the storm be blown over. Should I undertake such an expedition, I should
avoid the towns and devote myself entirely to the peasantry. I have
sometimes thought of visiting the villages of the Alpujarra mountains in
Andalusia, where the people live quite secluded from the world. What do
you think of my project?
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. 27th June, 1838)
MADRID, _June_ 16, 1838.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I have received your communication of the 30th ult.,
containing the resolutions of the Committee, to which I shall of course
attend.
Of your letter in general, permit me to state that I reverence the spirit
in which it is written, and am perfectly disposed to admit the
correctness of the views which it exhibits. [Greek text]. But it
appears to me that in one or two instances I have been misunderstood in
the letters which I have addressed [to you] on the subject of Graydon.
I bear this unfortunate gentleman no ill will, God forbid, and it will
give me pain if he were reprimanded publicly or privately; moreover I can
see no utility likely to accrue from such a proceeding. All that I have
stated hitherto is the damage which he has done in Spain to the cause and
myself, by the--what shall I call it?--imprudence of his conduct; and the
idea which I have endeavoured to inculcate is the absolute necessity of
his leaving Spain instantly.
Take now in good part what I am about to say, and O! do not misunderstand
me! I owe a great deal to the Bible Society, and the Bible Society owes
nothing to me. I am well aware and am always disposed to admit that it
can find thousands more zealous, more active, and in every respect more
adapted to transact its affairs and watch over its interests. Yet with
this consciousness of my own inutility I must be permitted to state that
linked to a man like Graydon I can no longer consent to be, and that if
the Society expect such a thing, I must take the liberty of retiring,
perhaps to the wilds of Tartary or the Zigani camps of Siberia.
My name at present is become public property--no very enviable
distinction in these unhappy times, and neither wished nor sought by
myself. I have of late been subjected to circumstances which have
rendered me obnoxious to the hatred of those who never forgive, the
bloody Church of Rome, which I have doubt will sooner or later find means
to accomplish my ruin; for no one is better aware than myself of its
fearful resources, whether in England or Spain, in Italy or in any other
part. I should not be now in this situation, had I been permitted to act
alone. How much more would have been accomplished, it does not become me
to guess.
I had as many or more difficulties to surmount in Russia than I
originally had here, yet all that the Society expected or desired was
effected without stir or noise, and that in the teeth of an imperial
_Ukase_ which forbade the work which I was employed to superintend.
Concerning my late affair, I must here state that I was sent to prison on
a charge which was subsequently acknowledged not only to be false but
ridiculous. I was accused of uttering words disrespectful towards the
_Gefe Politico_ of Madrid; my accuser was an officer of the police who
entered my apartment one morning before I was dressed, and commenced
searching my papers and flinging my books into disorder. Happily,
however, the people of the house who were listening at the door heard all
that passed, and declared on oath that, so far from mentioning the _Gefe
Politico_, I merely told the officer that he, the officer, was an
insolent fellow and that I would cause him to be punished. He
subsequently confessed that he was an instrument of the Vicar General and
that he merely came to my apartment in order to obtain a pretence for
making a complaint. He has been dismissed from his situation, and the
Queen has expressed her sorrow at my imprisonment. If there be any doubt
entertained on the matter, pray let Sir George Villiers be written to!
I should be happy to hear what success attends our efforts in China. I
hope a prudent conduct has been adopted; for think not that a strange and
loud language will find favour in the eyes of the Chinese; and above all,
I hope that we have not got into war with the Augustines and their
followers, who, if properly managed, may be of incalculable service in
propagating the Scriptures.
