farthing. About a month ago I received fifteen pounds from Mr. Wilby,
and returned him an order for twenty, he having, when I left Lisbon, lent
me five pounds, on account, above what I drew for, as he was apprehensive
of my being short of money before I reached Madrid. 12 pounds, 5s. of
this I instantly expended for a suit of clothes, {153} my own being so
worn, that it was impossible to appear longer in public with them. At
the time of sending him the receipt I informed him that I was in need of
money, and begged that he would send the remaining 30 pounds by return of
post. I have never heard from him from that moment, though I have
written twice. Perhaps he never received my letters, or I may not have
received his, the post of Estremadura having been three times robbed; I
can imagine no other reason. The money may still come, but I have given
up all hopes of it, and am compelled to write home, though what I am to
do till I can receive your answer I am at a loss to conceive. But God is
above all, and I am far from complaining; but you would oblige me, upon
receiving this, to procure me instantly a letter of credit on some house
in Madrid. I believe Messrs. Hammersley of London have correspondents
here. Whatever I undergo, I shall tell nobody my situation: it might
hurt the Society and our projects here. I know enough of the world to be
aware that it is considered as the worst of crimes to be without money.
Above all, let me intreat you never to hint of this affair in any
communication to Mr. Wilby; he is a most invaluable man, and he might
take offence.
A week ago, after having spent much time in drawing up a petition, I
presented it to the Ecclesiastical Committee of Censors. It was strongly
backed by the Civil Governor of Madrid, within whose department the
Censorship is. In this petition, after a preamble on the religious state
of Spain, I requested permission to print the New Testament without note
or comment, according to the version of Father Scio, and in the same form
and size as the small edition of Paris, in order that the book might be
'_al alcance asi de los pobres como de los ricos_' (within the reach of
the poor as well as of the wealthy). {154} The Ecclesiastical Board are
at present consulting about it, as I was informed to-day, upon my
repairing to their house for the purpose of knowing how matters were
going on. I have hopes of success, having done all in my power to
prevent a failure by making important friends since the moment of my
arrival. I was introduced to the Governor by his most intimate
acquaintance Synudi, the Deputy of Huelba, to whom I was introduced by
the celebrated Alcala de Galiano, the Deputy of Cadiz, who will sooner or
later be Prime Minister, and to him I was introduced by--but I will not
continue, as I might run on for ever, much after the fashion as
'This is the house which Jack built.'
And now I have something to tell you which I think will surprise you, and
which, strange as it may sound, is nevertheless true. The authority of
the Pope in this country is in so very feeble and precarious a situation,
that little more than a breath is required to destroy it, and I am almost
confident that in less than a year it will be disowned. I am doing
whatever I can in Madrid to prepare the way for an event so desirable. I
mix with the people, and inform them who and what the Pope is, and how
disastrous to Spain his influence has been. I tell them that the
indulgences, which they are in the habit of purchasing, are of no more
intrinsic value than so many pieces of paper, and were merely invented
with the view of plundering them. I frequently ask: 'Is it possible that
God, who is good, would sanction the sale of sin?' and, 'Supposing
certain things are sinful, do you think that God, for the sake of your
money, would permit you to perform them?' In many instances my hearers
have been satisfied with this simple reasoning, and have said that they
would buy no more indulgences. Moreover, the newspapers have, in two or
three instances, taken up the subject of Rome upon national and political
grounds. The Pope is an avowed friend of Carlos, and an enemy of the
present Government, and in every instance has refused to acknowledge the
Bishops who have been nominated to vacant sees by the Queen. Therefore
the editors say, and very naturally, if the Pope does everything in his
power to impede the progress of Spanish regeneration, it is high time to
cut the ties which still link Spain to the papal chair. It is my sincere
prayer, and the prayer of many of those who have the interest of Spain at
heart, that The Man of Rome will continue in the course which he is at
present pursuing, for by so doing he loses Spain, and then he is nothing.
He is already laughed at throughout Italy--Ireland will alone remain to
him--much good it may do him!
