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letters-第43章

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ems next to an impossibility to introduce  it。  I will go through the whole of the Asturias and Galicia; and  along the entire line of the Pyrenees; not forgetting to visit  every part of Biscay。  To accomplish this I must have horses and a  man to take care of them。  To purchase horses will be much more  economical than to hire them; as the hire of an animal for a  journey of only thirty leagues generally amounts to nearly its full  value; the purchase of three horses will not amount to more than 36  pounds; and a servant may be obtained for 9d。 per day and his  board。

I will take with me 1200 copies; which I will engage to dispose of;  for little or much; to the wild people of the wild regions which I  intend to visit。  As for the rest of the edition it must be  disposed of; if possible; in a different way … I may say the usual  way; part must be entrusted to booksellers; part to colporteurs;  and a depot must be established at Madrid。  Such work is every  person's work; and to any one may be confided the execution of it;  it is a mere affair of trade。  What I wish to be employed in is  what; I am well aware; no other individual will undertake to do:   namely; to scatter the Word upon the mountains; amongst the valleys  and the inmost recesses of the worst and most dangerous parts of  Spain; where the people are more fierce; fanatic and; in a word;  Carlist; … parts where bookshops are unknown; and where none of  those means can be resorted to for the spread of the Bible which  can be used in the more civilised portions of the kingdom。

This is the plan which I most humbly offer to the consideration of  the Committee and yourself。  I shall not feel at all surprised  should it be disapproved of altogether; but I wish it to be  understood that in that event I could do nothing further than see  the work through the press; as I am confident that whatever ardour  and zeal I at present feel in the cause would desert me  immediately; and that I should neither be able nor willing to  execute anything which might be suggested。  I wish to engage in  nothing which would not allow me to depend entirely on myself。  It  would be heart…breaking to me to remain at Madrid; expending the  Society's money; with almost the certainty of being informed  eventually by the booksellers and their correspondents that the  work has no sale。  In a word; to make sure that some copies find  their way among the people I must be permitted to carry them to the  people myself; and what people have more need of Christian  instruction than the inhabitants of the districts alluded to?

Ere the return of the CONTRABANDISTA to Cordova; I purchased one of  the horses which had brought us to Madrid。  It is an exceedingly  strong; useful animal; and as I had seen what it is capable of  performing; I gave him the price which he demanded (about 11  pounds; 17s。)。  It will go twelve leagues a day with ease; and  carry three hundred…weight on its back。  I am looking out for  another; but shall of course make no further purchase until I hear  from you。  I confess I would sooner provide myself with mules; but  they are very expensive creatures。  In the first place; the  original cost of a tolerable one amounts to 30 pounds; and they;  moreover; consume a vast quantity of fodder; at least two pecks of  barley in the twenty…four hours with straw in proportion; and if  they are stinted in their food they are of no manner of service;  the attendance which they require is likewise very irksome; as they  must be fed once every four hours night and day; they are; however;  noble animals; and are much in vogue amongst the principal  nobility。

Hoping to hear from you soon; I remain; Revd。 and dear Sir; most  truly yours;

G。 B。



LETTER: 27th February; 1837



To the Rev。 A。 Brandram (ENDORSED: recd。 Mar。 6; 1837) MADRID; No。 16 CALLE SANT。 IAGO; FEBY。 27; 1837。

REVD。 AND DEAR SIR; … I have received your letter of the 27th ult。  containing the resolution of the Committee; and also yours of the  '17th' ult。 with my account。  I was exceedingly grieved at learning  that poor Mr。 Tarn has been removed; for he was a most worthy  person; and the Bible Society will experience a severe loss in his  death; but I hope and trust that eventually some one will be found  worthy to succeed him。  He is doubtless at present in the other  world receiving the reward of his faith in this; let us pray that  we may be counted worthy to join him there!

By the time these lines reach you the four Gospels will have passed  through the press; for the work is going on well and prosperously;  and I have little doubt that within five weeks it will be  completed。  I have already entered into arrangements respecting the  binding with Mr。 Borrego; who is about to unite bookbinding with  printing; the terms are very reasonable; considering the current  prices of the country; as I am to pay but three REALS per volume  for a calf binding similar to that of the copy which was entrusted  to me。  I have reckoned that the expense of each book; printing;  paper; and binding included; will but barely amount to 15 REALS;  and cheaper than this it is utterly impossible to bring out a work  of the size of the New Testament; handsomely and creditably in  Spain。

Within a few days I shall despatch letters circular to all the  principal booksellers in Spain; specifying the nature; size and  quality of the work; and inviting them to subscribe at 15 REALS per  copy; the prime cost; for if anything will tempt them to a  speculation of the kind; it will be the hope and prospect of making  a very handsome profit。  Yet they are so short…sighted and; like  all their countrymen; so utterly unacquainted with the rudiments of  business; that it is by no means improbable that they; one and all;  take no notice of this proposal; which is however the only plan  which at present appears available for promoting the GENERAL  circulation of the Scriptures。

Dr。 Usoz; the gentleman who is at present assisting me in the  editing of the work in question; is very anxious to become a member  and a correspondent of the Bible Society。  His letter on that  subject I translated and transmitted previous to my last visit to  England; but he has never received an answer。  I beg leave to say  that I am extremely desirous that his request be granted; and that  he be written to without delay; and I must moreover beg to be  furnished with a written or printed authority to establish a branch  Bible Society in Madrid; and to nominate Dr。 Usoz as secretary。

That part of my last letter; where I stated my wish of making a  tour through the Asturias; Galicia; and the Biscays; as soon as the  work should be completed; does not seem to have been clearly  understood。  I did not intend to devote myself entirely to THE WILD  PEOPLE; but to visit the villages and towns as well as the remote  and secluded glens。  I intended to take letters of introduction to  some of the most respectable people of Oviedo; of Corunna; of Lugo;  of Vigo; Pontevedro; Barbastro; Bilboa; etc。; and to establish  depots of Bibles in those towns; but in my way I intended to visit  the secret and secluded spots amongst the rugged hills and  mountains; and to talk to the
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