frater et soror et mater est.--Matt. cap. xii. vers. 48-50.
Christ alone is the foundation and cope-stone of the true Church.
GEORGE BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. Dec. 8, 1837)
28_th_ _Novr._ 1837, MADRID,
No. 16 CALLE ST. IAGO, PISO 3RO.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I have just received your letter [of Nov. 15th], for
which I thank you heartily. I write these lines in a great hurry, as no
time must be lost. The shop opened yesterday, and several Testaments
have been sold, but three parts of the customers departed on finding that
only the New Testament was to be obtained; and I may here state that if
the books which I carried to the provinces had been Bibles, I could have
sold ten times the amount of what I did. I must therefore be furnished
with Bibles instanter. Send me therefore the London edition, bad as it
is, say 500 copies. I believe you have a friend at Cadiz, the consul,
who would have sufficient influence to secure their admission into Spain.
But the most advisable way would be to pack them in two chests, placing
at the top Bibles in English and other languages, for there is a demand,
viz.: 100 English, 100 French, 50 German, 50 Hebrew, 50 Greek, 10 Modern
Greek, 10 Persian, 20 Arabic. _Pray do not fail_.
Direct the books thus:--
DESPACHO DE LA SOCIEDAD BIBLICA,
No. 25 CALLE DEL PRINCIPE, MADRID.
I start to-morrow for Toledo with 100 Testaments, for I must spare no
exertion in such a cause. I go as usual on horseback. I am in a great
hurry and can write no more.
Yours most truly,
(Send, with the books, a Modern Greek grammar and dictionary. You must
likewise renew my credit on Messrs. O'Shea & Compy.)
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. Jany. 8, 1838)
MADRID, CALLE SANTIAGO No. 16,
_Dec._ 25, 1837.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of
the 5th instant, and also my friend Mr. Jackson's of the 8th. I should
have replied ere this, had not my time been entirely occupied since my
return from Toledo. The versions of St. Luke in Gitano and Basque have
been committed to the press; and as the compositors are entirely ignorant
of these languages a most strict surveillance is required, which I hope
will be admitted as an excuse for having so long delayed to answer. I
expect that within a fortnight my task will be completed.
You are aware that I have established in Madrid a shop, or _despacho_, as
it is here called, for the sale of Testaments, and you are doubtless
anxious to receive information as to its success. It succeeds well, nay,
I may say very well, when all circumstances are taken into consideration;
for it ought to be known that I have ventured upon this step in the very
place which of all in Spain, affords the least chance of a successful
issue, yet at the same time in the place where such a step was most
needed, provided it be the imperative duty of Christians to make the Word
of their Master known in the dark portions of the earth. It was a step
fraught with difficulties of every kind. Madrid, it is true, is the
capital of Spain; yet let no one for a moment suppose that being so it is
consequently the largest, richest and most enlightened town in the
Peninsula. In the first place, it is inferior in population to Valencia
and Barcelona; in the second, misery and distress reign here to an extent
unknown elsewhere; and so far from its being peculiarly enlightened, I
believe that of all places in the Peninsula it is the least so. It is
the centre of old, gloomy, bigoted Spain, and if there be one inveterate
disgusting prejudice more prevalent and more cherished in one spot than
another, it is here, in this heart of old, popish, anti-christian Spain,
always difficult of access, but now peculiarly so, as it is scarcely
possible to travel a league from its gates without being stript naked and
murdered. Yet in this singular capital, in the midst of furious priests
and Carlists, I have ventured upon establishing a shop which bears on its
front in large letters: 'Despatch of the British and Foreign Bible
Society.' To call the attention of the people to this establishment, I
printed three thousand advertisements on paper, yellow, blue, and
crimson, with which I almost covered the sides of the streets, and
besides this inserted notices in all the journals and periodicals,
employing also a man after the London fashion to parade the streets with
a placard, to the astonishment of the populace.
