The Life of George Borrow [221]
Gypsies of Spain, page 275.
{218a} The Gypsies of Spain, page 280.
{218b} Ibid.
{218c} Ibid., page 282.
{219a} On 25th December 1837.
{219b} It is strange that Borrow should insist that he had Sir George Villiers' approval; for Sir George himself has clearly stated that he strongly opposed the opening of the Despacho.
{220a} 15th January 1838.
{221a} Letter to Rev. A. Brandram, 30th March 1838.
{221b} In The Gypsies of Spain Borrow gives the number as 500 (page 281); but the Resolution, confirmed 20th March 1837, authorised the printing of 250 copies only. In all probability the figures given by Borrow are correct, as in a letter to Mr Brandram, dated 18th July 1839, he gives his unsold stock of books at Madrid as:-
Of Testaments . . . . . . . 962 Of Gospels in the Gypsy Tongue . 286 Of ditto in Basque . . . . . 394
{222a} Original Report, withdrawn.
{222b} The Gypsies of Spain, pages 280-1.
{224a} Letter from Borrow to Rev. A. Brandram, 17th March 1838.
{224b} The History of the British and Foreign Bible Society, by W. Canton.
{225a} Mr Canton writes in The History of the British and Foreign Bible Society: "His [Graydon's] opportunity was indeed unprecedented; and had he but more accurately appreciated the unstable political conditions of the country, the susceptibilities, suspicious and precarious tenure of ministers and placemen, the temper of the priesthood, their sensitive attachment to certain tenets of their faith, and their enormous influence over the civil power, there is reason to believe that he might have brought his mission to a happier and more permanent issue."
{226a} [11th] May 1838.
{227a} Letter from George Borrow to Rev. A. Brandram [11th] May 1838.
{227b} 23rd April 1838.
{227c} The Marin episode is amazing. The object of distributing the Scriptures was to enlighten men's minds and bring about conversion, and a priest was a distinct capture, more valuable by far than a peasant, and likely to influence others; yet when they had got him no one appears to have known exactly what to do, and all were anxious to get rid of him again.
{228a} The Bible in Spain, page 536.
{228b} Ibid.
{229a} Original Report, withdrawn.
{229b} Original Report, withdrawn.
{231a} Sometimes this personage is referred to in official papers as the "Political Chief," a too literal translation of Gefe Politico. In all cases it has been altered to Civil Governor to preserve uniformity. Many of the official translations of Foreign Office papers can only be described as grotesque.
{232a} This is the official translation among the Foreign Office papers at the Record Office.
{232b} The Bible in Spain, page 539.
{233a} There is an error in the dating of this letter. It should be 1st May.
{234a} In a letter to Count Ofalia, Sir George Villiers states that "George Borrow, fearing violence, prudently abstained from going to his ordinary place of abode."
{234b} Borrow pays a magnificent and well-deserved tribute to this queen among landladies. (The Bible in Spain, pages 256-7.) She was always his friend and frequently his counsellor, thinking nothing of the risk she ran in standing by him during periods of danger. She refused all inducements to betray him to his enemies, and, thoroughly deserved the eulogy that Borrow pronounced upon her.
{234c} It was subsequently stated that the arrest was ordered because Borrow had refused to recognise the Civil Governor's authority and made use "of offensive expressions" towards his person. The Civil Governor had no authority over British subjects, and Borrow was right in his refusal to acknowledge his jurisdiction.
{235a} The Bible in Spain, page 547.
{238a} Dispatch from Sir George Villiers to Viscount Palmerston, 5th May.
{238b} Ibid.
{239a} Despatch from Sir George Villiers to Viscount Palmerston, 12th May 1838.
{239b} Ibid.
{240a} Despatch from Sir George Villiers to Viscount Palmerston.
{240b} Letter to Rev. A. Brandram, 17th May 1838.
{241a}
{218a} The Gypsies of Spain, page 280.
{218b} Ibid.
{218c} Ibid., page 282.
{219a} On 25th December 1837.
{219b} It is strange that Borrow should insist that he had Sir George Villiers' approval; for Sir George himself has clearly stated that he strongly opposed the opening of the Despacho.
{220a} 15th January 1838.
{221a} Letter to Rev. A. Brandram, 30th March 1838.
{221b} In The Gypsies of Spain Borrow gives the number as 500 (page 281); but the Resolution, confirmed 20th March 1837, authorised the printing of 250 copies only. In all probability the figures given by Borrow are correct, as in a letter to Mr Brandram, dated 18th July 1839, he gives his unsold stock of books at Madrid as:-
Of Testaments . . . . . . . 962 Of Gospels in the Gypsy Tongue . 286 Of ditto in Basque . . . . . 394
{222a} Original Report, withdrawn.
{222b} The Gypsies of Spain, pages 280-1.
{224a} Letter from Borrow to Rev. A. Brandram, 17th March 1838.
{224b} The History of the British and Foreign Bible Society, by W. Canton.
{225a} Mr Canton writes in The History of the British and Foreign Bible Society: "His [Graydon's] opportunity was indeed unprecedented; and had he but more accurately appreciated the unstable political conditions of the country, the susceptibilities, suspicious and precarious tenure of ministers and placemen, the temper of the priesthood, their sensitive attachment to certain tenets of their faith, and their enormous influence over the civil power, there is reason to believe that he might have brought his mission to a happier and more permanent issue."
{226a} [11th] May 1838.
{227a} Letter from George Borrow to Rev. A. Brandram [11th] May 1838.
{227b} 23rd April 1838.
{227c} The Marin episode is amazing. The object of distributing the Scriptures was to enlighten men's minds and bring about conversion, and a priest was a distinct capture, more valuable by far than a peasant, and likely to influence others; yet when they had got him no one appears to have known exactly what to do, and all were anxious to get rid of him again.
{228a} The Bible in Spain, page 536.
{228b} Ibid.
{229a} Original Report, withdrawn.
{229b} Original Report, withdrawn.
{231a} Sometimes this personage is referred to in official papers as the "Political Chief," a too literal translation of Gefe Politico. In all cases it has been altered to Civil Governor to preserve uniformity. Many of the official translations of Foreign Office papers can only be described as grotesque.
{232a} This is the official translation among the Foreign Office papers at the Record Office.
{232b} The Bible in Spain, page 539.
{233a} There is an error in the dating of this letter. It should be 1st May.
{234a} In a letter to Count Ofalia, Sir George Villiers states that "George Borrow, fearing violence, prudently abstained from going to his ordinary place of abode."
{234b} Borrow pays a magnificent and well-deserved tribute to this queen among landladies. (The Bible in Spain, pages 256-7.) She was always his friend and frequently his counsellor, thinking nothing of the risk she ran in standing by him during periods of danger. She refused all inducements to betray him to his enemies, and, thoroughly deserved the eulogy that Borrow pronounced upon her.
{234c} It was subsequently stated that the arrest was ordered because Borrow had refused to recognise the Civil Governor's authority and made use "of offensive expressions" towards his person. The Civil Governor had no authority over British subjects, and Borrow was right in his refusal to acknowledge his jurisdiction.
{235a} The Bible in Spain, page 547.
{238a} Dispatch from Sir George Villiers to Viscount Palmerston, 5th May.
{238b} Ibid.
{239a} Despatch from Sir George Villiers to Viscount Palmerston, 12th May 1838.
{239b} Ibid.
{240a} Despatch from Sir George Villiers to Viscount Palmerston.
{240b} Letter to Rev. A. Brandram, 17th May 1838.
{241a}