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m；　he　pretends　to　be　a　liberal；　but　is　　of　no　principle　at　all；　and　as　I　reside　within　his　district　he　has　　been　employed　by　the　Canons　of　the　cathedral　to　vex　and　harass　me　　on　every　possible　occasion。　　（By　the　way；　the　hatred　which　these　　last　people　nourish　against　me　amounts　almost　to　frenzy；　and　　scarcely　a　day　passes　by　in　which　they　do　not　send　in　false　　accusations　against　me　to　the　GEFE　POLITICO；　they　have　even　gone　so　　far　as　to　induce　people　to　perjure　themselves　by　swearing　that　I　　have　sold　or　given　them　books；　people　whom　I　have　never　seen　nor　　heard　of；　and　the　same　system　was　carried　on　whilst　I　was　in　　Africa；　for　they　are　so　foolishly　suspicious　that　they　could　not　be　　persuaded　that　I　was　out　of　Seville。）　　The　above…mentioned　ALCALDE　　refused　to　sign　the　passport；　though　he　was　bound　to　do　so；　it　　being　quite　in　form；　and　insulted　the　messenger：　　whereupon　I　sent　　the　latter　back　with　money　to　pay　any　fees　lawful　or　unlawful　which　　might　be　demanded；　as　I　wished　to　avoid　noise　and　the　necessity　of　　applying　to　the　consul；　Mr。　Williams。　　But　the　fellow　became　only　　more　outrageous。　　I　then　went　myself　to　demand　an　explanation　and　　was　called　all　the　vilest　names　contained　in　the　Spanish　GERMANIA　　（Billingsgate）；　whereupon　I　told　him　that　if　he　proceeded　in　this　　manner　I　would　make　a　complaint　to　the　authorities　through　the　　consul。　　He　then　said　that　if　I　did　not　instantly　depart　he　would　　drag　me　off　to　prison；　and　cause　me　to　be　knocked　down　if　I　made　　the　slightest　resistance。　　I　dared　him　repeatedly　to　do　both；　and　　said　that　he　was　a　disgrace　to　the　Government　which　employed　him　　and　to　human　nature。　　He　called　me　a　heretic。　　We　were　now　in　the　　street　and　a　mob　was　collected；　whereupon　I　cried　'VIVA　INGLATERRA；　　Y　VIVA　LA　CONSTITUCION。'　　The　populace　seemed　disposed　to　side　with　　me；　notwithstanding　the　exhortations　of　the　monster　to　them　that　　they　would　knock　down　THE　FOREIGNER；　for　he　himself　quailed　before　　me　as　I　looked　him　in　the　eyes　defying　him。　　He　at　last　ran　to　a　　neighbouring　guard…house；　and　requested　the　assistance　of　the　　Nationals　in　conducting　me　to　prison。　　I　followed　him　and　delivered　　myself　up　at　the　first　summons；　and　walked　to　the　prison　without　　uttering　a　word：　　not　so　the　ruffian；　who　continued　his　abuse　until　　we　arrived　at　the　gate。　　I　was　asked　my　name　by　the　authorities　of　　the　prison；　which　I　refused　to　give　unless　in　the　presence　of　the　　consul；　and　indeed　to　answer　any　questions。　　I　was　then　ordered　to　　the　PATIO　or　courtyard；　where　are　kept　the　lowest　thieves　and　　assassins　of　Seville；　who　having　no　money　cannot　pay　for　better　　accommodation；　and　by　whom　I　should　have　been　stripped　naked　in　a　　moment　as　a　matter　of　course；　as　they　are　all　in　a　state　of　raging　　hunger　and　utter　destitution。　　I　asked　for　a　private　cell；　which　I　　was　told　I　might　have　if　I　could　pay　for　it。　　I　stated　my　　willingness　to　pay　anything　which　might　be　demanded；　and　was　　conducted　to　an　upper　ward；　consisting　of　several　cells　and　a　　corridor。　　Here　I　found　six　or　seven　prisoners　who　received　me　very　　civilly；　and　instantly　procured　me　paper　and　ink　for　the　purpose　of　　writing　to　the　consul。　　In　less　than　an　hour　Mr。　Williams　arrived　　and　I　told　him　my　story；　at　which　he　wondered；　as　he　well　might；　　and　presently　departed　in　order　to　demand　redress　of　the　　authorities。　　The　next　morning　I　was　informed　that　the　ruffian　the　　ALCALDE　had　upon　his　own　authority　entered　my　house　and　searched　　for　prohibited　books；　hoping；　if　he　found　any；　to　justify　to　a　　certain　degree　his　conduct　to　me。　　He　found　none；　and　is　now　quite　　in　my　power；　without　a　shadow　of　excuse　…　he　having　entered　by　　force　the　house　of　a　foreigner；　without　authority；　and　not　in　the　　presence　of　the　consul　of　the　nation。　　I　have　now　been　here　four…　and…twenty　hours；　and　am　assured　that　my　liberation　will　have　been　　effectuated　before　another　day　shall　have　passed　over。　　My　fellow…　prisoners　have　treated　me　with　unbounded　kindness　and　hospitality；　　and　I　have　never　found　myself　amongst　more　quiet　and　well…behaved　　men。　　Yet　…　what　is　their　history？　　The　handsome　black…haired　man　　who　is　now　looking　over　my　shoulder　is　the　celebrated　thief　　Palacio；　the　most　expert　housebreaker　and　dexterous　swindler　in　　Spain　…　in　a　word；　the　modern　Guzman　Dalfarache。　　The　brawny　man　　who　sits　by　the　BRASERO　of　charcoal　is　Salvador；　the　highwayman　of　　Ronda；　who　has　committed　a　hundred　murders。　　A　fashionably　dressed　　man；　short　and　slight　in　person；　is　walking　about　the　room：　　he　　wears　immense　whiskers　and　mustachios；　he　is　one　of　that　most　　singular　race　the　Jews　of　Spain；　he　is　imprisoned　for　　counterfeiting　money。　　He　is　an　atheist；　but　like　a　true　Jew　the　　name　which　he　most　hates　is　that　of　Christ。　　Yet　he　is　so　quiet　and　　civil；　and　they　are　all　so　quiet　and　civil；　and　it　is　that　which　　most　horrifies　me；　for　quietness　and　civility　in　them　seem　so　　unnatural。

