letters-第4章

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　I　am　at　present　　more　fully　aware　of　than　when　I　left　England。　　It　is　one　of　those　　deceitful　tongues；　the　seeming　simplicity　of　whose　structure　　induces　you　to　suppose；　after　applying　to　them　for　a　month　or　two；　　that　little　more　remains　to　be　learned；　but　which；　should　you　　continue　to　study　a　year；　as　I　have　studied　this；　show　themselves　　to　you　in　their　veritable　colours；　amazing　you　with　their　　copiousness；　puzzling　with　their　idioms。　　In　a　word　Mandchou　is　　equally　as　difficult　as　Sanscrit　or　Persian；　neither　of　which　　languages　has　ever　been　thoroughly　acquired　by　any　European；　though　　at　first　acquaintance　they　flatter　the　student　with　their　deceitful　　simplicity。　　I　take　the　liberty　of　sending　you　a　short　original　　epigram　in　rhymed　Mandchou；　which　if　it　answers　no　other　purpose　　will　afford　you　some　idea　of　my　running　Mandchou　hand；　which；　as　I　　now　write　perpendicularly；　is　very　different　from　that　hand　which　I　　wrote　previously　to　my　coming　hither。　　The　epigram　is　upon　the　　exploits　of　the　Tartars。

＇Here　follow　four　upright　lines　in　Manchu　characters。＇

Milites　qui　e　Manjurico　deserto　exierunt；　bellando　silvas；　campos　　et　oppida　Sinensis　imperii　captarunt。

Want　of　room　obliges　me　to　defer　making　a　report　upon　Mr。　　Lipoftsoff's　translation　until　my　next　letter；　which　will　follow　in　　a　week　or　two；　for　I　am　unwilling　in　a　matter　of　such　immense　　importance　to　deliver　a　brief　and　hurried　opinion。　　I　have　much　to　　communicate　also　respecting　the　proper　means　to　be　pursued　for　the　　introduction　and　circulation　of　the　volume；　when　printed；　in　China　　and　Tartary。　　This　information　I　have　derived　from　the　most　　authentic　sources；　namely　from　individuals　who　have　spent　many　　years　in　these　countries；　and　whose　acquaintance　I　have　eagerly　　sought。

From　England　I　have　lately　received　a　letter　in　which　is　an　extract　　from　an　epistle　of　my　brother　in　Mexico；　amounting　to　this　…　that　　there　is　no　native　language　in　that　country　entitled　to　the　　appellation　of　THE　Mexican　language；　that　it　is　as　incorrect　to　　make　use　of　such　an　expression；　as　it　would　be　to　say　definitely　　THE　European　language；　that　setting　aside　the　Spanish　there　are　　upwards　of　twenty　languages　and　dialects　spoken　in　Mexico；　none　of　　which　are　read　（except　perhaps　here　and　there　by　a　few　individuals）　　but　communicated　by　the　mouth　and　only　acquired　by　the　ear；　that　my　　brother　has　shown　the　sheet　of　St。　Luke's　Gospel；　which　I　　transmitted　to　him；　to　various　Spaniards　and　Indians；　but　it　was　　unintelligible　to　them；　the　latter　not　recognising　the　words　when　　read　to　them。　　I　should　therefore　advise　that　the　copies　of　this　　version　be　sent；　if　possible；　to　the　place　where　the　version　was　　purchased；　as　it　was　probably　made　in　the　language　or　dialect　of　　that　place　or　neighbourhood；　and　where　there　is　a　chance　of　its　　being　of　some　utility。　　Should　my　brother　have　survived　the　late　　dreadful　commotions　in　Mexico；　I　have　no　doubt　that　he　will　be　　exceedingly　happy　to　assist　in　flinging　the　rays　of　Scriptural　　light　over　that　most　benighted　and　miserable　region；　but　having　　lately　read　in　the　Russian　newspapers　that　the　town　of　Guanajuato；　　where　he　resided；　has　been　taken　and　sacked　by　the　murderous　bands　　of　the　insurgents；　I　have　great　reason　to　fear　that　his　earthly　　course　is　terminated；　for　the　former；　incited　by　their　demoniacal　　priests；　in　comparison　with　whom　the　Shamans　of　Manjuria　and　the　　lamas　of　Mongolia　and　China　are　innocent　and　holy；　lay　hold　of　　every　opportunity　of　shedding　the　blood　of　Protestants　and　　foreigners。

