow
_To the Members of the Committee of the British and Foreign Bible
Society_.
GENTLEMEN,--It is now about two years since I quitted England for St.
Petersburg in consequence of the duty which you have been pleased to
confide to my hands, namely, that of editing at the Russian capital the
New Testament in the Mandchou language which has been translated by Mr.
Lipoftsoff, at present Councillor of State and Chinese Translator at that
place, but formerly one of the members of the Russian mission at Pekin.
On my arrival, before entering upon this highly important and difficult
task, I, in obedience to your command, assisted Mr. Swan, the missionary
from Selinginsk, to complete a transcript which he had commenced some
time previous of a manuscript translation of the principal part of the
Old Testament into Mandchou executed by Puerot, who, originally a Jesuit
emissary at Pekin, passed the latter years of his life in the service of
the Russian mission in the capacity of physician. The united labours of
Mr. Swan and myself speedily brought the task in question to a
conclusion, so that the transcript has for a considerable time been in
the possession of the Bible Society. I will here take the liberty of
offering a few remarks upon this translation; but as the work is not at
the present moment before me, it is impossible to enter upon a critical
and minute examination of its merits. Nevertheless, having either
transcribed or at various times perused it, I have formed a general
opinion concerning it which, though very probably a faulty one, I shall
lay before you in a few words, which at any future time I hope you will
permit me to recall, if fresh lights upon the subject compel me to
believe that my original conclusion was an erroneous one; having no doubt
that those who are embarked in so noble a cause as the propagation of The
Great Truth, will be at all times willing to excuse error when confessed,
as by the confession of error the truth becomes more glaringly manifest.
The merits of this translation are, upon the whole, of a very high order;
but it would be an untruth and an absurdity to say that it does not
exhibit defects and blemishes of a striking and peculiar kind--peculiar,
from the singular fact that those portions of the original which, being
narrative are exceedingly simple as to idea and style, have been
invariably rendered in a manner the most liable to censure, exhibiting
not only a slovenly carelessness in regard to diction, but not
unfrequently a disregard of accuracy when the slightest particle of
attention was only necessary to render the meaning which the sacred
writer endeavours to convey. These are its greatest, and, it may perhaps
be said, its only defects; for if a regard for truth compel me to state
that the style of the translation frequently sinks far below the original
when at its lowest grade, that same regard compels me to say that in yet
more instances it rises with the same [to a degree] which I believe it is
scarcely possible for any individual with the limited powers of
uninspired man to surpass. This soaring tendency is particularly
observable in the version of the Book of Job, which is certainly the most
beautiful, is believed by many to be the most ancient, and is confessedly
one of the most important portions of the Old Testament. I consider
myself in some degree entitled to speak particularly of this part of the
Mandchou version in question, having frequently at the time I was engaged
upon it translated into English several of the chapters which
particularly struck me, for the purpose of exhibiting them to Mr. Swan,
who invariably sympathised with my admiration. The translation of most
of the writings of the prophets, as far as Puerot went, has been executed
in the same masterly manner, and it is only to be lamented that, instead
of wasting much of his time and talents upon the Apocryphal writings, as
is unfortunately the case, the ex-Jesuit left behind him no Mandchou
version of Isaiah and the Psalms, the lack of which will be sensibly felt
whenever his work shall be put in a printed state into the hands of those
for whose benefit it is intended, an event most devoutly to be wished for
by all those who would fain see Christ reign triumphant in that most
extraordinary country of which the Mandchou constitutes one of the
principal languages, being used in diplomacy and at court, and being
particularly remarkable for possessing within it translations of all the
masterpieces of Chinese, Tibetian, and Brahmanic literature with which it
has been enriched since the period of the accession of the present Tartar
dynasty to the Chinese throne, the proper language of which dynasty it is
well known to be.
To translate literally, or even closely, according to the common
acceptation of the term, into the Mandchou language is of all
impossibilities the greatest; partly from the grammatical structure of
the language, and partly from the abundance of its idioms. The Mandchou
is the only one of any of the civilised languages of the world with which
the writer of these lines has any acquaintance, whose grammar stands far
aloof from the rest in wonderful singularity; the most remarkable feature
of which is the want of some of those conjunctions generally considered
as indispensable, and which are certainly of the first utility. The
result of this peculiarity is that such a combination of other parts of
speech must be employed as will express the idea without the aid of the
conjunction; but as these combinations are invariably and necessarily
lengthy, much more space is required in the translation of a sentence
into this language than the original occupies. I am induced to make this
remark, which I am afraid will be considered an excursory one, from the
apprehensiveness that some, observing the translations of the Scriptures
into this language to be bulkier than the originals, might conclude that
extraneous and unnecessary matter had crept in, which a knowledge of the
above fact will prevent.
The transcript of the Mandchou Old Testament having been brought to a
conclusion and permission having been obtained to print the New at St.
Petersburg--the accomplishment of which last point was, as you are well
aware, attended with much difficulty--I set myself seriously to work upon
the principal object of my mission. With the recapitulation of my
labours I wish not to trouble you, the various particulars having been
communicated to you in letters written at various times upon the subject.
I will content myself with observing that within ten months from the
commencement of printing, the entire work, consisting of eight volumes,
had with the blessing of the Almighty passed through the press, and, I
believe, with as few typographical errors as would have been the case had
a much more considerable portion of time been devoted to the enterprise,
which, it is true, I was in haste to accomplish, but in a manner not
calculated to render the undertaking futile nor cast discredit upon the
Society and myself [being well aware that an edition of the Scriptures
exhibiting marks of carelessness must at best be a futile work, and that
the speed with which it was executed could be no apology; as few will be
tempted to deny that no edition at all of the sacred volume in the
languages of the heathen is far preferable to one whose incorrectness
would infallibly and with some reason awaken ridicule, which, though one
of the most contemptible, is certainly one of the most efficacious
weapons in the armoury of the Prince of Darkness and the Enemy of Light,
as it is well known that his soldiers here on earth accomplish by its
means what they would never be able to effect by the utmost force of
eloquence and carnal reasoning, in the use and management of which they
are, however, by no means unskilled, as many a follower of Jesus from his
own individual experience can testify].
After the termination of my editorial task, having little to employ
myself upon whilst the two last volumes were undergoing the process of
binding, I determined upon a journey to Moscow, the ancient capital of
the Russian Empire, which differs widely from St. Petersburg in
appearance, structure, and in the manners, habits, and opinions of its
inhabitants. I arrived there after a journey of four days. Moscow is by
far the most remarkable city it has ever been my fortune to see; but as
it has been frequently described, and with tolerable correctness, there
is no necessity for me to enter into a particular account of all that
presented itself to my observation. I ascended the celebrated tower of
Ivan Velike, situated within the walls of the Kremlin, from the top of
which there is a glorious view of Moscow and of the surrounding country,
and at the foot of which, in a deep hole in the earth, is the gigantic
bell which weighs 27,000 _poods_, or eight hundred and seventy thousand
pounds. I likewise visited the splendid church of the Kremlin, and had
much conversation with the priest who is in the habit of showing its
curiosities to strangers. He is a most intelligent and seemingly truly
pious person, and well acquainted with English spiritual literature,
especially with the writings of Bishops Taylor and Tillotson, whom he
professed to hold in great admiration; though he asserted that both these
divines, great men as they undoubtedly were, were far inferior writers to
his own celebrated countryman Archbishop Teekon, and their productions
less replete with spiritual manna--against which assertion I felt little
inclined to urge any objection, having myself perused the works of the
great Russian divine with much comfort and satisfaction, and with which I
can only regret [that] the devout part of the British public are up to
the present moment utterly unacquainted.