letters-第27部分

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　to　ascend　to　cull　it；　the　　time　of　the　grand　and　general　harvesting　is　approaching；　perhaps　it　　will　please　the　Almighty　to　hasten　it；　and　it　may　even　now　be　　nearer　than　the　most　sanguine　of　us　dares　to　hope。

G。　BORROW。



LETTER：　15th　November；　1836



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　Nov。　30th；　1836）　LISBON；　NOVR。　15TH；　1836。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　On　taking　leave　of　you　I　promised　to　write　　from　Cadiz；　and　I　still　hope　to　perform　my　promise；　but　as　I　am　　apprehensive　that　several　days　will　elapse　before　I　shall　reach　　that　place　I　avail　myself　of　the　present　opportunity　of　informing　　you　that　I　am　alive　and　well；　lest　you　should　become　uneasy　at　not　　hearing　from　me　at　the　time　you　expected。　　It　is　owing　to　the　mercy　　of　God　that；　instead　of　being　able　to　pen　these　lines；　I　am　not　at　　the　present　moment　floundering　in　the　brine；　a　prey　to　the　fishes　　and　monsters　of　the　ocean。

We　had　a　most　unpleasant　passage　to　Falmouth。　　The　ship　was　crowded　　with　passengers；　most　of　whom　were　poor　consumptive　individuals　and　　other　invalids；　fleeing　from　the　cold　blasts　of　England's　winter　to　　the　sunny　shores　of　Portugal　and　Madeira。　　In　a　more　uncomfortable　　vessel；　especially　steam…ship；　it　has　never　been　my　fate　to　make　a　　voyage；　the　berths　were　small　and　insupportably　close；　and　of　the　　wretched　holes　mine　was　amongst　the　worst；　the　rest　having　been　for　　the　most　part　bespoken　before　I　arrived　on　board；　so　that　to　avoid　　the　suffocation　which　seemed　to　threaten　me　I　lay　upon　the　floor　of　　one　of　the　cabins；　and　continued　to　do　so　until　my　arrival　here。　　　We　remained　at　Falmouth　twenty…four　hours；　taking　in　coals　and　　repairing　the　engine；　which　had　sustained　considerable　damage。

On　Monday　the　7th　inst。　we　again　started　and　made　for　the　Bay　of　　Biscay；　the　sea　was　high　and　the　wind　strong　and　contrary；　　nevertheless　on　the　morning　of　the　fourth　day　we　were　in　sight　of　　the　rocky　coast　to　the　north　of　Cape　Finisterre。　　I　must　here　　observe　that　this　was　the　first　voyage　that　the　captain　who　　commanded　the　vessel　had　ever　made　on　board　of　her；　and　that　he　　knew　little　or　nothing　about　the　coast　towards　which　we　were　　bearing；　he　was　a　person　picked　up　in　a　hurry；　the　former　captain　　having　resigned　his　command　on　the　ground　that　the　ship　was　not　　sea…worthy；　and　that　the　engines　were　frequently　unserviceable。　　I　　was　not　acquainted　with　these　circumstances　at　the　time；　or　perhaps　　I　should　have　felt　more　alarmed　than　I　did　when　I　saw　the　vessel　　approaching　nearer　and　nearer　to　the　shore；　till　at　last　we　were　　only　a　few　hundred　yards　distant。　　As　it　was；　however；　I　felt　very　　much　surprised；　for　having　passed　it　twice　before；　both　times　in　　steam…vessels；　and　having　seen　with　what　care　the　captains　　endeavoured　to　maintain　a　wide　offing；　I　could　not　conceive　the　　reason　of　our　being　now　so　near　the　dangerous　region。　　The　wind　was　　blowing　hard　towards　the　shore；　if　that　can　be　called　a　shore　which　　consists　of　steep　abrupt　precipices；　on　which　the　surf　was　breaking　　with　the　noise　of　thunder；　tossing　up　clouds　of　spray　and　foam　to　　the　height　of　a　cathedral。　　We　coasted　slowly　along；　rounding　　several　tall　forelands；　some　of　them　piled　up　by　the　hand　of　nature　　in　the　most　fantastic　shapes；　until　about　the　fall　of　night。　　Cape　　Finisterre　was　not　far　ahead；　a　bluff　brown　granite　mountain；　whose　　frowning　head　may　be　seen　far　away　by　those　who　travel　the　ocean。　　　The　stream　which　poured　round　its　breast　was　terrific；　and　though　　our　engines　plied　with　all　their　force；　we　made　little　or　no　way。

