letters-第44章

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eover；　declared　that　it　probably　will　be　expedient　to　co…operate　　with　the　Society　in　printing　cheap　editions　of　the　Scripture　for　　the　use　of　the　people；　as　daily　experience　shows　that　the　old　　system　cannot　be　carried　on　and　that　the　sacred　writings　must　be　　thrown　open。

The　chief　difficulty　to　settle　will　be　the　Apocrypha；　but　I　have　　authorised　a　friend　to　state　that　the　Society　is　disposed　to　make　　every　possible　concession；　and　to　go　so　far　as　to　relinquish　the　　Old　Testament　entirely　and　to　content　itself　with　circulating　the　　New。　　Perhaps　I　went　too　far　in　this　advance；　but　I　believe　a　　similar　concession　has　been　made　in　the　case　of　Ireland；　and　I　　feared　to　lose　all　by　aiming　at　too　much。　　However　flattering　　affairs　may　appear　at　present；　I　am　well　aware　that　a　herculean　　labour　is　to　be　surmounted　before　matters　can　be　placed　on　a　safe　　footing　in　Spain。　　Prudence；　coolness　and　firmness　are　at　this　　moment　particularly　necessary；　and　let　it　never　for　a　moment　be　　supposed　that　religious　instruction　and　the　knowledge　of　genuine　　Christianity　can　be　introduced　into　Spain　by　scurrilous　handbills　　and　the　low　arts　of　the　mountebank。

A　split　with　Rome　will　very　shortly　ensue；　by　which　I　mean　that　no　　attention　will　be　paid　to　Bulls；　against　which　several　of　the　　principal　ecclesiastics　have　spoken；　with　these　puissant　　auxiliaries　we　must　act　in　concert。

Allow　me　in　conclusion　to　state　a　beautiful　piece　of　conduct　of　Sir　　George　Villiers。　　I　have　commissioned　one　of　the　Bishops　to　request　　for　me　an　interview　with　the　Archbishop　of　Toledo。　　Sir　George　on　　hearing　this　said：…　'Tell　the　Archbishop　that　I　also　am　anxious　for　　the　favour　of　an　interview；　in　order　that　I　may　assist　in　clearing　　up　any　doubt；　which　he　may　still　entertain；　respecting　the　　intentions　of　the　Bible　Society；　he　has　only　to　state　the　day；　and　　I　will　wait　upon　him。'

G。　BORROW。　　　P。S。　…　I　yesterday　transmitted　you　a　Spanish　newspaper　in　which　I　　have　published　an　advertisement；　disclaiming　in　the　name　of　the　　Bible　Society　any　writings　which　may　have　been　circulated　tending　　to　lower　the　authorities；　civil　and　ecclesiastic；　in　the　eyes　of　　the　people；　and　denying　that　it　is　its　intention　or　wish　to　make　　proselytes　from　the　Catholic　form　of　worship。　　I　took　this　step　by　　advice；　I　had　likewise　a　particular　reason　of　MY　OWN。

Marin　is　still　here　looking　out　for　some　secular　employ；　but　he　is　　continually　haunting　me。　　He　tells　me　that　he　is　preparing　an　　accounts　of　all　his　dealings　with　G　＇Graydon＇　and　R　＇Rule＇；　in　　which　he　details　the　promises　made　him　to　induce　him　to　sign　a　　document　purporting　to　be　a　separation　from　the　Roman　Church。　　He　　says　that　he　was　abandoned　because　he　refused　to　preach　publicly　　against　the　Chapter　of　Valencia；　which　step　would　have　insured　him　　a　dungeon。　　This　may　be　true　or　false；　but　I　have　taken　my　　precautions。


TRANSLATION　OF　THE　ADVERTISEMENT　（ENDORSED：　recd。　May　28；　1838）

A　rumour　having　been　spread　that　some　individuals；　calling　　themselves　agents　of　the　British　and　Foreign　Bible　Society；　under　　the　pretext　of　circulating　copies　of　the　Holy　Scriptures；　have　　traversed　several　towns　on　the　eastern　and　western　coasts　of　Spain；　　and　have　published　writings　in　which　the　respect　due　to　the　　ecclesiastical　and　civil　authorities　of　Spain　has　not　been　　observed；　but　on　the　contrary　an　intention　has　evidently　been　　manifested　in　them　to　disparage　them　in　the　eyes　of　the　population　　of　those　parts；　I　hasten　to　make　the　following　public　Declaration：