In respect to the Apocrypha, let me be permitted to observe that an
anticipation of that difficulty was one of my motives for forbearing to
request permission to print the entire Bible; and here I will hint that
in these countries, until the inhabitants become Christian, it would be
expedient to drop the Old Testament altogether, for if the Old accompany
the New the latter will be little read, as the former is so infinitely
more entertaining to the carnal man. Mr. Wilby in his [last] letter
informs me that 30 Bibles have been sold in Lisbon within a short time,
but that the demand for Testaments has not amounted to half that number.
My best respects to Mr. Jowett.
G. B.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. June 1, 1836)
MADRID, _May_ 22, 1836.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I write in the greatest hurry. I shall receive the
permission, the Lord willing, in a few days; the Duke de Rivas has this
moment told me so, and he is Minister of the Interior.
The Ecclesiastical Court declined deciding upon the matter, and left it
entirely in the hands of the Ministers. Just as the English Ambassador
was about to remind Mr. Mendizabal of his promise to me, the latter
gentleman and his colleagues retired from office; a new Ministry was
formed composed entirely of my friends, amongst them Alcala Galiano (turn
to my last letter).
As soon as the Minister of Finance, with whom I am very intimate, returns
from France, I shall request to be permitted to introduce the Catalan New
Testament upon paying a reasonable duty.
I received Mr. Jackson's letter containing the money, and yours, also
with money, and a rap on the knuckles besides; it was scarcely merited,
as I can prove in five words.
Not having the Scripture to offer to the people, I was obliged to content
myself with mentioning it to them; the people here know not the Scripture
even by name, but they know a certain personage well enough, and as soon
as the subject of religion is brought up they are sure to bring him
forward, as they consider him the fountainhead of all religion. Those
therefore in the situation of myself have three things at their option;
to speak nothing--to speak lies--or to speak the truth. In simpleness of
heart I thought proper to adopt the last principle as my line of conduct;
I do not think I have erred, but I shall be more reserved in future.
In conclusion let me be permitted to observe that the last skirts of the
cloud of papal superstition are vanishing below the horizon of Spain;
whoever says the contrary either knows nothing of the matter or wilfully
hides the truth.
I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, most truly yours,
G. BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. June 2, 1836)
10 AT NIGHT,
[MADRID, _May_ 22, 1836.]
MY DEAR SIR,--There has been a partial disturbance at Madrid, and it is
not impossible that the new Ministry will go out and Mr. M. be
reinstated--which event, however, will make little difference to us, as
the British Ambassador has promised to back the application which I shall
instantly make. There are so many changes and revolutions here that
nothing is certain even for a day. I wish to let you know what is going
forward, and am aware that you will excuse two letters arriving at one
time.
G. B.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. June 4, 1836)
[MADRID], _Monday night_, half p. 11, _May_ 30.
The post will presently depart, therefore I have no time to lose. Every
thing, thank God, is again tranquil, and it appears that the present
Ministry will stand its ground. I am just returned from the house of one
of the Ministers; I can consequently speak pretty positively. The Queen
will not accept their resignations, and the army is on their side. The
Cortes have been dissolved. The whole Cabinet are of opinion that my
petition is just and reasonable and ought to be granted. I have been
requested to appear next Thursday at the Office, when I expect to receive
the permission, or to hear that steps have been taken towards making it
out.
The reason of Mr. Mendizabal's resignation was his inability to
accomplish the removal of General Cordova from the head of the army. It
is not for me to offer an opinion on the General's military talents, but
he is much beloved by the soldiers, whose comforts and interests he has
much attended to; to deprive him of command would therefore be attended
with danger. I have no complaint to make against Mr. M.; he is a kind,
well-meaning man, and had he remained in office I have no doubt that he
would have acceded to my petition.
I hope you will pray that God will grant me wisdom, humbleness of spirit,
and success in all that is right.
G. BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. July 11, 1836)
CALLE SANTIAGO, No. 16 PISO 3RO, MADRID,
_June_ 30, 1836.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--As I have little doubt that you are anxiously
awaiting the arrival of some intelligence from me, I write a few lines
which I have no doubt will prove satisfactory to you, and in the course
of a few days I hope to write again, when I shall probably be able to
announce the happy termination of the affair which brought me to Spain.
