Letters of George Borrow to Bible Society by George Borrow - HTML preview

Letter 107: 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.