frequently read to them, especially the parables of Lazarus and the
Prodigal Son, and told them that the latter had been as wicked as
themselves, and both had suffered as much or more; but that the
sufferings of the former, who always looked forward to a blessed
resurrection, were recompensed in the world to come by admission to the
society of Abraham and the prophets, and that the latter, when he
repented of his crimes, was forgiven and received into as much favour as
the just son had always enjoyed. They listened with admiration, but
alas! not of the truths, the eternal truths I was telling them, but at
finding that their broken jargon could be written and read. The only
words of assent to the heavenly doctrine which I ever obtained, and which
were rather of the negative kind, were the following, from a woman:
'Brother, you tell us strange things, though perhaps you do not lie; a
month since I would sooner have believed these tales, than that I should
this day have seen one who could write Rommany.'
They possess a vast number of songs or couplets which they recite to the
music of the guitar. For the purpose of improving myself in the language
I collected and wrote down upwards of one hundred of these couplets, the
subjects of which are horse-stealing, murder, and the various incidents
of gypsy-life in Spain. Perhaps a collection of songs more
characteristic of the people from whom they originated was never made,
though amongst them are to be found some tender and beautiful thoughts,
though few and far between, as a flower or shrub is here and there seen
springing from the interstices of the rugged and frightful rocks of which
are composed the mountains and sierras of Spain.
The following is their traditionary account of the expulsion of their
fathers from Egypt. 'And it came to pass that Pharaoh the King collected
numerous armies for the purpose of war; and after he had conquered the
whole world, he challenged God to descend from heaven and fight him; but
the Lord replied, "There is no one who shall fight with Me"; and
thereupon the Lord opened a mountain, and He cast therein Pharaoh the
King and all his numerous armies; so that the Egyptians remained without
defence, and their enemies arose and scattered them wide abroad.'
To the Rev. A. Brandram
No. 16 CALLE DE SANTIAGO, MADRID,
_July_ 25th, 1836.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I enclose you a letter from a Spanish gentleman who
wishes to become a subscriber to the Society. He is a person of great
respectability, great learning, and is likewise one of the editors of the
_Espanol_, the principal newspaper in Spain. Should you accept his offer
of becoming a correspondent, he may be of infinite service, as the
newspaper which he superintends would be always open to the purposes of
the Society. He has connections all over Spain, and no one could assist
more effectually in diffusing the Scriptures when printed. He wishes
very much to have an account of the proceedings of the Society, therefore
any books you could send him relating thereto would be highly acceptable.
Great things might be done in Spain, and I am convinced that if there was
a Protestant church in Madrid it would be crammed.
I have spoken to Mr. Wood, an Englishman, the printer of the _Espanol_,
who has the best printing presses in Spain, and he is willing to begin
the work whenever you think proper: he will engage to bring it out in
three months, in the same shape as the Catalan Testaments. In order that
you may have as little trouble as possible, I have translated Dr. Usoz's
letter. I have not thought fit to transmit the printed paper which he
alludes to, as it would make this letter very bulky. It is an official
account of his studies, and the honours he attained at the University.
I remain, Revd. and dear Sir,
Most truly yours,
G. BORROW.
TRANSLATION OF DR. USOZ'S LETTER.
Gentlemen of the British and Foreign Bible Society,
Having by good fortune become acquainted with your Agent, Mr. G. Borrow,
at present residing in this city, and having learnt from him that I might
take the liberty of addressing myself to you for the purpose of inquiring
whether you would have any objection to insert my name in your list as a
member, I avail myself of the present opportunity to do so, and hope that
my wishes will be gratified. I believe it is necessary for every member
to pay 1 pound sterling, or 100 _reals_ of our coin, annually; perhaps
you will inform me when, and in whose hands, I may deposit this sum. As
I have no other object in this than to endeavour, by all the means in my
power, to cause the Scriptures to be read as much as possible in my
unhappy country, I should wish to be considered in the light of a
correspondent, as I flatter myself that if you would consent, after
taking the necessary precautions, to entrust me with copies of the
Scripture, I should find no difficulty in circulating them in every
province of my country.
