The Life of George Borrow [154]
sermon upon the evils arising from wickedness absent. It was a stimulating drink to unaccustomed palates. The Bible in Spain sold in its thousands.
The accuracy of the book has never been questioned; if it had, Borrow's letters to the Bible Society would immediately settle any doubt that might arise. If there be one incident in the work that appears invented, it is the story of Benedict Moll, the treasure- hunter; yet even that is authentic. In the following letter, dated 22nd June 1839, Rey Romero, the bookseller of Santiago, refers to the unfortunate Benedict Moll:-
"The German of the Treasure," he writes, "came here last year bearing letters from the Government for the purpose of discovering it. But, a few days after his arrival, they threw him into prison; from thence he wrote me, making himself known as the one you introduced to me; wherefore my son went to see him in prison. He told my son that you also had been arrested, but I could not credit it. A short time after, they took him off to Coruna; then they brought him back here again, and I do not know what has become of him since." {353a}
Borrow now became the lion of the hour. He was feted and feasted in London, and everybody wanted to meet the wonderful white-haired author of The Bible in Spain. One day he is breakfasting with the Prussian Ambassador, "with princes and members of Parliament, I was the star of the morning," he writes to his wife. "I thought to myself 'what a difference!'" Later he was present at a grand soiree, "and the people came in throngs to be introduced to me. To-night," he continues, "I am going to the Bishop of Norwich, to-morrow to another place, and so on." {354a}
Borrow had been much touched by the news of the death of Allan Cunningham (1785-1842).
"Only think, poor Allan Cunningham dead!" he wrote to John Murray, Junr. (25th Nov. 1842). "A young man--only fifty-eight--strong and tall as a giant; might have lived to a hundred and one, but he bothered himself about the affairs of this world far too much. That statue shop was his bane; took to book making likewise, in a word too fond of Mammon--awful death--no preparation--came literally upon him like a thief in the dark. Am thinking of writing a short life of him; old friend--twenty years' standing, knew a good deal about him; Traditional Tales his best work . . .
"Pray send Dr Bowring a copy of Bible. Lives No. 1, Queen Square, Westminster, another old friend. Send one to Ford--capital fellow. Respects to Mr M. God bless you. Feel quite melancholy, Ever yours."
In these Jinglelike periods Borrow pays tribute to the man who praised his Romantic Ballads and contributed a prefatory poem. He returned to the subject ten days later in another letter to John Murray, Junr. "I can't get poor Allan out of my head," he wrote. "When I come up I intend to go and see his wife. What a woman!"
Fame did not dispel from Borrow's mind the old restlessness, the desire for action. He was still unwell, worried at the sight of "Popery . . . springing up in every direction . . . THERE'S NO PEACE IN THIS WORLD." {355a} A cold contracted by his wife distressed him to the point of complaining that "there is little but trouble in this world; I am nearly tired of it." {355b} Exercise failed to benefit him. He was suffering from languor and nervousness. And through it all that Spartan woman who had committed the gravest of matrimonial errors, that of marrying a genius, soothed and comforted the sick lion, tired even of victory.
Small things troubled him and honours awakened in him no enthusiasm. The Times in reviewing The Bible in Spain had inferred that he was not a member of the Church of England, {355c} and the statement "must be contradicted." The Royal Institution was prepared to confer an honour upon him, and he could not make up his mind whether or not to accept it.
"What would the Institute expect me to write?" he enquires of John Murray, Junr., 25th Feb. 1843. "(I have exhausted Spain and the Gypsies.) Would an essay on the Welsh language
The accuracy of the book has never been questioned; if it had, Borrow's letters to the Bible Society would immediately settle any doubt that might arise. If there be one incident in the work that appears invented, it is the story of Benedict Moll, the treasure- hunter; yet even that is authentic. In the following letter, dated 22nd June 1839, Rey Romero, the bookseller of Santiago, refers to the unfortunate Benedict Moll:-
"The German of the Treasure," he writes, "came here last year bearing letters from the Government for the purpose of discovering it. But, a few days after his arrival, they threw him into prison; from thence he wrote me, making himself known as the one you introduced to me; wherefore my son went to see him in prison. He told my son that you also had been arrested, but I could not credit it. A short time after, they took him off to Coruna; then they brought him back here again, and I do not know what has become of him since." {353a}
Borrow now became the lion of the hour. He was feted and feasted in London, and everybody wanted to meet the wonderful white-haired author of The Bible in Spain. One day he is breakfasting with the Prussian Ambassador, "with princes and members of Parliament, I was the star of the morning," he writes to his wife. "I thought to myself 'what a difference!'" Later he was present at a grand soiree, "and the people came in throngs to be introduced to me. To-night," he continues, "I am going to the Bishop of Norwich, to-morrow to another place, and so on." {354a}
Borrow had been much touched by the news of the death of Allan Cunningham (1785-1842).
"Only think, poor Allan Cunningham dead!" he wrote to John Murray, Junr. (25th Nov. 1842). "A young man--only fifty-eight--strong and tall as a giant; might have lived to a hundred and one, but he bothered himself about the affairs of this world far too much. That statue shop was his bane; took to book making likewise, in a word too fond of Mammon--awful death--no preparation--came literally upon him like a thief in the dark. Am thinking of writing a short life of him; old friend--twenty years' standing, knew a good deal about him; Traditional Tales his best work . . .
"Pray send Dr Bowring a copy of Bible. Lives No. 1, Queen Square, Westminster, another old friend. Send one to Ford--capital fellow. Respects to Mr M. God bless you. Feel quite melancholy, Ever yours."
In these Jinglelike periods Borrow pays tribute to the man who praised his Romantic Ballads and contributed a prefatory poem. He returned to the subject ten days later in another letter to John Murray, Junr. "I can't get poor Allan out of my head," he wrote. "When I come up I intend to go and see his wife. What a woman!"
Fame did not dispel from Borrow's mind the old restlessness, the desire for action. He was still unwell, worried at the sight of "Popery . . . springing up in every direction . . . THERE'S NO PEACE IN THIS WORLD." {355a} A cold contracted by his wife distressed him to the point of complaining that "there is little but trouble in this world; I am nearly tired of it." {355b} Exercise failed to benefit him. He was suffering from languor and nervousness. And through it all that Spartan woman who had committed the gravest of matrimonial errors, that of marrying a genius, soothed and comforted the sick lion, tired even of victory.
Small things troubled him and honours awakened in him no enthusiasm. The Times in reviewing The Bible in Spain had inferred that he was not a member of the Church of England, {355c} and the statement "must be contradicted." The Royal Institution was prepared to confer an honour upon him, and he could not make up his mind whether or not to accept it.
"What would the Institute expect me to write?" he enquires of John Murray, Junr., 25th Feb. 1843. "(I have exhausted Spain and the Gypsies.) Would an essay on the Welsh language