The consequence has been that at present every person in Madrid, man,
woman, and child, is aware of the existence of the establishment. You
must feel convinced that such exertions would in London or in Paris have
insured the sale of the whole edition of the New Testament within a few
days. But hitherto I have had to contend with ignorance--and such
ignorance, with bigotry--and such bigotry, and with great and terrible
distress. So that since the opening of the establishment, which I hope
the Lord will deign to bless, I have contrived to sell, and I may say
that every copy sold has cost me an exertion, and no slight one, between
70 and 80 New Testaments {274} and 10 Bibles. You will doubtless wonder
where I obtained the latter: in the shop of a bookseller who dared not
sell them himself, but who had brought them secretly from Gibraltar. Of
these Bibles there were two of the large edition, printed by William
Clowes, 1828 (I would give my right hand for a thousand of them); these I
sold (on the bookseller's account) for 70 _reals_ or 17 shillings each,
and the others, which were of the very common edition, for 7 shillings,
which is, however, far too dear. My own Testament I sell for 10 _reals_,
which every person allows to be unaccountably cheap, but I deem it best
to be moderate, on account of the distress of the times. Permit me here
to observe that this Testament has been allowed by people who have
perused it, and with no friendly feeling, to be one of the most correct
works that have ever issued from the press in Spain, and to be an
exceedingly favourable specimen of typography and paper: and lucky it is
for me that it is impossible to say anything against the edition. {275a}
You will easily suppose that such an establishment in Madrid has caused a
great sensation. The priests and bigots are teeming with malice and
fury, which hitherto they have thought proper to exhibit only in words,
as they know that all I do here is favoured by Mr. Villiers; {275b} but
there is no attempt, however atrocious, which may not be expected from
such people, and were it right and seemly for _me_, the most
insignificant of worms, to make such a comparison, I would say that, like
Paul at Ephesus, I am fighting with wild beasts.
I receive daily a great many applications for copies gratis, as it is
here the generally received opinion that the Bible Society invariably
gives away its publications; and I must confess that this opinion,
however it may have originated, is very prejudicial to the sale of the
Testament.
'Wait a while,' say many, 'and these books may be had for nothing.
Friends of ours who have been in England have had them pressed upon them,
and _cart-loads_ have been given away in Cadiz and other places.' Such a
conversation was related to me yesterday, by my excellent friend and
coadjutor Doctor Usoz, who had just heard it in a coffee-house. Of this
gentleman I cannot speak in too high terms of admiration; he is one of
the most learned men in Spain, and is become in every point a Christian,
according to the standard of the New Testament.
My projects are these. As soon as ever my Gospels are ready, I mount the
saddle once more, entrusting the _despacho_ and shopman to the care of
Dr. Usoz. My course will be directed to Andalusia, a rich and tolerably
enlightened province. Hitherto I have only had to deal with poverty,
ignorance, and bigotry; but I hope with God's assistance to accomplish
much at Seville and Cadiz. It is true that to arrive there I shall have
to pass through La Mancha and the Morena district, which are entirely in
the hands of the swarms of banditti whose general is Palillos (he has
upwards of 9000 under his command), or through Estremadura, occupied at
present by the hordes of Jara and Orejita. But I fear nothing, and trust
that One above will preserve me. In the meantime let me beg and pray
that you will send Bibles, Bibles, Bibles of all sizes and prices, and in
all languages to Madrid. You cannot conceive how helpless and forlorn I
feel, 400 miles from the sea-coast, on being begged to supply what I
possess not. I received an order the other day for 20 Hebrew Bibles. I
replied with tears in my eyes, 'I have nothing but the New Testament in
Spanish.'
You wish to know my reasons for censuring the London edition of the
Spanish Bible. I will state them in a few words: the utmost confusion
reigns throughout, both as to accentuation and punctuation; words are
frequently omitted or misspelt, and occasionally a short sentence is left
out. All this is very annoying, but I was perhaps wrong in sending home
'so unmitigated a censure.' It may possibly occur that a Spanish
edition, unless superintended by very zealous and careful people, may
turn out yet more incorrect. Therefore I should not be sorry to see any
number arrive at Madrid.
