letters-第40章
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nal is very plain and homely； being adapted to the most common understanding。 I offer no apology for giving you all this trouble； as I am fully aware that you are at all times eagerly ready to perform anything which I may consider as a service rendered to myself。
Spain at present； I am sorry to say； is in a more distracted and convulsed situation than at any former period； and the prospect is gloomy in the extreme。 The Queen's troops have sustained of late grievous defeats in the Basque provinces and Valencia； and a Carlist expedition of 18；000 men； whose object is to ravage Castile and to carry the war to the gates of Madrid； is shortly expected to pass the Ebro。 From what I have seen and heard of the demoralised state of the Cristinos forces； I believe they will meet with no effectual resistance； and that Cristina and her daughter will be compelled to flee from the capital to Cadiz； or to some strong frontier town。 Nevertheless； such is the nature of the Spanish people； that it is impossible to say whether the liberal cause （as it is called） be desperate or not； as neither one party nor the other knows how to improve an advantage。 Twice might Don Carlos have marched to Madrid and seized the crown； and more than once his army has been at the mercy of the Cristinos； yet still is the affair undecided； and will perhaps continue so for years。 The country is； as you may well conceive； in a most distracted state； robbery and murder are practised with impunity； and the roads are in such an insecure state that almost all communication has ceased between one town and another； yet I am going forth without the slightest fear； trusting in God； for if He is with me； who shall stand against me？
I have a servant； a person who has been a soldier for fifteen years； who will go with me for the purpose of attending to the horses and otherwise assisting me in my labours。 His conduct on the journey is the only thing to which I look forward with uneasiness； for though he has some good points； yet in many respects a more atrocious fellow never existed。 He is inordinately given to drink； and of so quarrelsome a disposition that he is almost constantly involved in some broil。 Like most of his countrymen； he carries an exceedingly long knife； which he frequently unsheaths and brandishes in the faces of those who are unfortunate enough to awaken his choler。 It is only a few days since that I rescued the maid…servant of the house from his grasp； whom otherwise he would undoubtedly have killed； and all because she too much burnt a red herring which he had given her to cook。 You perhaps wonder that I retain a person of this description； but； bad as he is； he is the best servant I can obtain； he is very honest； a virtue which is rarely to be found in a Spanish servant； and I have no fear of his running away with the horses during the journey； after having perhaps knocked me on the head in some lone POSADA。 He is moreover acquainted with every road； cross…road； river； and mountain in Spain； and is therefore a very suitable squire for an errant knight； like myself。 On my arrival in Biscay I shall perhaps engage one of the uncorrupted Basque peasants； who has never left his native mountains and is utterly ignorant of the Spanish language； for I am told that they are exceedingly faithful and laborious。 The best servant I ever had was the Tartar Mahmoud at St。 Petersburg； and I have frequently repented that I did not bring him with me on my leaving Russia； but I was not then aware that I was about to visit this unfortunate country； where goodness of every description is so difficult to find。
LETTER： 10th May； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 23； 1837） MADRID； MAY 10TH； 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I herewith send the long promised account of my private expenses； which I hope will be found correct。 I start to…morrow for Salamanca； at which place I should now be； but for the misconduct of my servant； whom I have been compelled to turn away。 I have experienced great difficulty in obtaining another； my present one is a Greek； who formerly waited on Mr。 O'Shea； I hope he will turn out well。 Mr。 O'Shea has given me a general letter of credit to his correspondents in various parts of Spain。 You will receive my draft in a few days。 I shall write from Salamanca； and various other places； detailing all my proceedings and adventures。 I hope you received my last letter。
I remain； etc。；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 7th June； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 June 21； 1837） SALAMANCA； June 7； 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I arrived at Salamanca about a fortnight since； in safety and in tolerable good health。 I shall defer for a few days communicating the particulars of my journey； though they are not destitute of interest； having at present information to afford which I consider of more importance； and which I hope will afford the same satisfaction to yourself and our friends at home which I myself experience in communicating them。
Some days previous to my departure from Madrid I was very much indisposed。 Owing to the state of the weather … for violent and biting winds had long prevailed … I had been attacked with a severe cold which terminated in a shrieking disagreeable cough； which the many remedies which I successively tried were unable to subdue。 I had made preparation for departing on a particular day； but owing to the state of my health I was apprehensive that I should be compelled to postpone my journey for a time。 The last day of my stay in Madrid； finding myself scarcely able to stand； I was fain to submit to a somewhat desperate experiment； and by the advice of the barber…surgeon who visited me； I determined to be bled。 Late on the night of that same day he eased me of sixteen ounces of blood； and having received his fee； left me； wishing me a pleasant journey； and assuring me upon his reputation that by noon the next day I should be perfectly recovered。
A few minutes after his departure； whilst I was sitting alone； meditating on the journey which I was about to undertake； and on the rickety state of my health； I heard a loud knock at the street… door of the house； on the third floor of which I was lodged； not very comfortably。 In a minute or two Mr。 Southern of the British Embassy entered my apartment。 After a little conversation he informed me that Mr。 Villiers had desired him to wait upon me； to communicate a resolution which he； Mr。 Villiers； had come to。 Being apprehensive that alone and unassisted I should experience considerable difficulty in propagating the Gospel of God to any considerable extent in Spain； he was bent upon exerting to the utmost his own credit and influence to further my views； which he himself considered； if carried into proper effect； extremely well calculated to operate beneficially on the political and moral state of the country。 To this end it was his intention to purchase a very considerable number of copies of the New Testament； and to despatch them forthwith to the various British consuls established in different parts of Spain； with strict and positive orders to employ all the means； which their official situation should afford them； to circulate the books in question and to assure their being noticed。 They were moreover to be charged to afford myself； whenever I should appear in their respective districts； all the protection； encouragement； and assistance I should stand in need of； as a friend of Mr。 Villiers； and a person in the success of whose enterprise he himself took the warmest interest。
I could scarcely believe my ears on receiving this information； for though I had long been aware that Mr。 Villiers was at all times willing to assist me； he having frequently given me sufficient proof； I could never expect that he would come forward in so noble； and to say the least of it； considering his high diplomatic situation； so bold and decided a manner。 I believe that this is the first instance of a British Ambassador having made the cause of the Bible Society a national one； or indeed to favour it directly or indirectl
