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!
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