The difficulties which I have had to encounter since I last wrote to you
have been so many and formidable that I have been frequently on the verge
of despairing ever to obtain permission to print the Gospel in Spain,
which has become the most ardent wish of my heart. Only those who have
been in the habit of dealing with Spaniards, by whom the most solemn
promises are habitually broken, can form a correct idea of my reiterated
disappointments and of the toil of body and agony of spirit which I have
been subjected to. One day I have been told, at the Ministry, that I had
only to wait a few moments and all I wished would be acceded to; and then
my hopes have been blasted with the information that various
difficulties, which seemed insurmountable, had presented themselves,
whereupon I have departed almost broken-hearted; but the next day I have
been summoned in a great hurry and informed that 'all was right,' and
that on the morrow a regular authority to print the Scriptures would be
delivered to me; but by that time fresh and yet more terrible
difficulties had occurred--so that I became weary of my life.
During the greatest part of the last six weeks I have spent upon an
average ten hours every day, dancing attendance on one or another of the
Ministers, and when I have returned home I have been so fatigued that I
have found it impossible to write, even to my nearest friends. The heat
has been suffocating, for the air seems to be filled with flaming
vapours, and the very Spaniards are afraid to stay out, and lie gasping
and naked on their brick floors; therefore if you have felt disappointed
in not having heard from me for a considerable time, the above statement
must be my excuse.
During the last fortnight the aspect of my affair has become more
favourable, and, notwithstanding all the disappointments I have met, I
now look forward with little apprehension to the result. The English
Ambassador, Mr. Villiers, has taken me by the hand in the most generous
manner and has afforded me the most effectual assistance. He has spoken
to all the Ministers, collectively and individually, and has recommended
the granting of my petition in the strongest manner, pointing out the
terrible condition of the people at present who are without religious
instruction of any kind, and the impossibility of exercising any species
of government over a nation of atheists, which the Spaniards will very
shortly become if left to themselves. Whether moved by his arguments or
by a wish to oblige a person of so much importance as the British
Ambassador, the Cabinet of Madrid now exhibit a manifest willingness to
do all in their power to satisfy me; and though by the law of Spain the
publishing of the Scripture in the vulgar tongue without notes is
forbidden, measures have been taken by which the rigor of the law can be
eluded and the printer be protected, until such time as it shall be
deemed prudent to repeal the law made, as is now generally confessed, in
a time of ignorance and superstitious darkness.
I herewith send you a letter which I received some days since from Mr.
Villiers; I have several others on the same subject, but I prefer sending
this particular one as it is the last. Since I received it, the
Ministers have met and discussed the petition, and the result was, as I
have been informed, though not officially, in its favour.
You would oblige me by mentioning to his Lordship the President of the
Bible Society the manner in which Mr. Villiers has befriended me, and to
beg that he would express by letter an acknowledgment of the favour which
I have received; and at the same time, I think that a vote of thanks from
the Committee would not be amiss, as I may be again in need of Mr. V.'s
assistance before I leave Spain. The interest which he has taken in this
affair is the more surprising, as Mr. Graydon informed me that upon his
applying to him he declined to interfere.
I saw Mr. Graydon twice or thrice. He left Madrid for Barcelona about a
month since, because the heat of the former place in the summer months is
more than he can bear, and as he found I was so far advanced, he thought
he might be of more utility in Catalonia.
I have at present nothing more to say, and am so weak from heat and
fatigue that I can hardly hold the pen. I have removed from my old
lodgings to those which Mr. Graydon occupied; therefore when you write,
direct as above. With my best remembrances to Mr. Jowett, I remain, my
dear Sir, very truly yours,
G. B.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. July 18, 1836)
7 _July_, 1836, MADRID,
CALLE SANTIAGO, No. 16 PISO 3RO.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--The affair is settled--thank God!!! and we may begin
to print whenever we think proper.
