Letters of George Borrow to the British and Foreign Bible Society — John Shaqi
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
Mr. Stallybrass, the Siberian missionary, is at present here on his way
to England, whither he is conducting his two sons, for the purpose of
placing them in some establishment, where they may receive a better
education than it is possible for him to give them in Siberia. I have
seen him several times, and have heard him preach once at the Sarepta
House. He is a clever, well-informed man, and in countenance and manner
much like Mr. Swan--which similarity may perhaps be accounted for by
their long residence under the same roof; for people who are in the habit
of conversing together every day insensibly assume each other's habits,
manner of speaking, and expression of countenance. Mr. Stallybrass's
youngest son, a lad of fifteen, shows marks of talent which may make him
useful in the missionary field for which he is intended. The most
surprising instance of precocious talent that I have ever seen, or ever
heard of, is exhibited in a young nobleman, who visits me every day. He
is the eldest son of Count Fredro, Marshal of the Imperial Court, and
though only fourteen years of age, speaks eight languages perfectly well,
is a good Grecian and Latinist, is one of the best draftsmen in Russia,
is well acquainted with physics, botany, geography, and history, and to
crown all, has probably the most beautiful voice that ever mortal was
gifted with. A admirable _Chrishna_ again by metempsychosis; the
religion of the family, with whom I am very intimate, is the Romish. I
now and then attend the service of the Armenian Church, for the purpose
of perfecting myself in the language, and have formed many acquaintances
amongst the congregation: there are several very clever and very learned
Armenians in this place; one of them I will particularly mention, a
little elderly gentleman of the name of Kudobashoff, who is the best
Armenian scholar at present in existence. He is on the eve of publishing
a work, calculated to be very interesting to us: an Armenian and Russian
Dictionary, on which he has been occupied for the space of thirty-seven
years, and which will be of the highest assistance to any future editor
of the Armenian Scriptures; and be it known, that no place in Europe,
with perhaps the exception of Venice, offers more advantages to the
editing of the A.S. than St. Petersburg.
I will now conclude, and repeat the assurance that I am ready to attempt
anything which the Society may wish me to execute; and, at a moment's
warning, will direct my course towards Canton, Pekin, or the court of the
Grand Lama. With my best respects to Mr. Brandram, I have the honour to
remain, Revd. and dear Sir, most truly yours,
G. BORROW.
To J. Tarn, Esq.
(_Endorsed_: recd. May, 1835)
ST. PETERSBURG, _April_ 28th [old style], 1835.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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