letters-第79章
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ar travelled with us the whole way from Madrid to Seville； he was OF THE MISSIONARIES； and was going to the Philippine Islands to conquer （PARA CONQUISTAR）； for such was his word； by which I suppose he meant preaching to the Indians。 During the whole journey he exhibited every symptom of the most abject fear； which operated upon him so that he became deadly sick； so that we were obliged to stop twice in the road and lay him amongst the green corn。 He said that if he fell into the hands of the factious he was a lost priest； for that they would first make him say mass and then blow him up with gunpowder。 He had been a professor of philosophy； as he told me； in one of the convents （I think it was San Tomas） of Madrid； before their suppression； but appeared to be grossly ignorant of the Scripture； which he confounded with the works of Virgil。
We stopped at Manzanares as usual； it was Sunday morning and the market was crowded with people。 I was recognised in a moment； and twenty pairs of legs instantly hurried away in quest of the prophetess； who presently made her appearance in the house to which we had retired to breakfast。 After many greetings on both sides； she proceeded in her admirable Latin to give me an account of all that had occurred in the village since I had last been there； and of the atrocities of the factious in the neighbourhood。 I asked her to breakfast and introduced her to the friar whom she addressed in this manner； ANNE DOMINE REVERENDISSIME FACIS ADHUC SACRIFICIUM？ But the friar did not understand her； and waxing angry anathematized her for a witch and bade her begone。 She was however not to be disconcerted； and commenced singing in extemporary Castilian verse the praises of friars and religious houses in general。 On departing I gave her a PESETA； upon which she burst into tears and entreated that I would write to her if I reached Seville in safety。
We did arrive at Seville in safety； and I took leave of the friar telling him that I hoped to meet him again at Philippi。 I must now be brief。 In a few days Antonio arrived with the horses。 Difficulties now began to show themselves。 All the Testaments were stopped at the custom house； they were contained in two large chests： but I now know Spain and the Spaniards。 For a few dollars I procured a FIADOR or person who engaged THAT THE CHESTS should be carried down the river and embarked at San Lucar for a foreign land。 Yesterday I hired a boat and sent them down； but on the way I landed in a secure place all the Testaments which I intend for this part of the country。 The chests therefore； with the copies required for Tangiers and England； with the hundred Gospels in Gitano and Basque for the Library of the Bible Society； are at present at San Lucar in the custom house； from which I expect to receive to…morrow the receipt which the authorities here demand； and which will be necessary for the security of my voucher。 Indeed the whole affair； though attended with considerable trouble and expense to me； was a mere formality； as I was given to understand。 I was myself treated with the greatest politeness； and was told that my intentions were known and honoured。 Late last night Antonio and myself returned from an excursion on foot； bringing beneath our cloaks； as if they were smuggled goods； a considerable number of Testaments； our path lay along the banks of the Guadalquivir； the rain poured and the river roared； and by the time we reached Seville we were wet through and covered with mud from head to foot。 To…day I am laid up； being so STIFF and sore that I can hardly move； but anything for the Gospel's sake。
It is my opinion； and I am not one of those who hazard an opinion rashly； that much may be accomplished in this place； which； though by no means the most populous and wealthy； is the most interesting town in all Spain； and stands beneath the most glorious heaven； and amidst the most delightful environs； but to effect anything； patience must be exhibited and prudence employed； and much of both。 Consider my situation here。 I am in a city by nature very Levitical； as it contains within it the most magnificent and splendidly endowed cathedral of any in Spain。 I am surrounded by priests and friars； who know and hate me； and who； if I commit the slightest act of indiscretion； will halloo their myrmidons against me。 The press is closed to me； the libraries are barred against me； I have no one to assist me but my hired servant； no pious English families to comfort or encourage me； the British subjects here being ranker papists and a hundred times more bigoted than the Spanish themselves； the consul a RENEGADE QUAKER。 Yet notwithstanding； with God's assistance I will do much； though silently； burrowing like the mole in darkness beneath the ground。 Those who have triumphed in Madrid； and in the two Castiles where the difficulties were seven times greater； are not to be dismayed by priestly frowns at Seville。 All I dread is the imprudence of very excellent people； whose aim is good； but who are doing exactly what is calculated to further the views of the enemy。 I wish they could be brought to see the absolute necessity of changing their system。 I suppose you heard of the affair of Cadiz。
I have of late written several letters home； which I wish may have been received as they contain information which I think will be considered of importance； nevertheless as the road to France has for some time past been in the hands of the Carlists； it is very possible that they may have miscarried。 I shall therefore take the liberty of telling you that about a thousand Testaments have been sold； and all the Bibles； to the amount of 463； since my return to the Peninsula。 I shall be happy to receive a letter from you as soon as possible： you can direct either to my lodgings at Madrid； or to Posada de la Reyna； Calle Gimios； Sevilla。
Pray excuse this letter； it is badly written； with a bad pen and with bad ink。 I am moreover sick and in pain。 Present my respects to Mr。 Jowett； Mr。 Browne； and all friends； not forgetting Dr。 Steinkopff； to whom I shortly hope to write。
（UNSIGNED。）
LETTER： 12th June； 1839
To the Rev。 G。 Browne （ENDORSED： recd。 July 1； 1839） SEVILLE； PLAZUELA DE LA PILA SECA； No。 7； JUNE 12； 1839。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I received in due course of time your exceedingly kind letter of the 16th April； and am very grateful for the various intelligence which you were pleased to communicate。 I should have replied ere this； but I am one of those； as I believe you are aware； who are averse to writing； especially from a considerable distance； unless they possess matter of sufficient consequence to fill creditably the pages of an epistle。 I could wish that at the present moment I had more to write upon； and more interesting details to send you than these which follow。 For two or three weeks after my arrival at Seville I was unable to accomplish anything； on account of the seizure of the books； with which you are doubtless acquainted。 I however by the assistance of the Almighty； for which I prayed； was enabled； though not without considerable trouble； to overcome that difficulty； and to obtain all the Testaments of which I was in need； to the number of two hundred and upwards。 But still I commenced not operations； indeed I was quite at a loss； being in a strange place and under very peculiar circumstances； to imagine the best course to pursue。 I therefore waited with perfect patience until it should please Providence to assist me； and true it is that help came in rather a remarkable manner。
I was standing in the courtyard of the Reyna POSADA； where for the time I had taken up my abode； when a man singularly dressed and gigantically tall entered。 My curiosity being excited； I enquired of the master of the house who he was； when he informed me that he was a foreigner who had resided a considerable time in Seville； and he believed a Greek。 Upon hearing this I instantly went up to the stranger； and accosted him in the Greek language in which； though I speak it very ill； I can make myself understood。 He replied