I　remain；　Revd。　and　dear　Sir；　most　truly　yours；

G。　BORROW。



LETTER：　4th　February；　1834



To　the　Rev。　J。　Jowett　（ENDORSED：　recd。　March　10th；　1834；　with　Report　on　the　Mandchou　New　　Testament。）　ST。　PETERSBURG；　GALERNOY　ULITZA；　4　FEBRUARY　（old　style）　1834。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　In　compliance　with　the　request　of　the　　Committee；　expressed　in　your　epistle　of　the　2nd　January；　I　herewith　　send　a　report　upon　Mr。　Lipoftsoff's　translation；　and　as　there　were　　many　things　which　I　wished　to　mention　in　my　last　letter；　but　was　　unable　from　want　of　room；　I　take　this　opportunity　of　stating　them；　　with　the　hope　that　they　will　meet　with　your　approbation。

In　the　first　place；　whatever　communication　you　wish　to　make　to　Mr。　　Lipoftsoff　I　think　you　had　best　charge　me　with　to　him；　for　in　that　　case　you　will　be　certain　that　he　will　receive　it；　without　loss　of　　time。　　But　I　must　inform　you　that　he　is　rather　a　singular　man；　and　　to　all　appearances　perfectly　indifferent　to　the　fate　of　his　　excellent　translation；　caring　nothing　whether　it　be　published　as　a　　powerful　instrument　to　open　the　closed　eyes　and　soften　the　hard　　hearts　of　the　idolators　of　China　and　Tartary；　or　whether　it　be　　committed　to　the　flames；　and　for　ever　lost　to　the　world。　　You　　cannot　conceive　the　cold；　heartless　apathy　in　respect　to　the　　affair；　on　which　I　have　been　despatched　hither　as　an　ASSISTANT；　　which　I　have　found　in　people；　to　whom　I　looked；　not　unreasonably；　　for　encouragement　and　advice。　　But　thanks　be　to　the　Lord；　the　great　　object　has　been　accomplished；　permission　has　been　obtained　to　print　　the　New　Testament；　and　have　no　doubt　that　permission　for　the　whole　　Bible　is　within　our　reach。　　And　in　regard　to　what　we　have　yet　to　　do；　let　it　be　borne　in　mind；　that　we　are　by　no　means　dependent　upon　　Mr。　Lipoftsoff；　though　certainly　to　secure　the　services　which　he　is　　capable　of　performing　would　be　highly　desirable；　and　though　he　　cannot　act　outwardly　in　the　character　of　Editor；　he　having　been　　appointed　Censor；　he　may　privately　be　of　great　utility　to　us。　　　Therefore　let　the　attempt　to　engage　his　services　be　made　without　　delay。

At　the　Sarepta　House　is　a　chest　containing　Mandchou　characters；　　belonging　to　the　Bible　Society；　which　I　shall　cause　to　be　examined　　for　the　purpose　of　ascertaining　whether　they　have　sustained　any　　injury　from　rust　during　the　long　time　they　have　been　lying　　neglected；　if　any　of　them　have；　my　learned　friend　Baron　Schilling；　　who　is　in　possession　of　a　small　fount　of　Mandchou　types　for　the　　convenience　of　printing　trifles　in　that　tongue；　has　kindly　promised　　to　assist　us　with　the　use　of　as　many　of　his　own　as　may　be　　necessary。　　There　is　one　printing　office　here；　where　they　are　in　　the　habit　of　printing　with　the　Mongolian　character；　which　differs　　but　little　from　the　Mandchou；　consequently　the　Mongolian　　compositors　will　be　competent　to　the　task　of　composing　in　Mandchou。　　　There　are　no　Mandchou　types　in　St。　Petersburg；　with　the　exception　　of　our　own　and　Baron　Schilling's。

I　suppose　that　it　will　be　thought　requisite　to　print　the　town　for　a　　year　or　so；　it　is　my　humble　opinion；　and　the　opinion　of　much　wiser　　people；　that　if　he　were　active；　zealous　and　likewise　courageous；　　the　blessings　resulting　from　his　labours　would　be　incalculable。　　It　　would　be　by　no　means　a　difficult　thing　to　make　excursions　into　　Tartary　and　to　form　friendships　amongst　the　Tartar　hordes；　and　I　am　　far　from　certain　that　with　a　little　management　and　dexterity　he　　would　be　unable　to　penetrate　even　to　Pekin；　and　to　return　in　　safety；　after　having　examined　the　state　of　the　land。　　I　can　only　　say　that　if　it　were　my　fortune　to　have　the　opportunity；　I　would　　make　the　attempt；　and　should　consider　myself　only　to　blame　if　I　did　　not　succeed。