In reply to your observation that I am in a mistake in supposing that
Bibles have been given away to any extent in the south of Spain, permit
me to observe, and always with the greatest humility, that I never
ventured to form any supposition respecting the matter. But the Vicar
General of Valencia gave as a reason for publishing the circular in which
he forbids the Bible, an advertisement inserted in the Commercial Diary
of Valencia, to the effect, that a person was commissioned in that city
to sell at cheap prices, and even to give away gratis to those who might
not have money at their disposal, copies of the Spanish Bible printed in
London; and on this passage his commentator observes, 'Fine generosity!
Charity worthy of applause and gratitude!' The friend who brought me the
newspaper stated at the time that the advertisement was calculated to do
harm. It is certainly liable to much misconstruction.
And now, my dear Sir, having detailed my whereabouts, permit me to
subscribe myself,
Yours most truly,
GEORGE BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. Jan. 26, 1838)
MADRID, _January_ 15, 1838.
No. 16 CALLE SANTIAGO.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--The priests have at length 'swooped upon me,' and I
have received a peremptory order from the Political Governor of Madrid to
sell no more New Testaments. I have been apprehensive of something
similar for some little time, on account of the late change of Ministry,
the present head of the Cabinet, Ofalia, being one of the most furious
bigots in Spain. I have just paid a visit to Sir George Villiers, who
has promised to do all in his power to cause the veto to be annulled.
But I must here state that he has not at present much influence, he
having opposed with all his power the accession of Ofalia to the
premiership, to which station the latter has been exalted for the mere
purpose of serving as an instrument of the priestly party. I therefore
do not place much reliance in Sir George Villiers' power of assisting me;
but I have still great confidence in myself, through the Almighty in
whose cause I am engaged.
Matters were going on very well before this check. The demand, even for
Testaments, was becoming considerable, so much so that the clergy were
alarmed, and the consequence has been this step. But they had previously
recourse to another well worthy of them; they attempted to act upon my
fears. One of the ruffians of Madrid, called _Manolos_, came up to me
one night in a dark street, and told me that unless I discontinued
selling 'my Jewish books' I should have a knife '_nailed in my heart_';
but I told him to go home, say his prayers, and tell his employers that I
pitied them, whereupon he turned away with an oath. A few days after, I
received an order to send two copies of the Testament to the office of
the Political Governor, with which, after consulting with Sir George
Villiers, I complied, and in less than twenty-four hours, namely, on the
evening of last Saturday, an _alguacil_ arrived at the shop with the
notice prohibiting the further sale of the New Testament, permission to
print which I had obtained from the Ministry of Isturitz after so much
trouble and anxiety.
One circumstance rejoices me. They have not shut up my little
_despacho_, and as soon as ever the Bibles arrive (and I have advice from
Barcelona of their being on the way) I shall advertise them, for I have
received no prohibition respecting the sale of any work but the New
Testament. Moreover, within a few days the Gospel of Saint Luke in
Rommany will be ready for delivery, so that I hope to carry on matters in
a small way till better times arrive. I have been advised to erase from
the shop windows the words 'Despatch of the British and Foreign Bible
Society,' but I intend to do no such thing; those words have tended very
much to call attention, which was my grand object. Had I attempted to
conduct things in an underhand manner, I should at the present moment
scarcely have sold 30 copies instead of nearly 300, which in Madrid are
more than equivalent to 3,000 sold on the littoral. People who know me
not, nor are acquainted with my situation, may be disposed to call me
rash; but I am far from being so, as I never adopt a venturous course
when any other is open to me. But I am not a person to be terrified by
any danger, when I see that braving it is the only way to achieve an
object. The booksellers refused to sell my work; I was compelled to
establish a shop of my own. Every shop in Madrid has a name. What name
should I give mine but the true one? I was not ashamed of my cause nor
my colours. I hoisted them, and have fought beneath them not without
success.
