贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > letters >

第89章

letters-第89章

小说: letters 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



account of the affair might not get abroad;  but I beg leave solemnly to assure you that I disavow and give no  countenance to any remarks or observations respecting it which may  find their way into print。  I am not ashamed of the METHODISTS OF  CADIZ; their conduct in many respects does them honour; nor do I  accuse any one of fanaticism amongst our dear and worthy friends;  but I cannot answer for the tittle…tattle of Madrid。  Far be it  from me to reflect upon any one:  I am but too well aware of my own  multitudinous imperfections and follies。  I am going instantly to  write to Mr。 Rule; and I would also to our other friend did I but  know his address。  Should you have an opportunity of communicating  with him; pray; pray say something on the subject; and present to  him my kind love。  I hope sincerely no further notice will be taken  of this affair in the newspapers; but to attempt to correct their  errors would merely make bad worse。  Pray excuse my agitation; but  I write in haste。

I remain; Revd。 and dear Sir; yours sincerely;

GEORGE BORROW。



LETTER: 2nd January; 1840



To the Rev。 A。 Brandram (ENDORSED: recd。 Jan。 13; 1840) MADRID; No。 16 CALLE SANTIAGO; 2 JANUARY 1840。

REVD。 AND DEAR SIR; … To…morrow I depart in order to return to  Seville。  I have laid a full account of the late outrageous assault  before the British Embassy; and a strong representation has been  made to the Spanish Government。  I have now nothing further to  detain me in the Spanish capital; and I hope that within a very  short time I shall be able to bid adieu to the shores of Spain;  which I shall quit with as little regret as the tired labourer at  nightfall quits the filthy ditch in which he has been toiling  during the whole of a dreary day。

I should feel much obliged if you would write me a line or two;  directed to my usual address; No。 7 Plazuela de la Pila Seca;  Sevilla; with any little information respecting matters of serious  import; as I am almost entirely unacquainted with what has been  going on during the last six months; the public journals containing  little which has any interest for me。  Is it possible that the  British Government is going to bombard the coast of China because  the Emperor of that country is not disposed to countenance opium  smuggling?  I have frequently difficulty in believing my eyes when  I read of the proceedings of Christians and people high in  authority; whom it is of course my wish and duty to respect。  Is it  wonderful that the Chinese cling to Buddh and refuse to confess the  Son of the Eternal; when they see the professors of the Christian  religion commit such acts of cruel violence and flagrant injustice?

I have drawn for twenty pounds; which will liquidate the expenses  of the journey from Seville and back again。  I shall require no  more until my departure for England。  In the meanwhile I am  preparing my accounts and various other papers。  Pray present my  best remembrances to all my friends。  If there be anything which I  can perform for any of them before I leave Spain; let them but  inform me and it shall be done。

I remain; Revd。 and dear Sir; ever yours;

GEORGE BORROW。



LETTER: 18th March; 1840



To the Rev。 A。 Brandram (ENDORSED: recd。 March 31st; 1840) SEVILLE; MARCH 18; 1840。

REVD。 AND DEAR SIR; … Last night I received a letter from my worthy  friend Mr。 Brackenbury; in which he informed me that he had  received a communication from Mr。 Jackson stating that since my  departure from Madrid the Society had heard nothing from me and  that it was anxious on my account。  This intelligence astonished  me; as towards the end of January and beginning of February I wrote  two letters; one to yourself and the other to Mr。 Hitchin。  From  yourself I had expected an answer; and your silence made me very;  very unhappy。  For upwards of five months I have not heard a word  from England; though during that period I have written twelve  letters; of which seven were to the Bible Society。

I did not return to England immediately after my departure from  Madrid; for several reasons。  First; there was my affair with the  ALCALDE still pending; second; I wished to get my papers into some  order; third; I wished to effect a little more in the cause; though  not in the way of distribution as I had no books; moreover the  house in which I resided was paid for; and I was unwilling  altogether to lose the money; I likewise dreaded an English winter;  for I have lately been subjected to attacks; whether of gout or  rheumatism I know not; which I believe were brought on by sitting;  standing and sleeping in damp places during my wanderings in Spain。   The ALCALDE has lately been turned out of his situation; but I  believe more on account of his being a Carlist than for his  behaviour to me; that however; is of little consequence; as I have  long forgotten the affair。  I have again been in trouble; and the  Government and clergy seem determined on persecuting me until I  leave Spain。  I embark on the third of next month; and you will  probably see me by the sixteenth。  I wish very much to spend the  remaining years of my life in the northern parts of China; as I  think I have a call to those regions; and shall endeavour by every  honourable means to effect my purpose。  I have a work nearly in  readiness for publication; and two others in a state of  forwardness。  The title of the first I take the liberty of sending  you on the other side。  I hope yet to die in the cause of my  Redeemer。

I have at present nothing further to say of importance。

I therefore remain; as usual; Revd。 and dear Sir; most sincerely  yours;

G。 B。

P。S。 … What an admirable man and Christian is Mr。 Brackenbury!


The title George Borrow wrote on the fly…leaf was。。。


THE ZIN…CALI OR AN ACCOUNT OF THE GYPSIES OF SPAIN WITH AN ORIGINAL COLLECTION OF THEIR SONGS WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS AND A COPIOUS VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE EXPLAINED IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH BY G。 B。 IN TWO VOLUMES



Footnotes:

(1) This animal cost the Society about two thousand REALS at  Madrid; I; however; sold him for three thousand at Corunna;  notwithstanding that he had suffered much from the hard labour  which he had been subjected to in our wanderings in Galicia; and  likewise from bad provender。

(2) I have since discovered that they were only despatched the day  before my arrival at Madrid。

(3) I think the sale is becoming brisker; this very day we have  sold eight。

(4) I wish much that I had the Old Testament apart; precisely in  the same form。

(5) Mr。 Villiers has hitherto taken but 50 copies; which he has  distributed amongst his friends; his situation has been such  lately; that more could not be reasonably expected from him。  Even  his is not a bed of roses。

(6) 'Greek text which cannot be reproduced' as Antonio says。

(7) I send the original phrase which is remarkable; and in  remarkable Spanish。




End 

返回目录 上一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的