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
fatigue, I have exposed myself to danger from robbers, and was near
losing my life from the ruffian soldiery at Arrayolos, whose bullets so
narrowly missed me. I have been as economical as possible, though the
charges in Portugal for everything are enormous, and a stranger there is
like a ship on shore, a mark for plunder. In Spain the people are far
more honest, and the charges, though high, reasonable in comparison.
Before leaving Lisbon I drew on excellent Mr. Wilby for 75 pounds; of
this sum 12 pounds was remitted to Malaja, through which place I shall
probably pass on my return to Lisbon. I have still remaining by me money
sufficient for two months, I therefore need not enter into a detail of my
expenses. I now wait for a letter from you; and when you write, please
to remit to me a small letter of credit on some one at Madrid, or request
Mr. Wilby to do so, as he has correspondents here, and in that case
communicate my address to him. I give you below an abridgment of my
interview with Mr. Mendizabal. I think it will make you laugh. I have
the honour to remain, Revd. and dear Sir, etc.,
G. BORROW.
Interview with Mr. Mendizabal
At about 8 o'clock in the morning of the 7th inst. I went to the palace,
where Mr. Mendizabal resides. I informed the usher that I came from the
British Ambassador, whereupon I was shown into a room, and after waiting
about three hours I was admitted to the presence of the Prime Minister of
Spain. He was dressed in a morning gown and sat behind a table covered
with papers. He is a man of about five-and-forty, somewhat above the
middle height, with very handsome features, aquiline nose and large
sparkling eyes; his hair is partly grey. I presented him the letter with
which Sir Geo. Villiers had furnished me, and when he had read it, I said
that before entering upon the matter which more immediately brought me to
him, I begged leave to set him right upon a point relating to which he
was labouring under considerable error: Sir Geo. Villiers had informed me
that Mr. M. entertained an opinion that the Bible Society had been
endeavouring to exercise an undue influence over the minds of the slave
population of Cuba by means of their agents; but that I could assure him
with truth, that neither directly nor indirectly had they exerted or
attempted to exert any influence at all over any part of the inhabitants
of that island, as they had neither sent agents there, nor held any
communication with the residents. While I was saying this, he
interrupted me several times, insisting that it was so, and that he had
documents to prove it. I told him that it was probable he confounded the
Bible Society with some other institution for the propagation of
religion, perhaps with one of the missionary societies, more especially
one of those belonging to the United States, which might have sent
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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