Being fully convinced that nothing but the reading of the Bible can form
the basis of solid liberty in Spain, I will employ every effort to
promote it, if your philanthropic Society will assist me. It would
answer no purpose to occupy your attention by speaking prolixly of the
purity of my intention and my zeal; time and experience will speak either
for or against me; I will merely enclose this printed paper, by which you
will learn who he is who has taken the liberty of writing to you. It is
superfluous to add that, should you consent to my desire, I should want
all the notices and documents respecting your Society which you could
supply me with.
As I possess some knowledge of English, you might avail yourselves of
this language in your answer, provided the letters used be written
clearly.
I have the honour, etc.
LUIS DE USOZ Y RIO.
P.S.--Should you direct to me directly, or by other means than the post,
my address is: A D. Luis de Usoz y Rio, Calle de Santa Catalina, No. 12
nuevo, Madrid.
To J. Jackson, Esq.
(_Endorsed_: recd. Aug. 26th, 1836)
MADRID, _Aug._ 10, 1836.
MY DEAR SIR,--I have received your two letters containing the 50 pounds
and the resolution of the Society; I have likewise received Mr.
Brandram's.
I shall make the provisional engagement [to print] as desired, and shall
leave Madrid as soon as possible; but I must here inform you that I shall
find much difficulty in returning to England, as all the provinces are
disturbed in consequence of the Constitution of 1812 having been
proclaimed, and the roads are swarming with robbers and banditti. It is
my intention to join some muleteers and attempt to reach Granada, from
whence, if possible, I shall proceed to Malaga or Gibraltar, and thence
to Lisbon, where I left the greatest part of my baggage. Do not be
surprised therefore, if I am tardy in making my appearance. It is no
easy thing at present to travel in Spain. But all these troubles are for
the benefit of the Cause, and must not be repined at.
I remain, my dear Sir, most truly yours,
G. B.
Report of Mr. Geo. Borrow's late Proceedings in Spain
LONDON, _October_ 17, 1836.
On the 16th of January I quitted Badajoz, a Spanish town on the frontier
of Portugal, for Madrid, whither I arrived in safety. As my principal
motive for visiting the Spanish capital was the hope of obtaining
permission from the Government to print the New Testament in the
Castilian language in Spain, I lost no time upon my arrival in taking
what I considered to be the necessary steps. I must here premise that I
was an entire stranger at Madrid, and that I bore no letters, of
introduction to any person of influence whose credit might have assisted
me in this undertaking; so that notwithstanding I entertained a hope of
success, relying on the assistance of the Almighty, this hope was not at
all times very vivid, but was frequently overcast with the clouds of
despondency. Mr. Mendizabal was at this time Prime Minister of Spain,
and was considered as a man of almost unbounded power, in whose hands
were placed the destinies of the country. I therefore considered that if
I could by any means induce him to favour my view I should have no reason
to fear interruption from other quarters, and I determined upon applying
to him; but though I essayed two or three times to obtain an interview
with him, I failed, as he was far too much engrossed in important
business to receive a humble and unknown stranger. In this dilemma I
bethought me of waiting upon Mr. Villiers, the British Ambassador at
Madrid, and craving with the freedom permitted to a British subject his
advice and assistance in this most interesting affair. I was received by
him with great kindness, and enjoyed a conversation with him on various
subjects, before I introduced the matter which I had most at heart. He
said that if I wished for an interview with Mr. M. he would endeavour to
procure me one; but at the same time told me frankly that he could not
hope that any good would arise from it, as Mr. M. was violently
prejudiced against the British and Foreign Bible Society, and was far
more likely to discountenance than encourage any efforts which they might
be disposed to make for introducing the Gospel into Spain. I however
remained resolute in my desire to make the trial, and before I left him
obtained a letter of introduction to Mr. Mendizabal, with whom I had an
interview a few days after. The particulars of this interview have been
detailed on a former occasion. It will be sufficient to state here that
I obtained from Mr. Mendizabal, if not immediate permission to print the
Scriptures, a promise that at the expiration of a few months, when he
hoped that the country would be in a more tranquil state, I should be at
full liberty to do so, with which promise I departed well satisfied, and
full of gratitude to the Lord, who seemed to have so wonderfully smoothed
my way in an enterprise which at first sight seemed particularly arduous
and difficult.