Novr。　26th。　　Since　writing　the　above；　I　have　been　set　at　liberty。　　　I　am　going　to　Madrid　in　a　few　hours　to　demand　redress；　and　to　make　　preparations　for　leaving　Spain　as　soon　as　possible。　　There　is　　nothing　more　to　be　done　here　for　the　present　in　the　cause　of　the　　Gospel。　　I　received　your　letter；　which　I　read　with　great　pleasure。　　　You　are　quite　right　in　most　of　your　observations；　and　especially　in　　one。　　That　circular　WAS　uncalled　for。

Ever　yours；

GEORGE　BORROW。



LETTER：　24th　December；　1839



To　the　Rev。　A。　Brandram　（ENDORSED：　recd。　Jan。　3；　1840。）　DECR。　24；　1839；　MADRID；　No。　16　CALLE　SANTIAGO。

REV。　AND　DEAR　　SIR；　…　The　last　letter　which　I　wrote　to　you　was　from　　Seville；　and　in　that　I　gave　you　an　account　of　what　I　had　been　doing　　for　some　time　previous　and　likewise　of　my　imprisonment。　　I　have　now　　been　in　Madrid　nearly　three　weeks；　and　immediately　after　my　arrival　　I　demanded　redress　of　the　Spanish　Government　for　the　various　　outrages　which　I　have　recently　been　subjected　to　at　Seville。　　Mr。　　Aston；　the　British　Minister；　not　having　yet　arrived　at　Madrid；　I　　presented　my　complaint　through　Mr。　Jerningham　the　first　secretary　　of　Legation；　who　has　superseded　Mr。　Southern；　the　latter　gentleman　　having　been　appointed　to　Lisbon。　　Mr。　Southern　introduced　me　to　Mr。　　Jerningham；　who　received　me　with　great　kindness　and　took　up　my　　cause　very　warmly。　　Whether　I　shall　be　able　to　obtain　justice　I　　know　not；　for　I　have　against　me　the　Canons　of　Seville；　and　all　the　　arts　of　villainy　which　they　are　so　accustomed　to　practise　will　of　　course　be　used　against　me　for　the　purpose　of　screening　the　ruffian　　who　is　their　instrument。　　An　instance　which　I　am　about　to　give　will　　speak　volumes　as　to　this　person's　character。　　When　I　was　in　prison；　　he　forced　his　way　into　my　house　and　searched　it　for　Testaments；　but　　found　none。　　When　he　was　questioned　by　the　vice…consul　as　to　the　　authority　by　which　he　made　this　search；　he　pulled　out　a　paper　　purporting　to　be　the　deposition　of　an　old　woman　to　the　effect　that　　I　had　sold　her　a　Testament　some　ten　days　before。　　This　document　was　　a　forgery。　　I　had　never　seen　the　female　in　question；　and　during　the　　whole　time　that　I　have　been　in　Andalusia　I　have　never　sold　a　book　　of　any　description　to　any　such　person。

