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
native mountains and is utterly ignorant of the Spanish language, for I
am told that they are exceedingly faithful and laborious. The best
servant I ever had was the Tartar Mahmoud at St. Petersburg, and I have
frequently repented that I did not bring him with me on my leaving
Russia; but I was not then aware that I was about to visit this
unfortunate country, where goodness of every description is so difficult
to find.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. May 23, 1837)
MADRID, _May_ 10_th_, 1837.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I herewith send the long promised account of my
private expenses, which I hope will be found correct. I start to-morrow
for Salamanca, at which place I should now be, but for the misconduct of
my servant, whom I have been compelled to turn away. I have experienced
great difficulty in obtaining another; my present one is a Greek, who
formerly waited on Mr. O'Shea; I hope he will turn out well. Mr. O'Shea
has given me a general letter of credit to his correspondents in various
parts of Spain. You will receive my draft in a few days. I shall write
from Salamanca, and various other places, detailing all my proceedings
and adventures. I hope you received my last letter.
I remain, etc.,
GEORGE BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. June 21, 1837)
SALAMANCA, June 7, 1837.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I arrived at Salamanca about a fortnight since, in
safety and in tolerable good health. I shall defer for a few days
communicating the particulars of my journey, though they are not
destitute of interest, having at present information to afford which I
consider of more importance, and which I hope will afford the same
satisfaction to yourself and our friends at home which I myself
experience in communicating them.
Some days previous to my departure from Madrid I was very much
indisposed. Owing to the state of the weather--for violent and biting
winds had long prevailed--I had been attacked with a severe cold which
terminated in a shrieking disagreeable cough, which the many remedies
which I successively tried were unable to subdue. I had made preparation
for departing on a particular day, but owing to the state of my health I
was apprehensive that I should be compelled to postpone my journey for a
time. The last day of my stay in Madrid, finding myself scarcely able to
stand, I was fain to submit to a somewhat desperate experiment, and by
the advice of the barber-surgeon who visited me, I determined to be bled.
Late on the night of that same day he eased me of sixteen ounces of
blood, and having received his fee, left me, wishing me a pleasant
journey, and assuring me upon his reputation that by noon the next day I
should be perfectly recovered.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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