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estaments having been seized throughout Spain； with the exception of my stock in Madrid （upwards of 3000） … Count Ofalia having in a communication to Sir George declared that he had full confidence in my honour and good faith； being well persuaded that I harboured no designs but those I professed。
I send you on the other side some extracts from one of the tracts which purports to be 'A true history of the Virgin of Sorrows； to whom Don Carlos； the Rebel and Fanatic； has dedicated his cause； and the ignorance which he trumpets。' The one； however； which has given most offence is 'A Catechism on the Principal Controversies between Protestants and Catholics；' translated from the English。
I now await your orders。 I wish to know whether I am at liberty to pursue the course which may seem to me best under existing circumstances； and which at present appears to be to mount my horses which are neighing in the stable； and once more to betake myself to the plains and mountains of dusty Spain； and to dispose of my Testaments to the muleteers and peasants。 By doing so I shall employ myself usefully； and at the same time avoid giving offence。 Better days will soon arrive； which will enable me to return to Madrid and reopen my shop； till then； however； I should wish to pursue my labours in comparative obscurity。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir； most truly yours；
GEORGE BORROW。
P。S。 … I am engaged in translating the Acts of the Apostles into Basque。
On the fly…leaf of this letter appear the following extracts。
Historia Verdadera de la Virjen Dolorosa a Quien el rebelde y fanatico D。 Carlos Ha Dedicado su causa y la ignorancia que Pregona。
EXTRACTOS
P。 17。 'Echase de ver en todos estos epitetos grandiosos prodigados a Maria la obra del enemigo de Dios； el cual； ensencialmente idolatra； ha sabido introducir la idolatria bajo las apariencias del Cristianismo； y se esfuerza en desviar sobre una criatura； y hasta en la imagen de esta； la adoracion que se debe a Dios tan solo。 Sin duda que con igual objeto se colocan por todas partes las estatuas de Maria； adornadas con una corona； y llevando en brazos un tierno infante； como para acostumbrar al pueblo al concepto entranable de ＇la superi＇ oridad de Maria sobre Jesus。'
P。 30。 'Tal es nuestra conclusion。 Reconociendo y sancionando este culto； la Iglesia de Roma se constituye iglesia IDOLATRA； y todos sus miembros que no saben buscar la verdad detras del monstruos…o hacinamiento de impiedad con que la oculta； son supuestos por la misma condenados a la perdicion。 El caudillo de esta Iglesia； que no se averguenza de prohibir y hacer que se prohiba； por donde quiera alcanza su ferula； la palabra de Dios； debiera saber cuando menos； se atesorase el espiritu de Cristo； que mejor empleara sus bulas barriendo la Iglesia Romana de todas sus iniquidades； que no promulgando tan injustas prohibiciones。 Pero ya que； afferrandose contra mejora； esta iglesia proteje y consagra por todas partes un sinnumero de supersticiones y cultos erroneos； claro esta que con esto se alza y caracteriza como uno de los principales ajentes del Anticristo。'
LETTER： 9th July； 1838
To Mr。 W。 Hitchin （ENDORSED： recd。 July 20； 1838） MADRID； JULY 9； 1838。
ON the other side I beg leave to present my account。 One or two items require some explanation。
1st； Mr。 Borrego's bill of 3084 REALS； of which 1760 are for the printing of the Basque Gospel； the remainder is for advertisements； boxes； package and freight of books to various parts of Spain； namely； to Valencia； Malaga； Santander； Corunna； etc。 The original bill I shall forward as soon as it has been signed and vouched for by Messrs。 O'Shea； who paid the money。
2nd； As to prison expenses； I must observe that the Government after placing me at liberty offered to indemnify me for all the expense I had incurred in prison； but I refused to accept their offer； should； however； the Committee think that I ought to have done so； they will deduct the amount。
3rd； 60 REALS for porterage； on receiving intelligence that my depots had been seized in various parts of the country； I thought it advisable to place my stock in Madrid in safety； and in consequence under cover of night removed it from the shop； and concealed it in portions in the houses of various friends。
In conclusion； I must beg that you will collate my present account with my last； as I am apprehensive that I may have charged the same outlay twice； the copy of my last account was lost when my papers were seized。
