To J.Jackson,Esq.(ENDORSED:recd.Aug.26th,1836)MADRID,AUG.10,1836.
MY DEAR SIR,-I have received your two letters containing the 50pounds and the resolution of the Society;I have likewise received Mr.Brandram's.
I shall make the provisional engagement [to print]as desired,and shall leave Madrid as soon as possible;but I must here inform you that I shall find much difficulty in returning to England,as all the provinces are disturbed in consequence of the Constitution of 1812having been proclaimed,and the roads are swarming with robbers and banditti.It is my intention to join some muleteers and attempt to reach Granada,from whence,if possible,I shall proceed to Malaga or Gibraltar,and thence to Lisbon,where I left the greatest part of my baggage.Do not be surprised therefore,if I am tardy in making my appearance.It is no easy thing at present to travel in Spain.But all these troubles are for the benefit of the Cause,and must not be repined at.
I remain,my dear Sir,most truly yours,G.B.
Report of Mr.Geo.Borrow's late Proceedings in Spain LONDON,OCTOBER 17,1836.
On the 16th of January I quitted Badajoz,a Spanish town on the frontier of Portugal,for Madrid,whither I arrived in safety.As my principal motive for visiting the Spanish capital was the hope of obtaining permission from the Government to print the New Testament in the Castilian language in Spain,I lost no time upon my arrival in taking what I considered to be the necessary steps.
I must here premise that I was an entire stranger at Madrid,and that I bore no letters,of introduction to any person of influence whose credit might have assisted me in this undertaking;so that notwithstanding I entertained a hope of success,relying on the assistance of the Almighty,this hope was not at all times very vivid,but was frequently overcast with the clouds of despondency.
Mr.Mendizabal was at this time Prime Minister of Spain,and was considered as a man of almost unbounded power,in whose hands were placed the destinies of the country.I therefore considered that if I could by any means induce him to favour my view I should have no reason to fear interruption from other quarters,and Idetermined upon applying to him;but though I essayed two or three times to obtain an interview with him,I failed,as he was far too much engrossed in important business to receive a humble and unknown stranger.In this dilemma I bethought me of waiting upon Mr.Villiers,the British Ambassador at Madrid,and craving with the freedom permitted to a British subject his advice and assistance in this most interesting affair.I was received by him with great kindness,and enjoyed a conversation with him on various subjects,before I introduced the matter which I had most at heart.
He said that if I wished for an interview with Mr.M.he would endeavour to procure me one;but at the same time told me frankly that he could not hope that any good would arise from it,as Mr.M.
was violently prejudiced against the British and Foreign Bible Society,and was far more likely to discountenance than encourage any efforts which they might be disposed to make for introducing the Gospel into Spain.I however remained resolute in my desire to make the trial,and before I left him obtained a letter of introduction to Mr.Mendizabal,with whom I had an interview a few days after.The particulars of this interview have been detailed on a former occasion.It will be sufficient to state here that Iobtained from Mr.Mendizabal,if not immediate permission to print the Scriptures,a promise that at the expiration of a few months,when he hoped that the country would be in a more tranquil state,Ishould be at full liberty to do so,with which promise I departed well satisfied,and full of gratitude to the Lord,who seemed to have so wonderfully smoothed my way in an enterprise which at first sight seemed particularly arduous and difficult.
Before three months had elapsed Mr.Mendizabal had ceased to be Prime Minister;with his successor,Mr.Isturitz,I had become acquainted,and also with his colleagues,Galiano and the Duke de Rivas,and it was not long before I obtained -not however without much solicitation and difficulty -the permission which I so ardently desired.Before,however,I could turn it to my account,the revolution broke out in Spain,and the press became free.
The present appears to be a moment peculiarly well adapted for commencing operations in Spain,the aim and view of which should be the introducing into that singularly unhappy portion of the world the knowledge of the Saviour.The clouds of bigotry and superstition which for so many centuries cast their dreary shadow upon Spain,are to a considerable degree dispelled,and there is little reason for supposing that they will ever again conglomerate.
