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received me very civilly； and instantly procured me paper and ink for the purpose of writing to the consul。 In less than an hour Mr。 Williams arrived and I told him my story； at which he wondered； as he well might； and presently departed in order to demand redress of the authorities。 The next morning I was informed that the ruffian the ALCALDE had upon his own authority entered my house and searched for prohibited books； hoping； if he found any； to justify to a certain degree his conduct to me。 He found none； and is now quite in my power； without a shadow of excuse … he having entered by force the house of a foreigner； without authority； and not in the presence of the consul of the nation。 I have now been here four… and…twenty hours； and am assured that my liberation will have been effectuated before another day shall have passed over。 My fellow… prisoners have treated me with unbounded kindness and hospitality； and I have never found myself amongst more quiet and well…behaved men。 Yet … what is their history？ The handsome black…haired man who is now looking over my shoulder is the celebrated thief Palacio； the most expert housebreaker and dexterous swindler in Spain … in a word； the modern Guzman Dalfarache。 The brawny man who sits by the BRASERO of charcoal is Salvador； the highwayman of Ronda； who has committed a hundred murders。 A fashionably dressed man； short and slight in person； is walking about the room： he wears immense whiskers and mustachios； he is one of that most singular race the Jews of Spain； he is imprisoned for counterfeiting money。 He is an atheist； but like a true Jew the name which he most hates is that of Christ。 Yet he is so quiet and civil； and they are all so quiet and civil； and it is that which most horrifies me； for quietness and civility in them seem so unnatural。
Novr。 26th。 Since writing the above； I have been set at liberty。 I am going to Madrid in a few hours to demand redress； and to make preparations for leaving Spain as soon as possible。 There is nothing more to be done here for the present in the cause of the Gospel。 I received your letter； which I read with great pleasure。 You are quite right in most of your observations； and especially in one。 That circular WAS uncalled for。
Ever yours；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 24th December； 1839
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Jan。 3； 1840。） DECR。 24； 1839； MADRID； No。 16 CALLE SANTIAGO。
REV。 AND DEAR SIR； … The last letter which I wrote to you was from Seville； and in that I gave you an account of what I had been doing for some time previous and likewise of my imprisonment。 I have now been in Madrid nearly three weeks； and immediately after my arrival I demanded redress of the Spanish Government for the various outrages which I have recently been subjected to at Seville。 Mr。 Aston； the British Minister； not having yet arrived at Madrid； I presented my complaint through Mr。 Jerningham the first secretary of Legation； who has superseded Mr。 Southern； the latter gentleman having been appointed to Lisbon。 Mr。 Southern introduced me to Mr。 Jerningham； who received me with great kindness and took up my cause very warmly。 Whether I shall be able to obtain justice I know not； for I have against me the Canons of Seville； and all the arts of villainy which they are so accustomed to practise will of course be used against me for the purpose of screening the ruffian who is their instrument。 An instance which I am about to give will speak volumes as to this person's character。 When I was in prison； he forced his way into my house and searched it for Testaments； but found none。 When he was questioned by the vice…consul as to the authority by which he made this search； he pulled out a paper purporting to be the deposition of an old woman to the effect that I had sold her a Testament some ten days before。 This document was a forgery。 I had never seen the female in question； and during the whole time that I have been in Andalusia I have never sold a book of any description to any such person。
I have been； my dear Sir； fighting with wild beasts during the greatest part of the time which has elapsed since I had last the pleasure of seeing you。 None but myself can have an idea of what I have undergone and the difficulties which I have had to encounter； but I wish not to dilate on that subject。 Thanks be to the Most High that my labours are now brought to a conclusion。 The Madrid edition of the New Testament has been distributed； with the exception of a few hundred copies； which I have no wish should be sold at present； for reasons stated on a prior occasion； and which I shall endeavour to leave in safe custody。 The fate of this edition has been a singular one； by far the greatest part having been dispersed among the peasantry of Spain and the remainder amongst the very poor of the towns； the artisans of Madrid and Seville； the water…carriers and porters。 You will rarely find a copy of this work in the houses of the wealthy and respectable； but you will frequently light upon it in the huts of the labourers； in the garrets or cellars of the penniless； and even in the hulks and convict…garrisons （PRESIDIOS）。 I myself saw it in the prison of Seville。 As for the few copies of the entire Bible which I had at my disposal； they have been distributed amongst the upper classes； chiefly amongst the mercantile body； the members of which upon the whole are by far the most intellectual and best educated of the subjects of the Spanish monarchy。
I have thus cast my books upon the waters。 It is for the Lord on high to determine the quantity of good which they are to operate。 I have a humble hope however that they will be permitted to do some。 If the eyes of only a few of these unhappy people amongst whom I am still sojourning be through them opened to one of the damning errors of popery； I shall esteem myself amply remunerated for all the pain； the anxiety； and I may almost say misery （for the flesh is weak） which I have experienced in the work； even for that … to me； the most heart…breaking of everything … the strange； the disadvantageous light in which； I am aware； I must frequently have appeared to those I most respect and love。 My situation throughout has been a most peculiar one； rocks and quicksands have surrounded me on every side； and frequently I have been compelled to give offence to my friends in order not to afford a triumph to the enemies of God and His cause。
In your last kind communication； I think； you said that neither our excellent friend Mr。 B。 ＇Brackenbury＇ nor myself appeared properly to appreciate the worth of two other of our friends who had been labouring in Spain。 Permit me here to observe that we both appreciate their sterling worth of character and piety； they are both very extraordinary individuals； one particularly so； and the zeal which both have displayed in a holy cause is quite above praise。 But it is necessary in order to accomplish much good in a country situated as this is at present； that the greatest prudence and foresight go hand in hand with zeal and piety。 A corrupt G