letters-第14章
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inters at work on account of the festivals of the season； but I am glad to say that I have never failed to obtain six sheets every week。
I have received the Revd。 Mr。 Jowett's letter； and shall write to him in a few days。
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 3rd May； 1835
To the Rev。 J。 Jowett （ENDORSED： recd。 June 1； 1835） MAY 3； 1835 ＇old style＇； ST。 PETERSBURG。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I write a few hasty lines for the purpose of informing you that I shall not be able to obtain a passport for Siberia； except on the condition that I carry not one single Mandchou Bible thither。 The Russian Government is too solicitous to maintain a good understanding with that of China to encourage any project at which the latter could take umbrage。 Therefore pray inform me to what place I am to despatch the Bibles。 I have had some thoughts of embarking the first five parts without delay to England； but I have forborne from an unwillingness to do anything which I was not commanded to do。 By the time I receive your answer everything will be in readiness； or nearly so； to be forwarded wherever the Committee shall judge expedient。 I wish also to receive orders respecting what is to be done with the types。 I should be sorry if they were to be abandoned in the same manner as before； for it is possible that at some future time they may prove eminently useful。
As for myself； I suppose I must return to England； as my task will be speedily completed。 I hope the Society are convinced that I have served them faithfully； and that I have spared no labour to bring out the work； which they did me the honour of confiding to me； correctly and within as short a time as possible。 At my return； if the Society think that I can still prove of utility to them； I shall be most happy to devote myself still to their service。 I am a person full of faults and weaknesses； as I am every day reminded by bitter experience； but I am certain that my zeal and fidelity towards those who put confidence in me are not to be shaken。 Should it now become a question what is to be done with these Mandchou Bibles which have been printed at a considerable expense； I should wish to suggest that Baron Schilling be consulted。 In a few weeks he will be in London； which he intends visiting during a summer tour which he is on the point of commencing。 He will call at the Society's House； and as he is a nobleman of great experience and knowledge in all that relates to China； it would not be amiss to interrogate him on such a subject。 I AGAIN REPEAT THAT I AM AT COMMAND。
In your last letter but one you stated that our noble President had been kind enough to declare that I had but to send in an account of any extraordinary expenses which I had been put to in the course of the work to have them defrayed。 I return my most grateful thanks for this most considerate intimation； which nevertheless I cannot avail myself of； as according to one of the articles of my agreement my salary of 200 pounds was to cover all extra expenses。 Petersburg is doubtless the dearest capital in Europe； and expenses meet an individual； especially one situated as I have been； at every turn and corner； but an agreement is not to be broken on that account。
I have the honour to remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； your obedient humble servant；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 15th June； 1835
To J。 Thornton； Esq。 （ENDORSED： recd。 July 20； 1835） ST。 PETERSBURG； JUNE 15； 1835。
SIRS； … Having drawn upon Messrs。 Asmus； Simondsen & Compy。 of St。 Petersburg for the following sums； I have to request that you will honour this draft to a like amount；
1000 roubles （one thousand）； received the 11th May。
2000 （two thousand）； received at the present moment。
I take the liberty of stating that the printing of the Mandchou Testament is brought to a conclusion； and that six of the eight parts are bound。 As soon as the other two are completed I shall take my departure for England。
I have the honour to remain； Sir；
Your most obedient and most humble servant；
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 16th July； 1835
To J。 Tarn； Esq。 （ENDORSED： recd。 17 Aug。 1835） ST。 PETERSBURG； JULY 16； 1835。
MY DEAR SIR； … I herewith send you a bill of lading for six of the eight parts of the New Testament which I have at last obtained permission to send away； AFTER HAVING PAID SIXTEEN VISITS TO THE HOUSE OF INTERIOR AFFAIRS。 The seventh part is bound and packed up； the eighth is being bound and will be completed in about ten days。 It would have been ready a month since； having been nearly six weeks in the book…binder's hands； but he was disappointed in obtaining the necessary paper； I hope to have shipped all off； and to have bidden adieu to Russia； at the expiration of a fortnight。 I take this opportunity of informing you that I was obliged to purchase additional 85 reams of paper； of every sheet of which I shall give an account。 1020 copies of every sheet I ordered to be printed； that we might have a full 1000 at the conclusion。 20 reams have at various times been sent to the binder for frontings and endings to the work； and there were 36 sheets in the seventh and 33 in the eighth part； consequently the demand for paper is not surprising。 Since my last drafts upon the Treasurer I have received two thousand roubles from Asmus； Simondsen and Co。； for which I shall give them a draft on my departure when I receive my salary。 My accompt since the period of my last writing to you； when I held in hand 518 roubles of the Society's money； I shall deliver to you on my arrival。
I have the honour to remain； Dear Sir；
Truly yours；
G。 BORROW。
Pray excuse this hasty letter； which I write from the Custom House。
LETTER： 12th August； 1835
To Rev。 J。 Jowett （ENDORSED： recd。 Sept。 14th； 1835） ST。 PETERSBURG； AUG。 12； 1835。
As it is probable that yourself and my other excellent and Christian friends at the Bible House are hourly expecting me and wondering at my non…appearance； I cannot refrain from sending you a few lines in order to account for my prolonged stay abroad。 For the last fortnight I have been detained at St。 Petersburg in the most vexatious and unheard…of manner。 The two last parts of our Testaments have been bound and ready for shipping a considerable time； and are at present in the warehouse of a most pious and excellent person in this place； whom the Bible Society are well acquainted with； but I have hitherto not been able to obtain permission to send them away。 You will ask how I contrived to despatch the first six volumes； which you have doubtless by this time received。 But I must inform you that at that time I had only a verbal permission； and that the Custom House permitted them to pass because they knew not what they were。 But now； notwithstanding I obtained a regular permission to print； and transacted everything in a legal and formal manner； I am told that I had no right at all to print the Scriptures at St。 Petersburg； and that my coming thither on that account （I use their own words） was a step in the highest degree suspicious and mysterious； and that there are even grounds for supposing that I am not connected with the Bible Society or employed by them。 To…day； however； I lost patience； and said that I would not be trifled with any longer； that next week I should send away the books by a vessel which would then sail； and that whosoever should attempt to stop them would do so at his peril … and I intend to act up to what I said。 I shall then demand my passport and advertise my departure； as every one before quitting Russia must be advertised in the newspapers two weeks successively。 Pray do me the justice to believe that for this unpleasant delay I am by no means accountable。 It is in the highest degree tormenting to myself。 I am very unwell from vexation and disquietude of mind； and am exposed to every kind of inconvenience。 The term for which I took my chambers is expired； and I am living in a dirty and expensive hotel。 But there is One above who supports me in these troubles； and I have no doubt that everything will turn out for the best。
I take this opportunit