Perhaps you have thought I have been tardy in accomplishing the business
which brought me to Spain; but to be able to form a correct judgment you
ought to be aware of all the difficulties which I have had to encounter,
and which I shall not enumerate; I shall content myself with observing
that for a thousand pounds I would not undergo again all the
mortifications and disappointments of the last two months.
The present Ministry have been afraid to offend the clergy, and with
great reason, as they are not of the movement or radical party, and many
of their friends are bigoted papists; nevertheless, influenced by the
pressing applications of the British Ambassador and being moreover
well-disposed to myself, they have consented to the printing of the
Testament; but it must be done in a private manner. I have just had a
long interview with Mr. Isturitz, who told me that if we were resolved
upon the enterprise we had best employ the confidential printer of the
Government, who would keep the matter secret; as in the present state of
affairs he would not answer for the consequences if it were noised
abroad. I of course expressed my perfect readiness to comply with so
reasonable a request.
I will now candidly confess to you that I do not think that the present
Ministry, or, as it is generally called, the Court Ministry, will be able
to stand its ground; nevertheless a change of Ministry would not alter
the aspect of our affair in the least, for if the other or movement party
come in, the liberty of the press (a great misfortune for Spain) would be
probably granted; at all events, the influence of the English Ambassador
would be greater than it is even at present, and upon his assistance I
may rely at all times and occasions.
I am not aware that there is any great necessity for my continuance in
Spain; nevertheless, should you think there is, you have only to command.
But I cannot help thinking that in a month or two when the heats are over
Mr. Graydon might return, as nothing very difficult remains to be
accomplished, and I am sure that Mr. Villiers at my entreaty would extend
to him the patronage with which he has honoured me. But, as I before
observed, I am ready to do whatever the Bible Society may deem expedient.
Do not forget _the two_ letters of thanks to the Ambassador, and it would
not be unwise to transmit a _vote_ of thanks to 'His Excellence Antonio
Alcala Galiano, President of Marine,' who has been of great assistance to
me.
I have the honour to be, Revd. and dear Sir, your most obedient servant,
G. B.
P.S.--In about six weeks I shall want some more money.
My best remembrances to Mr. Jowett.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. July 30th, 1836)
MADRID, _July_ 19th, 1836.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--As I believe you have no account of my proceedings
at Badajoz, I send you the following which will perhaps serve for your
'Monthly Extracts.' I have corrected and improved my translation of the
Lord's Prayer into Rommany, and should it be printed, let it be done so
with care. Perhaps in a few days I shall send a general account of what
I have been about since my arrival at Madrid, but I am at present very
feeble and languid, and can scarcely hold a pen. There is nothing new
here, all is quiet, and I hope will continue so. My time does not pass
very agreeably, I am without books or conversation, for all my
acquaintance have left the place to escape from the intolerable heat. I
often sigh for Russia, and wish I was there, editing Mandchou or
Armenian; pray remember me kindly to Mr. Jowett and to my other friends.
I remain, etc.
G. BORROW.
About one o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th of January, 1836, I crossed
the bridge of the Guadiana, a boundary river between Portugal and Spain,
and entered Badajoz, a strong Spanish town containing about 8000
inhabitants, and founded by the Romans. I instantly returned thanks to
God who had protected me during a journey of five days through the wilds
of Alemtejo, the province of Portugal the most infested by robbers and
desperate characters, and which I had traversed with no other human
companion than a lad, nearly idiotic, who was to convey back the mules
which carried myself and baggage. It was not my intention to make much
stay at Badajoz, and as a vehicle would set out for Madrid the day next
but one after my arrival, I proposed to depart therein for the capital of
Spain.
The next morning I was standing at the door of the inn where I had taken
up my residence; the weather was gloomy, and rain seemed to be at hand.
