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the aspect of things I should say that the miseries of this land; far from having reached their climax; are but commencing。 Yet let no one mourn for Egypt: she is but paying the price of her sorceries and superstitions。
(UNSIGNED。)
P。S。 … At San Sebastian I shall need Davison's Turkish Grammar; which you have in the Library。 It will be of assistance to me in editing the Basque St。 Luke; the two languages are surprisingly connected。
LETTER: 15th September; 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram (ENDORSED: recd。 Oct。 9; 1837) CORUNNA; SEP。 15; 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR; … About ten days have elapsed since my return to Corunna。 I stated in my last letter; from Compostella; that it was my intention to visit Pontevedra and Vigo; which I carried into effect。 In the first of these places I left; as I passed through; eight copies of the New Testament in the hands of Senor Garcia; the public notary; three days subsequent; on my return; I found that he had disposed of them; and I have since sent him a fresh supply。 He is a very zealous and exceeding intelligent person; and I have no doubt will prove a highly useful agent in Pontevedra and its beautiful neighbourhood; which is the garden of Galicia。 In Vigo I disposed of four Testaments; but was not so fortunate as to find any person willing or calculated to undertake the charge accepted by my friend in the former town。
Having reached Padron; in my journey back; I sent my servant and horses forward to Saint James; and guided by a peasant; proceeded across the country to Cape Finisterre; on whose rocky sides I so narrowly escaped being shipwrecked last year。 The distance was fifteen leagues; and the route lay over wild mountains and valleys; where we suffered much from fatigue and the heat of the sun。 Arrived at Finisterre we were seized as Carlist spies by the fishermen of the place; who determined at first on shooting us; but at last contented themselves with conducting us prisoners to Corcubion; where the ALCALDE of the district; after having examined me and perused my passport; ordered me to be set at liberty; and treated me with all manner of civility。 By this journey I accomplished what has long been one of the ardent wishes of my heart。 I have carried the Gospel to the extreme point of the old world; having left a Testament in the hands of Antonio de Trava; an ancient mariner of Finisterre; who took my part in a very friendly manner; and probably saved me from experiencing much violence at the hands of his companions。 Finisterre is a place of wonders; which I hope at some future time to have the pleasure of narrating; but at present I must speak of other matters。 About one hundred Testaments have been disposed of at Saint James of Compostella; and there is at present a steady regular demand for them there which inspires my heart with gratitude to the Almighty。 Shortly previous to my journey to Saint James; I despatched fifty copies to Lugo; where the Lord vouchsafed me good success on a former occasion; this second supply being almost exhausted; I have sent more。 Only fifty…eight copies have hitherto been sold at Corunna; for its inhabitants are far too much engrossed by party politics to entertain much relish for heavenly manna。 I pray every night and morning that their eyes may be opened to their eternal welfare。
Having now arranged matters in Galicia; as well as circumstances will permit; I am about to quit this province; directing my course to Oviedo in the Asturias。 The way is long; and is infested by robbers and factious; yet I go forth without much fear; hoping that the Lord will prove my shield and guard as on other occasions。 From Oviedo I proceed to Santander; and from thence to the Basque provinces。 Santander; being a large and flourishing town; affords me a tolerable prospect of success; and I have accordingly directed my agent at Madrid to despatch thither forthwith 150 Testaments。 The intermediate country is; however; in a most distracted state; a great part of it being in the hands of the Carlists; it is therefore probable that the books may never reach me; in which event I shall have to apply to England。 To the Basque provinces I hope to carry Saint Luke in a Biscayan version; which I shall print at Santander should an opportunity present itself。
No time must be lost in accomplishing all that is possible in Spain; which in the course of a few months may be entirely in the hands of the Pretender。 I received the lines which you directed to the care of the British consul at Corunna; and was thankful for them。 Pray present my kind remembrances to Mrs。 Brandram and family; to Mr。 Jowett; and Mr。 and Mrs。 Browne。
I remain; Revd。 and dear Sir; most truly yours;
G。 BORROW。
LETTER: 29th September; 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram (ENDORSED: recd。 Oct。 17; 1837) OVIEDO; ASTURIAS; 29 SEPTR。 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR; … A day or two after the date of my last letter I quitted Corunna and passed over the bay to Ferrol; where I left twenty Testaments in the hands of a person who has just established a small book…shop in that place。 My servant Antonio went round by land with my horse; the only one which I now possess; I having disposed (1) of the largest of the two at Corunna; as I thought he was unable to support the fatigue of a journey to Oviedo。 At Ferrol I hired a horse and guide as far as Ribadeo; a distance of twenty leagues; and somewhat less than half the way to Oviedo。 This journey was a terrible one; during the greatest part of it we had to toil up and down mountain gorges and ravines; to force our way through bushes and thickets; and to wade rivulets and torrents swollen by the rain; which descended continually; our guide proved perfectly ignorant of the country; and we had to bribe various peasants to accompany us; though we incurred great risk by so doing of being conducted to some den of thieves; and stripped and murdered。 At Ribadeo we procured a fresh horse and guide; and continued our way to Oviedo; encountering still greater difficulties; the ground being still more rugged and broken than that which we had previously passed over。 My own horse rolled down a precipice; and was much maimed; whilst that of the guide was so worn out by the time he reached Gijon; four leagues from Oviedo; that he foundered。 As for Antonio and myself; we arrived barefooted and bleeding; for I need scarcely say that during all this journey; which amounted at least to 130 miles; we went on foot; the poor horses being scarcely able to carry our books and baggage。
I am now by the blessing of the Almighty in the city of Oviedo; the capital of the Asturias; although at an unpropitious season; for the bray of war is at the gate; and there is the cry of the captains and the shouting。 Castile is at the present time in the hands of the Carlists; who have captured and plundered Valladolid; in much the same manner as they did Segovia。 They are every day expected to march on this place; in which case they will probably experience an obstinate resistance; very excellent redoubts having been erected; and several of the convents stron