I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, truly yours,
G. BORROW.
_P.S._--The documents, or some of them, shall be sent as soon as
possible.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(Endorsed: recd. July 5, 1838)
MADRID, _June_ 26, 1838.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I shall not be able to send the documents in
question, as they are lodged in the archives, and are now become
state-papers. Those that relate to the affair at Malaga I have not yet
been able to obtain a perusal of; it will therefore perhaps suffice for
the present to say that in one of them the Government was stigmatized as
being '_voraz de pesetas_' (voracious of pesetas), and the Catholic
religion termed '_un sistema del mas grosero fanatismo_' (a system of the
grossest fanaticism). It was well for the writer of this trash that the
Government were at the time alarmed at the step which they had taken in
imprisoning myself, and did not wish to press the matter home: otherwise
he could not have escaped so easily as he did. Yet what must we think of
an Englishman, who, relying for protection on the fear and respect which
the mighty country to which he belongs everywhere inspires, visits a
Spanish town in a state of revolution--as Malaga was--and, for the
bringing about a particular object, adds to the ferment by appealing to
already excited passions? But I shall not dwell further on this subject.
The Society are already aware of the results of the visit of our friend
to Malaga, all their Bibles and Testaments having been seized throughout
Spain, with the exception of my stock in Madrid (upwards of 3000)--Count
Ofalia having in a communication to Sir George declared that he had full
confidence in my honour and good faith, being well persuaded that I
harboured no designs but those I professed.
I send you on the other side some extracts from one of the tracts which
purports to be 'A true history of the Virgin of Sorrows, to whom Don
Carlos, the Rebel and Fanatic, has dedicated his cause, and the ignorance
which he trumpets.' The one, however, which has given most offence is 'A
Catechism on the Principal Controversies between Protestants and
Catholics,' translated from the English.
I now await your orders. I wish to know whether I am at liberty to
pursue the course which may seem to me best under existing circumstances,
and which at present appears to be to mount my horses which are neighing
in the stable, and once more to betake myself to the plains and mountains
of dusty Spain, and to dispose of my Testaments to the muleteers and
peasants. By doing so I shall employ myself usefully, and at the same
time avoid giving offence. Better days will soon arrive, which will
enable me to return to Madrid and reopen my shop; till then, however, I
should wish to pursue my labours in comparative obscurity.
I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, most truly yours,
GEORGE BORROW.
_P.S._--I am engaged in translating the Acts of the Apostles into Basque.
_On the fly-leaf of this letter appear the following extracts_.
Historia Verdadera de la Virjen Dolorosa
a Quien el rebelde y fanatico D. Carlos
Ha Dedicado su causa y la ignorancia que Pregona.
EXTRACTOS
P. 17. 'Echase de ver en todos estos epitetos grandiosos prodigados a
Maria la obra del enemigo de Dios, el cual, ensencialmente idolatra, ha
sabido introducir la idolatria bajo las apariencias del Cristianismo, y
se esfuerza en desviar sobre una criatura, y hasta en la imagen de esta,
la adoracion que se debe a Dios tan solo. Sin duda que con igual objeto
se colocan por todas partes las estatuas de Maria, adornadas con una
corona, y llevando en brazos un tierno infante, como para acostumbrar al
pueblo al concepto entranable de [la superi] oridad de Maria sobre
Jesus.'
P. 30. 'Tal es nuestra conclusion. Reconociendo y sancionando este
culto, la Iglesia de Roma se constituye iglesia _idolatra_, y todos sus
miembros que no saben buscar la verdad detras del monstruos-o
hacinamiento de impiedad con que la oculta, son supuestos por la misma
condenados a la perdicion. El caudillo de esta Iglesia, que no se
averguenza de prohibir y hacer que se prohiba, por donde quiera alcanza
su ferula, la palabra de Dios, debiera saber cuando menos, se atesorase
el espiritu de Cristo, que mejor empleara sus bulas barriendo la Iglesia
Romana de todas sus iniquidades, que no promulgando tan injustas
prohibiciones. Pero ya que, afferrandose contra mejora, esta iglesia
proteje y consagra por todas partes un sinnumero de supersticiones y
cultos erroneos, claro esta que con esto se alza y caracteriza como uno
de los principales ajentes del Anticristo.'
To Mr. W. Hitchin
(_Endorsed_: recd. July 20, 1838)
MADRID, _July_ 9, 1838.
On the other side I beg leave to present my account. One or two items
require some explanation.