I make an excursion to…morrow to the rural districts of New Castile； which will probably occupy a fortnight。 I have sent before me two hundred Testaments。
I remain； etc。；
G。 BORROW。
LETTER： 14th July； 1838
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 July 28； 1838） VILLA SECA； DISTRICT OF TOLEDO； JULY 14； 1838。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I write these lines from Villa Seca； a village situated on the bank of the Tagus about nine leagues from Madrid。 A few minutes before my departure I received your letter of the 29th June； in which you mention letters being on the way for me。 I； however； could not wait for them for many reasons； principally because in that event I should have lost a considerable number of Testaments； which I had sent before me。 I am moreover tolerably well acquainted with the contents ＇of＇ those communications from the one which I have already received。
For some time past I have been determined at whatever risk to make an effort to circulate the Scriptures in the rural districts of New Castile； where I am grieved to say the most profound ignorance of true religion prevails。 I have been induced to take up my quarters for the present in Villa Seca； from being well acquainted with a labourer of the place； moreover its situation is favourable to my views as there are many other villages in its vicinity。 Poverty it is true abounds； but I am perfectly sure that our friends at home are disposed to make every reasonable sacrifice； and not for a moment to balance the dust of Mammon against the eternal welfare of their fellow…creatures。
For the last two days I have been riding in various directions。 It is a great blessing that heat agrees with me wonderfully； as we have no less than thirty…six degrees according to Reaumur； otherwise it would be impossible for me to accomplish anything； the atmosphere resembling the flickering glow about the mouth of an oven。 I have already disposed of about thirty Testaments； of course at exceedingly low prices。 To…day； however； I have commenced a new course； and have sent abroad various peasants with some parcels of Testaments； my host； whom it has pleased the Lord to render favourable to the cause； has himself taken the field； and has proceeded to the neighbouring village of Vargas mounted on his donkey。 If success do not attend my efforts； the Lord knows that it will be no fault of mine。 It will be the working of His own holy will。
I had scarcely written the above lines when I heard the voice of the donkey in the court…yard； and going out I found my host returned。 He had disposed of his whole cargo of twenty Testaments at the old Moorish village of Vargas； distant from hence about two leagues； and all in the space of about half an hour。 Eight poor harvest…men； who were refreshing themselves at the door of the wine…house； purchased each a copy； whilst the village schoolmaster took all the rest for the little ones beneath his care； lamenting at the same time the great difficulty he had long experienced in obtaining religious books； owing to their scarcity and extravagant price。 Many other persons were also anxious to procure Testaments； but my envoy （Juanito Lopez） was unable to supply them。 At his departure they requested him to return within a few days。
I will not conceal from you that I am playing a daring game； and it is very possible that when I least expect it I may be seized； tied to the tail of a mule； and dragged either to the prison of Toledo or Madrid。 Yet such a prospect does not discourage me in the least； but rather urges me on to persevere； for I assure you … and in this assertion there lurks not the slightest desire to magnify myself and produce an effect … that I am eager to lay down my life in this cause； and whether a Carlist's bullet or the jail…fever bring my career to an end； I am perfectly indifferent。 But I have other matters now to speak of。
You hint that a desire is entertained at home to have a personal conference with me。 In the name of the Highest I entreat you all to banish such a preposterous idea。 A journey home （provided you intend that I should return to Spain） could lead to no result but expense and the loss of precious time。 I have nothing to explain to you which you are not already perfectly well acquainted with by my late letters。 I was fully aware at the time I was writing them that I should afford you little satisfaction； for the plain unvarnished truth is seldom agreeable。 But I now repeat； and these are perhaps among the last words which I shall ever be permitted to pen； that I cannot approve； and I am sure no Christ