In　my　last　letter　I　informed　you　that　I　had　procured　myself　an　　instructor　in　Mandchou；　and　that　I　was　making　tolerable　progress　in　　the　language。　　I　should　now　wish　to　ask　whether　this　person　could　　not　be　turned　to　some　further　account；　for　example；　to　assist　me　in　　making　a　translation　into　Mandchou　of　the　Psalms　and　Isaiah；　which　　have　not　yet　been　rendered。　　A　few　shillings　a　week；　besides　what　I　　give　him　for　my　own　benefit；　would　secure　his　co…operation；　for　he　　is　a　person　in　very　low　circumstances。　　He　is　not　competent　to　　undertake　any　thing　of　the　kind　by　himself；　being　in　many　respects　　very　simple　and　ignorant；　but　as　an　assistant　I　think　he　might　be　　of　considerable　utility；　and　that　between　us　we　could　produce　a　　version　which；　although　it　might　not　be　particularly　elegant；　would　　be　clear；　grammatical　and　faithful　to　the　original。　　In　the　mean　　time　I　shall　pursue　my　studies；　and　be　getting　every　thing　in　　readiness　for　setting　the　printers　at　work；　and　with　a　humble　　request　for　SPEEDY　INSTRUCTIONS；　in　order　that　as　little　time　as　　possible　may　be　lost　in　the　work　of　the　Lord；　I　have　the　honour　to　　remain；　Revd。　and　dear　Sir；

Your　most　obedient　and　humble　servant；

GEORGE　BORROW。

P。S。　…　My　kindest　regards　to　Mr。　Brandram　and　my　other　dear　friends　　at　the　Bible　House。　　I　thank　you　heartily　for　your　kind　advice　in　　the　latter　part　of　your　last　epistle。　　Do　me　the　favour　to　inform　　Dr。　Richardson　that　I　have　followed　his　instructions　in　regard　to　　clothing；　etc。；　and　have　derived　great　benefit　therefrom。



LETTER：　15th　February；　1834



To　the　Rev。　Joseph　Jowett　（ENDORSED：　recd。　March　…；　1834）　ST。　PETERSBURG；　FEBRY。　15　（old　style）；　1834。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　Having　forgotten　in　my　last　letter　to　say　　something　which　I　intended；　I　take　the　liberty　of　troubling　you　　with　these　lines。　　But　first　of　all　I　must　apologise　for　certain　　slips　of　the　pen　in　the　Report　which　I　transmitted；　for　it　left　me　　without　having　been　corrected；　Baron　Schilling　having　called　upon　　me　just　as　I　sat　down　to　the　task；　and　when　he　had　departed；　I　had　　barely　time　to　seal　it　and　despatch　it　by　that　week's　post。　　There　　was　in　it；　I　believe；　nothing　of　much　importance　which　required　　alteration；　but；　if　I　mistake　not；　I　had　written；　in　the　third　　side；　vibebam；　instead　of　VIVEREM；　and　unaparelled；　or　some　such　　word；　instead　of　UNPARALLELED；　in　the　fourth。　　Now　to　the　point。

What　is　to　be　done　with　the　transcript　of　Puerot's　translation　of　　the　Acts　of　the　Apostles；　which　I　made；　and　which　is　now　in　my　　possession？　　The　translation　is　in　every　respect　an　admirable　one；　　clear；　faithful；　and　elegant。　　It　would　not　do　to　print　it　in　lieu　　of　Mr。　Lipoftsoff's　translation　of　that　part　of　the　New　Testament；　　because　the　styles　of　the　two　individuals　are　so　different；　that　to　　mix　up　the　writings　of　the　one　with　those　of　the　other　would　only　　serve　to　disfigure　the　work；　and　Mr。　Lipoftsoff's　translation　is　　well　worthy　of　being　printed　separately　and　entire；　but　I　conceive　　that　we　possess　a　treasure　in　Puerot's　writings；　and　that　it　would　　be　a　great　pity　to　hide　any　portion　of　them　from　the　world。　　Pray　　communicate　this　hint　to　the　Committee；　and　pardon　me　for　troubling　　you。

I　remain；　Rev。　and　dear　Sir；　most　sincerely　yours；

G。　BORROW。



LETTER：　15th　April；　1834



To　the　Rev。　J。　Jowett　（ENDORSED：　recd；　May　16th；　1834）　GALERNOY　ULITZA；　ST。　PETERSBURG；　15TH　APRIL　（old　style）　1834。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　Upon　the　receipt　of　your　letter　of　the　＇21st＇　　ult。　＇date　omitted＇；　I　lost　no　time　in　endeavouring　to　obtain　the　　necessary　information　upon　the　points　to　which　you　directed　my　　attention；　and　I　have　some　hope　that　what　I　am　about　to　communicate　　will　not　be　altogether　unsatisfactory；　but　I　must　first　of　all　　state　that　it　was　not　acquired　in　a　day；　and　that　I　have　been　　obliged　to　go　to　many　people　and　many　places；　which　will　account　　for　my　not　having　sooner　returned　an　answer。

First；　respecting　the　most　important　point；　th