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good husband and father; and a man who fears the Lord: he is likewise possessed of considerable ability; but I am entirely unacquainted with any plan which be may have formed respecting printing the Scriptures in Spain; or any memorial which he may have sent in to the Bible Society on the subject; so that of course I cannot be expected to express an opinion。 It is my intention in a few days to depart from hence on my expedition; so that should you be desirous of writing to me; you had perhaps best address to Madrid。
When the Bible Society has no further occasion for my poor labours; I hope it will do me justice to the world。 I have been its faithful and zealous servant。 I shall on a future occasion take the liberty of addressing you as a friend respecting my prospects。 I have the materials of a curious book of travels in Spain; I have enough metrical translations from all languages; especially the Celtic and Sclavonic; to fill a dozen volumes; and I have formed a vocabulary of the Spanish Gypsy tongue; and also a collection of the songs and poetry of the Gitanos with introductory essays。 Perhaps some of these literary labours might be turned to account。 I wish to obtain honourably and respectably the means of visiting China; or particular parts of Africa。 I call this letter private; but communicate such parts of it as you think proper。
(UNSIGNED。)
LETTER: 25th November; 1839
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram (ENDORSED: recd。 Dec。 19; 1839) PRISON OF SEVILLE; Novr。 25; 1839。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR; … I write these lines as you see from the common prison of Seville; to which I was led yesterday; or rather dragged; neither for murder nor robbery nor debt but simply for having endeavoured to obtain a passport for Cordova; to which place I was going with my Jewish servant; Hayim Ben Attar。
It is necessary for me here to give you some information respecting my proceedings since I last wrote。 I wished to distribute some more Testaments in Seville before I left the country; and accordingly procured a considerable number from Madrid。 Everything was accomplished with the utmost secrecy; and the blessed books obtained considerable circulation。 I likewise sent agents into the country; and went myself in my accustomed manner。 All went well; the entire stock which had reached me was circulated; and I rested from my labours for a little time; for indeed I had need of quiet; being indisposed。
Some English people now came to Seville and distributed tracts in a very unguarded manner; knowing nothing of the country or the inhabitants。 They were even so unwise as TO GIVE TRACTS INSTEAD OF MONEY ON VISITING PUBLIC BUILDINGS; ETC。 These persons came to me; and requested my co…operation and advice; and likewise introductions to people spiritually disposed amongst the Spaniards; to all which requests I returned a decided negative。 But I foresaw all。 In a day or two I was summoned before the GEFE POLITICO or; as he was once called; CORREGIDOR of Seville; who I must say treated me with the utmost politeness; and indeed respect; but at the same time he informed me that he had (to use his own expression) terrible orders from Madrid concerning me; if I should be discovered in the act of distributing the Scriptures or any writings of a religious tendency。 He then taxed me with having circulated both lately; especially tracts: whereupon I told him that I had never distributed a tract since I had been in Spain; nor had any intention of doing so。 We had much conversation and parted in kindness。 I went away for a few days; though without intending to do anything; and wrote to the firm of O'Shea for money; of which I stood in need and which I received。 I now determined to make for La Mancha and to put my plan into execution; which I should have done sooner had the roads been a little more secure。 Yesterday I sent my passport to be signed by the ALCALDE DEL BARRIO。 This fellow is the greatest ruffian in Seville; and I have on various occasions been insulted by him; he pretends to be a liberal; but is of no principle at all; and as I reside within his district he has been employed by the Canons of the cathedral to vex and harass me on every possible occasion。 (By the way; the hatred which these last people nourish against me amounts almost to frenzy; and scarcely a day passes by in which they do not send in false accusations against me to the GEFE POLITICO; they have even gone so far as to induce people to perjure themselves by swearing that I have sold or given them books; people whom I have never seen nor heard of; and the same system was carried on whilst I was in Africa; for they are so foolishly suspicious that they could not be persuaded that I was out of Seville。) The above…mentioned ALCALDE refused to sign the passport; though he was bound to do so; it being quite in form; and insulted the messenger: whereupon I sent the latter back with money to pay any fees lawful or unlawful which might be demanded; as I wished to avoid noise and the necessity of applying to the consul; Mr。 Williams。 But the fellow became only more outrageous。 I then went myself to demand an explanation and was called all the vilest names contained in the Spanish GERMANIA (Billingsgate); whereupon I told him that if he proceeded in this manner I would make a complaint to the authorities through the consul。 He then said that if I did not instantly depart he would drag me off to prison; and cause me to be knocked down if I made the slightest resistance。 I dared him repeatedly to do both; and said that he was a disgrace to the Government which employed him and to human nature。 He called me a heretic。 We were now in the street and a mob was collected; whereupon I cried 'VIVA INGLATERRA; Y VIVA LA CONSTITUCION。' The populace seemed disposed to side with me; notwithstanding the exhortations of the monster to them that they would knock down THE FOREIGNER; for he himself quailed before me as I looked him in the eyes defying him。 He at last ran to a neighbouring guard…house; and requested the assistance of the Nationals in conducting me to prison。 I followed him and delivered myself up at the first summons; and walked to the prison without uttering a word: not so the ruffian; who continued his abuse until we arrived at the gate。 I was asked my name by the authorities of the prison; which I refused to give unless in the presence of the consul; and indeed to answer any questions。 I was then ordered to the PATIO or courtyard; where are kept the lowest thieves and assassins of Seville; who having no money cannot pay for better accommodation; and by whom I should have been stripped naked in a moment as a matter of course; as they are all in a state of raging hunger and utter destitution。 I asked for a private cell; which I was told I might have if I could pay for it。 I stated my willingness to pay anything which might be demanded; and was conducted to an upper ward; consisting of several cells and a corridor。 Here I found six or seven prisoners who received me very civilly; and instantly procured me paper and ink for the purpose of writing to th