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y night； again beset him； and playing upon his religious fears； prevent him from acting a just； honest； and honourable part。
At the desire of Sir George Villiers； I drew up； a little time since； a brief account of the Bible Society and an exposition of its views； especially in respect to Spain； which he himself presented with his own hand to the Count。 Of this memorial I send you a translation； and I think that you will do me the justice to say that； if I have not flattered and cajoled； I have expressed myself honestly and frankly； as a Christian ought。 Ofalia on reading it； said； 'What a pity that this is a mixed society； and that all its members are not Catholics。' A few days subsequently； to my great astonishment； he sent a message to me by a friend； requesting that I would send him a copy of my Gypsy Gospel。 I may as well here state that the fame of this work； although unpublished； has spread like wildfire through Madrid； and every person is passionately eager to possess a copy； indeed； several grandees of Spain have sent messages with similar requests； all of which I have； however； denied。 I instantly resolved to take advantage of this overture on the part of Count Ofalia； and to call on him myself。 I therefore caused a copy of the Gospel to be handsomely bound； and proceeding to the palace； was instantly admitted to him。 He is a dusky； diminutive person； between fifty and sixty years of age； with false hair and teeth； but exceedingly gentlemanly manners。 He received me with great affability； and thanked me for my present； but on my proceeding to speak of the New Testament； he told me that the subject was surrounded with difficulties； and that the whole body of the clergy had taken up the matter against me； but he conjured me to be patient and peaceable； and he would endeavour to devise some plan to satisfy me。 Amongst other things； he said that the Bishops hated a sectarian more than an atheist； whereupon I replied； that； like the Pharisees of old； they cared more for the gold of the Temple than the Temple itself。 Throughout the whole of our interview he evidently laboured under great fear； and was continually looking behind and around him； seemingly in dread of being overheard； which brought to my mind an expression of Sir George Villiers； that if there be any truth in metempsychosis； the ANIMA of Count Ofalia must have originally belonged to a mouse。 We parted in kindness； and I went away wondering by what strange chance this poor man had become Prime Minister of a country like Spain。
I have now given a plain narrative of what I have been about up to the present moment； by which you will see that I have accomplished all that lay within the circumscribed sphere of my ability； and have brought every engine into play which it was in my power to command。 Let it always be borne in mind that it was no fault of mine that； immediately after my arrival in Madrid from my journey； a retrograde Ministry came into power； the head of which is a weak； timid； priest…ridden man。 Sir George has several times told me； that had the Ministry of Calatrava and Mendizabal remained in place； he himself would have answered that I should have received no interruption in my labours； and that he will almost say the same in respect to any future Ministry； and it is impossible that the present can long maintain its ground； as it is disliked by the Court and despised by the people。
I therefore write at present for instructions。 Shall I wait a little time longer in Madrid； or shall I proceed at once on a journey to Andalusia and other places？ I am in strength； health and spirits； thanks be to the Lord！ and am at all times ready to devote myself； body and mind； to His cause。 Therefore I pray that my friends at home will point out the course which they think I ought to pursue under these circumstances。 In a few days I shall send my account to Mr。 Hitchin。 I have hitherto delayed； not having yet settled for the printing of the Basque St。 Luke。 I received your kind letter of the 8th ultimo。
I remain； my dear Sir； most truly yours；
G。 B。
P。S。 … I have received the 500 Bibles in sheets from Barcelona。
Translation of a Memorial to his Excellence the Count D'Ofalia （ENDORSED： Memorial of Mr。 G。 Borrow to Count Ofalia； Madrid； recd。 March 28；1838。） To His Excellence The Count D'Ofalia
SIR； … I have the honour to inform you that； being a member and Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society； I some months since printed； with permission； at Madrid； an edition of the New Testament of Jesus Christ in the Castilian language according to the authorised version of Father Felipe Scio； Confessor of the late King Ferdinand of happy memory。
That to effect the sale of the said work； in which the Society had subjected itself to an expense of more than 100；000 REALS； I subsequently established a Despatch at Madrid； where the work was publicly sold at a moderate price until the 12th of January last； when the person intrusted with the management of the said Despatch received a notice from Don Francisco Gamboa； Civil Governor of Madrid； forbidding the further sale of the New Testament until fresh information。
As very erroneous ideas are generally entertained in Spain concerning the constitution of the Bible Society and the views in which its proceedings originate； I will endeavour in a few words to afford some correcting information respecting both。 I beg to state that the Bible Society is composed of Christians attached to many and various sects and forms of worship … for example； members of the Roman； Greek； Anglican； Calvinistic； and Lutheran Churches； and of all ranks and grades in society； who； though they may differ from each other in points of religious discipline； form and ceremony； agree in the one grand and principal point： that there is no salvation from the punishment due to original sin but through vivid faith in Christ； manifested and proved by good works； such being the amount of the doctrine found in those inspired writings known as the New Testament which contain the words of the Saviour whilst resident in flesh on earth； together with the revelations of the Holy Spirit to His disciples after He had ascended to the throne of His heavenly glory。
Having said thus much respecting those who constitute the Bible Society and the religious feeling which unites them； I will now devote a few words to the explanation of their views； than which nothing can be more simple or easily defined。 They have no other wish or intention in thus associating together than to assist； as humble instruments under Christ； in causing His doctrine to be propagated and known in all the regions of the vast world； the greatest part of which is still involved in heathenism and ignorance； and looking upon their earthly goods as of little or no value in comparison with such a glorious end； they expend them in printing editions of their Master's Word in all languages； and in transporting them to the remotest corners of the earth； that their benighted fellow…creatures may see the lamp of salvation； and enjoy the same spiritual advantages