Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible SocietyBorrow, George
Religion
Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society
Borrow, George
Authors, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence; British and Foreign Bible Society; English letters
This is the plan which I most humbly offer to the consideration of the
Committee and yourself. I shall not feel at all surprised should it be
disapproved of altogether; but I wish it to be understood that in that
event I could do nothing further than see the work through the press, as
I am confident that whatever ardour and zeal I at present feel in the
cause would desert me immediately, and that I should neither be able nor
willing to execute anything which might be suggested. I wish to engage
in nothing which would not allow me to depend entirely on myself. It
would be heart-breaking to me to remain at Madrid, expending the
Society's money, with almost the certainty of being informed eventually
by the booksellers and their correspondents that the work has no sale.
In a word, to make sure that some copies find their way among the people
I must be permitted to carry them to the people myself; and what people
have more need of Christian instruction than the inhabitants of the
districts alluded to?
Ere the return of the _contrabandista_ to Cordova, I purchased one of the
horses which had brought us to Madrid. It is an exceedingly strong,
useful animal, and as I had seen what it is capable of performing, I gave
him the price which he demanded (about 11 pounds, 17s.). It will go
twelve leagues a day with ease, and carry three hundred-weight on its
back. I am looking out for another, but shall of course make no further
purchase until I hear from you. I confess I would sooner provide myself
with mules, but they are very expensive creatures. In the first place,
the original cost of a tolerable one amounts to 30 pounds; and they,
moreover, consume a vast quantity of fodder, at least two pecks of barley
in the twenty-four hours with straw in proportion, and if they are
stinted in their food they are of no manner of service; the attendance
which they require is likewise very irksome, as they must be fed once
every four hours night and day; they are, however, noble animals, and are
much in vogue amongst the principal nobility.
Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, most truly
yours,
G. B.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. Mar. 6, 1837)
MADRID, No. 16 CALLE SANT. IAGO,
_Feby._ 27, 1837.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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