By　about　eight　o'clock　at　night；　the　wind　had　increased　to　a　　hurricane；　the　thunder　rolled　frightfully；　and　the　only　light　which　　we　had　to　guide　us　on　our　way　was　the　red　forked　lightning　which　　burst　at　times　from　the　bosom　of　the　big　black　clouds　which　lowered　　over　our　heads。　　We　were　exerting　ourselves　to　the　utmost　to　　weather　the　cape；　which　we　could　descry　by　the　lightning　on　our　　lee；　its　brow　being　frequently　brilliantly　lighted　up　by　the　　flashes　which　quivered　around　it；　when　suddenly；　with　a　great　　crash；　the　engine　broke；　and　the　paddles　on　which　depended　our　　lives　ceased　to　play。

I　will　not　attempt　to　depict　the　scene　of　horror　and　confusion　　which　ensued：　　it　may　be　imagined；　but　never　described。　　The　　captain；　to　give　him　his　due；　displayed　the　utmost　coolness　and　　intrepidity；　and　he　and　the　whole　crew　made　the　greatest　exertions　　to　repair　the　engine；　and　when　they　found　their　labour　in　vain；　　endeavoured　by　hoisting　the　sails　and　by　practising　all　possible　　manoeuvres　to　preserve　the　ship　from　impending　destruction。　　But　　all　was　of　no　use；　we　were　hard　on　a　lee　shore；　to　which　the　　howling　tempest　was　impelling　us。　　About　this　time　I　was　standing　　near　the　helm；　and　I　asked　the　steersman　if　there　was　any　hope　of　　saving　the　vessel　or　our　lives；　he　replied；　'Sir；　it　is　a　bad　　affair；　no　boat　could　for　a　minute　live　in　this　sea；　and　in　less　　than　an　hour　the　ship　will　have　her　broadside　on　Finisterre；　where　　the　strongest　man…of…war　ever　built　must　go　to　shivers　instantly。　　　None　of　us　will　see　the　morning。'　　The　captain　likewise　informed　　the　other　passengers　in　the　cabin　to　the　same　effect；　telling　them　　to　prepare　themselves；　and　having　done　so　he　ordered　the　door　to　be　　fastened；　and　none　to　be　permitted　to　come　on　deck。　　I；　however；　　kept　my　station；　though　almost　drowned　with　water；　immense　waves　　continually　breaking　over　our　windward　side　and　flooding　the　ship；　　the　water…casks　broke　from　their　lashings；　and　one　of　them　struck　　me　down；　and　crushed　the　foot　of　the　unfortunate　man　at　the　helm；　　whose　place　was　instantly　taken　by　the　captain。　　We　were　now　close　　on　the　rocks；　when　a　horrid　convulsion　of　the　elements　took　place；　　the　lightning　enveloped　us　as　with　a　mantle；　the　thunders　were　　louder　than　the　roar　of　a　million　cannon；　the　dregs　of　the　ocean　　seemed　to　be　cast　up；　and　in　the　midst　of　all　this　turmoil　the　　wind；　without　the　slightest　intimation　VEERED　RIGHT　ABOUT；　and　　pushed　us　from　the　horrible　coast　faster　than　it　had　previously　　drawn　us　towards　it。

The　oldest　sailors　on　board　acknowledged　that　they　had　never　　witnessed　so　providential　an　escape。　　I　said　from　the　bottom　of　my　　heart；　'Our　Father：　　hallowed　be　Thy　name。'　　The　next　day　we　were　　near　foundering；　for　the　sea　was　exceedingly　high；　and　our　vessel；　　which　was　not　intended　for　sailing；　laboured　terribly；　and　leaked　　much。　　The　pumps　were　continually　working。　　She　likewise　took　fire；　　but　the　flames　were　extinguished。　　In　the　evening　the　steam…engine　　was　partially　repaired；　and　we　reached　Lisbon　on　the　13th。　　Most　of　　my　clothes　and　other　things　are　spoiled；　for　the　hold　was　　overflowed　with　the　water　from　the　boiler　and　the　leak。

