letters-第7章

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ers　already　received；　it　was　but　natural　that　I　　should　verify　the　old　apophthegm；　'Last　come；　last　served。'　　As　no　　orders　are　attended　to　in　Russia　unless　money　be　advanced　upon　　them；　I　deposited　in　the　hands　of　Mr。　Pluchard　the　sum　of　2000　　roubles；　receiving　his　receipt　for　that　amount。

Having　arranged　this　most　important　matter　to　my　satisfaction；　I　　turned　my　attention　to　the　printing　process。　　I　accepted　the　offer　　of　Messrs。　Schultz　and　Beneze　to　compose　and　print　the　Mandchou　　Testament　at　the　rate　of　25　roubles　per　sheet；　and　caused　our　fount　　of　type　to　be　conveyed　to　their　office。　　I　wish　to　say　here　a　few　　words　respecting　the　state　in　which　these　types　came　into　my　　possession。　　I　found　them　in　a　kind　of　warehouse；　or　rather　cellar。　　　They　had　been　originally　confined　in　two　cases；　but　these　having　　burst；　the　type　lay　on　the　floor　trampled　amidst　mud　and　filth。　　　They　were；　moreover；　not　improved　by　having　been　immersed　within　　the　waters　of　the　inundation　of　'27　＇1824＇。　　I　caused　them　all　to　　be　collected　and　sent　to　their　destination；　where　they　were　　purified　and　arranged　…　a　work　of　no　small　time　and　difficulty；　at　　which　I　was　obliged　to　assist。　　Not　finding　with　the　type　what　is　　called　'Durchschuss'　by　the　printers　here；　consisting　of　leaden　　wedges　of　about　six　ounces　weight　each；　which　form　the　spaces　　between　the　lines；　I　ordered　120　pounds　weight　of　those　at　a　rouble　　a　pound；　being　barely　enough　for　three　sheets。　　I　had　now　to　teach　　the　compositors　the　Mandchou　alphabet；　and　to　distinguish　one　　character　from　another。　　This　occupied　a　few　days；　at　the　end　of　　which　I　gave　them　the　commencement　of　St。　Matthew's　Gospel　to　copy。　　　They　no　sooner　saw　the　work　they　were　called　upon　to　perform　than　　there　were　loud　murmurs　of　dissatisfaction；　and　。　。　。　＇four　Russian　　words＇　which　means　'It　is　quite　impossible　to　do　the　like；'　was　the　　cry　…　and　no　wonder。　　The　original　printed　Gospel　had　been　so　　interlined　and　scribbled　upon　by　the　author　in　a　hand　so　obscure　　and　irregular；　that；　accustomed　as　I　was　to　the　perusal　of　the　　written　Mandchou；　it　was　not　without　the　greatest　difficulty　that　I　　could　decipher　the　new　matter　myself。　　Moreover；　the　corrections　　had　been　so　carelessly　made　that　they　themselves　required　far　more　　correction　than　the　original　matter。　　I　was　therefore　obliged　to　be　　continually　in　the　printing…office；　and　to　do　three　parts　of　the　　work　myself。　　For　some　time　I　found　it　necessary　to　select　every　　character　with　my　own　fingers；　and　to　deliver　it　to　the　compositor；　　and　by　so　doing　I　learnt　myself　to　compose。　　We　continued　in　this　　way　till　all　our　characters　were　exhausted；　for　no　paper　had　　arrived。　　For　two　weeks　and　more　we　were　obliged　to　pause；　the　want　　of　paper　being　insurmountable。　　At　the　end　of　this　period　came　six　　reams；　but　partly　from　the　manufacturers　not　being　accustomed　to　　make　this　species　of　paper；　and　partly　from　the　excessive　heat　of　　the　weather　which　caused　it　to　dry　too　fast；　only　one　ream　and　a　　half　could　be　used；　and　this　was　not　enough　for　one　sheet；　the　rest　　I　refused　to　take；　and　sent　back。　　The　next　week　came　fifteen　　reams。　　This　paper；　from　the　same　causes；　was　as　bad　as　the　last。　　　I　selected　four　reams；　and　sent　the　rest　back。　　But　this　paper　　enabled　us　to　make　a　beginning；　which　we　did　not　fail　to　do；　though　　we　received　no　more　for　upwards　of　a　fortnight；　which　caused　　another　pause。　　At　the　end　of　that　time；　owing　to　my　pressing　　remonstrances　and　entreaties；　a　regular　supply　of　about　twelve　　reams　per　week　of　most　excellent　paper　commenced。　　This　continued　　until　we　had　composed　the　last　five　sheets　of　St。　Matthew；　when　　some　paper　arrived　which　in　my　absence　was　received　by　Mr。　Beneze；　　who；　without　examining　it；　as　was　his　duty；　delivered　it　to　the　　printers　to　use　in　the　printing　of　the　said　sheets；　who　accordingly　　printed　upon　part　of　it。　　But　the　next　day；　when　my　occupation　　permitted　me　to　see　what　they　were　about；　I　observed　that　the　last　　paper　was　of　a　quality　very　different　from　that　which　had　been　　previously　sent。　　I　accordingly　instantly　stopped　the　press；　and；　　notwithstanding　eight　reams　had　been　printed　upon；　I　sent　all　the　　strange　paper　back；　and　caused　Mr。　Beneze　to　recompose　three　　sheets；　which　had　been　broken　up；　at　his　own　expense。　　But　this　　caused　the　delay　of　another　week。

