letters-第39章
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ence to chastise a land whose wickedness had become intolerable。 For the elect's sake； and there are a few even in Spain； may it please the Lord to shorten the affliction of these days； or all flesh must succumb。
I remain； dear Sir； most truly yours；
G。 B。
P。S。 … Pray let me hear from you shortly； and remember me particularly to Mr。 Jowett and Mr。 Browne。
P。S。 2。 … I have already paid； in part； for the printing and paper； as you will have concluded by my draft。 The Gospel of Saint Luke； in the Rommany language； is nearly ready for the press。 It is my intention to subjoin a vocabulary of all the words used； with an explanation in the Spanish language。
Before I left England I was authorised to look out for a person competent to translate the Scriptures in Basque （Spanish）。 I am acquainted with a gentleman who is well versed in that dialect； of which I myself have some knowledge。 Perhaps it would not be unwise to engage him to translate St。 Luke as a trial of his powers。
LETTER： 16th March； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Mar。 25； 1837） MADRID； No。 16 CALLE SANT IAGO PISO 3RO。 ＇MARCH 16th； 1837＇。
REVD。 SIR； … I write a few lines for the purpose of informing you that the New Testament in Castilian will be ready in a few days； probably before you receive this epistle； should it reach you； which I have some doubts of from the terrible and distracted state of Spain at the present time。
The work has been printed on the best paper； and no pains have been spared； at least on my part； to render it as correct as possible； having read every proof…sheet three times。 I must here take the liberty of observing that the work executed in London； and of which a copy was delivered to me to print from； abounds in errors of every kind and reflects little credit on the person who edited it； no systematic order is observed either in the orthography or the use of accents or capitals； and whole sentences frequently appear in a mangled and mutilated state which renders them unintelligible。
On my final settlement with Mr。 Borrego I shall send a regular account of my disbursements； he has already received two…thirds of his money； as you will have conjectured from the bills I have drawn。 I wish very much that the Committee would vote a letter of thanks to Mr。 Henry O'Shea for the interest which he has taken in this affair and the assistance which he has rendered。 I shall write again in a few days。 I am afraid that you did not receive my last letter。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； most faithfully yours；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 27th April； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Decr。 1； 1837） MADRID； APRIL 27； 1837。
MY DEAR SIR； … Please to let the bearer have the under…mentioned Bibles； they are for Dr。 Usoz； from whom I have received their value。
Entire Bible in German。 Entire Bible in Modern Greek。 Do。 do。 in Portuguese。
If possible； I should wish to have the New Testament in Persian； for my own private use。
Most sincerely yours；
GEORGE BORROW。
The Basque translation of St。 Luke is completed and in my possession； the whole expense attending it amounts to 8 pounds and a few odd shillings。
LETTER： 29th April； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 13； 1837） ＇MADRID； 29 APRIL； 1837＇。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … Do me the favour after reading the enclosed letter； and making what use of it you please； to seal it； pay the postage； and despatch it to Russia。 It contains all I have at present to say； and is as much intended for yourself； as for the person to whom it is directed。 I leave Madrid in about three days； and it is my intention to write frequently whilst upon my journey； but should few letters reach you； be not surprised； but attribute it to the state of the country； which is terrible indeed。 I am first going to Salamanca； by the pass of the Guadarama； from thence to Burgos； then to the Asturias； Galicia； and Biscay； and along the whole chain of the Pyrenees。
Some hundreds of our books have been placed in the hands of a bookseller at Madrid； and I have ordered them to be advertised； once a week； in the principal journals。 Dr。 Usoz and another friend will do what they can in my absence。
To…morrow I send the bill of my expenses； it would have been despatched sooner； but I could not obtain my account from Mr。 O'Shea。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； most faithfully yours；
G。 BORROW。
P。S。 … My best remembrances to Mr。 Jowett； Mr。 Browne； and all my friends。
LETTER： 29th April； 1837
To Mr。 John Hasfeldt MADRID； 29 APRIL； 1837。
I RECEIVED your letter of last January a few weeks since； and I sincerely hope that mine of February may have reached your hands。 The principal reason of my taking up the pen at present is the long and adventurous journey which I am about to engage in； and which I am afraid will preclude the possibility of my writing to you for some months。 In a few days I quit Madrid； it being my intention to visit the mountainous districts of Spain； particularly Galicia and the Basque Provinces； for the purpose of disposing of part of the edition of the New Testament in Spanish； lately completed at Madrid； under my superintendence。 It was my intention to have set out sooner； but the state of the weather has been such that I thought it more prudent to defer my departure； during the last two months violent and bitter winds have blown without ceasing； before whose baneful influence animal and vegetable nature seems to have quailed。 I was myself； during a fortnight； prostrated； body and limb； by a violent attack of LA GRIPPE； or； as it is styled in English； the 'influenza。' I am； however； by the blessing of the Almighty； perfectly recovered and enjoying excellent spirits； but multitudes less favoured have perished； especially the poor。
I expect to be absent on my journey about five months； when； if I am spared； not having fallen a prey to sickness； Carlists； banditti； or wild beasts； I shall return to Madrid for the purpose of carrying through the press my own translation of the Gospel of St。 Luke in the language of the Spanish Gypsies； and also the same Gospel in Cantabrian or Basque； executed by the domestic physician of the Marquis of Salvatierra。 What I am destined to do subsequently I know not； but I should wish to visit China by a land journey； either through Russia； or by Constantinople ＇and＇ Armenia as far as the Indian Gulf； as it is my opinion that； with God's permission； I might sow some seed by the way which might in time yield a good harvest。
Speaking of these matters reminds me that in your next letter （written in your usual choice Danish） you might send me some useful information respecting what might be done in Russia。 Do you think permission might be obtained to print the New Testament in Russ； and that the Russian Hierarchy would be inclined to offer any serious opposition？ I wish you would speak to Gretsch on the subject； to whom you will； as usual； present my kindest remembrances。 I believe you are acquainted with Mrs。 Biller； but if not； you would confer a great favour upon me by calling on her； and requesting her opinion； as she is better acquainted than perhaps any person in Russia with the course to be pursued if the attempt were to be hazarded。 Perhaps at the same time you will enquire of her as to what has become of my translation into Russ of the second and third Homilies which I left with her； and whether license to print has been obtained。 If not； I should wish that energetic steps be taken to that effect； and as you are an energetic person； and she may possibly have too many important affairs upon her hands； I pray you to take the matter up； but at all events to follow her advice； pray remember me to her likewise。 The translation was corrected by that unfortunate man Nicanoff； who； though he lived and died a drunkard； was an excellent Russian scholar； therefore I think that no objection can reasonably be made in respect to style； though indeed the original is very plain and homely； being adapted to the most common understanding。 I offer no apology
