letters-第47章

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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。



LETTER：　17th　July；　1838



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。

It　will　perhaps　be　expedient　to　print　this　list　in　the　'Extracts。'


Vargas　　　　　Mocejon　　　　　　　Villa　Seca　Cobeja　　　　　Villaluenga　　　Yuncler。


In　about　a　week　I　shall　depart　from　hence　and　proceed　to　another　　district；　as　it　would　not　be　prudent　to　make　a　long　sojourn　in　any　　particular　district　under　existing　circumstances。　　It　is　my　　intention　to　cross　the　country　to　Aranjuez；　and　endeavour　to　supply　　with　the　Word　the　villages　on　the　frontier　of　La　Mancha。　　Write　to　　me　as　soon　as　possible；　always　directing　to　my　lodgings　in　Madrid。　　　I　wish　to　know　the　lowest　price　at　which　I　am　at　liberty　to　dispose　　of　Testaments；　and　conclude　with　hoping　that　what　I　have　narrated　　will　meet　the　approbation　of　you　ALL。

（UNSIGNED。）



LETTER：　23rd　July；　1838



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　Aug。　2nd；　1838）　MADRID；　No。　16　CALLE　SANTIAGO；　JULY　23；　1838。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　As；　I　was　about　to　leave　Villa　Seca　for　　Aranjuez　I　received　your　letters　of　the　3rd　and　7th　inst。；　on　the　　perusal　of　which　I　instantly　returned　to　Madrid　instead　of　pursuing　　my　intended　route。

My　answer　will　be　very　brief；　as　I　am　afraid　of　giving　way　to　my　　feelings；　I　hope；　however；　that　it　will　be　to　the　purpose。

It　is　broadly　hinted　in　yours　of　the　7th　that　I　have　made　false　　statements　in　asserting　that　the　Government；　in　consequence　of　what　　has　lately　taken　place；　had　come　to　a　resolution　of　seizing　the　　Bible　depots　in　various　parts　of　this　country。

In　reply；　I　beg　leave　to　inform　you　that　by　the　first　courier　you　　will　receive　from　the　British　Legation　at　Madrid　the　official　　notice　from　Count　Ofalia　to　Sir　George　Villiers　of　the　seizures　　already　made；　and　the　motives　which　induced　the　Government　to　have　　recourse　to　such　a　measure。

The　following　seizures　have　already　been　made；　though　some　have　not　　as　yet　been　officially　announced：

The　Society's　books　at　Oviedo；　Pontevedra；　Salamanca；　Santiago；　　Seville；　and　Valladolid。

It　appears　from　your　letters　that　the　depots　in　the　south　of　Spain　　have　escaped。　　I　am　glad　of　it；　although　it　be　at　my　own　expense。　　　I　see　the　hand　of　the　Lord　throughout　the　late　transactions。　　He　is　　chastening　me。　　It　is　His　pleasure　that　the　guilty　escape　and　the　　innocent　be　punished。　　The　Government　give　orders　to　seize　the　　Bible　depots　throughout　the　country　on　account　of　the　late　scenes　　at　Malaga　and　Valencia。　　I　have　never　been　there；　yet　only　MY　　depots　are　meddled　with；　as　it　appears！　　The　Lord's　will　be　done；　　blessed　be　the　name　of　the　Lord！

I　will　write　again　to…morrow。　　I　shall　have　then　arranged　my　　thoughts；　and　determined　on　the　conduct　which　it　becomes　a　　Christian　to　pursue　under　these　circumstances。　　Permit　me　in　　conclusion　to　ask　you：

Have　you　not　to　a　certain　extent　been　partial　in　this　matter？　　Have　　you　not；　in　the　apprehension　of　being　compelled　to　blame　the　　conduct　of　one；　who　has　caused　me　unutterable　anxiety；　misery；　and　　persecution；　and　who　has　been　the　bane　of　the　Bible　cause　in　Spain；　　refused　to　receive　the　information　which　it　was　in　your　power　to　　command？　　I　called　on　the　Committee　and　yourself；　from　the　first；　　to　apply　to　Sir　George　Villiers；　no　one　is　so　well　versed　in　what　　has　lately　been　going　on　as　himself。　　But　no。　　It　was　God's　will　　that　I；　who　have　risked　all　and　lost　almost　all　in　the　cause；　be　　taunted；　suspected；　and　the　sweat　of　agony　and　tears　which　I　have　　poured　out　be　estimated　at　the　value　of　the　water　of　the　ditch　or　　the　moisture　which　exudes　from　rotten　dung。　　But　I　murmur　not；　and　　hope　I　shall　at　all　times　be　willing　to　bow　to　the　dispensations　of　　the　Almighty。

Sir　George　Vil