letters-第29章
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se which he is at present pursuing； for by so doing he loses Spain； and then he is nothing。 He is already laughed at throughout Italy … Ireland will alone remain to him … much good it may do him！
In respect to the Apocrypha； let me be permitted to observe that an anticipation of that difficulty was one of my motives for forbearing to request permission to print the entire Bible； and here I will hint that in these countries； until the inhabitants become Christian； it would be expedient to drop the Old Testament altogether； for if the Old accompany the New the latter will be little read； as the former is so infinitely more entertaining to the carnal man。 Mr。 Wilby in his ＇last＇ letter informs me that 30 Bibles have been sold in Lisbon within a short time； but that the demand for Testaments has not amounted to half that number。 My best respects to Mr。 Jowett。
G。 B。
LETTER： 22nd May； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 June 1； 1836） MADRID； MAY 22； 1836。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I write in the greatest hurry。 I shall receive the permission； the Lord willing； in a few days； the Duke de Rivas has this moment told me so； and he is Minister of the Interior。
The Ecclesiastical Court declined deciding upon the matter； and left it entirely in the hands of the Ministers。 Just as the English Ambassador was about to remind Mr。 Mendizabal of his promise to me； the latter gentleman and his colleagues retired from office； a new Ministry was formed composed entirely of my friends； amongst them Alcala Galiano （turn to my last letter）。
As soon as the Minister of Finance； with whom I am very intimate； returns from France； I shall request to be permitted to introduce the Catalan New Testament upon paying a reasonable duty。
I received Mr。 Jackson's letter containing the money； and yours； also with money； and a rap on the knuckles besides； it was scarcely merited； as I can prove in five words。
Not having the Scripture to offer to the people； I was obliged to content myself with mentioning it to them； the people here know not the Scripture even by name； but they know a certain personage well enough； and as soon as the subject of religion is brought up they are sure to bring him forward； as they consider him the fountainhead of all religion。 Those therefore in the situation of myself have three things at their option； to speak nothing … to speak lies … or to speak the truth。 In simpleness of heart I thought proper to adopt the last principle as my line of conduct； I do not think I have erred； but I shall be more reserved in future。
In conclusion let me be permitted to observe that the last skirts of the cloud of papal superstition are vanishing below the horizon of Spain； whoever says the contrary either knows nothing of the matter or wilfully hides the truth。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； most truly yours；
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 22nd May； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 June 2； 1836） 10 AT NIGHT； ＇MADRID； MAY 22； 1836。＇
MY DEAR SIR； … There has been a partial disturbance at Madrid； and it is not impossible that the new Ministry will go out and Mr。 M。 be reinstated … which event； however； will make little difference to us； as the British Ambassador has promised to back the application which I shall instantly make。 There are so many changes and revolutions here that nothing is certain even for a day。 I wish to let you know what is going forward； and am aware that you will excuse two letters arriving at one time。
G。 B。
LETTER： 30th May； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 June 4； 1836） ＇MADRID＇； MONDAY NIGHT； half p。 11； MAY 30。
THE post will presently depart； therefore I have no time to lose。 Every thing； thank God； is again tranquil； and it appears that the present Ministry will stand its ground。 I am just returned from the house of one of the Ministers； I can consequently speak pretty positively。 The Queen will not accept their resignations； and the army is on their side。 The Cortes have been dissolved。 The whole Cabinet are of opinion that my petition is just and reasonable and ought to be granted。 I have been requested to appear next Thursday at the Office； when I expect to receive the permission； or to hear that steps have been taken towards making it out。
The reason of Mr。 Mendizabal's resignation was his inability to accomplish the removal of General Cordova from the head of the army。 It is not for me to offer an opinion on the General's military talents； but he is much beloved by the soldiers； whose comforts and interests he has much attended to； to deprive him of command would therefore be attended with danger。 I have no complaint to make against Mr。 M。； he is a kind； well…meaning man； and had he remained in office I have no doubt that he would have acceded to my petition。
I hope you will pray that God will grant me wisdom； humbleness of spirit； and success in all that is right。
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 30th June； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 July 11； 1836） CALLE SANTIAGO； No。 16 PISO 3RO； MADRID； JUNE 30； 1836。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … As I have little doubt that you are anxiously awaiting the arrival of some intelligence from me； I write a few lines which I have no doubt will prove satisfactory to you； and in the course of a few days I hope to write again； when I shall probably be able to announce the happy termination of the affair which brought me to Spain。
The difficulties which I have had to encounter since I last wrote to you have been so many and formidable that I have been frequently on the verge of despairing ever to obtain permission to print the Gospel in Spain； which has become the most ardent wish of my heart。 Only those who have been in the habit of dealing with Spaniards； by whom the most solemn promises are habitually broken； can form a correct idea of my reiterated disappointments and of the toil of body and agony of spirit which I have been subjected to。 One day I have been told； at the Ministry； that I had only to wait a few moments and all I wished would be acceded to； and then my hopes have been blasted with the information that various difficulties； which seemed insurmountable； had presented themselves； whereupon I have departed almost broken…hearted； but the next day I have been summoned in a great hurry and informed that 'all was right；' and that on the morrow a regular authority to print the Scriptures would be delivered to me； but by that time fresh and yet more terrible difficulties had occurred … so that I became weary of my life。
During the greatest part of the last six weeks I have spent upon an average ten hours every day； dancing attendance on one or another of the Ministers； and when I have returned home I have been so fatigued that I have found it impossible to write； even to my nearest friends。 The heat has been suffocating； for the air seems to be filled with flaming vapours； and the very Spaniards are afraid to stay out； and lie gasping and naked on their brick floors； therefore if you have felt disappointed in not having heard from me for a considerable time； the above statement must be my excuse。
During the last fortnight the aspect of my affair has become more favourable； and； notwithstanding all the disappointments I have met； I now look forward with little apprehension to the result。 The English Ambassador； Mr。 Villiers； has taken me by the hand in the most generous manner and has afforded me the most effectual assistance。 He has spoken to all the Ministers； collectively and individually； and has recommended the granting of my petition in the strongest manner； pointing out the terrible condition of the people at present who are without religious instruction of any kind； and the impossibility of exercising any species of government over a nation of atheists； which the Spaniards will very shortly become if left to themselves。 Whether moved by his arguments or by a wish to oblige a person of so much importance as the British Ambassador； the Cabinet of Madrid now exhibit a manifest willingness to do all in their power to satisfy me； and t