That　such　individuals　…　if　it　be　certain　that　there　are　such　…　have　　in　this　respect　acted　upon　their　own　responsibility；　without　　permission　and　even　in　direct　opposition　to　the　intentions　of　the　　Bible　Society；　inasmuch　as　on　the　principles　of　the　New　Testament　　similar　attempts　are　to　be　reprobated　and　regarded　with　horror；　　being　in　direct　opposition　to　the　express　commands　of　the　Saviour　　and　His　Apostles；　who　in　their　addresses　and　writings　have　on　　various　occasions　exhorted　the　faithful　to　shew　respect　and　　obedience　to　their　masters　and　superiors；　even　when　they　were　　heretics　or　idolaters。

And　as　it　has　been　stated　that　certain　persons；　under　pretext　of　　being　agents　of　the　British　and　Foreign　Bible　Society；　have　shown　　zeal　in　persuading；　and　have　actually　in　some　cases　persuaded；　　various　individuals　to　sign　documents　purporting　to　be　declarations　　of　separation　from　the　Catholic　Faith　…　I　herewith　publicly　declare　　that　the　British　and　Foreign　Bible　Society　has　no　connection　with　　such　persons；　and　should　there　be　any　such；　it　is　not　disposed　　either　to　confirm　or　to　approve　their　proceedings；　but　on　the　　contrary　is　desirous　of　stating　in　the　most　energetic　and　solemn　　manner　that　it　disavows　and　rejects　all　connexion　or　intercourse　　with　them。

The　British　and　Foreign　Bible　Society　is　composed　of　individuals　　belonging　to　all　sects；　in　which　those　are　divided　who　follow　the　　faith　of　Jesus　Christ；　amongst　whom　are　seen　co…operating　for　one　　grand　and　holy　object；　followers　of　the　Apostles；　Romans；　and　　members　of　the　Greek　and　＇of　the＇　English　Church；　whose　design　is　　the　propagation　of　the　word　of　Christ　in　all　countries；　separating　　wholly　from　the　forms　of　discipline　of　the　Church；　＇which　are＇　　matters　of　secondary　consideration；　which　for　a　long　time　have　　filled　the　world　with　bloodshed　and　calamity；　and　have　tended　to　　keep　up　in　the　hearts　of　Christians　unhappy　and　malignant　feuds。　　　Far　from　being　desirous　of　making　proselytes　among　those　professing　　the　Catholic　worship；　the　Bible　Society　is　at　all　times　disposed　to　　hold　out　the　hand　of　Christian　fraternity　to　the　clergy　of　Spain　　and　to　co…operate　with　those　who　believe；　as　the　Catholic　clergy　　assuredly　do；　'that　all　shall　be　saved；　who；　believing　in　Jesus　　Christ；　show　it　by　their　good　works。'

Madrid　MAY　12；　1838；　Office　of　the　Bible　Society；　Calle　del　Principe。　（Signed）　GEORGE　BORROW；　Sole　authorised　Agent　of　the　British　and　Foreign　Bible　Society　in　Spain。



LETTER：　23rd　May；　1838



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　June　2；　1838）　MADRID；　＇MAY　23rd；　1838＇。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　I　have　just　had　an　interview　with　the　　Archbishop　＇of　Toledo＇。　　It　was　satisfactory　to　a　degree　I　had　not　　dared　to　hope　for。

In　the　name　of　the　MOST　HIGHEST　take　steps　for　preventing　that　　miserable　creature　Graydon　from　ruining　us　all。

GEORGE　BORROW。



LETTER：　25th　May；　1838



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　June　4；　1838）　MADRID；　MAY　25；　1838；　CALLE　SANTIAGO。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　Events　follow　each　other　so　quickly　in　this　　singular　country；　and　my　situation　is　so　peculiar；　and　I　am　afraid　　so　little　understood　at　home；　that　I　am　obliged　to　take　up　the　pen　　more　frequently　than　I　am　inclined。　　Do　not　think　me　intrusive　in　　again　troubling　you。　　I　do　it　in　the　hope　of　preventing　any　alarm　　which　an　incorrect　report　of　the　following　circumstance　might　cause　　you。

Immediately　on　receiving　intelligence　of　the　scenes　which　had　taken　　place　at　Malaga；　the　Spanish　Government　resolved　to　put　an　end　to　　all　Bible　transactions　in　Spain；　and　forthwith　gave　orders　for　the　　seizure　of　all　the　Bibles　and　Testaments　in　the　country　wherever　　they　might　be　deposited　or　exposed　for　sale。　　They　notified　the　　same　to　Sir　George　Villiers；　expressly　stating　that　the　resolution　　was　taken　in　consequence　of　the；　'OCURRIDO　EN　MALAGA。'　　I　have　now　　learnt　that　several　of　my　depots　have　been　seized　in　various　parts　　of　Spain；　for　example；　at　Salamanca；　Seville；　and　of　course　at　　Malaga。　　This；　however；　gives　me　little　uneasiness；　for；　with　the　　blessing　of　God；　I　shall　be　able　to　repair　all；　always　provided　I　　am　allowed　to　follow　my　own　plans；　and　to　avail　myself　of　the　　advantages　which　have　lately　been　opened　especially　to　cultivate　　the　kind　feeling　lately　manifested　towards　me　by　the　principal　　Spanish　clergy。

