letters-第5章
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that such an acknowledgement would be unwise neither in respect to what has occurred or may occur hereafter。
In reply to your inquiries respecting my progress in the Mandchou language； I have to observe that for some time past I have taken lessons from a person who was twelve years in Pekin； and who speaks Mandchou and Chinese with fluency。 I pay him about six shillings English for each lesson； which I grudge not； for the perfect acquirement of Mandchou is one of my most ardent wishes； as I am convinced that it is destined by providence to be the medium for the spiritual illumination of countless millions of Chinese and Tartars。 At present I can transcribe the Manchou character with much greater facility and speed than I can the English。 I can translate from it with tolerable facility； and have translated into it； for an exercise； the second homily of the Church of England 〃On the Misery of Man。〃 I have likewise occasionally composed a few hymns in this language； the difficulty of which I am at present more fully aware of than when I left England。 It is one of those deceitful tongues； the seeming simplicity of whose structure induces you to suppose； after applying to them for a month or two； that little more remains to be learned； but which； should you continue to study a year； as I have studied this； show themselves to you in their veritable colours； amazing you with their copiousness； puzzling with their idioms。 In a word Mandchou is equally as difficult as Sanscrit or Persian； neither of which languages has ever been thoroughly acquired by any European； though at first acquaintance they flatter the student with their deceitful simplicity。 I take the liberty of sending you a short original epigram in rhymed Mandchou； which if it answers no other purpose will afford you some idea of my running Mandchou hand； which； as I now write perpendicularly； is very different from that hand which I wrote previously to my coming hither。 The epigram is upon the exploits of the Tartars。
＇Here follow four upright lines in Manchu characters。＇
Milites qui e Manjurico deserto exierunt； bellando silvas； campos et oppida Sinensis imperii captarunt。
Want of room obliges me to defer making a report upon Mr。 Lipoftsoff's translation until my next letter； which will follow in a week or two； for I am unwilling in a matter of such immense importance to deliver a brief and hurried opinion。 I have much to communicate also respecting the proper means to be pursued for the introduction and circulation of the volume； when printed； in China and Tartary。 This information I have derived from the most authentic sources； namely from individuals who have spent many years in these countries； and whose acquaintance I have eagerly sought。
From England I have lately received a letter in which is an extract from an epistle of my brother in Mexico； amounting to this … that there is no native language in that country entitled to the appellation of THE Mexican language； that it is as incorrect to make use of such an expression； as it would be to say definitely THE European language； that setting aside the Spanish there are upwards of twenty languages and dialects spoken in Mexico； none of which are read （except perhaps here and there by a few individuals） but communicated by the mouth and only acquired by the ear； that my brother has shown the sheet of St。 Luke's Gospel； which I transmitted to him； to various Spaniards and Indians； but it was unintelligible to them； the latter not recognising the words when read to them。 I should therefore advise that the copies of this version be sent； if possible； to the place where the version was purchased； as it was probably made in the language or dialect of that place or neighbourhood； and where there is a chance of its being of some utility。 Should my brother have survived the late dreadful commotions in Mexico； I have no doubt that he will be exceedingly happy to assist in flinging the rays of Scriptural light over that most benighted and miserable region； but having lately read in the Russian newspapers that the town of Guanajuato； where he resided； has been taken and sacked by the murderous bands of the insurgents； I have great reason to fear that his earthly course is terminated； for the former； incited by their demoniacal priests； in comparison with whom the Shamans of Manjuria and the lamas of Mongolia and China are innocent and holy； lay hold of every opportunity of shedding the blood of Protestants and foreigners。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； most truly yours；
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 4th February； 1834
To the Rev。 J。 Jowett （ENDORSED： recd。 March 10th； 1834； with Report on the Mandchou New Testament。） ST。 PETERSBURG； GALERNOY ULITZA； 4 FEBRUARY （old style） 1834。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … In compliance with the request of the Committee； expressed in your epistle of the 2nd January； I herewith send a report upon Mr。 Lipoftsoff's translation； and as there were many things which I wished to mention in my last letter； but was unable from want of room； I take this opportunity of stating them； with the hope that they will meet with your approbation。
In the first place； whatever communication you wish to make to Mr。 Lipoftsoff I think you had best charge me with to him； for in that case you will be certain that he will receive it； without loss of time。 But I must inform you that he is rather a singular man； and to all appearances perfectly indifferent to the fate of his excellent translation； caring nothing whether it be published as a powerful instrument to open the closed eyes and soften the hard hearts of the idolators of China and Tartary； or whether it be committed to the flames； and for ever lost to the world。 You cannot conceive the cold； heartless apathy in respect to the affair； on which I have been despatched hither as an ASSISTANT； which I have found in people； to whom I looked； not unreasonably； for encouragement and advice。 But thanks be to the Lord； the great object has been accomplished； permission has been obtained to print the New Testament； and have no doubt that permission for the whole Bible is within our reach。 And in regard to what we have yet to do； let it be borne in mind； that we are by no means dependent upon Mr。 Lipoftsoff； though certainly to secure the services which he is capable of performing would be highly desirable； and though he cannot act outwardly in the character of Editor； he having been appointed Censor； he may privately be of great utility to us。 Therefore let the attempt to engage his services be made without delay。
At the Sarepta House is a chest containing Mandchou characters； belonging to the Bible Society； which I shall cause to be examined for the purpose of ascertaining whether they have sustained any injury from rust during the long time they have been lying neglected； if any of them have； my learned friend Baron Schilling； who is in possession of a small fount of Mandchou types for the convenience of printing trifles in that tongue； has kindly promised to assist us with the use of as many of his own as may be necessary。 There is one printing office here； where they are in the habit of printing with the Mongolian character； which differs but little from the Mandchou； consequently the Mongolian compositors will be competent to the task of composing in Mandchou。 There are no Mandchou types in St。 Petersburg； with the exception of our own and Baron Schilling's。
I suppose that it will be thought requisite to print the town for a year or so； it is my humble opinion； and the opinion of much wiser people； that if he were active； zealous and likewise courageous； the blessings resulting from his labours would be incalculable。 It would be by no means a difficult thing to make excursions into Tartary and to form friendships amongst the Tartar hordes； and I am far from certain that with a little management and dexterity he would be unable to penetrate even to Pekin； and to return in safety； after having examined the state of the land。 I can only say that if it were my fortune to have the opportunity； I would make the attempt