1st, Mr. Borrego's bill of 3084 _reals_, of which 1760 are for the
printing of the Basque Gospel, the remainder is for advertisements,
boxes, package and freight of books to various parts of Spain, namely, to
Valencia, Malaga, Santander, Corunna, etc. The original bill I shall
forward as soon as it has been signed and vouched for by Messrs. O'Shea,
who paid the money.
2nd, As to prison expenses, I must observe that the Government after
placing me at liberty offered to indemnify me for all the expense I had
incurred in prison, but I refused to accept their offer; should, however,
the Committee think that I ought to have done so, they will deduct the
amount.
3rd, 60 _reals_ for porterage; on receiving intelligence that my depots
had been seized in various parts of the country, I thought it advisable
to place my stock in Madrid in safety, and in consequence under cover of
night removed it from the shop, and concealed it in portions in the
houses of various friends.
In conclusion, I must beg that you will collate my present account with
my last, as I am apprehensive that I may have charged the same outlay
twice; the copy of my last account was lost when my papers were seized.
I make an excursion to-morrow to the rural districts of New Castile,
which will probably occupy a fortnight. I have sent before me two
hundred Testaments.
I remain, etc.,
G. BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. July 28, 1838)
VILLA SECA, DISTRICT OF TOLEDO,
_July_ 14, 1838.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I write these lines from Villa Seca, a village
situated on the bank of the Tagus about nine leagues from Madrid. A few
minutes before my departure I received your letter of the 29th June, in
which you mention letters being on the way for me. I, however, could not
wait for them for many reasons, principally because in that event I
should have lost a considerable number of Testaments, which I had sent
before me. I am moreover tolerably well acquainted with the contents
[of] those communications from the one which I have already received.
For some time past I have been determined at whatever risk to make an
effort to circulate the Scriptures in the rural districts of New Castile,
where I am grieved to say the most profound ignorance of true religion
prevails. I have been induced to take up my quarters for the present in
Villa Seca, from being well acquainted with a labourer of the place;
moreover its situation is favourable to my views as there are many other
villages in its vicinity. Poverty it is true abounds, but I am perfectly
sure that our friends at home are disposed to make every reasonable
sacrifice, and not for a moment to balance the dust of Mammon against the
eternal welfare of their fellow-creatures.
For the last two days I have been riding in various directions. It is a
great blessing that heat agrees with me wonderfully, as we have no less
than thirty-six degrees according to Reaumur; otherwise it would be
impossible for me to accomplish anything, the atmosphere resembling the
flickering glow about the mouth of an oven. I have already disposed of
about thirty Testaments, of course at exceedingly low prices. To-day,
however, I have commenced a new course, and have sent abroad various
peasants with some parcels of Testaments; my host, whom it has pleased
the Lord to render favourable to the cause, has himself taken the field,
and has proceeded to the neighbouring village of Vargas mounted on his
donkey. If success do not attend my efforts, the Lord knows that it will
be no fault of mine. It will be the working of His own holy will.
I had scarcely written the above lines when I heard the voice of the
donkey in the court-yard, and going out I found my host returned. He had
disposed of his whole cargo of twenty Testaments at the old Moorish
village of Vargas, distant from hence about two leagues, and all in the
space of about half an hour. Eight poor harvest-men, who were refreshing
themselves at the door of the wine-house, purchased each a copy; whilst
the village schoolmaster took all the rest for the little ones beneath
his care, lamenting at the same time the great difficulty he had long
experienced in obtaining religious books, owing to their scarcity and
extravagant price. Many other persons were also anxious to procure
Testaments, but my envoy (Juanito Lopez) was unable to supply them. At
his departure they requested him to return within a few days.
I will not conceal from you that I am playing a daring game, and it is
very possible that when I least expect it I may be seized, tied to the
tail of a mule, and dragged either to the prison of Toledo or Madrid.
Yet such a prospect does not discourage me in the least, but rather urges
me on to persevere; for I assure you--and in this assertion there lurks
not the slightest desire to magnify myself and produce an effect--that I
am eager to lay down my life in this cause, and whether a Carlist's
bullet or the jail-fever bring my career to an end, I am perfectly
indifferent. But I have other matters now to speak of.
