letters-第70章
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ere there treated with incoherent railings against the Church of Rome and Babylon； in a dialect which it was well for the deliverer that only a few of the audience understood。 But I fly from these details； and will now repeat the consequences of the above proceedings to myself； for I； I； and only I； as every respectable person in Madrid can vouch； have paid the penalty for them all； though as innocent as the babe who has not yet seen the light。
I had much difficulty at Madrid； principally on account of the state of political matters which absorbed the minds of all； in bringing the New Testament into notice。 However by dint of perseverance I contrived to direct the public curiosity towards it； indeed I was beginning to average a sale of twenty copies daily； when the shop was suddenly closed by order of the Government in consequence of the complaints from Valencia； myself being supposed to be the instigator and director of the scenes in that place already narrated。 For the next four months I carried on negotiations with the Government through the medium of Sir George Villiers； who from my first arrival in the Peninsula； had most generously befriended me。 But in his endeavours to forward my views he found exceeding difficulties。 The clergy were by this time； both Carlist and liberal； thoroughly incensed against me； and indeed with much apparent reason； the former denounced me to the populace as a sorcerer and a heretic； and the latter spoke of me as an accomplished hypocrite。 I was at last flung into prison … into the pestilential CARCEL DE LA CORTE； where my faithful servant Francisco caught the gaol…fever； of which he subsequently died。 But in this instance my enemies committed a very imprudent act； an act which had very nearly produced the result for which I had been so long unsuccessfully negotiating。 My protector； Sir George Villiers； informed the Spanish Prime Minister； Ofalia； that unless full satisfaction was offered me； he should deem it his duty to cease any further transactions with the Spanish Government； and to order all the British land and sea…forces； co…operating with those of the Queen to terminate the rebellion； to desist from further operations。
I was about to obtain all I wished； when at the critical moment the news of the scenes at Malaga arrived at Madrid； and Sir George had little more to say than that Satan seemed to mingle in this game。 Nevertheless I left prison； with the understanding that the Government would connive at the circulation of the Scriptures in a quiet manner； not calculated to produce disturbances nor to give scandal to the clergy。
But speedily followed the affair of the sectarian tracts of Carthagena； which tracts were sworn to as having been left there by agents of the Bible Society； and I instantly knew that I had nothing more to expect from the Government。 But some time previous I had formed an unalterable resolution that； come what might； I would no longer bear the odium of actions； which in whatever motive they originated had already subjected me to unheard…of persecution； loathsome imprisonment； loss of friends； and to the grief of seeing prudent and long…brooded plans baffled and brought to nought； and the Society to which I belonged subjected to opprobrium as I believed undeserved； and I therefore published in the journals of Madrid an advertisement； in which I disowned； in my own name and that of the Society； any sympathy with the actor or actors in those transactions； which had given so much cause of offence to the authorities； civil and ecclesiastic； of Spain。
My principal reason for taking this step originated from my having become personally acquainted with the ex…priest Pascual Marin； who arrived at Madrid the very day in which I was committed to prison。 His narrative served to confirm all the rumours which I had previously heard。 The Committee are fully aware with what unwillingness I formed the acquaintance of that man； who was sent up to me in order that I might provide for him； without my consent being obtained or even demanded； but I now rejoice in the circumstance； without which I might still have been playing the odious； disgraceful； and heart…breaking part which I had supported so long。 But by the decided step which I now took； the burden of obloquy fell at once from my shoulders； as the bundle of sin from the back of Christian； and rolling into a deep pit was seen no more。
That advertisement gave infinite satisfaction to the liberal clergy。 I was complimented for it by the Primate of Spain； who said I had redeemed my credit and that of the Society； and it is with some feeling of pride that I state that it choked and prevented the publication of a series of terrible essays against the Bible Society； which were intended for the official Gazette； and which were written by the Licentiate Albert Lister； the editor of that journal； the friend of Blanco White； and the most talented man in Spain。 These essays still exist in the editorial drawer； and were communicated to me by the head manager of the royal printing office； my respected friend and countryman Mr。 Charles Wood； whose evidence in this matter and in many others I can command at pleasure。 In lieu of which essays came out a mild and conciliatory article by the same writer； which； taking into consideration the country in which it was written and its peculiar circumstances； was an encouragement to the Bible Society to proceed； although with secrecy and caution。 Yet this article； sadly misunderstood in England； gave rise to communications from home highly mortifying to myself and ruinous to the Bible cause。
In the meantime my depots had been seized in various parts of Spain； depots the greatest part of which I had established with immense difficulty and peril； some of them being in the remote and almost inaccessible province of Galicia； at the distance of almost four hundred miles from Madrid。 I now deemed that the time was at hand to avail myself of my resource； and to sell at all risks the Testament amongst the peasantry of Spain； by whom I knew that it would be received with transport and with gratitude。 I determined to commence with the Sagra of Toledo； where resided an honest labourer of my acquaintance； my foot was in the stirrup when I received a letter from home； which I can only consider as having originated with the Enemy of mankind for the purpose of perplexing my already harassed and agitated mind。 In this letter I was told； amongst other matter which I need not repeat； to prepare to quit Spain。 But by the shaft I knew the quiver from which it came； and； merely exclaiming； 'Satan； I defy thee；' I hurried to Sagra； and disposed of amongst the peasantry in one fortnight four hundred copies of the New Testament。 But it is hard to wrestle with the great Enemy； another shaft arrived in the shape of a letter； which compelled me to return to Madrid； whilst the cause of God was beckoning me to Aranjuez and La Mancha； to which places I indeed hurried as soon as I had arranged matters at Madrid。
Without losing time or being dispirited by the events of the last journey； I repaired to Old Castile； here my success was almost miraculous； nine hundred copies of the Holy Book being sold in less than three weeks； but not in peace and tranquillity； as the province became suddenly a scene of horrors which I shall not attempt to describe。 It was not the war of men； or even of cannibals； which I witnessed； it seemed a contest of fiends from the infernal pit。 But God guided me safe and unharmed through this 'valley of the shadow；' and permitted me to regain Madrid； where； upon finding myself formally recalled； I deposited the Society's property in as safe a place as I could find； and was about to return home when a fever which had been long lurking in my blood at last prostrated me； confining me to my bed for many days； at the expiration of which； though very unfit for travel； I departed for England； where at last by God's will I am arrived in safety。
Before concluding； I have a communication to make； the importance of which few； I believe； will be tempted to deny。
I