The　vessel　will　be　ready　for　sea　in　about　a　week；　when　I　shall　　depart　for　Cadiz；　but　most　of　the　passengers　who　intended　going　　farther　than　Lisbon　have　abandoned　her；　as　they　say　she　is　doomed。　　　But　I　have　more　trust　in　the　Lord　that　governeth　the　winds；　and　in　　whose　hands　the　seas　are　as　a　drop。　　He　who　preserved　us　at　　Finisterre　can　preserve　elsewhere；　and　if　it　be　His　will　that　we　　perish；　the　firm　ground　is　not　more　secure　than　the　heaving　sea。

I　have　seen　our　excellent　friend　Mr。　Wilby；　and　delivered　to　him　　the　parcel；　with　which　I　was　entrusted。　　He　has　been　doing　　everything　in　his　power　to　further　the　sale　of　the　sacred　volume　in　　Portuguese；　indeed　his　zeal　and　devotedness　are　quite　admirable；　　and　the　Society　can　never　appreciate　his　efforts　too　highly。　　But　　since　I　was　last　at　Lisbon　the　distracted　state　of　the　country　has　　been　a　great　obstacle　to　him；　people's　minds　are　so　engrossed　with　　politics　that　they　find　no　time　to　think　of　their　souls。　　Before　　this　reaches　you；　you　will　doubtless　have　heard　of　the　late　affair　　at　Belem；　where　poor　Freire　（I　knew　him　well）　one　of　the　ex…　Ministers　lost　his　life；　and　which　nearly　ended　in　an　affray　　between　the　English　forces　and　the　native。　　The　opinions　of　the　　Portuguese　seem　to　be　decidedly　democratic；　and　I　have　little　doubt　　that　were　the　English　squadron　withdrawn　the　unfortunate　young　　Queen　would　lose　her　crown　within　a　month；　and　be　compelled　with　　her　no　less　unfortunate　young　husband　to　seek　a　refuge　in　another　　country。　　I　repeat　that　I　hope　to　write　to　you　from　Cadiz；　I　shall　　probably　be　soon　in　the　allotted　field　of　my　labours；　distracted；　　miserable　Spain。　　The　news　from　thence　is　at　present　particularly　　dismal；　the　ferocious　Gomez；　after　having　made　an　excursion　into　　Estremadura；　which　he　ravaged　like　a　pestilence；　has　returned　to　　Andalusia；　the　whole　of　which　immense　province　seems　to　be　prone　at　　his　feet。　　I　shall　probably　find　Seville　occupied　by　his　hordes；　　but　I　fear　them　not；　and　trust　that　the　Lord　will　open　the　path　for　　me　to　Madrid。　　One　thing　I　am　resolved　upon：　　either　to　be　the　　instrument　of　doing　something　for　Spain；　or　never　to　appear　again　　in　my　native　land。

G。　B。



LETTER：　5th　December；　1836



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　Dec。　28th；　1836）　SEVILLE；　DEC。　5TH；　1836。

REVD。　AND　DEAR　SIR；　…　I　arrived　safely　at　Cadiz　on　the　21st　ult。；　　the　steam…engine　had　been　partially　repaired　at　Lisbon；　and　our　　passage　was　speedy　and　prosperous。　　I　was　happy　to　have　reached　the　　shores　of　Spain；　being　eager　to　enter　upon　my　allotted　task。　　Cadiz　　is　a　small　but　beautiful　city；　built　upon　a　tongue　of　land　and　　surrounded　on　all　points　but　one　by　the　sea；　which　dashes　up　　against　its　walls：　　the　houses　are　lofty；　and　of　a　dazzling　　whiteness；　the　streets　are　straight　and　narrow。　　On　my　arrival　I　　found　great　confusion　reigning：　　numerous　bands　of　the　factious　　were　reported　to　be　hovering　in　the　neighbourhood；　an　attack　was　　not　deemed　improbable；　and　the　place　had　just　been　declared　in　a　　state　of　siege。　　I　took　up　my　abode　at　the　French　Hotel；　in　the　　Calle　de　la　Niveria；　and　was　allotted　a　species　of　cock…loft　or　　garret　to　sleep　in；　for　the　house　was　filled　with　guests；　being　a　　place　of　much　resort　on　account　of　the　excellent　TABLE　D'HOTE　which　　is　kept　there。　　I　dressed　myself　and　walked　about　the　town。　　I　　entered　several　coffee　houses：　　the　din　of　tongues　in　all　was　　deafening；　in　one　no　less　than　six　orators　were　haranguing　at　the　　same　time　on　the　state　of　the　country；　a