You hint that a desire is entertained at home to have a personal
conference with me. In the name of the Highest I entreat you all to
banish such a preposterous idea. A journey home (provided you intend
that I should return to Spain) could lead to no result but expense and
the loss of precious time. I have nothing to explain to you which you
are not already perfectly well acquainted with by my late letters. I was
fully aware at the time I was writing them that I should afford you
little satisfaction, for the plain unvarnished truth is seldom agreeable.
But I now repeat, and these are perhaps among the last words which I
shall ever be permitted to pen, that I cannot approve, and I am sure no
Christian can, of the system which has lately been pursued in the large
sea-port cities of Spain, and which the Bible Society has been supposed
to sanction, notwithstanding the most unreflecting person could easily
foresee that such a line of conduct could produce nothing in the end but
obloquy and misfortune.
It was unkind and unjust to taunt me with having been unsuccessful in
distributing the Scriptures. Allow me to state that no other person
under the same circumstances would have distributed the tenth part. Yet
had I been utterly unsuccessful, it would have been wrong to check me
with being so, after all I have undergone--and with how little of that
are you acquainted. You are perfectly correct in concluding that certain
persons are laughing in their sleeve. But at what? At the success of
their own machinations? Not at all! They are laughing at the
inconceivable fatuity which induces those whom _they once dreaded_ to
destroy themselves and their own labours. The stone with immense toil is
rolled up to the brow of the mountain, when they see it recoil, not at
the touch of Jupiter but at the impulse of the insane Sisyphus, who pulls
it down on his own body. With common sense and prudence very much might
have been accomplished in Spain, and still may. I am sorry to say that
hitherto very little of [that] has been used.
You are surprised that I should presume to hint that I have been linked
to G. [Graydon], but at the same time admit that my identification with
him by my enemies has been unavoidable. Now in the name of all that is
reasonable, to what does such an admission amount but that I have been
linked to this man, and it matters very little whether or not I have been
brought into personal contact with him. But now farewell to him: and in
taking leave of this subject, I will add that the unfortunate M. [Marin]
is dying of a galloping consumption, brought on by distress of mind. All
the medicine in the world would not accomplish his cure.
With God's permission I will write again in a few days and till then,
I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, most truly yours,
GEORGE BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. July 30, 1838)
VILLA SECA, NEW CASTILLE, 17 _July_ 1838.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I addressed a letter to you on the 14th instant,
which I hope you will receive in course of time, together with the
present; in that letter I informed you where I was, stating my
proceedings and intentions. It has pleased the Lord to permit me to be
hitherto very successful in these regions, so much so that during less
than a week I have disposed of the entire stock of Testaments which I
brought with me, namely two hundred; only three or four remain, which are
already bespoken. Last night I sent off a messenger to Madrid for a
fresh supply, which I expect will arrive in a day or two.
I must here observe that up to the present moment I have endeavoured as
much as possible to avoid noise, and notoriety. Advertisements and
handbills I have utterly eschewed. I brought none with me, and in these
rural places, the name of a printing press is unknown; nor have I much
endeavoured to work upon the mind of the simple peasantry around me by
words. I merely tell them that I bring them the words and life of the
Saviour and His saints at a price adapted to their humble means.
Nevertheless the news of the arrival of the book of life is spreading
like wild-fire through the villages of the Sagra of Toledo, and wherever
my people and myself direct our course we find the inhabitants disposed
to receive our merchandise; it is even called for where not exhibited.
Last night as I was bathing myself and [my] horse in the Tagus, a knot of
people gathered on the bank crying: 'Come out of the water, Englishman,
and give us books; we have got our money in our hands.' The poor
creatures then held out their hands filled with _cuartos_, a copper coin
of the value of a farthing, but I had unfortunately no Testament to
afford them. My servant, however, who was at a short distance, having
exhibited one, it was instantly torn from his hands by the people, and a
scuffle ensued to obtain possession of it. It has very frequently
occurred that the poor labourers in the neighbourhood, being eager to
obtain Testaments and having no money to offer us in exchange, have
brought various other articles to our cottage as equivalents--for
example, rabbits, fruit and barley; and I have made a point never to
disappoint them, as such articles are of utility either for our own
consumption or that of the horses.
