letters-第60章
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h impunity which their own distempered desires dictated。
Now to pleasanter subjects。 Count Ofalia has given me very excellent advice； which it will be well if the Society permit me to follow。 Amongst other things he said：… 'Be very cautious for some time； and even suspend the sale of the Gospel in Madrid； and devote all your energies to make friends amongst the clergy； very many of whom are disposed to favour your enterprise。 It would not be prudent at present for the Government to interfere with ecclesiastical matters； as the war is not yet terminated； but much can be done in a quiet way by yourself。'
I must here state that there is a board of ecclesiastics at present sitting； occupied in examining the Spanish Bible as printed by the Society。 It has been denounced by the Jesuits as not being a faithful edition of Father Scio's version； independent of the omission of the Apocrypha； but hitherto the opinion of the board has been decidedly in our favour； and the Bishop of Vich has； moreover； declared that it probably will be expedient to co…operate with the Society in printing cheap editions of the Scripture for the use of the people； as daily experience shows that the old system cannot be carried on and that the sacred writings must be thrown open。
The chief difficulty to settle will be the Apocrypha； but I have authorised a friend to state that the Society is disposed to make every possible concession； and to go so far as to relinquish the Old Testament entirely and to content itself with circulating the New。 Perhaps I went too far in this advance； but I believe a similar concession has been made in the case of Ireland； and I feared to lose all by aiming at too much。 However flattering affairs may appear at present； I am well aware that a herculean labour is to be surmounted before matters can be placed on a safe footing in Spain。 Prudence； coolness and firmness are at this moment particularly necessary； and let it never for a moment be supposed that religious instruction and the knowledge of genuine Christianity can be introduced into Spain by scurrilous handbills and the low arts of the mountebank。
A split with Rome will very shortly ensue； by which I mean that no attention will be paid to Bulls； against which several of the principal ecclesiastics have spoken； with these puissant auxiliaries we must act in concert。
Allow me in conclusion to state a beautiful piece of conduct of Sir George Villiers。 I have commissioned one of the Bishops to request for me an interview with the Archbishop of Toledo。 Sir George on hearing this said：… 'Tell the Archbishop that I also am anxious for the favour of an interview； in order that I may assist in clearing up any doubt； which he may still entertain； respecting the intentions of the Bible Society； he has only to state the day； and I will wait upon him。'
G。 BORROW。 P。S。 … I yesterday transmitted you a Spanish newspaper in which I have published an advertisement； disclaiming in the name of the Bible Society any writings which may have been circulated tending to lower the authorities； civil and ecclesiastic； in the eyes of the people； and denying that it is its intention or wish to make proselytes from the Catholic form of worship。 I took this step by advice； I had likewise a particular reason of MY OWN。
Marin is still here looking out for some secular employ； but he is continually haunting me。 He tells me that he is preparing an accounts of all his dealings with G ＇Graydon＇ and R ＇Rule＇； in which he details the promises made him to induce him to sign a document purporting to be a separation from the Roman Church。 He says that he was abandoned because he refused to preach publicly against the Chapter of Valencia； which step would have insured him a dungeon。 This may be true or false； but I have taken my precautions。
TRANSLATION OF THE ADVERTISEMENT （ENDORSED： recd。 May 28； 1838）
A rumour having been spread that some individuals； calling themselves agents of the British and Foreign Bible Society； under the pretext of circulating copies of the Holy Scriptures； have traversed several towns on the eastern and western coasts of Spain； and have published writings in which the respect due to the ecclesiastical and civil authorities of Spain has not been observed； but on the contrary an intention has evidently been manifested in them to disparage them in the eyes of the population of those parts； I hasten to make the following public Declaration：
That such individuals … if it be certain that there are such … have in this respect acted upon their own responsibility； without permission and even in direct opposition to the intentions of the Bible Society； inasmuch as on the principles of the New Testament similar attempts are to be reprobated and regarded with horror； being in direct opposition to the express commands of the Saviour and His Apostles； who in their addresses and writings have on various occasions exhorted the faithful to shew respect and obedience to their masters and superiors； even when they were heretics or idolaters。
And as it has been stated that certain persons； under pretext of being agents of the British and Foreign Bible Society； have shown zeal in persuading； and have actually in some cases persuaded； various individuals to sign documents purporting to be declarations of separation from the Catholic Faith … I herewith publicly declare that the British and Foreign Bible Society has no connection with such persons； and should there be any such； it is not disposed either to confirm or to approve their proceedings； but on the contrary is desirous of stating in the most energetic and solemn manner that it disavows and rejects all connexion or intercourse with them。
The British and Foreign Bible Society is composed of individuals belonging to all sects； in which those are divided who follow the faith of Jesus Christ； amongst whom are seen co…operating for one grand and holy object； followers of the Apostles； Romans； and members of the Greek and ＇of the＇ English Church； whose design is the propagation of the word of Christ in all countries； separating wholly from the forms of discipline of the Church； ＇which are＇ matters of secondary consideration； which for a long time have filled the world with bloodshed and calamity； and have tended to keep up in the hearts of Christians unhappy and malignant feuds。 Far from being desirous of making proselytes among those professing the Catholic worship； the Bible Society is at all times disposed to hold out the hand of Christian fraternity to the clergy of Spain and to co…operate with those who believe； as the Catholic clergy assuredly do； 'that all shall be saved； who； believing in Jesus Christ； show it by their good works。'
Madrid MAY 12； 1838； Office of the Bible Society； Calle del Principe。 （Signed） GEORGE BORROW； Sole authorised Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society in Spain。
LETTER： 23rd May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 June 2； 1838） MADRID； ＇MAY 23rd； 1838＇。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I have just had an interview with the Archbishop ＇of Toledo＇。 It was satisfactory to a degree I had not dared to hope for。
In the name of the MOST HIGHEST take steps for preventing that miserable creature Graydon from ruining us all。
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 25th May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 June 4； 1838） MADRID； MAY 25； 1838； CALLE SANTIAGO。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … Events follow each other so quickly in this singular country； and my situation is so peculiar； and I am afraid so little understood at home； that I am obliged to take up the pen more frequently than I am inclined。 Do not think me intrusive in again troubling you。 I do it in the hope of preventing any alarm which an incorrect report of the following circumstance might cause you。
Immediately on receiving intelligence of the scenes which had taken place at Malaga； the Spanish Government resolved to put an end to all Bible transactions in Spain； and forthwith gave orders for the seizure of all the Bibles and Testaments in the country wherever they might be de