Before three months had elapsed Mr. Mendizabal had ceased to be Prime
Minister; with his successor, Mr. Isturitz, I had become acquainted, and
also with his colleagues, Galiano and the Duke de Rivas, and it was not
long before I obtained--not however without much solicitation and
difficulty--the permission which I so ardently desired. Before, however,
I could turn it to my account, the revolution broke out in Spain, and the
press became free.
The present appears to be a moment peculiarly well adapted for commencing
operations in Spain, the aim and view of which should be the introducing
into that singularly unhappy portion of the world the knowledge of the
Saviour. The clouds of bigotry and superstition which for so many
centuries cast their dreary shadow upon Spain, are to a considerable
degree dispelled, and there is little reason for supposing that they will
ever again conglomerate. The Papal See is no longer regarded with
reverence, and its agents and ministers have incurred universal scorn and
odium; therefore any fierce and determined resistance to the Gospel in
Spain is not to be apprehended either from the people themselves, or from
the clergy, who are well aware of their own weakness. It is scarcely
necessary to remark that every country which has been long subjected to
the sway of popery is in a state of great and deplorable ignorance.
Spain, as might have been expected, has not escaped this common fate, and
the greatest obstacle to the diffusion of the Gospel light amongst the
Spaniards would proceed from the great want of education amongst them.
Perhaps there are no people in the world to whom nature has been, as far
as regards mental endowments, more bounteously liberal than the
Spaniards. They are generally acute and intelligent to an extraordinary
degree, and express themselves with clearness, fluency, and elegance upon
all subjects which are within the scope of their knowledge. It may
indeed be said of the mind of a Spaniard, as of his country, that it
merely requires cultivation to be a garden of the first order; but,
unhappily, both, up to the present time, have been turned to the least
possible account. Few amongst the lower class of the population of the
towns are acquainted with letters, and fewer still amongst the peasantry;
but though compelled to acknowledge the ignorance of the Spaniards in
general, I have great pleasure in being able to state that during the
latter years it has been becoming less and less, and that the rising
generation is by no means so illiterate as the last, which was itself
superior in acquirements to the preceding one. It is to be hoped that
the progress in improvement will still continue, and that within a few
years the blessings of education will be as generally diffused amongst
the Spaniards as amongst the people of France and England. Government
has already commenced the establishment of Normal Schools, and though the
state of the country, convulsed with the horrors of civil war, precludes
the possibility of devoting to them the care and attention which they
deserve, I have no doubt that when it shall please the Lord to vouchsafe
peace unto Spain they will receive all the requisite patronage and
support, as their utility is already generally recognised.
Before quitting Madrid I entered into negotiation with Mr. Charles Wood,
a respectable Englishman established there, for the printing of 5000
copies of the New Testament in Spanish, which number, if on good paper
and in handsome type, I have little doubt might be easily disposed of
within a short time in the capital and in the principal provincial towns
of Spain, particularly Cadiz and Seville, where the people are more
enlightened than in other parts in most respects, and where many would be
happy to obtain the sacred volume in a handsome yet cheap form, and some
in any shape whatever--as there the Word of God is at least known by
reputation, and no small curiosity has of late years been manifested
concerning it, though unfortunately that curiosity has not hitherto been
gratified, for reasons too well known to require recapitulation.
In the rural districts the chances of the Scriptures are considerably
less, for there, as far as I am aware, not only no curiosity has been
excited respecting it, but it is not known by name, and when mentioned to
the people, is considered to be nothing more or less than the mass-book
of the Romish Church. On various occasions I have conversed with the
peasantry of Estremadura, La Mancha, and Andalusia respecting the holy
Book, and without one exception they were not only ignorant of its
contents, but ignorant of its nature; some who could read, and pretended
to be acquainted with it, said that it contained hymns to the Virgin, and
was written by the Pope; yet the peasantry of these three provinces are
by no means the least enlightened of Spain, but perhaps the reverse. In
a word, great as the ignorance of the generality of the Spaniards upon
most essential points is, they are principally ignorant of the one most
essential of all, the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
No time, however, ought to be lost in supplying those with the word who
are capable of receiving it; though millions in Spain are undoubtedly
beyond the reach of any efforts which the Bible Society can make to
assist them, however much it may have at heart their eternal salvation,
it is gratifying to have grounds for belief that thousands are able and
willing to profit by the exertions which may be made to serve them.
