letters-第27节
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G。 B。
LETTER： 7th July； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 July 18； 1836） 7 JULY； 1836； MADRID； CALLE SANTIAGO； No。 16 PISO 3RO。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … The affair is settled … thank God！！！ and we may begin to print whenever we think proper。
Perhaps you have thought I have been tardy in accomplishing the business which brought me to Spain； but to be able to form a correct judgment you ought to be aware of all the difficulties which I have had to encounter； and which I shall not enumerate； I shall content myself with observing that for a thousand pounds I would not undergo again all the mortifications and disappointments of the last two months。
The present Ministry have been afraid to offend the clergy； and with great reason； as they are not of the movement or radical party； and many of their friends are bigoted papists； nevertheless； influenced by the pressing applications of the British Ambassador and being moreover well…disposed to myself； they have consented to the printing of the Testament； but it must be done in a private manner。 I have just had a long interview with Mr。 Isturitz； who told me that if we were resolved upon the enterprise we had best employ the confidential printer of the Government； who would keep the matter secret； as in the present state of affairs he would not answer for the consequences if it were noised abroad。 I of course expressed my perfect readiness to comply with so reasonable a request。
I will now candidly confess to you that I do not think that the present Ministry； or； as it is generally called； the Court Ministry； will be able to stand its ground； nevertheless a change of Ministry would not alter the aspect of our affair in the least； for if the other or movement party come in； the liberty of the press （a great misfortune for Spain） would be probably granted； at all events； the influence of the English Ambassador would be greater than it is even at present； and upon his assistance I may rely at all times and occasions。
I am not aware that there is any great necessity for my continuance in Spain； nevertheless； should you think there is； you have only to command。 But I cannot help thinking that in a month or two when the heats are over Mr。 Graydon might return； as nothing very difficult remains to be accomplished； and I am sure that Mr。 Villiers at my entreaty would extend to him the patronage with which he has honoured me。 But； as I before observed； I am ready to do whatever the Bible Society may deem expedient。
Do not forget THE TWO letters of thanks to the Ambassador； and it would not be unwise to transmit a VOTE of thanks to 'His Excellence Antonio Alcala Galiano； President of Marine；' who has been of great assistance to me。
I have the honour to be； Revd。 and dear Sir； your most obedient servant；
G。 B。
P。S。 … In about six weeks I shall want some more money。
My best remembrances to Mr。 Jowett。
LETTER： 19th July； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 July 30th； 1836） MADRID； JULY 19th； 1836。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … As I believe you have no account of my
proceedings at Badajoz； I send you the following which will perhaps serve for your 'Monthly Extracts。' I have corrected and improved my translation of the Lord's Prayer into Rommany； and should it be printed； let it be done so with care。 Perhaps in a few days I shall send a general account of what I have been about since my arrival at Madrid； but I am at present very feeble and languid； and can scarcely hold a pen。 There is nothing new here； all is quiet； and I hope will continue so。 My time does not pass very agreeably； I am without books or conversation； for all my acquaintance have left the place to escape from the intolerable heat。 I often sigh for Russia； and wish I was there； editing Mandchou or Armenian； pray remember me kindly to Mr。 Jowett and to my other friends。 I remain； etc。
G。 BORROW。
About one o'clock in the afternoon of the 6th of January； 1836； I crossed the bridge of the Guadiana； a boundary river between Portugal and Spain； and entered Badajoz； a strong Spanish town containing about 8000 inhabitants； and founded by the Romans。 I instantly returned thanks to God who had protected me during a journey of five days through the wilds of Alemtejo； the province of Portugal the most infested by robbers and desperate characters； and which I had traversed with no other human companion than a lad； nearly idiotic； who was to convey back the mules which carried myself and baggage。 It was not my intention to make much stay at Badajoz； and as a vehicle would set out for Madrid the day next but one after my arrival； I proposed to depart therein for the capital of Spain。
The next morning I was standing at the door of the inn where I had taken up my residence； the weather was gloomy； and rain seemed to be at hand。 I was thinking of the state of the country I had lately entered； which was involved in bloody anarchy and confusion； and where the ministers of a religion； falsely styled Catholic and Christian； were blowing the trump of war； instead of preaching the love…engendering words of the blessed Gospel。 Suddenly two men wrapped in long cloaks came down the narrow and almost deserted street。 They were about to pass me； and the face of the nearest was turned full towards me。 I knew to whom the countenance which he displayed must belong； and I touched him on the shoulder。 The man stopped and his companion also； I said a certain word； to which after an exclamation of surprise he responded in the manner which I expected。 The men were of that singular family； or race； which has diffused itself over every part of the civilized globe； and the members of which are known as Gypsies； Bohemians； Gitanos； Zigani； and by many other names； but whose proper appellation seems to be 'Rommany；' from the circumstance that in many and distant countries they so style themselves； and also the language which they speak amongst each other。 We began conversing in the Spanish dialect of this language； with which I was tolerably well acquainted。 Upon inquiring of my two newly…made acquaintances whether there were many of their people at Badajoz and in the vicinity； they informed me that there were nine or ten families residing in the town； and that there were others at Merida； a town about nine leagues distant。 I asked by what means they supported themselves； and they replied that they and their brethren gained a livelihood by jobbing in horses； mules； etc。； but that all those in Badajoz were very poor； with the exception of one man； who was exceedingly MUBALBALLO or rich； as he was in possession of many horses and other beasts。 They removed their cloaks for a moment； and I saw that their undergarments were rags。
They left me in haste； and went about the town informing the rest that a stranger was arrived； who spoke Rommany as well as themselves； who had the eyes and face of a Gitano； and seemed to be of the ERATTI； or blood。 In less than half…an…hour the street before the inn was filled with the men； women； and children of Egypt。 I went out amongst them； and my heart sank within me as I surveyed them； so much squalidness； dirt； and misery I had never before seen amongst a similar number of human beings。 But the worst of all was the evil expression of their countenances； plainly denoting that they were familiar with every species of crime； and it was not long before I found that their countenances did not belie them。 After they had asked me an infinity of questions； and felt my hands； face； and clothes； they retired to their homes。 My meeting with these wretched people was the reason of my remaining at Badajoz a much longer time than I originally intended。 I wished to become better acquainted with their condition and manners； and above all to speak to them about Christ and His Word； for I was convinced that should I travel to the end of the universe I should meet with none who were more in need of Christian exhortation； and I accordingly continued at Badajoz for nearly three weeks。
During this time I was almost constantly amongst them； and as I spoke their language and was considered by them as one of themselves； I had better opportunities of coming to a fair conclusion respecting their character than any other person； whether Spaniard or foreigner； could have hoped for； not possessed of a similar advantage。 The result of my observations was a firm belief that the Spanish Gitanos are the most vile； degraded； and wretched people upon the earth。
In no part of the world does the Gypsy race enjoy a fair fame and reputation； there being no part where they are not considered； and I believe with justice； as cheats and swindlers； but those of Spain are not only all this； but far more。 The Gypsies of England； Russia； etc。； live by fraud of various descriptions； but they seldom commit acts of violence； and their vices are none or very few； the men are not drunkards； nor are the women harlots； but the Gypsy of Spain is a cheat in the market…place； a brigand and murderer on the high…road； and a drunkard in the wine…shop； and his wife is
