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！
LETTER： 23rd August； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Sept。 12； 1838） ＇LABAJOS； PROVINCE OF SEGOVIA； AUG。 23RD； 1838。＇
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … Lord William Hervey was perfectly satisfied with my conduct in the affair stated on the other side； and so was Count Ofalia； who expressed his regret that circumstances had compelled her Majesty's Government to take those steps against the circulation of the Scriptures with which you are already acquainted。
G。 B。
COPY OF LETTER TO THE RIGHT HON。 LORD WILLIAM HERVEY
LABAJOS； PROVINCE OF SEGOVIA； AUGUST 23rd； 1838。
MY LORD； … I beg leave to call your attention to the following facts。 On the 21st instant I received information that a person in my employ of the name of Juan Lopez had been thrown into the prison of Villallos； in the province of Avila； by order of the CURA of that place。 The crime with which he was charged was selling the New Testament。 At the time I alluded to； I was at Labajos； in the province of Segovia； and the division of the factious chieftain Balmaseda was in the immediate neighbourhood。 On the 22nd； I mounted my horse and rode to Villallos； a distance of three leagues。 On my arrival there； I found that Lopez had been removed from the prison to a private house。 An order had arrived from the CORREGIDOR of Avila； commanding that the person of Lopez should be placed in full and perfect liberty and that the books which had been found in his possession should be alone detained。 Nevertheless； in direct opposition to this order； a copy of which I herewith transmit； the ALCALDE of Villallos； at the instigation of the CURA； refused to permit the said Lopez to quit the place； either to proceed to Avila or in any other direction。 It had been hinted to Lopez that； as the factious were expected； it was intended on their arrival to denounce him to them as a liberal； and to cause him to be sacrificed。 Taking these circumstances into consideration； I deemed it my duty； as a Christian and a gentleman； to rescue my unfortunate servant from such lawless bands； and in consequence defying opposition I bore him off； though perfectly unarmed； through a crowd of at least one hundred peasants。 On leaving the place I shouted 'VIVA ISABELA SEGUNDA。'
As it is my belief that the CURA of Villallos is a person capable of any infamy； I beg leave humbly to entreat your Lordship to cause a copy of the above narration to be forwarded to the Spanish Government。
I have the honour to remain； my Lord； your Lordship's most obedient and most humble servant；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 29th August； 1838
To the Rev。 G。 Browne （ENDORSED： recd。 Sept。 6th； 1838） MADRID； AUG。 29； 1838。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I am this moment arrived at Madrid from my expedition in Old Castile； and I have received your kind lines appended to my friend Mr。 Brandram's communication。
I will set out for England as soon as possible； but I must be allowed time。 I am almost dead with fatigue； suffering and anxiety； and it is necessary that I should place the Society's property in safe and sure custody。
It has pleased the Lord to assist me visibly in my last journey。 In the midst of a thousand perils I have disposed of nine hundred Testaments amongst the peasantry on the north side of the precipitous hills of the Guadarama range； and all in the space of three weeks。 In a day or two I shall write to Mr。 Brandram with particulars。
Pray excuse these hasty lines； present my kindest remembrances to Mrs。 Browne； and believe me； Revd。 and dear Sir；
Gratefully and truly yours；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 1st September； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Sept。 10； 1838） MADRID； SEPT。 1； 1838。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … From my letter to the Revd。 Geo。 Browne of the 28 ult。 you are already doubtless aware of my arrival at Madrid from my expedition in Old Castile。 I now proceed to detail to you a few occurrences； premising that my notices will necessarily be brief； as I am considerably indisposed； and am moreover much occupied in making preparations for my departure for England； and in arranging the affairs of the Society in Spain in as satisfactory a manner as circumstances will permit。
I set out for my journey on the 4th of last month on horseback and accompanied by my servant。 The first day brought us to La Granja； a distance of twelve leagues from Madrid； where I expected to find Lopez and another man whom I had sent before。 Nothing particular occurred during this day's journey； except that notwithstanding my haste I sold some Testaments in the villages near the roadside and that it pleased God to permit us to traverse the pass of Pena Cerrada without coming in contact with the banditti that haunt the gloomy pine forests which embower it and extend for leagues in every direction。 Arrived at La Granja； I could hear nothing of Lopez nor of the other individual； and in consequence after a stay of a day which was necessary to refresh the horses； I departed for Segovia。 I did not attempt to distribute the Word at La Granja； being well aware that orders had been transmitted to the authorities of the place to seize all copies of the sacred writings which might be offered for sale。 I may say the same with respect to Segovia； where still none of my people made their appearance。 At Segovia I received from a friend a chest containing two hundred Testaments； and almost immediately after； by the greatest chance in the world； I heard from a peasant that there were men in the neighbourhood of Abades selling books。 Abades is about three leagues distant from Segovia； and upon receiving this intelligence I instantly departed for the former place； with three BURRICOS ＇asses＇ laden with Testaments。
I reached Abades at nightfall； and found Lopez in the house of the surgeon of the place； where I also took up my residence。 He had already disposed of a considerable number of Testaments in the neighbourhood； and had that day commenced selling at Abades itself。 He had； however； been interrupted by two of three CURAS of the village； who with horrid curses denounced the work； threatening eternal condemnation to Lopez for selling it and to any person who should purchase it； whereupon Lopez； terrified； forebore until I should arrive。 The third CURA； however； exerted himself to the utmost to persuade the people to provide themselves with Testaments； telling them that his brethren were hypocrites and false guides； who by keeping them in ignorance of the word and will of Christ were leading them to the abyss。 Upon receiving this information； I instantly sallied forth to the marketplace； and that same night succeeded in disposing of upwards of thirty Testaments。 The next morning the house was entered by the two factious CURAS； but upon my rising to confront them they retreated； and I heard no more of them； except that they publicly cursed me in the church more than once； an event which as no ill resulted from it gave me little concern。
I will not detail the events of the next week； suffice it to say that arranging my forces in the most advantageous way I succeeded b