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the shop where you have placed them for sale； and have taken the liberty of calling upon you in order to return you our thanks for the treasure you have brought us。 I hope you can furnish us with the Old Testament also。' I replied that I was sorry to inform him that at present it was entirely out of my power to comply with his wish； as I had no Old Testaments in my possession； but did not despair of procuring some speedily； from England。 He then asked me a great many questions concerning my Biblical travels in Spain； and my success； and the views entertained by the Society in respect to Spain； adding that he hoped I should pay particular attention to the Asturias； which he assured me was the best ground in the Peninsula for our labour。 After about half…an…hour's conversation； he suddenly said in the English language； 'Good night； sir；' wrapped his cloak around him； and walked out as he had come。 His companions； who had hitherto not uttered a word； all repeated； 'Good night； sir；' and adjusting their cloaks followed him。
In order to explain this strange scene I must inform you that this morning I visited the petty bookseller of the place； Longoria； and having arranged preliminaries with him I sent him in the evening a package of forty Testaments； all I possess； with some advertisements。 At the time he assured me that； though he was willing to undertake the sale； there was nevertheless not a prospect of success； as a whole month had elapsed since he had sold a book of any description； on account of the uncertainty of the times and the poverty which pervaded the land。 I therefore sat down to write this letter much dispirited； this incident has； however； admonished me not to be cast down when things look gloomiest； as the hand of the Lord is generally then most busy： that men may learn to perceive that whatever good is accomplished is not theirs but His。
I shall quit Oviedo in a few days； but whither I shall now direct my course I have not determined。 It would be easy for me to reach Santander； which is but thirty leagues ＇distant＇ and the road tolerably free from accidents； but the state of affairs at Madrid gives me considerable uneasiness； for I remember that Madrid is the depot of our books； and I am apprehensive that in the revolutions and disturbances which at present seem to threaten it； our whole stock may perish。 True it is that in order to reach Madrid I should have to pass through the midst of the Carlist hordes； who would perhaps slay or make me prisoner； but I am at present so much accustomed to perilous adventure； and have hitherto experienced so many fortunate escapes； that the dangers which infest the route would not deter me a moment from venturing。 But there is no certain intelligence； and Madrid may be in safety or on the brink of falling； perhaps a few hours will inform us； when I shall at once decide。 My next letter will therefore be either from Santander or the capital of Spain。
Oviedo is picturesquely situated between two mountains； Morcin and Naranco； the former is very high and ragged； and during the greatest part of the year is covered with snow； the sides of the latter are cultivated and planted with vines。 The town itself possesses nothing very remarkable with the exception of the cathedral； the tower of which is very high； and is perhaps the purest specimen of Gothic architecture at present in existence。 The interior of the edifice is neat and appropriate but simple and unadorned； for I observed but one picture； the Conversion of St。 Paul。 One of the chapels is a cemetery； in which rest the bones of eleven Gothic kings； whose souls I trust in Christ have been accepted。
I will now conclude in the words of Heber：
'From Greenland's icy mountains； From India's coral strand … Where Afric's sunny fountains Roll down the yellow sand … From many an ancient river； From many a palmy plain； They call us to deliver Their land from error's chain。'
Most truly yours；
G。 B。
P。S。 … Morning ＇Sept。＇ 30th； twenty Testaments have been sold。
LETTER： 1st November； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Nov。 13； 1837） MADRID； NOVR。 1； 1837。 CALLE SANTIAGO； No。 16 PISO 3RO。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … In my last letter； from Oviedo in the Asturias； I stated that my next would be dated either from Santander or the capital of Spain。 I arrived yesterday at Madrid； but I previously visited Santander； which I reached with my usual good fortune； without accident； after a fatiguing journey of six days。 When there； I found to my great sorrow that the two hundred Testaments which I had ordered to be sent from Madrid were not come； and I supposed that they had either been seized on the way by the Carlists or that my letter had miscarried。 （2） I then thought of applying to England for a supply； but I abandoned the idea for two reasons； first； that I should have to remain idly loitering at Santander for at least a month before I could receive them … a place where every article is so dear that my expenses with the strictest economy would have amounted to nearly two pounds PER DIEM； secondly； that I was very unwell； and unable to procure medical advice at Santander： for； to tell the truth； ever since I left Corunna I have been afflicted with a terrible dysentery； and latterly with an ophthalmia； the result of the other malady。
I therefore determined on returning to Madrid。 To effect this； however； seemed almost impossible。 Parties of the army of Don Carlos； which in a partial degree had been routed in Castile； were hovering about the country through which I should have to pass； more especially that part called 'The Mountains；' so that all communication had ceased between Santander and the southern districts。 Nevertheless I determined to trust； as usual； in the Almighty and to venture。 I purchased； therefore； a small horse and sallied forth with Antonio； notwithstanding I was so unwell as to be scarcely able to support myself。 I wished to have written to you from Santander； but I was exceedingly dispirited and could not collect my thoughts。 Before departing； I of course entered into conference with the booksellers as to what they should do in the event of my finding an opportunity of sending them a stock of Testaments from Madrid； and having arranged things to my satisfaction I committed myself to Providence。 I will not dwell long on this journey of three hundred miles。 We were in the midst of the fire； yet； strange to say； escaped without a hair being singed； robberies； murders； and all kinds of atrocity were perpetrated before； behind； and on both sides of us； but not so much as a dog barked at US； though in one instance a plan had been laid to intercept us。 About four leagues from Santander； whilst we were baiting our horses at a village hostelry； I saw a fellow run off after having held a whispering conversation with a boy who was dealing out barley to us。 I instantly enquired of the latter what the man had said to him； but only obtained an evasive answer。 It appeared afterwards that the conversation was about ourselves。 Two or three leagues further on there was an inn and village； where we had proposed staying； and indeed had expressed our intention of doing so； but on arriving there； finding that the sun was still far from its bourn； I determined to proceed further； expecting to find a resting…place at the distance of a league； though I was mistaken； finding none until we reached Montaneda； nine leagues and a half from Santander； where was stationed a small detachment of soldiers。 At the dead of night we were aroused from our sleep by a cry that the 'factious' were not far off。 A messenger had arrived from the ALCALDE of the village where we had previously intended staying； who stated that a party of Carlists had just surprised that place； and were searching for an English spy whom they supposed to be at the inn。 The officer commanding the soldiers； upon hearing this； not deeming his own situation a safe one； instantly drew off his men； falling back on a stronger party stationed in a fortified village near at hand； as for ourselves we saddled our horses and continued our way in the dark。 Had the Carlists succeeded in apprehending me； I should instantly have been shot； and my body cast on the rocks to feed the vultures and wolves。 But 'it was not so written' … said my man； who is a Greek and a fatalist。 The next night we had another singular escape； we had arrived near the entrance of a horrible pass； called EL PUERTO DE LA PUENTE DE LAS TABLAS； or the pass of the bridge of planks； which wound through a black and frightful mountain； on the further side of which was the town of Onas； where we meant to tarry for the night。 The sun had set about a quarter of an hour。 Suddenly a man with his face covered with blood rushed out of the pass。 Turn back； sir；' he said； 'in the name of God； there are murderers in that pass； they have just robbed me of my mule and all I possess； and I have hardly escaped with life from their hands。' I scarcely can say why； but I made him no answer； and proceeded； indeed I was so weary and unwell that I cared