letters-第30章
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Cabinet of Madrid now exhibit a manifest willingness to do all in their power to satisfy me； and though by the law of Spain the publishing of the Scripture in the vulgar tongue without notes is forbidden； measures have been taken by which the rigor of the law can be eluded and the printer be protected； until such time as it shall be deemed prudent to repeal the law made； as is now generally confessed； in a time of ignorance and superstitious darkness。
I herewith send you a letter which I received some days since from Mr。 Villiers； I have several others on the same subject； but I prefer sending this particular one as it is the last。 Since I received it； the Ministers have met and discussed the petition； and the result was； as I have been informed； though not officially； in its favour。
You would oblige me by mentioning to his Lordship the President of the Bible Society the manner in which Mr。 Villiers has befriended me； and to beg that he would express by letter an acknowledgment of the favour which I have received； and at the same time； I think that a vote of thanks from the Committee would not be amiss； as I may be again in need of Mr。 V。's assistance before I leave Spain。 The interest which he has taken in this affair is the more surprising； as Mr。 Graydon informed me that upon his applying to him he declined to interfere。
I saw Mr。 Graydon twice or thrice。 He left Madrid for Barcelona about a month since； because the heat of the former place in the summer months is more than he can bear； and as he found I was so far advanced； he thought he might be of more utility in Catalonia。
I have at present nothing more to say； and am so weak from heat and fatigue that I can hardly hold the pen。 I have removed from my old lodgings to those which Mr。 Graydon occupied； therefore when you write； direct as above。 With my best remembrances to Mr。 Jowett； I remain； my dear Sir； very truly yours；
G。 B。
LETTER： 7th July； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 July 18； 1836） 7 JULY； 1836； MADRID； CALLE SANTIAGO； No。 16 PISO 3RO。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … The affair is settled … thank God！！！ and we may begin to print whenever we think proper。
Perhaps you have thought I have been tardy in accomplishing the business which brought me to Spain； but to be able to form a correct judgment you ought to be aware of all the difficulties which I have had to encounter； and which I shall not enumerate； I shall content myself with observing that for a thousand pounds I would not undergo again all the mortifications and disappointments of the last two months。
The present Ministry have been afraid to offend the clergy； and with great reason； as they are not of the movement or radical party； and many of their friends are bigoted papists； nevertheless； influenced by the pressing applications of the British Ambassador and being moreover well…disposed to myself； they have consented to the printing of the Testament； but it must be done in a private manner。 I have just had a long interview with Mr。 Isturitz； who told me that if we were resolved upon the enterprise we had best employ the confidential printer of the Government； who would keep the matter secret； as in the present state of affairs he would not answer for the consequences if it were noised abroad。 I of course expressed my perfect readiness to comply with so reasonable a request。
I will now candidly confess to you that I do not think that the present Ministry； or； as it is generally called； the Court Ministry； will be able to stand its ground； nevertheless a change of Ministry would not alter the aspect of our affair in the least； for if the other or movement party come in； the liberty of the press （a great misfortune for Spain） would be probably granted； at all events； the influence of the English Ambassador would be greater than it is even at present； and upon his assistance I may rely at all times and occasions。
I am not aware that there is any great necessity for my continuance in Spain； nevertheless； should you think there is； you have only to command。 But I cannot help thinking that in a month or two when the heats are over Mr。 Graydon might return； as nothing very difficult remains to be accomplished； and I am sure that Mr。 Villiers at my entreaty would extend to him the patronage with which he has honoured me。 But； as I before observed； I am ready to do whatever the Bible Society may deem expedient。
Do not forget THE TWO letters of thanks to the Ambassador； and it would not be unwise to transmit a VOTE of thanks to 'His Excellence Antonio Alcala Galiano； President of Marine；' who has been of great assistance to me。
I have the honour to be； Revd。 and dear Sir； your most obedient servant；
G。 B。
P。S。 … In about six weeks I shall want some more money。
My best remembrances to Mr。 Jowett。
LETTER： 19th July； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 July 30th； 1836） MADRID； JULY 19th； 1836。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … As I believe you have no account of my
proceedings at Badajoz； I send you the following which will perhaps serve for your 'Monthly Extracts。' I have corrected and improved my translation of the Lord's Prayer into Rommany； and should it be printed； let it be done so with care。 Perhaps in a few days I shall send a general account of what I have been about since my arrival at Madrid； but I am at present very feeble and languid； and can scarcely hold a pen。 There is nothing new here； all is quiet； and I hope will continue so。 My time does not pass very agreeably； I am without books or conversation； for all my acquaintance have left the place to escape from the intolerable heat。 I often sigh for Russia； and wish I was there； editing Mandchou or Armenian； pray remember me kindly to Mr。 Jowett and to my other friends。 I remain； etc。
G。 BORROW。
About one o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th of January； 1836； I crossed the bridge of the Guadiana； a boundary river between Portugal and Spain； and entered Badajoz； a strong Spanish town containing about 8000 inhabitants； and founded by the Romans。 I instantly returned thanks to God who had protected me during a journey of five days through the wilds of Alemtejo； the province of Portugal the most infested by robbers and desperate characters； and which I had traversed with no other human companion than a lad； nearly idiotic； who was to convey back the mules which carried myself and baggage。 It was not my intention to make much stay at Badajoz； and as a vehicle would set out for Madrid the day next but one after my arrival； I proposed to depart therein for the capital of Spain。
The next morning I was standing at the door of the inn where I had taken up my residence； the weather was gloomy； and rain seemed to be at hand。 I was thinking of the state of the country I had lately entered； which was involved in bloody anarchy and confusion； and where the ministers of a religion； falsely styled Catholic and Christian； were blowing the trump of war； instead of preaching the love…engendering words of the blessed Gospel。 Suddenly two men wrapped in long cloaks came down the narrow and almost deserted street。 They were about to pass me； and the face of the nearest was turned full towards me。 I knew to whom the countenance which he displayed must belong； and I touched him on the shoulder。 The man stopped and his companion also； I said a certain word； to which after an exclamation of surprise he responded in the manner which I expected。 The men were of that singular family； or race； which has diffused itself over every part of the civilized globe； and the members of which are known as Gypsies； Bohemians； Gitanos； Zigani； and by many other names； but whose proper appellation seems to be 'Rommany；' from the circumstance that in many and distant countries they so style themselves； and also the language which they speak amongst each other。 We began conversing in the Spanish dialect of this language； with which I was tolerably well acquainted。 Upon inquiring of my two newly…made acquaintances whether there were many of their people at Badajoz and in the vicini
