letters-第33章
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eir knowledge。 It may indeed be said of the mind of a Spaniard； as of his country； that it merely requires cultivation to be a garden of the first order； but； unhappily； both； up to the present time； have been turned to the least possible account。 Few amongst the lower class of the population of the towns are acquainted with letters； and fewer still amongst the peasantry； but though compelled to acknowledge the ignorance of the Spaniards in general； I have great pleasure in being able to state that during the latter years it has been becoming less and less； and that the rising generation is by no means so illiterate as the last； which was itself superior in acquirements to the preceding one。 It is to be hoped that the progress in improvement will still continue； and that within a few years the blessings of education will be as generally diffused amongst the Spaniards as amongst the people of France and England。 Government has already commenced the establishment of Normal Schools； and though the state of the country； convulsed with the horrors of civil war； precludes the possibility of devoting to them the care and attention which they deserve； I have no doubt that when it shall please the Lord to vouchsafe peace unto Spain they will receive all the requisite patronage and support； as their utility is already generally recognised。
Before quitting Madrid I entered into negotiation with Mr。 Charles Wood； a respectable Englishman established there； for the printing of 5000 copies of the New Testament in Spanish； which number； if on good paper and in handsome type； I have little doubt might be easily disposed of within a short time in the capital and in the principal provincial towns of Spain； particularly Cadiz and Seville； where the people are more enlightened than in other parts in most respects； and where many would be happy to obtain the sacred volume in a handsome yet cheap form； and some in any shape whatever … as there the Word of God is at least known by reputation； and no small curiosity has of late years been manifested concerning it； though unfortunately that curiosity has not hitherto been gratified； for reasons too well known to require recapitulation。
In the rural districts the chances of the Scriptures are considerably less； for there； as far as I am aware； not only no curiosity has been excited respecting it； but it is not known by name； and when mentioned to the people； is considered to be nothing more or less than the mass…book of the Romish Church。 On various occasions I have conversed with the peasantry of Estremadura； La Mancha； and Andalusia respecting the holy Book； and without one exception they were not only ignorant of its contents； but ignorant of its nature； some who could read； and pretended to be acquainted with it； said that it contained hymns to the Virgin； and was written by the Pope； yet the peasantry of these three provinces are by no means the least enlightened of Spain； but perhaps the reverse。 In a word； great as the ignorance of the generality of the Spaniards upon most essential points is； they are principally ignorant of the one most essential of all； the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ。
No time； however； ought to be lost in supplying those with the word who are capable of receiving it； though millions in Spain are undoubtedly beyond the reach of any efforts which the Bible Society can make to assist them； however much it may have at heart their eternal salvation； it is gratifying to have grounds for belief that thousands are able and willing to profit by the exertions which may be made to serve them。 Though the days of the general orange… gathering are not arrived； when the tree requires but a slight shaking to scatter its ripe and glorious treasures on the head of the gardener； still goodly and golden fruit is to be gathered on the most favoured and sunny branches； the quantity is small in comparison with what remains green and acid； but there is enough to repay the labour of him who is willing to ascend to cull it； the time of the grand and general harvesting is approaching； perhaps it will please the Almighty to hasten it； and it may even now be nearer than the most sanguine of us dares to hope。
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 15th November； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Nov。 30th； 1836） LISBON； NOVR。 15TH； 1836。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … On taking leave of you I promised to write from Cadiz； and I still hope to perform my promise； but as I am apprehensive that several days will elapse before I shall reach that place I avail myself of the present opportunity of informing you that I am alive and well； lest you should become uneasy at not hearing from me at the time you expected。 It is owing to the mercy of God that； instead of being able to pen these lines； I am not at the present moment floundering in the brine； a prey to the fishes and monsters of the ocean。
We had a most unpleasant passage to Falmouth。 The ship was crowded with passengers； most of whom were poor consumptive individuals and other invalids； fleeing from the cold blasts of England's winter to the sunny shores of Portugal and Madeira。 In a more uncomfortable vessel； especially steam…ship； it has never been my fate to make a voyage； the berths were small and insupportably close； and of the wretched holes mine was amongst the worst； the rest having been for the most part bespoken before I arrived on board； so that to avoid the suffocation which seemed to threaten me I lay upon the floor of one of the cabins； and continued to do so until my arrival here。 We remained at Falmouth twenty…four hours； taking in coals and repairing the engine； which had sustained considerable damage。
On Monday the 7th inst。 we again started and made for the Bay of Biscay； the sea was high and the wind strong and contrary； nevertheless on the morning of the fourth day we were in sight of the rocky coast to the north of Cape Finisterre。 I must here observe that this was the first voyage that the captain who commanded the vessel had ever made on board of her； and that he knew little or nothing about the coast towards which we were bearing； he was a person picked up in a hurry； the former captain having resigned his command on the ground that the ship was not sea…worthy； and that the engines were frequently unserviceable。 I was not acquainted with these circumstances at the time； or perhaps I should have felt more alarmed than I did when I saw the vessel approaching nearer and nearer to the shore； till at last we were only a few hundred yards distant。 As it was； however； I felt very much surprised； for having passed it twice before； both times in steam…vessels； and having seen with what care the captains endeavoured to maintain a wide offing； I could not conceive the reason of our being now so near the dangerous region。 The wind was blowing hard towards the shore； if that can be called a shore which consists of steep abrupt precipices； on which the surf was breaking with the noise of thunder； tossing up clouds of spray and foam to the height of a cathedral。 We coasted slowly along； rounding several tall forelands； some of them piled up by the hand of nature in the most fantastic shapes； until about the fall of night。 Cape Finisterre was not far ahead； a bluff brown granite mountain； whose frowning head may be seen far away by those who travel the ocean。 The stream which poured round its breast was terrific； and though our engines plied with all their force； we made little or no way。
By about eight o'clock at night； the wind had increased to a hurricane； the thunder rolled frightfully； and the only light which we had to guide us on our way was the red forked lightning which burst at times from the bosom of the big black clouds which lowered over our heads。 We were exerting ourselves to the utmost to weather the cape； which we could descry by the lightning on our lee； its brow being frequently brilliantly lighted up by the flashes which quivered around it； when suddenly； with a great crash； the engine broke； and the paddles on which depended our lives ceased to play。
I will
