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ay； to make enquiries concerning our property。 He lives in a large house in the PAJARIA； or straw…market。 He is a very old man； between seventy and eighty； and like almost all those who wear the sacerdotal habit in this city is a fierce persecuting Papist。 I believe he scarcely believed his ears when his two grand…nephews； beautiful black…haired boys； who were playing in the courtyard； ran to inform him that an Englishman was waiting to speak with him； as it is probable that I was the first heretic who ever ventured into his habitation。 I found him in a vaulted room seated on a lofty chair； with two sinister…looking secretaries； also in sacerdotal habits； employed in writing at a table before him。 He brought powerfully to my recollection the grim old inquisitor who persuaded Philip the Second to slay his own son as an enemy to the Church。 He arose as I entered； and gazed upon me with a countenance dark with suspicion and dissatisfaction。 He at last condescended to point me to a sofa； and I proceeded to state to him my business。 He became much agitated when I mentioned the Testaments to him； but I no sooner spoke of the Bible Society and told him who I was； than he could contain himself no longer； and with a stammering tongue and with eyes flashing fire like hot coals； he proceeded to rail against the Society and myself； saying that the aims of the first were atrocious and that as to myself； he was surprised that being once lodged in the prison of Madrid I had ever been permitted to quit it； adding that it was disgraceful in the Government to allow a person of my character to roam about an innocent and peaceful country； corrupting the minds of the ignorant and unsuspicious。 Far from allowing myself to be disconcerted by his rude behaviour； I replied to him with all possible politeness； and assured him that in this instance he had no reason to alarm himself； as that my sole motive in claiming the books in question was to avail myself of an opportunity； which at present presented itself of sending them out of the country； which indeed I had been commanded to do by an official notice。 But nothing would soothe him； and he informed me that he should not deliver up the books on any condition； save by a positive order of the Government。 As the matter was by no means an affair of consequence I thought it wise not to persist； and also prudent to take my leave before he requested me。 I was followed even down into the street by his niece and grand…nephews； who during the whole of the conversation had listened at the door of the apartment and heard every word。
I have at present little more to say； having detailed everything worth mentioning which has occurred since ＇my＇ landing in the Peninsula for the third time。 As soon as I reach Madrid I shall proceed to make preparations for a fresh expedition； but in what direction I have scarcely determined。 Please therefore to pray that I may be enlightened； and that the angel of the Lord may smooth my path before me。 Greet all my friends in my name； I hope speedily to be able to write to each； and in the meantime remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； yours ever；
G。 B。
LETTER： 25th January； 1839
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Feb。 4； 1839） MADRID； No。 16 CALLE SANTIAGO； 25 JANUARY； 1839。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … My last letter was from Seville； in which I gave you an account of my proceedings in that place； at the same time stating that I was about to repair to Madrid with the courier。 After travelling four days and nights we arrived； without having experienced the slightest accident； though it is but just to observe； and always with gratitude to the Almighty； that the next courier was stopped。
A singular accident befell me immediately after my arrival。 On entering the arch of the POSADA； called La Reyna； where I intended to put up； I found myself encircled in a person's arms； and on turning round in amazement beheld my Greek servant Antonio； he was haggard and ill…dressed； and his eyes seemed starting from their sockets。 As soon as we were alone he informed me that since my departure he had undergone great misery and destitution； having during the whole period been unable to obtain a master in need of his services； so that he was brought nearly to the verge of desperation； but that on the night immediately preceding my arrival he had a dream in which he saw me； mounted on a black horse； ride up to the gate of the POSADA； and that on that account he had been waiting there during the greatest part of the day。 I do not pretend to offer any opinion concerning this narrative； which is beyond the reach of my philosophy； and shall content myself with observing that only two individuals in Madrid； one of them Lord Clarendon （late Sir George Villiers）； were aware of my arrival in Spain。 I was very glad to receive him again into my service； as notwithstanding his faults； and he has many； he has in many instances proved of no slight assistance to me in my wanderings and Biblical labours； as indeed I have informed you on previous occasions。
I was soon settled in my former lodgings； when one of my first cares was to pay a visit to Lord Clarendon。 I need not dilate on the particulars of our interview； suffice it to say； that he received me with more than usual kindness； and assured me that I might invariably rely upon him； if I should ever chance to be in need of his assistance and protection。 I told him that it was not our intention to take any steps towards preventing the civil or ecclesiastical authorities of Toledo from destroying the Testaments seized at Ocana； and he smiled when I added that the only wish we ventured to express concerning the matter was that； in the event of these books； which contain the Word of God； being committed to the flames； the said authorities； civil or ecclesiastic； would commit the act with all the publicity possible。
My preparations for taking the field are now nearly completed； and within forty hours I hope to commence operations。 My first attempt will be made in a large village ＇at＇ about a league's distance； and if it please the Lord to permit me to succeed there； it is my intention to proceed to all those villages or hamlets in the vicinity of Madrid hitherto not supplied。 I then wend towards the east； to a distance of about thirty leagues。 I have been very passionate in prayer during the last two or three days； and I entertain some hope that the Lord has condescended to answer me； as I appear to see my way with considerable clearness。 It may； of course； prove a delusion； and the prospects which seem to present themselves may be mere palaces of clouds which a breath of wind is sufficient to tumble into ruin； therefore bearing this possibility in mind it behoves me to beg that I may be always enabled to bow meekly to the dispensations of the Almighty； whether they be of favour or severity。
Two days ago I received my largest and most useful horse from the Sagra of Toledo and likewise a note from Lopez； he is unable to come himself at present to assist me； but he sent a countryman who； he is of opinion； will be of equal