In Villa Seca there is a school in which fifty-seven children are taught
the first rudiments of education. Yesterday morning the schoolmaster, a
tall slim figure of about sixty, bearing on his head one of the peaked
hats of Andalusia and wrapped notwithstanding the excessive heat of the
weather in a long cloak, made his appearance, and having seated himself
requested to be shown one of our books. Having delivered it to him, he
remained examining it for nearly half an hour without uttering a word.
At last he laid it down with a sigh and said that he should be very happy
to purchase some of these books for his school, but from their
appearance, especially from the quality of the paper and binding, he was
apprehensive that to pay for them would exceed the means of the parents
of his pupils, as they were almost destitute of money, being poor
labourers. He then commenced blaming the Government, which, he said,
established schools without affording the necessary books, adding that in
his school there were but two books for the use of all his pupils, and
these he confessed contained but little good. I asked him what he
considered the Testaments were worth. He said, '_Senor Cavalier_, to
speak frankly I have in other times paid twelve _reals_ for books
inferior to yours in every respect, but I assure you that my poor pupils
would be utterly unable to pay the half of that price.' I replied, 'I
will sell you as many as you please for three _reals_ each; I am
acquainted with the poverty of the land, and my friends and myself in
affording the people the means of spiritual instruction have no wish to
curtail their scanty bread.' He replied: '_Benedito seo Dios_' ('blessed
be God'), and could scarcely believe his ears. He instantly purchased a
dozen, expending therein, as he said, all the money he possessed with the
exception of a few _cuartos_. The introduction of the reading of the
Word of God into the country schools of Spain is therefore now begun, and
I humbly hope that it will prove one of those events which the Bible
Society after the lapse of years will have most reason to remember with
joy and gratitude to the Almighty.
An old peasant is at present reading in the portico. Eighty-four years
have passed over his head, and he is almost entirely deaf; nevertheless
he is reading aloud the second [chapter] of Matthew. Three days since he
bespoke a Testament, but not being able to raise the money he has not
redeemed it until the present moment; he has just brought thirty
farthings. As I survey the silvery hair which overshadows his sun-burnt
countenance, the words of the song occur to me: 'Lord, now lettest Thou
Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word: for mine eyes have
seen Thy salvation.'
I will now conclude these anecdotes with one not divested of singularity.
Over a branch of the Tagus by the bridge Azeca there is a large
water-mill. I have formed an acquaintance with the tenant of this mill,
who is known in the neighbourhood by the name of Don Antero. Two days
ago, taking me into a retired place, he asked me to my great astonishment
if I would sell him a thousand Testaments at the price at which I was
disposing of them to the peasantry, saying that if I would consent he
would pay me immediately; in fact he put his hand into his pocket, and
pulled it out filled with gold ounces. I asked him what was the reason
for his wish to make so considerable a purchase. Whereupon he informed
me that he had a relation in Toledo whom he wished to establish, and that
he was of opinion that he could do no better than take a shop there and
furnish it with Testaments. I told him that he must think of nothing of
the kind, as probably the books would be seized on the first attempt to
introduce them into Toledo, as the priests and canons were much averse to
their distribution. He was, however, not disconcerted, and said his
relation could travel, as I myself was doing, to dispose of them to the
peasants with profit to himself. I confess I was disposed at first to
accept his offer, but at length declined it, as I did not wish to expose
a poor man to the risk of losing money, goods, and perhaps liberty and
life. I was likewise averse to the books being offered to the peasantry
at an advanced price, being aware that they could not afford it; and the
books, by such an attempt would lose a considerable part of that
_prestijio_ (I know no English word to express my meaning) which they now
enjoy. Their cheapness strikes the minds of the people with wonder, and
they consider it almost as much in the light of a miracle as the Jews
[did the] manna which dropped from heaven at the time they were
famishing, or the spring which suddenly gushed from the flinty rock to
assuage their thirst in the wilderness.
The following is a list of the villages of the Sagra; or champaign
country of Toledo, already supplied with Testaments.