The Levitical party in Madrid have, in the meantime, spared no effort to
vilify me. They have started a publication called 'The friend of the
Christian religion,' in which has appeared a furious attack upon me,
which I have however treated with the contempt it deserves. But not
satisfied with this, they have endeavoured to incite the ignorant
populace against me, by telling them that I am a sorcerer and a companion
of Gypsies and witches, and I have been called so in the streets. That I
am an associate of Gypsies and fortune-tellers I do not deny, and why
should I be ashamed of their company when my Master mingled with
publicans and thieves? Many of the poor Gypsy race come frequently to
visit me, receive instruction, and hear parts of the Gospel read to them
in their own language, and when they are hungry and faint I give them to
eat and drink. This may be deemed sorcery in Spain, but I am not without
hope that it will be otherwise estimated in England; and were I to perish
to-morrow I think there are some who would be disposed to say that I have
lived not altogether in vain (always as an instrument of the 'Most
Highest'), having been permitted to turn one of the most valuable books
of God into the speech of the most oppressed and miserable of His
creatures.
No more at present, but I hope to write again within a few days.
GEORGE BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. Mar. 27, 1838)
MADRID, CALLE SANTIAGO, No. 16.
17 _March_, 1838.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--As I entertain little doubt that yourself and my
other good friends are anxious to obtain information respecting the
course of matters in Madrid, I write the present letter, although I could
have wished to tarry a little longer, in the hope of being able to afford
more satisfactory intelligence. In the first place, allow me to state
that about six weeks since I despatched to England a copy of Saint Luke
in Rommany, by the courier of the Embassy, which I hope you received, and
that it afforded you satisfaction. I may also add that yesterday the
printing of the Basque translation of the same Gospel was brought to a
happy conclusion, to my very great satisfaction, as it has caused me much
trouble and anxiety, the press having been brought to a stop three times
from the necessity of casting fresh type, the usual Spanish founts being
insufficient to print a sheet in this singular language, owing to all its
words being contained within the compass of six or seven letters, the
demand for which is in consequence tremendous. With the Rommany I had no
difficulty whatever. Within a week or two it is my intention to publish
both Gospels simultaneously. With this preamble, I will now proceed to
other matters.
During the last two months I have been almost incessantly engaged in
negotiations with the Ministry of Count Ofalia, for the purpose of
obtaining permission to sell the New Testament in Madrid and the
nullification of the prohibition. I have experienced, as might be
expected, great opposition, which I have not yet surmounted; but I am by
no means dispirited, as these obstacles are merely temporary. I have had
to contend against six Bishops at present resident in Madrid, and amongst
them him of Toledo, the Primate of Spain, who have denounced the Bible,
the Bible Society, and myself. Nevertheless, notwithstanding their
powerful and united efforts, they have been unable to effect their
principal object, namely, my expulsion from Madrid and Spain. The Count
Ofalia is a very good and excellent man, though weak and superstitious to
an exceeding degree; and notwithstanding he has permitted himself to be
made the instrument, to a certain extent, of these people, he will not
consent to be pushed to such a length. Throughout this business, as far
as it has proceeded, I cannot find words sufficiently strong, to do
justice to the zeal and interest which Sir George Villiers has displayed
in the cause of the Testament. He has had six interviews with Ofalia on
the subject, and in these he has expressed to him his sense of the
injustice and tyranny which have been practised in this instance towards
his countryman, as he does me the honour of calling me. Ofalia has been
much moved by these remonstrances, and on several occasions has promised
to do all in his power to oblige Sir George; but then the Bishops, and
particularly his confessor, whom he consults every night, again beset
him, and playing upon his religious fears, prevent him from acting a
just, honest, and honourable part.