I was thinking of the state of the country I had lately entered, which
was involved in bloody anarchy and confusion, and where the ministers of
a religion, falsely styled Catholic and Christian, were blowing the trump
of war, instead of preaching the love-engendering words of the blessed
Gospel. Suddenly two men wrapped in long cloaks came down the narrow and
almost deserted street. They were about to pass me, and the face of the
nearest was turned full towards me. I knew to whom the countenance which
he displayed must belong, and I touched him on the shoulder. The man
stopped and his companion also; I said a certain word, to which after an
exclamation of surprise he responded in the manner which I expected. The
men were of that singular family, or race, which has diffused itself over
every part of the civilized globe, and the members of which are known as
Gypsies, Bohemians, Gitanos, Zigani, and by many other names, but whose
proper appellation seems to be 'Rommany,' from the circumstance that in
many and distant countries they so style themselves, and also the
language which they speak amongst each other. We began conversing in the
Spanish dialect of this language, with which I was tolerably well
acquainted. Upon inquiring of my two newly-made acquaintances whether
there were many of their people at Badajoz and in the vicinity, they
informed me that there were nine or ten families residing in the town,
and that there were others at Merida, a town about nine leagues distant.
I asked by what means they supported themselves, and they replied that
they and their brethren gained a livelihood by jobbing in horses, mules,
etc., but that all those in Badajoz were very poor, with the exception of
one man, who was exceedingly _mubalballo_ or rich, as he was in
possession of many horses and other beasts. They removed their cloaks
for a moment, and I saw that their undergarments were rags.
They left me in haste, and went about the town informing the rest that a
stranger was arrived, who spoke Rommany as well as themselves, who had
the eyes and face of a Gitano, and seemed to be of the _eratti_, or
blood. In less than half-an-hour the street before the inn was filled
with the men, women, and children of Egypt. I went out amongst them, and
my heart sank within me as I surveyed them; so much squalidness, dirt,
and misery I had never before seen amongst a similar number of human
beings. But the worst of all was the evil expression of their
countenances, plainly denoting that they were familiar with every species
of crime; and it was not long before I found that their countenances did
not belie them. After they had asked me an infinity of questions, and
felt my hands, face, and clothes, they retired to their homes. My
meeting with these wretched people was the reason of my remaining at
Badajoz a much longer time than I originally intended. I wished to
become better acquainted with their condition and manners, and above all
to speak to them about Christ and His Word, for I was convinced that
should I travel to the end of the universe I should meet with none who
were more in need of Christian exhortation, and I accordingly continued
at Badajoz for nearly three weeks.
During this time I was almost constantly amongst them, and as I spoke
their language and was considered by them as one of themselves, I had
better opportunities of coming to a fair conclusion respecting their
character than any other person, whether Spaniard or foreigner, could
have hoped for, not possessed of a similar advantage. The result of my
observations was a firm belief that the Spanish Gitanos are the most
vile, degraded, and wretched people upon the earth.
In no part of the world does the Gypsy race enjoy a fair fame and
reputation, there being no part where they are not considered, and I
believe with justice, as cheats and swindlers; but those of Spain are not
only all this, but far more. The Gypsies of England, Russia, etc., live
by fraud of various descriptions, but they seldom commit acts of
violence, and their vices are none or very few; the men are not
drunkards, nor are the women harlots; but the Gypsy of Spain is a cheat
in the market-place, a brigand and murderer on the high-road, and a
drunkard in the wine-shop, and his wife is a harlot and thief on all
times and occasions. The excessive wickedness of these outcasts may
perhaps be attributed to their having abandoned their wandering life and
become inmates of the towns, where to the original bad traits of their
character they have super-added the evil and vicious habits of the
rabble. Their mouths teem with abomination, and in no part of the world
have I heard such frequent, frightful, and extraordinary cursing as
amongst them.
Religion they have none; they never attend mass, nor confess themselves,
and never employ the names of God, Christ and the Virgin, but in
imprecation and blasphemy. From what I learnt from them it appeared that
their ancestors had some belief in metempsychosis, but they themselves
laughed at the idea, and were decidedly of opinion that the soul perished
when the body ceased to breathe; and the argument which they used was
rational enough, so far as it impugned metempsychosis: 'We have been
wicked and miserable enough in this life,' they said; 'why should we live
again?'