letters-第73节
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（ENDEMONIADOS） to persecute it in the manner which they did。
It was Sunday when the seizure was made； and I happened to be reading the Liturgy。 One of the ALGUACILS when going away made an observation respecting the very different manner in which the Protestants and Catholics keep the Sabbath； the former being in their houses reading good books； and the latter abroad in the bull ring； seeing the wild bulls tearing out the gory bowels of the poor horses。 The bull amphitheatre at Seville is； as you perhaps may have heard； the finest in all Spain； and is invariably on a Sunday； the only day in which it is open； filled with applauding multitudes。
I am happy to be able to say that the soil of Spain is now tolerably well broken up； and to a certain degree prepared for the labours of any future missionaries bearing the blessed Bible； who may visit this interesting part of the world。 We have had considerable difficulty hitherto in circulating Testaments； and we have merely been enabled to scatter about the thousands； which are now being read； by very extraordinary exertions。 Nevertheless when I take a large view of the subject I feel inclined to believe that we were right in commencing our labours in the interior of Spain by printing an edition of the New Testament at Madrid。 I much doubt whether the astonishing demand for the Bible； which almost compelled me to leave the capital； and which now shows itself at Seville and other places； for example； Burgos； Valladolid； and Saint James of Galicia； to the great mortification of the Popish clergy； would have arisen but for the appearance of the New Testament which awaked in people's minds the desire of possessing the entire Scripture。 With great humility； however； I feel disposed to advise that provided at any future time the Society should think itself called upon to recommence its exertions here in the cause of a crucified Saviour； it employ； as its mighty instrument the Bible； the entire blessed Bible； having nevertheless always ready for distribution a certain quantity of Testaments； the wishes of weak human beings being influenced by such strange causes that it is probable that were it known at Madrid； or in other places； that there was a dearth of Testaments； the demand for the same would instantly become greater than for the entire Bible。
A few days since I received a communication from my correspondent at Saint James at Galicia； old Rey Romero； whom I have mentioned on a former occasion when residing there。 The good old man has sent me in his account； by which it appears that 115 copies of the New Testament were sold at Saint James between the months of August 1837 and May 1838； at which time the further sale of the work was forbidden； and 35 copies； which remained unsold； placed in embargo。 The balance of the account in our favour is 950 REALS after deducting all expenses。 I shall preserve this letter with care； as I attach some importance to it。 Who has not heard of Saint James of Compostella； the temple of the great image of the patron of Spain； and the most favourite resort in the world of benighted Popish pilgrims？ Nevertheless 115 copies of the pure unadulterated Word of God were purchased there in a few months at the high price of ten REALS each。 I humbly beg leave to refer you to my account of that remarkable place； and to hope that in the statement of proceedings in Spain it will not be forgotten。 64 copies； it appears； were also sold in the small town of Lugo； also in Galicia； and 56 at Leon； the capital of the ancient kingdom of the same name； and which perhaps may be considered as the least enlightened and most fanatic place in all Spain。
By advice from Madrid from Mrs。 Maria Diaz； whom I charged with the care of the property of the Bible Society in that place； it appears that there remain unsold：…
Of Testaments； 962 Of Gospels in the Gypsy tongue； 286 Of ditto in Basque； 394
The quantity of Testaments would not have been so large had I not recovered before leaving Madrid upwards of two hundred； which had been placed in embargo at Santander and subsequently removed to the capital。 On a rough account； therefore； I should say that about three thousand have been sold during the last twelve months in the interior of Spain； for which I give praise to God with the humility and gratitude due。 Of those which remain I should wish to be permitted on my return from my present expedition to circulate some in La Mancha； especially at Manzanares and Valdepenas。 The state of that province is truly horrible； it appears peopled partly with spectres and partly with demons。 There is famine； and such famine； there is assassination； and such unnatural assassination。 There you see soldiers and robbers； ghastly lepers and horrible and uncouth maimed and blind； exhibiting their terrible nakedness in the sun。 I was prevented last year in carrying the Gospel amongst them。 May I be more successful this。
I now beg leave to conclude my tedious letter with requesting that you will be kind enough to send the enclosed communication to my friend in Russia。 I hope you will pardon the trouble I am giving you； but I have no other resource； as there is no direct mode of communication between Russia and Spain。 Present my kind remembrances to dear Mr。 Jowett and other friends； and believe me to remain； Revd。 and dear Sir；
Ever truly yours；
G。 B。
LETTER： 4th September； 1839
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Oct。 7； 1839） TANGIERS； SEPTEMBER 4； 1839。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I have now been nearly one month in this place； and should certainly have written to you before had I possessed any secure means of despatching a letter； but there is no mail from Tangiers to any part of the world； so that when writing one is obliged to have recourse to the disagreeable necessity of confiding letters to individuals who chance to be going to Gibraltar to be put into the post there； who not unfrequently lose or forget them。 One which I wrote for Spain has already miscarried； which circumstance makes me cautious。 I will now relate the leading events which have occurred to me since my departure from Seville； observing however that I have kept a regular journal； which on the first opportunity I shall transmit for the satisfaction of my friends at home。 You are already aware that I had determined to carry the Scripture in Spanish to the Christian families established on the sea…coast of Barbary； and more especially Tangiers； the Spanish language being in general use among them； whether Spaniards by birth or Genoese； French or English。 To enable me to do this； having no copies of the sacred volume at Seville； I determined to avail myself of a certain number of Testaments in embargo at the custom…house of San Lucar a town at the mouth of the Guadalquivir； forming part of the stock seized by order of the Government and which I had been officially requested to remove from Spain。 I started from Seville on the night of the 31st of July in one of the steamers which ply upon the Guadalquivir； arriving at San Lucar early in the morning。 I shall now make an extract from my journal； relative to the Testaments。
'It will be as well here to curtail what relates to these books； otherwise the narrative might be considerably embarrassed。 They consisted of a chest of Testaments in Spanish； and a small box of Saint Luke's Gospel in the Gitano or language of the Spanish Gypsies。 I obtained them from the custom…house of San Lucar with a pass for that of Cadiz。 At Cadiz I was occupied two days； and also a person whom I employed； in going through all the required formalities and in procuring the necessary papers。 The expense was great； as money was demanded at every step I took； though I was simply complying with the orders of the Spanish Government in removing prohibited books from Spain。 The farce did not end till after my arrival at Gibraltar； where I paid the Spanish consul a dollar for certifying on the back of the pass that the books had arrived； which pass I was obliged to send back to Cadiz。 It is true that he never saw the books nor enquired about them； but he received the money； for which alone he seemed to be anxious。
'Whilst at the custom…house of San Lucar； I was asked one or two questions respecting the books contained in the chests； this afforded me some opportunity of speaking of the New Testament and the Bible Society。 What I said excited attention； and presently all the officers and dependents of the house； great and small； were gathered around me； from the governor to the porter。 As it was necessary to open the boxes to inspect their contents； we all proceeded to the courtyard where； holding a Testament in my hand； I recommenced my discourse。 I scarcely know what I said； for I was much agitated and hurried away by my feelings； when I bethought me of the manner in which the Word of God was persecuted in the unhappy kingdom of Spain。 My words however evidently made impression； and to my astonishment every person present pressed me for a copy。 I sold several within the walls of the custom…house。 The object； however； of m