Though the days of the general orange-gathering are not arrived, when the
tree requires but a slight shaking to scatter its ripe and glorious
treasures on the head of the gardener, still goodly and golden fruit is
to be gathered on the most favoured and sunny branches; the quantity is
small in comparison with what remains green and acid, but there is enough
to repay the labour of him who is willing to ascend to cull it; the time
of the grand and general harvesting is approaching, perhaps it will
please the Almighty to hasten it; and it may even now be nearer than the
most sanguine of us dares to hope.
G. BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. Nov. 30th, 1836)
LISBON, _Novr._ 15_th_, 1836.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--On taking leave of you I promised to write from
Cadiz, and I still hope to perform my promise; but as I am apprehensive
that several days will elapse before I shall reach that place I avail
myself of the present opportunity of informing you that I am alive and
well, lest you should become uneasy at not hearing from me at the time
you expected. It is owing to the mercy of God that, instead of being
able to pen these lines, I am not at the present moment floundering in
the brine, a prey to the fishes and monsters of the ocean.
We had a most unpleasant passage to Falmouth. The ship was crowded with
passengers, most of whom were poor consumptive individuals and other
invalids, fleeing from the cold blasts of England's winter to the sunny
shores of Portugal and Madeira. In a more uncomfortable vessel,
especially steam-ship, it has never been my fate to make a voyage; the
berths were small and insupportably close, and of the wretched holes mine
was amongst the worst, the rest having been for the most part bespoken
before I arrived on board, so that to avoid the suffocation which seemed
to threaten me I lay upon the floor of one of the cabins, and continued
to do so until my arrival here. We remained at Falmouth twenty-four
hours, taking in coals and repairing the engine, which had sustained
considerable damage.
On Monday the 7th inst. we again started and made for the Bay of Biscay;
the sea was high and the wind strong and contrary, nevertheless on the
morning of the fourth day we were in sight of the rocky coast to the
north of Cape Finisterre. I must here observe that this was the first
voyage that the captain who commanded the vessel had ever made on board
of her, and that he knew little or nothing about the coast towards which
we were bearing; he was a person picked up in a hurry, the former captain
having resigned his command on the ground that the ship was not
sea-worthy, and that the engines were frequently unserviceable. I was
not acquainted with these circumstances at the time, or perhaps I should
have felt more alarmed than I did when I saw the vessel approaching
nearer and nearer to the shore, till at last we were only a few hundred
yards distant. As it was, however, I felt very much surprised, for
having passed it twice before, both times in steam-vessels, and having
seen with what care the captains endeavoured to maintain a wide offing, I
could not conceive the reason of our being now so near the dangerous
region. The wind was blowing hard towards the shore, if that can be
called a shore which consists of steep abrupt precipices, on which the
surf was breaking with the noise of thunder, tossing up clouds of spray
and foam to the height of a cathedral. We coasted slowly along, rounding
several tall forelands, some of them piled up by the hand of nature in
the most fantastic shapes, until about the fall of night. Cape
Finisterre was not far ahead, a bluff brown granite mountain, whose
frowning head may be seen far away by those who travel the ocean. The
stream which poured round its breast was terrific, and though our engines
plied with all their force, we made little or no way.
By about eight o'clock at night, the wind had increased to a hurricane,
the thunder rolled frightfully, and the only light which we had to guide
us on our way was the red forked lightning which burst at times from the
bosom of the big black clouds which lowered over our heads. We were
exerting ourselves to the utmost to weather the cape, which we could
descry by the lightning on our lee, its brow being frequently brilliantly
lighted up by the flashes which quivered around it, when suddenly, with a
great crash, the engine broke, and the paddles on which depended our
lives ceased to play.