I　have　been；　my　dear　Sir；　fighting　with　wild　beasts　during　the　　greatest　part　of　the　time　which　has　elapsed　since　I　had　last　the　　pleasure　of　seeing　you。　　None　but　myself　can　have　an　idea　of　what　I　　have　undergone　and　the　difficulties　which　I　have　had　to　encounter；　　but　I　wish　not　to　dilate　on　that　subject。　　Thanks　be　to　the　Most　　High　that　my　labours　are　now　brought　to　a　conclusion。　　The　Madrid　　edition　of　the　New　Testament　has　been　distributed；　with　the　　exception　of　a　few　hundred　copies；　which　I　have　no　wish　should　be　　sold　at　present；　for　reasons　stated　on　a　prior　occasion；　and　which　　I　shall　endeavour　to　leave　in　safe　custody。　　The　fate　of　this　　edition　has　been　a　singular　one；　by　far　the　greatest　part　having　　been　dispersed　among　the　peasantry　of　Spain　and　the　remainder　　amongst　the　very　poor　of　the　towns；　the　artisans　of　Madrid　and　　Seville；　the　water…carriers　and　porters。　　You　will　rarely　find　a　　copy　of　this　work　in　the　houses　of　the　wealthy　and　respectable；　but　　you　will　frequently　light　upon　it　in　the　huts　of　the　labourers；　in　　the　garrets　or　cellars　of　the　penniless；　and　even　in　the　hulks　and　　convict…garrisons　（PRESIDIOS）。　　I　myself　saw　it　in　the　prison　of　　Seville。　　As　for　the　few　copies　of　the　entire　Bible　which　I　had　at　　my　disposal；　they　have　been　distributed　amongst　the　upper　classes；　　chiefly　amongst　the　mercantile　body；　the　members　of　which　upon　the　　whole　are　by　far　the　most　intellectual　and　best　educated　of　the　　subjects　of　the　Spanish　monarchy。

I　have　thus　cast　my　books　upon　the　waters。　　It　is　for　the　Lord　on　　high　to　determine　the　quantity　of　good　which　they　are　to　operate。　　　I　have　a　humble　hope　however　that　they　will　be　permitted　to　do　　some。　　If　the　eyes　of　only　a　few　of　these　unhappy　people　amongst　　whom　I　am　still　sojourning　be　through　them　opened　to　one　of　the　　damning　errors　of　popery；　I　shall　esteem　myself　amply　remunerated　　for　all　the　pain；　the　anxiety；　and　I　may　almost　say　misery　（for　the　　flesh　is　weak）　which　I　have　experienced　in　the　work；　even　for　that　　…　to　me；　the　most　heart…breaking　of　everything　…　the　strange；　the　　disadvantageous　light　in　which；　I　am　aware；　I　must　frequently　have　　appeared　to　those　I　most　respect　and　love。　　My　situation　throughout　　has　been　a　most　peculiar　one；　rocks　and　quicksands　have　surrounded　　me　on　every　side；　and　frequently　I　have　been　compelled　to　give　　offence　to　my　friends　in　order　not　to　afford　a　triumph　to　the　　enemies　of　God　and　His　cause。

In　your　last　kind　communication；　I　think；　you　said　that　neither　our　　excellent　friend　Mr。　B。　＇Brackenbury＇　nor　myself　appeared　properly　　to　appreciate　the　worth　of　two　other　of　our　friends　who　had　been　　labouring　in　Spain。　　Permit　me　here　to　observe　that　we　both　　appreciate　their　sterling　worth　of　character　and　piety；　they　are　　both　very　extraordinary　individuals；　one　particularly　so；　and　the　　zeal　which　both　have　displayed　in　a　holy　cause　is　quite　above　　praise。　　But　it　is　necessary　in　order　to　accomplish　much　good　in　a　　country　situated　as　this　is　at　present；　that　the　greatest　prudence　　and　foresight　go　hand　in　hand　with　zeal　and　piety。　　A　corrupt　　G