This　last　circumstance　made　me　determine　not　to　depend　in　future　　for　paper　on　one　manufactory　alone。　　I　therefore　stated　to　Mr。　　P＇luchard＇　that；　as　his　people　were　unable　to　furnish　me　with　the　　article　fast　enough；　I　should　apply　to　others　for　250　reams；　and　　begged　him　to　supply　me　with　the　rest　as　fast　as　possible。　　He　made　　no　objection。　　Thereupon　I　prevailed　upon　my　most　excellent　friend；　　Baron　Schilling；　to　speak　to　his　acquaintance；　State…Councillor　　Alquin；　who　is　possessed　of　a　paper　manufactory；　on　the　subject。　　　M。　Alquin；　as　a　personal　favour　to　Baron　Schilling　（whom；　I　　confess；　I　was　ashamed　to　trouble　upon　such　an　affair；　and　should　　never　have　done　so　had　not　zeal　for　the　CAUSE　induced　me）；　　consented　to　furnish　me　with　the　required　paper　on　the　same　terms　　as　Mr。　P。　　At　present　there　is　not　the　slightest　risk　of　the　　progress　of　our　work　being　retarded　…　at　present；　indeed；　the　path　　is　quite　easy；　but　the　trouble；　anxiety；　and　misery　which　have　till　　lately　harassed　me；　ALONE　in　a　situation　of　great　responsibility；　　have　almost　reduced　me　to　a　skeleton。

My　dearest　Sir；　do　me　the　favour　to　ask　our　excellent　Committee；　　Would　it　have　answered　any　useful　purpose　if；　instead　of　continuing　　to　struggle　with　difficulties　and　using　my　utmost　to　overcome　them；　　I　had　written　in　the　following　strain　…　and　what　else　could　I　have　　written　if　I　had　written　at　all？　…　'I　was　sent　out　to　St。　　Petersburg　to　assist　Mr。　Lipoftsoff　in　the　editing　of　the　Mandchou　　Testament。　　That　gentleman；　WHO　HOLDS　THREE　IMPORTANT　SITUATIONS　　UNDER　THE　RUSSIAN　GOVERNMENT；　AND　WHO　IS　FAR　ADVANCED　IN　YEARS；　has　　neither　time；　inclination；　or　eyesight　for　the　task；　and　I　am　　apprehensive　that　my　strength　and　powers　unassisted　are　incompetent　　to　it'　（praised　be　the　Lord；　they　were　not！）；　'therefore　I　should　　be　glad　to　return　home。　　Moreover　the　compositors　say　that　they　are　　unaccustomed　to　compose　in　an　unknown　tongue　from　such　scribbled　　and　illegible　copy；　and　they　will　scarcely　assist　me　to　compose。　　　Moreover　the　working　printers　say　（several　went　away　in　disgust）　　that　the　paper　on　which　they　have　to　print　is　too　thin　to　be　　wetted；　and　that　to　print　on　dry　requires　a　two…fold　exertion　of　　strength；　and　that　they　will　not　do　such　work　for　double　wages；　for　　it　ruptures　them。'　　Would　that　have　been　a　welcome　communication　to　　the　Committee？　　Would　that　have　been　a　communication　suited　to　the　　public？　　I　was　resolved　'to　do　or　die；'　and；　instead　of　distressing　　and　perplexing　the　Committee　with　complaints；　to　write　nothing　　until　I　could　write　something　perfectly　satisfactory；　as　I　now　can；　　and　to　bring　about　that　result　I　have　spared　neither　myself　nor　my　　own　money。　　I　have　toiled　in　a　close　printing…office　the　whole　day；　　during　90　degrees　of　heat；　for　the　purpose　of　setting　an　example；　　and　have　bribed　people　to　work　whom　nothing　but　bribes　would　induce　　so　to　do。

I　am　obliged　to　say　all　this　in　self…justification。　　No　member　of　　the　Bible　Society　would　ever　have　heard　a　syllable　respecting　what　　I　have　undergone　but　for　the　question；　'What　has　Mr。　Borrow　been　　about？'　　I　hope　and　trust　that　question　is　now　answered　to　the　　satisfaction　of　those　who　do　Mr。　Borrow　the　honour　to　employ　him。　　　In　respect　to　the　expense　attending　the　editing　of　such　a　work　as　　the　New　Testament　in　Mandchou；　I　beg　leave　to　observe　that　I　have　　obtained　the　paper；　the　principal　source　of　expense；　at　fifteen　　roubles　per　ream　less　than　the　Society　paid　formerly　for　it　…　that　　is　to　say；　at　nearly　half　the　price。