I will not attempt to depict the scene of horror and confusion which
ensued: it may be imagined, but never described. The captain, to give
him his due, displayed the utmost coolness and intrepidity, and he and
the whole crew made the greatest exertions to repair the engine, and when
they found their labour in vain, endeavoured by hoisting the sails and by
practising all possible manoeuvres to preserve the ship from impending
destruction. But all was of no use; we were hard on a lee shore, to
which the howling tempest was impelling us. About this time I was
standing near the helm, and I asked the steersman if there was any hope
of saving the vessel or our lives; he replied, 'Sir, it is a bad affair;
no boat could for a minute live in this sea, and in less than an hour the
ship will have her broadside on Finisterre, where the strongest
man-of-war ever built must go to shivers instantly. None of us will see
the morning.' The captain likewise informed the other passengers in the
cabin to the same effect, telling them to prepare themselves, and having
done so he ordered the door to be fastened, and none to be permitted to
come on deck. I, however, kept my station, though almost drowned with
water, immense waves continually breaking over our windward side and
flooding the ship; the water-casks broke from their lashings, and one of
them struck me down, and crushed the foot of the unfortunate man at the
helm, whose place was instantly taken by the captain. We were now close
on the rocks, when a horrid convulsion of the elements took place; the
lightning enveloped us as with a mantle, the thunders were louder than
the roar of a million cannon, the dregs of the ocean seemed to be cast
up, and in the midst of all this turmoil the wind, without the slightest
intimation _veered right about_, and pushed us from the horrible coast
faster than it had previously drawn us towards it.
The oldest sailors on board acknowledged that they had never witnessed so
providential an escape. I said from the bottom of my heart, 'Our Father:
hallowed be Thy name.' The next day we were near foundering, for the sea
was exceedingly high, and our vessel, which was not intended for sailing,
laboured terribly, and leaked much. The pumps were continually working.
She likewise took fire, but the flames were extinguished. In the evening
the steam-engine was partially repaired, and we reached Lisbon on the
13th. Most of my clothes and other things are spoiled, for the hold was
overflowed with the water from the boiler and the leak.
The vessel will be ready for sea in about a week, when I shall depart for
Cadiz; but most of the passengers who intended going farther than Lisbon
have abandoned her, as they say she is doomed. But I have more trust in
the Lord that governeth the winds, and in whose hands the seas are as a
drop. He who preserved us at Finisterre can preserve elsewhere, and if
it be His will that we perish, the firm ground is not more secure than
the heaving sea.
I have seen our excellent friend Mr. Wilby, and delivered to him the
parcel, with which I was entrusted. He has been doing everything in his
power to further the sale of the sacred volume in Portuguese; indeed his
zeal and devotedness are quite admirable, and the Society can never
appreciate his efforts too highly. But since I was last at Lisbon the
distracted state of the country has been a great obstacle to him;
people's minds are so engrossed with politics that they find no time to
think of their souls. Before this reaches you, you will doubtless have
heard of the late affair at Belem, where poor Freire (I knew him well)
one of the ex-Ministers lost his life, and which nearly ended in an
affray between the English forces and the native. The opinions of the
Portuguese seem to be decidedly democratic, and I have little doubt that
were the English squadron withdrawn the unfortunate young Queen would
lose her crown within a month, and be compelled with her no less
unfortunate young husband to seek a refuge in another country. I repeat
that I hope to write to you from Cadiz; I shall probably be soon in the
allotted field of my labours, distracted, miserable Spain. The news from
thence is at present particularly dismal; the ferocious Gomez, after
having made an excursion into Estremadura, which he ravaged like a
pestilence, has returned to Andalusia, the whole of which immense
province seems to be prone at his feet. I shall probably find Seville
occupied by his hordes, but I fear them not, and trust that the Lord will
open the path for me to Madrid. One thing I am resolved upon: either to
be the instrument of doing something for Spain, or never to appear again
in my native land.
G. B.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. Dec. 28th, 1836)
SEVILLE, _Dec._ 5_th_, 1836.