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he was without money and expected every moment to be seized like myself and incarcerated； and he is by no means anxious to be invested with the honours of martyrdom。 I have offered him some relief … what else could I do？ He seems partly insane。 I reap； as I expected； the full credit of his conversion。 The Bishop of Cordova got up the other day in council； and said that I was a dangerous pestilent person； who under the pretence of selling the Scriptures went about making converts； and moreover employed subordinates； for the purpose of deluding weak and silly people into separation from the Mother Church。
Of this man I have said in a letter to Mr。 Rule； not yet sent： 'I hope that Marin's history will prove a warning to many of our friends； and tend to a certain extent to sober down the desire for doing what is called at home SMART THINGS； many of which terminate in a manner very different from the original expectations of the parties concerned。 To do a great and a good thing requires a heart replete with the love of Christ and a head cooled by experience and knowledge of the world； both of which desiderata I consider incompatible with a wish to shine。'
It is probable that I shall leave prison to…morrow。 Pray write to my mother and beg her not to be alarmed。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir；
Yours faithfully；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 13th May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 23； 1838） MADRID； May 13 ＇1838＇。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … Post is just about to start； but I am compelled to write a few words。 The Bible cause has triumphed in Spain。 Whatever I do in future connected with the Gospel is to have the sanction of the Government； who have expressed a desire to co…operate with the Bible Society towards the civilization of the country。
I left prison yesterday； and this morning was sent for to the British Embassy； where Sir George entered into an infinity of details which I cannot state at present。 Sir George has commanded me； however； to write to the following effect：…
Mr。 Graydon must leave Spain； or the Bible Society must publicly disavow that his proceedings receive their encouragement； unless they wish to see the Sacred Book； which it is their object to distribute； brought into universal odium and contempt。 He has lately been to Malaga； and has there played precisely the same part which he acted last year at Valencia； with the addition that in printed writings he has insulted the Spanish Government in the most inexcusable manner。 A formal complaint of his conduct has been sent up from Malaga； and a copy of one of his writings。 Sir George blushed when he saw it； and informed Count Ofalia that any steps which might be taken towards punishing the author would receive no impediment from him。
I shall not make any observation on this matter further than stating that I have never had any other opinion of Mr。 Graydon than that he is insane … insane as the person who for the sake of warming his own hands would set a street on fire。 Sir George said to…day that he； Graydon； was the cause of my harmless shop being closed at Madrid and also of my imprisonment。 The Society will of course communicate with Sir George on the subject： I wash my hands of it。
I remain； dear Sir； most truly yours；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 17th May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 28； 1838） MADRID； May 17； 1838。
EXCUSE the haste in which my last letter was written； it doubtless seemed somewhat incoherent； I will now endeavour to be more explicit。 Moreover； since sending it； I have had an interview of nearly two hours with Count Ofalia； and have much that is new to communicate。 But previously to stating what is likely to afford pleasure and satisfaction； I must proceed to disburden myself of what I heard with the greatest pain； and which I communicate with sorrow and reluctance。
Sir George Villiers and Mr。 Southern； first Secretary of Legation； were the persons who first informed me of what has taken place at Malaga。 It appears that Mr。 Graydon arrived there a short time before my imprisonment at Madrid； and instead of endeavouring to circulate the Scriptures in a quiet and reasonable manner； such as becomes a gentleman and a Christian； and such as had been recommended to me previous to my late long journey in the north of Spain and which I have always endeavoured to follow； he had recourse to means the most improper and disreputable； very similar to those which he is said to have followed in all the other towns which he has visited。 In order to excite curiosity and cause a sensation； he published advertisements and handbills replete with the lowest abuse of the Spanish clergy and Government； and containing his own private opinions concerning religion。 However； not contented with this； he had the cruelty … I will not call it baseness … to speak of MYSELF； with； whom he asserted that he was co…operating in every point； and that all he was doing was under the sanction of the Bible Society。
Intelligence of these proceedings was of course sent to Madrid； with one of the handbills； which I have not seen； but of which Mr。 Southern； a literary and accomplished gentleman； has said that its abusive virulence is only to be equalled by its stupidity and folly。 Sir George Villiers； though very unwell； was deeply engaged in my affair； and exchanging official notes with the Government。 He had just informed Count Ofalia that unless full and summary satisfaction were afforded me； he should demand his passports； and write to the commanders of all the English ships of war engaged in furnishing assistance to Spain； commanding them to suspend operations forthwith。 Suddenly Count Ofalia arrived at the Embassy； and flinging down on the table one of Graydon's handbills； exclaimed： 'Peruse that； and then tell me； as a Cavalier and a gentleman； and the Envoy of a powerful and enlightened nation； whether you can any longer uphold the cause of your friend in prison； and persist in saying that he has been cruelly and unjustly treated。 You see that he is in the closest connexion with an individual whose conduct every civilised man must reprobate； it being a most flagrant breach of common decency and order。'
This unexpected incident occurring at such a critical moment almost stunned Sir George； but； recovering himself； he denied in the most positive manner that I had any connexion with Graydon； and asserted that he did not believe the latter was an Agent of the Bible Society； and that at all events he was quite sure that he had acted in this case without its knowledge and concurrence； and that it would be willing to declare so in the clearest and most satisfactory manner。
Count Ofalia； finding Sir George so positive； said that since I had such a voucher he could not reasonably doubt my innocence； and that with respect to the Society he supposed that it too well understood its own interest to trust its affairs to a person whose conduct was calculated to bring odium and misfortune on the fairest and most promising cause。 But Sir George has subsequently assured me that； but for t