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is wife is a harlot and thief on all times and occasions。 The excessive wickedness of these outcasts may perhaps be attributed to their having abandoned their wandering life and become inmates of the towns； where to the original bad traits of their character they have super…added the evil and vicious habits of the rabble。 Their mouths teem with abomination； and in no part of the world have I heard such frequent； frightful； and extraordinary cursing as amongst them。
Religion they have none； they never attend mass； nor confess themselves； and never employ the names of God； Christ and the Virgin； but in imprecation and blasphemy。 From what I learnt from them it appeared that their ancestors had some belief in metempsychosis； but they themselves laughed at the idea； and were decidedly of opinion that the soul perished when the body ceased to breathe； and the argument which they used was rational enough； so far as it impugned metempsychosis： 'We have been wicked and miserable enough in this life；' they said； 'why should we live again？'
I translated certain portions of Scripture into their dialect； which I frequently read to them； especially the parables of Lazarus and the Prodigal Son； and told them that the latter had been as wicked as themselves； and both had suffered as much or more； but that the sufferings of the former； who always looked forward to a blessed resurrection； were recompensed in the world to come by admission to the society of Abraham and the prophets； and that the latter； when he repented of his crimes； was forgiven and received into as much favour as the just son had always enjoyed。 They listened with admiration； but alas！ not of the truths； the eternal truths I was telling them； but at finding that their broken jargon
could be written and read。 The only words of assent to the heavenly doctrine which I ever obtained； and which were rather of the negative kind； were the following； from a woman： 'Brother； you tell us strange things； though perhaps you do not lie； a month since I would sooner have believed these tales； than that I should this day have seen one who could write Rommany。'
They possess a vast number of songs or couplets which they recite to the music of the guitar。 For the purpose of improving myself in the language I collected and wrote down upwards of one hundred of these couplets； the subjects of which are horse…stealing； murder； and the various incidents of gypsy…life in Spain。 Perhaps a collection of songs more characteristic of the people from whom they originated was never made； though amongst them are to be found some tender and beautiful thoughts； though few and far between； as a flower or shrub is here and there seen springing from the interstices of the rugged and frightful rocks of which are composed the mountains and sierras of Spain。
The following is their traditionary account of the expulsion of their fathers from Egypt。 'And it came to pass that Pharaoh the King collected numerous armies for the purpose of war； and after he had conquered the whole world； he challenged God to descend from heaven and fight him； but the Lord replied； 〃There is no one who shall fight with Me〃； and thereupon the Lord opened a mountain； and He cast therein Pharaoh the King and all his numerous armies； so that the Egyptians remained without defence； and their enemies arose and scattered them wide abroad。'
LETTER： 25th July； 1836
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram No。 16 CALLE DE SANTIAGO； MADRID； JULY 25th； 1836。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … I enclose you a letter from a Spanish gentleman who wishes to become a subscriber to the Society。 He is a person of great respectability； great learning； and is likewise one of the editors of the ESPANOL； the principal newspaper in Spain。 Should you accept his offer of becoming a correspondent； he may be of infinite service； as the newspaper which he superintends would be always open to the purposes of the Society。 He has connections all over Spain； and no one could assist more effectually in diffusing the Scriptures when printed。 He wishes very much to have an account of the proceedings of the Society； therefore any books you could send him relating thereto would be highly acceptable。 Great things might be done in Spain； and I am convinced that if there was a Protestant church in Madrid it would be crammed。
I have spoken to Mr。 Wood； an Englishman； the printer of the ESPANOL； who has the best printing presses in Spain； and he is willing to begin the work whenever you think proper： he will engage to bring it out in three months； in the same shape as the Catalan Testaments。 In order that you may have as little trouble as possible； I have translated Dr。 Usoz's letter。 I have not thought fit to transmit the printed paper which he alludes to； as it would make this letter very bulky。 It is an official account of his studies； and the honours he attained at the University。
I remain； Revd。 and dear Sir；
Most truly yours；
G。 BORROW。
TRANSLATION OF DR。 USOZ'S LETTER。
Gentlemen of the British and Foreign Bible Society；
Having by good fortune become acquainted with your Agent； Mr。 G。 Borrow； at present residing in this city； and having learnt from him that I might take the liberty of addressing myself to you for the purpose of inquiring whether you would have any objection to insert my name in your list as a member； I avail myself of the present opportunity to do so； and hope that my wishes will be gratified。 I believe it is necessary for every member to pay 1 pound sterling； or 100 REALS of our coin； annually； perhaps you will inform me when； and in whose hands； I may deposit this sum。 As I have no other object in this than to endeavour； by all the means in my power； to cause the Scriptures to be read as much as possible in my unhappy country； I should wish to be considered in the light of a correspondent； as I flatter myself that if you would consent； after taking the necessary precautions； to entrust me with copies of the Scripture； I should find no difficulty in circulating them in every province of my country。
Being fully convinced that nothing but the reading of the Bible can form the basis of solid liberty in Spain； I will employ every effort to promote it； if your philanthropic Society will assist me。 It would answer no purpose to occupy your attention by speaking prolixly of the purity of my intention and my zeal； time and experience will speak either for or against me； I will merely enclose this printed paper； by which you will learn who he is who has taken the liberty of writing to you。 It is superfluous to add that； should you consent to my desire； I should want all the notices and documents respecting your Society which you could supply me with。
As I possess some knowledge of English； you might avail yourselves of this language in your answer； provided the letters used be written clearly。
I have the honour； etc。
LUIS DE USOZ Y RIO。
P。S。 … Should you direct to me directly； or by other means than the post； my address is： A D。 Luis de Usoz y Rio； Calle de Santa Catalina； No。 12 nuevo； Madrid。
LETTER： 10th August； 1836
To J。 Jackson； Esq。 （ENDORSED： recd。 Aug。 26th； 1836） MADRID； AUG。 10； 1836。
MY DEAR SIR； … I have received your two letters containing the 50 pounds and the resolution of the Society； I have likewise received Mr。 Brandram's。
I shall make the provisional engagement ＇to print＇ as desired； and shall leave Madrid as soon as possible； but I must here inform you that I shall find much difficulty in returning to England； as all the provinces are disturbed in consequence of the Constitution of 1812 having been proclaimed； and the roads are swarming with robbers and banditti。 It is my intention to join some muleteers and attempt to reach Granada； from whence； if possible； I shall proceed to Malaga or Gibraltar； and thence to Lisbon； where I left the greatest part of my baggage。 Do not be surprised therefore； if I am tardy in making my appearance。 It is no easy thing at present to travel in Spain。 But all these troubles are for the benefit of the Cause； and must not be repined at。
I remain； my dear Sir； most truly yours；
G。 B。
Report of Mr。 Geo。 Borrow's late Proceedings in Spain LONDON； OCTOBER 17； 1836。
On the 16th of January I quitted Badajoz； a Spanish town on the frontier of Portugal； for Madrid； whither I arrived in safety。 As my principal motive for visiting the Spanish capital was the hope of obtaining permission from the Government to print the New Testament in the Castilian language in Spain； I lost no time upon my arrival in taking what I considered to be the necessary steps。 I must here premise that I was an entire stranger at Madrid； and that I bore no letters； of introduction to any person of influence whose credit might have assisted me in this undertaking； so that notwithstanding I entertained a hope of success； relying on the assistance of the Almighty； this hope was not at all times very vivid； but was frequently overcast with the clouds of despondency。 Mr。 Mendizabal was at this time Prime Minister of Spain； and was c