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allowed to advertise and though it be but a small taper burning amongst Egyptian darkness。 I hope it will serve as a watch…light and beacon to some。
I remain； etc。；
GEORGE BORROW。
P。S。 … The reprint of 1。5 sheet was owing to want of care on my part； in the translation。 I therefore wish that the amount be struck out from my disbursements。
LETTER： 11th May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 22； 1838） PRISON OF MADRID； MAY ＇11＇； 1838。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I write； as you see； from the prison of Madrid； in which I have been confined for the last ten days； for it has pleased God to confer upon me the highest of mortal honours； the privilege of bearing chains for His sake。 I shall not at present detail the circumstances which occasioned my arrest； as doubtless the English newspapers will afford you all the particulars； nor shall I dwell upon the situation in which I find myself； but be content with observing that the violence； the preconcerted violence and atrocity； which have been practised towards me； will prove the means of accomplishing not what my enemies hoped and wished； the destruction and disgrace of the Bible…cause in Spain； but its triumph； its pure and sublime triumph。
Satan has； as usual； foiled himself； and his poisoned shafts have recoiled； and pierced his own bosom。 You will have heard how gallantly Sir George Villiers has taken my part； and how he has made a national question of the persecution of which I have been the object； and which lately reached its climax。 It will be necessary to tell you here that I have always communicated to him the steps which I intended to take in order to promote the circulation of the Bible； and they have uniformly met with his approbation； therefore you will easily conceive that in what I have done there has been no rashness nor anything which savoured of the arts of the charlatan： I have too much respect for the Gospel and my own character to have recourse to them。
I will now state a fact which speaks volumes as to the state of affairs at Madrid。 My arch…enemy the Archbishop of Toledo； the Primate of Spain； wishes to give me the kiss of brotherly peace。 He has caused a message to be conveyed to me in my dungeon； assuring me that he has had no share in causing my imprisonment； which he says was the work of the Civil Governor； who was incited to that step by the Jesuits。 He adds that he is determined to seek out my persecutors amongst the clergy and to have them punished； and that when I leave prison he shall be happy to co…operate with me in the dissemination of the Gospel！！！
I cannot write much now； for I am not well； having been bled and blistered。 I must； however； devote a few lines to another subject； but not one of rejoicing or Christian exultation。 Marin arrived just after my arrest； and visited me in prison； and there favoured me with a scene of despair； abject despair； which nearly turned my brain。 I despised the creature； God forgive me； but I pitied him； for he was without money and expected every moment to be seized like myself and incarcerated； and he is by no means anxious to be invested with the honours of martyrdom。 I have offered him some relief … what else could I do？ He seems partly insane。 I reap； as I expected； the full credit of his conversion。 The Bishop of Cordova got up the other day in council； and said that I was a dangerous pestilent person； who under the pretence of selling the Scriptures went about making converts； and moreover employed subordinates； for the purpose of deluding weak and silly people into separation from the Mother Church。
Of this man I have said in a letter to Mr。 Rule； not yet sent： 'I hope that Marin's history will prove a warning to many of our friends； and tend to a certain extent to sober down the desire for doing what is called at home SMART THINGS； many of which terminate in a manner very different from the original expectations of the parties concerned。 To do a great and a good thing requires a heart replete with the love of Christ and a head cooled by experience and knowledge of the world； both of which desiderata I consider incompatible with a wish to shine。'
It is probable that I shall leave prison to…morrow。 Pray write to my mother and beg her not to be alarmed。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir；
Yours faithfully；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 13th May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 23； 1838） MADRID； May 13 ＇1838＇。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … Post is just about to start； but I am compelled to write a few words。 The Bible cause has triumphed in Spain。 Whatever I do in future connected with the Gospel is to have the sanction of the Government； who have expressed a desire to co…operate with the Bible Society towards the civilization of the country。
I left prison yesterday； and this morning was sent for to the British Embassy； where Sir George entered into an infinity of details which I cannot state at present。 Sir George has commanded me； however； to write to the following effect：…
Mr。 Graydon must leave Spain； or the Bible Society must publicly disavow that his proceedings receive their encouragement； unless they wish to see the Sacred Book； which it is their object to distribute； brought into universal odium and contempt。 He has lately been to Malaga； and has there played precisely the same part which he acted last year at Valencia； with the addition that in printed writings he has insulted the Spanish Government in the most inexcusable manner。 A formal complaint of his conduct has been sent up from Malaga； and a copy of one of his writings。 Sir George blushed when he saw it； and informed Count Ofalia that any steps which might be taken towards punishing the author would receive no impediment from him。
I shall not make any observation on this matter further than stating that I have never had any other opinion of Mr。 Graydon than that he is insane … insane as the person who for the sake of warming his own hands would set a street on fire。 Sir George said to…day that he； Graydon； was the cause of my harmless shop being closed at Madrid and also of my imprisonment。 The Society will of course communicate with Sir George on the subject： I wash my hands of it。
I remain； dear Sir； most truly yours；
GEORGE BORROW。
LETTER： 17th May； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 May 28； 1838） MADRID； May 17； 1838。
EXCUSE the haste in which my last letter was written； it doubtless seemed somewhat incoherent； I will now endeavour to be more explicit。 Moreover； since sending it； I have had an interview of nearly two hours with Count Ofalia； and have much that is new to communicate。 But previously to stating what is likely to afford pleasure and satisfaction； I must proceed to disburden myself of what I heard with the greatest pain； and which I communicate with sorrow and reluctance。
Sir George Villiers and Mr。 Southern； first Secretary of Legation； were the persons who first informed me of what has taken place at Malaga。 It appears that Mr。 Graydon arrived there a short time before my imprisonment at Madrid； and instead of endeavouring to circulate the Scriptures in a quiet and reasonable manner； such as becomes a gentleman and a Christian； and such as had been recommended to me previous to my late long journey in the north of Spain and which I have always endeavoured to follow； he had recourse to means the most improper and disreputable； very similar to those which he is said to have followed in all the other towns which he has visited。 In order to excite curiosity and cause a sensation； he published advertisements and handbills replete with the lowest abuse of the Spanish clergy and Government； and containing his own private opinions concerning religion。 However； not contented with this； he had the cruelty … I will not call it baseness … to speak of MYSELF； with； whom he asserted that he was co…operating in every point； and that all he was doing was under the sanction of the Bible Society。
Intelligence of these proceedings was of course sent to Madrid； with one of the handbills； which I have not seen； but of which Mr。 Southern； a literary and accomplished gentleman； has said that its abusive virulence is only to be equalled by its stupidity and folly。 Sir George Villiers； though very unwell； was deeply engaged in my affair； and exchanging official notes with the Government。 He had just informed Count Ofalia that unless full and summary satisfaction were afforded me； he should demand his passports； and write to the commanders of all the English ships of war engaged in furnishing assistance to Spain； commanding them to suspend operations forthwith。 Suddenly Count Ofalia arrived at the Embassy； and flinging down on the table one of Graydon's handbills； exclaimed： 'Peruse that； and then tell me； as a Cavalier and a gentleman； and the Envoy of a powerful and enlightened nation； whether you can any longer uphold the cause of your friend in prison； and persist in saying that he has been cruelly and unjustly treated。 You see that he is in the closest connexion with an indiv