But　now　prompt　measures　must　be　taken　on　the　part　of　the　Bible　　Society。　　Knowing　as　I　do　the　character　of　the　unfortunate　man　who　　has　lately　caused　so　much　havoc；　I　am　apprehensive　that　he　may　be　　guilty　of　some　fresh　excess。　　From　Mr。　Rule's　letter；　which　I　　forwarded　to　you；　it　appears　that　for　some　time　it　has　been　his　　intention　to　quit　Spain；　but　not　quietly；　witness　this　last　affair　　of　Malaga。　　Now　my　fear　is　that　on　his　return　to　Barcelona；　on　　finding　that　the　books　and　Bibles　intrusted　to　his　discretion　have　　been　seized；　he　will　publish　as　a　parting　legacy　some　tirade　　against　the　Government　and　clergy。　　If　he　do；　he　will　probably　　bring　himself　into　trouble　and　at　all　events　destruction　on　our　　cause；　for　the　Government　is　quite　despotic；　as　indeed　is　necessary　　at　the　present　time；　and　the　whole　of　Spain　is　under　martial　law。　　　Therefore　for　his　own　sake；　if　not　for　the　sake　of　the　cause；　let　　him　instantly　retire；　abandoning　the　Bibles　to　their　fate。　　They　　shall　not　be　lost。

I　have　had；　as　you　are　aware；　an　interview　with　the　Archbishop　of　　Toledo。　　I　have　not　time　to　state　particulars；　but　he　said　amongst　　other　things；　'Be　prudent；　the　Government　are　disposed　to　arrange　　matters　amicably；　and　I　am　disposed　to　co…operate　with　them。'　　At　　parting　he　shook　me　most　kindly　by　the　hand；　saying　that　he　liked　　me。　　Sir　George　intends　to　visit　him　in　a　few　days。　　He　is　an　old；　　venerable…looking　man；　between　seventy　and　eighty。　　When　I　saw　him；　　he　was　dressed　with　the　utmost　simplicity；　with　the　exception　of　a　　most　splendid　amethyst　ring；　the　lustre　of　which　was　truly　　dazzling。

My　poor　servant；　a　Basque　from　Hernani；　is；　I　am　afraid；　dying　of　　the　jail…fever；　which　he　caught　in　prison　whilst　attending　me。　　He　　has　communicated　this　horrible　disorder　to　two　other　persons。　　Poor　　Marin　is　also　very　ill；　but　I　believe　with　a　broken　heart；　I　　administer　to　his　needs　as　far　as　prudence　will　allow　me；　for　I　am　　grieved　for　him。　　I　have　not　yet　despatched　my　letter　to　Mr。　Rule；　　as　I　wish　not　to　offend　him；　but　I　cannot　approve　of　his　forcing　　Marin　to　come　up　to　Madrid；　contrary　to　his　wishes。　　Zeal　is　a　　precious　thing；　when　accompanied　with　one　grain　of　common　sense。

In　conclusion；　I　beg　leave　to　say　that　Sir　George　Villiers　has　　authorised　me　to　state　that　provided　the　Bible　Society　entertain　　any　doubts　respecting　my　zeal　in　the　Christian　cause；　or　the　　correctness　of　my　conduct　during　my　sojourn　in　Spain；　he　hopes　they　　will　do　him　the　satisfaction　to　communicate　with　him。

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

GEORGE　BORROW。



LETTER：　13th　June；　1838



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　June　23；　1838）　JUNE　13；　1838；　MADRID；　No。　16　CALLE　ST。　IAGO；

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　I　have　received　your　letter　of　June　1st；　but　　not　that　of　the　30th　May　which　you　allude　to　in　the　same；　therefore　　I　am　still　in　the　dark　upon　many　points。

Another　bitter　cup　has　been　filled　for　my　swallowing。　　The　Bible　　Society　and　myself　have　been　accused　of　blasphemy；　sedition；　etc。　　　A　collection　of　tracts　has　been　seized　in　Murcia；　in　which　the　　Catholic　religion　and　its　dogmas　are　handled　with　the　most　abusive　　severity；　these　books　have　been　sworn　to　as　having　been　left　BY　THE　　COMMITTEE　OF　THE　BIBLE　SOCIETY　WHILST　IN　THAT　TOWN；　and　Count　　Ofalia　has　been　called　upon　to　sign　an　order　for　my　arrest　and　　banishment　from　Spain。　　Sir　George；　how