letters-第65章
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him what was the reason for his wish to make so considerable a purchase。 Whereupon he informed me that he had a relation in Toledo whom he wished to establish； and that he was of opinion that he could do no better than take a shop there and furnish it with Testaments。 I told him that he must think of nothing of the kind； as probably the books would be seized on the first attempt to introduce them into Toledo； as the priests and canons were much averse to their distribution。 He was； however； not disconcerted； and said his relation could travel； as I myself was doing； to dispose of them to the peasants with profit to himself。 I confess I was disposed at first to accept his offer； but at length declined it； as I did not wish to expose a poor man to the risk of losing money； goods； and perhaps liberty and life。 I was likewise averse to the books being offered to the peasantry at an advanced price； being aware that they could not afford it； and the books； by such an attempt would lose a considerable part of that PRESTIJIO （I know no English word to express my meaning） which they now enjoy。 Their cheapness strikes the minds of the people with wonder； and they consider it almost as much in the light of a miracle as the Jews ＇did the＇ manna which dropped from heaven at the time they were famishing； or the spring which suddenly gushed from the flinty rock to assuage their thirst in the wilderness。
The following is a list of the villages of the Sagra； or champaign country of Toledo； already supplied with Testaments。
It will perhaps be expedient to print this list in the 'Extracts。'
Vargas Mocejon Villa Seca Cobeja Villaluenga Yuncler。
In about a week I shall depart from hence and proceed to another district； as it would not be prudent to make a long sojourn in any particular district under existing circumstances。 It is my intention to cross the country to Aranjuez； and endeavour to supply with the Word the villages on the frontier of La Mancha。 Write to me as soon as possible； always directing to my lodgings in Madrid。 I wish to know the lowest price at which I am at liberty to dispose of Testaments； and conclude with hoping that what I have narrated will meet the approbation of you ALL。
（UNSIGNED。）
LETTER： 23rd July； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Aug。 2nd； 1838） MADRID； No。 16 CALLE SANTIAGO； JULY 23； 1838。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … As； I was about to leave Villa Seca for Aranjuez I received your letters of the 3rd and 7th inst。； on the perusal of which I instantly returned to Madrid instead of pursuing my intended route。
My answer will be very brief； as I am afraid of giving way to my feelings； I hope； however； that it will be to the purpose。
It is broadly hinted in yours of the 7th that I have made false statements in asserting that the Government； in consequence of what has lately taken place； had come to a resolution of seizing the Bible depots in various parts of this country。
In reply； I beg leave to inform you that by the first courier you will receive from the British Legation at Madrid the official notice from Count Ofalia to Sir George Villiers of the seizures already made； and the motives which induced the Government to have recourse to such a measure。
The following seizures have already been made； though some have not as yet been officially announced：
The Society's books at Oviedo； Pontevedra； Salamanca； Santiago； Seville； and Valladolid。
It appears from your letters that the depots in the south of Spain have escaped。 I am glad of it； although it be at my own expense。 I see the hand of the Lord throughout the late transactions。 He is chastening me。 It is His pleasure that the guilty escape and the innocent be punished。 The Government give orders to seize the Bible depots throughout the country on account of the late scenes at Malaga and Valencia。 I have never been there； yet only MY depots are meddled with； as it appears！ The Lord's will be done； blessed be the name of the Lord！
I will write again to…morrow。 I shall have then arranged my thoughts； and determined on the conduct which it becomes a Christian to pursue under these circumstances。 Permit me in conclusion to ask you：
Have you not to a certain extent been partial in this matter？ Have you not； in the apprehension of being compelled to blame the conduct of one； who has caused me unutterable anxiety； misery； and persecution； and who has been the bane of the Bible cause in Spain； refused to receive the information which it was in your power to command？ I called on the Committee and yourself； from the first； to apply to Sir George Villiers； no one is so well versed in what has lately been going on as himself。 But no。 It was God's will that I； who have risked all and lost almost all in the cause； be taunted； suspected； and the sweat of agony and tears which I have poured out be estimated at the value of the water of the ditch or the moisture which exudes from rotten dung。 But I murmur not； and hope I shall at all times be willing to bow to the dispensations of the Almighty。
Sir George Villiers has returned to England for a short period； you have therefore the opportunity of consulting him。 I WILL NOT leave Spain until the whole affair has been thoroughly sifted。 I shall then perhaps appear and bid you an eternal farewell。
Four hundred Testaments have been disposed of in the Sagra of Toledo。
（UNSIGNED。）
P。S。 … I am just returned from the Embassy； where I have had a long interview with that admirable person； Lord Wm。 Hervey。 He has requested me to write him a letter on the point in question； which with the official documents he intends to send to the Secretary of State in order to be laid before the Bible Society。 He has put into my hands the last communication from Ofalia。 It relates to the seizure of MY depots at Malaga； Pontevedra； etc。 I have not opened it； but send it for your perusal。
LETTER： 3rd August； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Aug。 14th； 1838） No。 16 CALLE SANTIAGO； MADRID； AUGUST 3； 1838。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … Since writing to you last I have been at some distance from Madrid。 Indeed my affairs at the time were in such a condition and so much depended upon my personal superintendence； that I was obliged to depart almost immediately after dispatching my answers to your two last。 I am now returned principally on account of a rather unfortunate accident which occurred on the frontier of La Mancha； the particulars of which I shall give you presently。 I shall； however； only tarry sufficient time to rest the horses and again go forth； for I am but too well aware that no time must now be lost； my enemies being numerous and watchful。
On leaving Madrid I proceeded in the direction of Aranjuez； selling from twenty to forty copies in every village that lay in the way or near it； my intention was to penetrate deep into La Mancha； and in that view I had forwarded a large supply of books to Aranjuez。 Having arrived there I made a sojourn of three days； during which time； myself； ＇my＇ servant and Juan Lopez； of whom I have previously spoken to you； visited every house in the town。 We found a vast deal of poverty and ignorance amongst the inhabitants； and experienced some opposition； nevertheless it pleased the Almighty to permit us to dispose of about eighty Testaments； which were purchased entirely by the very poor people； those in easier circumstances paying no attention to the Word of God； but rather turning it to scoff and ridicule。 One circumstance was very gratifying and cheering to me； namely； the ocular proof which I possessed that the books which I disposed of were read； and with attention； by those to whom I disposed of them； and that many others participated in their benefit。 In the streets of Aranjuez and beneath the mighty cedars and gigantic elms and plantains which compose its noble woods； I have frequently seen groups assembled； listening to individuals who； with the New Testament in their hands； were reading aloud the comfortable words of salvation。
It is probable that had I remained a