As　St。　Matthew's　Gospel　has　been　ready　for　some　weeks；　it　is　high　　time　that　it　should　be　bound；　for　if　that　process　be　delayed；　the　　paper　with　be　dirtied　and　the　work　injured。　　I　am　sorry　to　inform　　you　that　book…binding　in　Russia　is　incredibly　dear；　and　that　the　　expenses　attending　the　binding　of　the　Testament　would　amount；　were　　the　usual　course　pursued；　to　two…thirds　of　the　entire　expenses　of　　the　work。　　Various　book…binders　to　whom　I　have　applied　have　　demanded　one　rouble　and　a　half　for　the　binding　of　every　section　of　　the　work；　so　that　the　sum　required　for　the　binding　of　one　Testament　　alone　would　be　twelve　roubles。　　Dr。　Schmidt　assured　me　that　one　　rouble　and　forty　copecks；　or；　according　to　the　English　currency；　　fourteenpence　halfpenny；　were　formerly　paid　for　the　binding　of　　every　individual　copy　of　St。　Matthew's　Gospel。　　I　pray　you；　my　dear　　Sir；　to　cause　the　books　to　be　referred　to；　for　I　wish　to　know　if　　that　statement　be　correct。　　In　the　meantime　arrangements　have　been　　made；　and　the　Society　will　have　to　pay　for　each　volume　of　the　　Testament　the　comparatively　small　sum　of　forty…five　copecks；　or　　fourpence　halfpenny；　whereas　the　usual　price　here　for　the　most　　paltry　covering　of　the　most　paltry　pamphlet　is　fivepence。　　Should　　it　be　demanded　how　I　have　been　able　to　effect　this；　my　reply　is　　that　I　have　had　little　hand　in　the　matter。　　A　nobleman；　who　honours　　me　with　particular　friendship；　and　who　is　one　of　the　most　　illustrious　ornaments　of　Russia　and　of　Europe；　has；　at　my　request；　　prevailed　on　his　own　book…binder；　over　whom　he　has　much　influence；　　to　do　the　work　on　these　terms。　　That　nobleman　is　Baron　Schilling。

Commend　me　to　our　most　respected　Committee。　　Assure　them　that　in　　whatever　I　have　done　or　left　undone；　I　have　been　influenced　by　a　　desire　to　promote　the　glory　of　the　Trinity　and　to　give　my　employers　　ultimate　and　permanent　satisfaction。　　If　I　have　erred；　it　has　been　　from　a　defect　of　judgment；　and　I　ask　pardon　of　God　and　them。

In　the　course　of　a　week　I　shall　write　again；　and　give　a　further　　account　of　my　proceedings；　for　I　have　not　communicated　one…tenth　of　　what　I　have　to　impart；　but　I　can　write　no　more　now。　　It　is　two　　hours　past　midnight。　　The　post　goes　away　to…morrow；　and　against　　that　morrow　I　have　to　examine　and　correct　three　sheets　of　St。　　Mark's　Gospel；　which　lie　beneath　the　paper　on　which　I　am　writing。　　　With　my　best　regards　to　Mr。　Brandram；　I　remain；　dear　Sir；　most　　truly　yours；

G。　BORROW。

P。S。　…　I　wrote　to　Mr。　Jackson　and　Mr。　Tarn　last　week。



LETTER：　13th　October；　1834



To　the　Rev。　J。　Jowett　（ENDORSED：　recd。　Nov。　14；　1834）　ST。　PETERSBURG；　OCT。　13TH　（old　style）　1834。

REVEREND　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　In　pursuance　of　the　promise　given　in　my　　epistle　of　last　week；　which　I　trust　in　the　Lord　you　have　received；　　I　again　address　you。　　In　the　first　place　I　must　intreat　you　to　　peruse　and　to　read　to　the　Committee　the　enclosed　Latin　certificate　　penned　by　Mr。　Lipoftsoff；　a　gentleman　as　little　inclined　to　be　　prodigal　of　praise；　as　was　of　old　the　learned　Scaliger　himself；　to　　whom　in　many　points　indeed；　he　bears　no　faint　resemblance。　　In　the　　second　place；　I　must　inform　you　that　a　few　hurried　lines　are　all　　that　I　can　afford　to　write　at　present；　my　proof　sheets　are　rushing　　in　so　fast　that　time　is　exceedingly　precious　to　me；　and　I　grudge　　every　moment　that　is　not　devoted　to　my　Maker　or　to　my　great　　undertaking。

Before　this　lette