To Rev.J.Jowett (ENDORSED:recd.Sept.14th,1835)ST.PETERSBURG,AUG.12,1835.
As it is probable that yourself and my other excellent and Christian friends at the Bible House are hourly expecting me and wondering at my non-appearance,I cannot refrain from sending you a few lines in order to account for my prolonged stay abroad.For the last fortnight I have been detained at St.Petersburg in the most vexatious and unheard-of manner.The two last parts of our Testaments have been bound and ready for shipping a considerable time,and are at present in the warehouse of a most pious and excellent person in this place,whom the Bible Society are well acquainted with;but I have hitherto not been able to obtain permission to send them away.You will ask how I contrived to despatch the first six volumes,which you have doubtless by this time received.But I must inform you that at that time I had only a verbal permission,and that the Custom House permitted them to pass because they knew not what they were.But now,notwithstanding I obtained a regular permission to print,and transacted everything in a legal and formal manner,I am told that I had no right at all to print the Scriptures at St.Petersburg,and that my coming thither on that account (I use their own words)was a step in the highest degree suspicious and mysterious,and that there are even grounds for supposing that I am not connected with the Bible Society or employed by them.To-day,however,Ilost patience,and said that I would not be trifled with any longer;that next week I should send away the books by a vessel which would then sail,and that whosoever should attempt to stop them would do so at his peril -and I intend to act up to what Isaid.I shall then demand my passport and advertise my departure,as every one before quitting Russia must be advertised in the newspapers two weeks successively.Pray do me the justice to believe that for this unpleasant delay I am by no means accountable.It is in the highest degree tormenting to myself.Iam very unwell from vexation and disquietude of mind,and am exposed to every kind of inconvenience.The term for which I took my chambers is expired,and I am living in a dirty and expensive hotel.But there is One above who supports me in these troubles,and I have no doubt that everything will turn out for the best.
I take this opportunity of sending my accounts to Mr.Tarn;if there be any inaccuracy let him excuse it,for the post hurries me.
G.BORROW.
Report of Mr.George Borrow TO THE MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLESOCIETY.
GENTLEMEN,-It is now about two years since I quitted England for St.Petersburg in consequence of the duty which you have been pleased to confide to my hands,namely,that of editing at the Russian capital the New Testament in the Mandchou language which has been translated by Mr.Lipoftsoff,at present Councillor of State and Chinese Translator at that place,but formerly one of the members of the Russian mission at Pekin.On my arrival,before entering upon this highly important and difficult task,I,in obedience to your command,assisted Mr.Swan,the missionary from Selinginsk,to complete a transcript which he had commenced some time previous of a manuscript translation of the principal part of the Old Testament into Mandchou executed by Puerot,who,originally a Jesuit emissary at Pekin,passed the latter years of his life in the service of the Russian mission in the capacity of physician.
The united labours of Mr.Swan and myself speedily brought the task in question to a conclusion,so that the transcript has for a considerable time been in the possession of the Bible Society.Iwill here take the liberty of offering a few remarks upon this translation;but as the work is not at the present moment before me,it is impossible to enter upon a critical and minute examination of its merits.Nevertheless,having either transcribed or at various times perused it,I have formed a general opinion concerning it which,though very probably a faulty one,I shall lay before you in a few words,which at any future time I hope you will permit me to recall,if fresh lights upon the subject compel me to believe that my original conclusion was an erroneous one;having no doubt that those who are embarked in so noble a cause as the propagation of The Great Truth,will be at all times willing to excuse error when confessed,as by the confession of error the truth becomes more glaringly manifest.
The merits of this translation are,upon the whole,of a very high order;but it would be an untruth and an absurdity to say that it does not exhibit defects and blemishes of a striking and peculiar kind -peculiar,from the singular fact that those portions of the original which,being narrative are exceedingly simple as to idea and style,have been invariably rendered in a manner the most liable to censure,exhibiting not only a slovenly carelessness in regard to diction,but not unfrequently a disregard of accuracy when the slightest particle of attention was only necessary to render the meaning which the sacred writer endeavours to convey.
