Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society

Name: Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society
Author: Borrow, George

Borrow, George

Authors, English -- 19th century -- Correspondence; British and Foreign Bible Society; English letters

I did not return to England immediately after my departure from Madrid,
for several reasons.  First, there was my affair with the _Alcalde_ still
pending; second, I wished to get my papers into some order; third, I
wished to effect a little more in the cause, though not in the way of
distribution as I had no books; moreover the house in which I resided was
paid for, and I was unwilling altogether to lose the money; I likewise
dreaded an English winter, for I have lately been subjected to attacks,
whether of gout or rheumatism I know not, which I believe were brought on
by sitting, standing and sleeping in damp places during my wanderings in
Spain.  The _Alcalde_ has lately been turned out of his situation, but I
believe more on account of his being a Carlist than for his behaviour to
me; that however, is of little consequence, as I have long forgotten the
affair.  I have again been in trouble; and the Government and clergy seem
determined on persecuting me until I leave Spain.  I embark on the third
of next month, and you will probably see me by the sixteenth.  I wish
very much to spend the remaining years of my life in the northern parts
of China, as I think I have a call to those regions, and shall endeavour
by every honourable means to effect my purpose.  I have a work nearly in
readiness for publication, and two others in a state of forwardness.  The
title of the first I take the liberty of sending you on the other side.
I hope yet to die in the cause of my Redeemer.

I have at present nothing further to say of importance.

I therefore remain, as usual, Revd. and dear Sir, most sincerely yours,

                                                                     G. B.

_P.S._--What an admirable man and Christian is Mr. Brackenbury!

The title George Borrow wrote on the fly-leaf was...

                               THE ZIN-CALI
                       OR AN ACCOUNT OF THE GYPSIES
                                 OF SPAIN
                WITH AN ORIGINAL COLLECTION OF THEIR SONGS
                        WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
                AND A COPIOUS VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE
                     EXPLAINED IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH
                                    BY
                                  G. B.
                             IN TWO VOLUMES.




Footnotes:


{137}  Friday, or the day of Crucifixion.

{153}  Almost all other articles in Madrid are proportionably dear.

{154}  Amat's Bible sells for 4 dollars.

{197}  The Spanish sheet is but one-fourth the size of the English.

{251}  This animal cost the Society about two thousand _reals_ at Madrid;
I, however, sold him for three thousand at Corunna, notwithstanding that
he had suffered much from the hard labour which he had been subjected to
in our wanderings in Galicia, and likewise from bad provender.

{256}  I have since discovered that they were only despatched the day
before my arrival at Madrid.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

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

I did not return to England immediately after my departure from Madrid,
for several reasons.  First, there was my affair with the _Alcalde_ still
pending; second, I wished to get my papers into some order; third, I
wished to effect a little more in the cause, though not in the way of
distribution as I had no books; moreover the house in which I resided was
paid for, and I was unwilling altogether to lose the money; I likewise
dreaded an English winter, for I have lately been subjected to attacks,
whether of gout or rheumatism I know not, which I believe were brought on
by sitting, standing and sleeping in damp places during my wanderings in
Spain.  The _Alcalde_ has lately been turned out of his situation, but I
believe more on account of his being a Carlist than for his behaviour to
me; that however, is of little consequence, as I have long forgotten the
affair.  I have again been in trouble; and the Government and clergy seem
determined on persecuting me until I leave Spain.  I embark on the third
of next month, and you will probably see me by the sixteenth.  I wish
very much to spend the remaining years of my life in the northern parts
of China, as I think I have a call to those regions, and shall endeavour
by every honourable means to effect my purpose.  I have a work nearly in
readiness for publication, and two others in a state of forwardness.  The
title of the first I take the liberty of sending you on the other side.
I hope yet to die in the cause of my Redeemer.

I have at present nothing further to say of importance.

I therefore remain, as usual, Revd. and dear Sir, most sincerely yours,

                                                                     G. B.

_P.S._--What an admirable man and Christian is Mr. Brackenbury!

The title George Borrow wrote on the fly-leaf was...

                               THE ZIN-CALI
                       OR AN ACCOUNT OF THE GYPSIES
                                 OF SPAIN
                WITH AN ORIGINAL COLLECTION OF THEIR SONGS
                        WITH ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
                AND A COPIOUS VOCABULARY OF THEIR LANGUAGE
                     EXPLAINED IN SPANISH AND ENGLISH
                                    BY
                                  G. B.
                             IN TWO VOLUMES.




Footnotes:


{137}  Friday, or the day of Crucifixion.

{153}  Almost all other articles in Madrid are proportionably dear.

{154}  Amat's Bible sells for 4 dollars.

{197}  The Spanish sheet is but one-fourth the size of the English.

{251}  This animal cost the Society about two thousand _reals_ at Madrid;
I, however, sold him for three thousand at Corunna, notwithstanding that
he had suffered much from the hard labour which he had been subjected to
in our wanderings in Galicia, and likewise from bad provender.

{256}  I have since discovered that they were only despatched the day
before my arrival at Madrid.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society

Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society

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