At the desire of Sir George Villiers, I drew up, a little time since, a
brief account of the Bible Society and an exposition of its views,
especially in respect to Spain, which he himself presented with his own
hand to the Count. Of this memorial I send you a translation, and I
think that you will do me the justice to say that, if I have not
flattered and cajoled, I have expressed myself honestly and frankly, as a
Christian ought. Ofalia on reading it, said, 'What a pity that this is a
mixed society, and that all its members are not Catholics.' A few days
subsequently, to my great astonishment, he sent a message to me by a
friend, requesting that I would send him a copy of my Gypsy Gospel. I
may as well here state that the fame of this work, although unpublished,
has spread like wildfire through Madrid, and every person is passionately
eager to possess a copy; indeed, several grandees of Spain have sent
messages with similar requests, all of which I have, however, denied. I
instantly resolved to take advantage of this overture on the part of
Count Ofalia, and to call on him myself. I therefore caused a copy of
the Gospel to be handsomely bound, and proceeding to the palace, was
instantly admitted to him. He is a dusky, diminutive person, between
fifty and sixty years of age, with false hair and teeth, but exceedingly
gentlemanly manners. He received me with great affability, and thanked
me for my present; but on my proceeding to speak of the New Testament, he
told me that the subject was surrounded with difficulties, and that the
whole body of the clergy had taken up the matter against me; but he
conjured me to be patient and peaceable, and he would endeavour to devise
some plan to satisfy me. Amongst other things, he said that the Bishops
hated a sectarian more than an atheist; whereupon I replied, that, like
the Pharisees of old, they cared more for the gold of the Temple than the
Temple itself. Throughout the whole of our interview he evidently
laboured under great fear, and was continually looking behind and around
him, seemingly in dread of being overheard, which brought to my mind an
expression of Sir George Villiers, that if there be any truth in
metempsychosis, the _anima_ of Count Ofalia must have originally belonged
to a mouse. We parted in kindness, and I went away wondering by what
strange chance this poor man had become Prime Minister of a country like
Spain.
I have now given a plain narrative of what I have been about up to the
present moment, by which you will see that I have accomplished all that
lay within the circumscribed sphere of my ability, and have brought every
engine into play which it was in my power to command. Let it always be
borne in mind that it was no fault of mine that, immediately after my
arrival in Madrid from my journey, a retrograde Ministry came into power,
the head of which is a weak, timid, priest-ridden man. Sir George has
several times told me, that had the Ministry of Calatrava and Mendizabal
remained in place, he himself would have answered that I should have
received no interruption in my labours, and that he will almost say the
same in respect to any future Ministry; and it is impossible that the
present can long maintain its ground, as it is disliked by the Court and
despised by the people.
I therefore write at present for instructions. Shall I wait a little
time longer in Madrid; or shall I proceed at once on a journey to
Andalusia and other places? I am in strength, health and spirits, thanks
be to the Lord! and am at all times ready to devote myself, body and
mind, to His cause. Therefore I pray that my friends at home will point
out the course which they think I ought to pursue under these
circumstances. In a few days I shall send my account to Mr. Hitchin. I
have hitherto delayed, not having yet settled for the printing of the
Basque St. Luke. I received your kind letter of the 8th ultimo.
I remain, my dear Sir, most truly yours,
G. B.
_P.S._--I have received the 500 Bibles in sheets from Barcelona.
Translation of a Memorial to his Excellence the Count D'Ofalia
(_Endorsed_: Memorial of Mr. G. Borrow to Count Ofalia, Madrid, recd.
March 28,1838.)
To His Excellence The Count D'Ofalia
SIR,--I have the honour to inform you that, being a member and Agent of
the British and Foreign Bible Society, I some months since printed, with
permission, at Madrid, an edition of the New Testament of Jesus Christ in
the Castilian language according to the authorised version of Father
Felipe Scio, Confessor of the late King Ferdinand of happy memory.
That to effect the sale of the said work, in which the Society had
subjected itself to an expense of more than 100,000 _reals_, I
subsequently established a Despatch at Madrid, where the work was
publicly sold at a moderate price until the 12th of January last, when
the person intrusted with the management of the said Despatch received a
notice from Don Francisco Gamboa, Civil Governor of Madrid, forbidding
the further sale of the New Testament until fresh information.