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n say why； but I made him no answer； and proceeded； indeed I was so weary and unwell that I cared not what became of me。 We entered … the rocks rose perpendicularly right and left； entirely intercepting the scanty twilight； so that the darkness of the grave； or rather the blackness of the valley of the shadow of death； reigned around us； and we knew not where we went； but trusted solely to the instinct of the horses； who moved on with their heads close to the ground。 The only sound which we heard was the splash of a stream which tumbled down the pass。 I expected every moment to feel a knife at my throat； but … IT WAS NOT SO WRITTEN。 We threaded the pass without meeting a human being； and within three quarters of an hour after the time we entered it； we found ourselves within the POSADA of the town of Onas； which was filled with troops and armed peasants expecting an attack from the grand Carlist army； which was near at hand。
Well！ we reached Burgos in safety； we reached Valladolid in safety； we passed the Guadarama in safety； and now we are safely housed in Madrid。 People say we have been very lucky； Antonio says； 'It was so written'； but I say； 'Glory be to the Lord for His mercies vouchsafed。'
I did not find matters in a very prosperous state in Madrid。 Few copies of the New Testament have been sold； yet what else could be rationally expected in these latter times？ Don Carlos with a large army has been at the gates； plunder and massacre were expected； and people have been too much occupied in planning to secure their lives and property to have much time to devote to reading of any description。 I have had an interview with Dr。 Usoz； and have just received a most interesting letter from him； replete with patriotism and piety； amongst other things he says； 'only circumstances and the public poverty are the cause of the works not having met with sale at Madrid。' Of this letter I shall send a translation。 It contains some remarks respecting Father Scio's version； which I consider to be of high importance； and humbly recommend to the attention of the Committee。
But I am at present in Madrid； and am thus enabled to superintend in person the measures calculated to secure the sale of the work。 I shall forthwith cause a thousand advertisements to be printed and affixed from time to time in every part of the city。 I shall likewise employ colporteurs to vend them in the streets； and shall perhaps establish a stall or small shop； where Testaments and Testaments alone will be sold。 … No exertion of which I am capable will be spared； and if 'the Word of the Lord' become not speedily better known at Madrid； it will be because the Lord in His inscrutable wisdom does not so will it。
Whilst in the northern provinces I ordered a hundred copies to be despatched from Madrid to each of the three great towns； Valencia； Seville； and Cadiz； with advertisements； I am glad to be able to state that advice has been received that the books have reached their destination。 At the commencement of the coming year it is my intention to visit those parts； for no work seems to prosper in Spain which is not closely attended to by the master。 Whilst at Valladolid I ordered all the copies which remained unsold of the second supply to be sent to Burgos； and I am now going to despatch a third fifty to the former town； and a still larger quantity to Oviedo； those which I carried thither having been all sold during my short stay。
In a few days it is my intention to commit to the press Luke in Basque and in Rommany； the latter of which versions I propose to carry with me to Andalusia and Valencia； the two provinces which most abound with the Rommany…Chai； of whom； by the way； I found no trace in Old Castile； Galicia； or the Asturias。 As for the Basque version； it is probable that even in Madrid it will not be without demand； as many Biscayans residing there will doubtless be eager to read the Gospel when placed within their reach in their native tongue。
I will now conclude by begging pardon for all errors of commission and omission。 I am a frail foolish vessel； and have accomplished but a slight portion of what I proposed in my vanity。 Yet something； though but little； has been effected by this journey； which I have just brought to a conclusion。 The New Testament of Christ is enjoying a quiet sale in the principal towns of the north of Spain； and I have secured the FRIENDLY INTEREST and co…operation of the booksellers of those parts； particularly him； the most considerable of them all； Rey Romero of Compostella。 I have； moreover； by private sale disposed of one hundred and sixteen Testaments to individuals entirely of the lower classes； namely； muleteers； carmen； CONTRABANDISTAS； etc。
My accounts will follow in a few days。 Now may the Lord bless you； and dispose you to pray for myself and all in this land of misery and sorrow。
G。 B。
LETTER： 20th November； 1837
To the Rev。 A。 Brandram （ENDORSED： recd。 Dec。 2； 1837） MADRID； No。 16 CALLE ST。 IAGO PISO 3RO。 NOVR。 20； 1837。
REVD。 AND DEAR SIR； … On the other side you have an account of the money which I expended during my journey； and also of what I have laid out in the Society's service since my return。 In respect to my expenses； I wish to state that most articles are very dear in Spain； especially in the parts where I have travelled； and that I have been subjected to many expenses which I have not specified in the account； for example the gate…dues for the books； in every town where I have introduced them … the printing of advertisements … and particularly farriers' bills； as the poor horses were continually ailing from over…work； bad provender and falls received amongst the mountains。 In the account of Testaments sold you will observe that I make no mention of by far the greater number； namely those disposed of at Lugo； Saint James； etc。； etc。； as I have not yet received the money from the booksellers。 About a week since I received advice from Leon that the forty copies which I had left there had been all sold； and that the money was in readiness； I have despatched a fresh supply of fifty to that important town； where last summer I nearly lost my life in a burning fever。 I am expecting every day a fresh order from Salamanca； and hope that； as the circle widens in the lake into which a stripling has cast a pebble； so will the circle of our usefulness continue widening until it has embraced the whole vast region of Spain。
I have delayed writing for nearly a fortnight； as during that period I have been looking out for a suitable shop in which to commence operations in Madrid。 I have just found one quite to my mind； situated in the CALLE DEL PRINCIPE； one of the principal streets。 The rent； it is true； is rather high （eight REALS per diem）； but a good situation； as you are well aware； must be paid for。 I came to the resolution of establishing a shop from finding that the Madrid booksellers entrusted with the Testaments gave themselves no manner of trouble to secure the sale； and even withheld advertisements from the public with which they were supplied。 But now everything will be on another footing； and I have sanguine hopes of selling all that remain of the edition within a short time。
A violent and furious letter against the Bible Society and its proceedings has lately appeared in a public print； it is prefixed to a Pastoral of the Spiritual Governor ＇I。E。 Bishop＇ of Valencia； in which he forbids the sale of the London Bible in that see。 About a week since I inserted in the ESPANOL an answer to that letter； which answer has been read and praised。 I send you herewith an English translation of it。 You will doubtless deem it too warm and fiery； but tameness and gentleness are of little avail when surrounded by the vassal slaves of bloody Rome。 It has answered one purpose … it has silenced our antagonist； who； it seems； is an unprincipled benefice…hunting curate。 As you read Spanish； I have copied his own words respecting the omission of the Apocrypha； nevertheless； lest you should find some difficulty in understanding it； I subjoin here the English。
'If the works of Luther were to be given to the world curtailed of their PRINCIPAL CHAPTERS； and his maxims and precepts to a certain degree transformed； what would his followers and disciples do？ Would they not rise with one accord in numerous bands； and； in order to sustain the honour of their preceptor； would they not recur to the original writings and produce in his support his manuscripts？ Would they not resort to all kinds of argument to prove the spuriousness of that edition； and employ declamation and reasoning in order to blacken the illicit and fraudulent means which the Catholics were employing？' etc。； etc。； etc。
I deemed it my duty； as Agent of the Bible Society in Spain； not to permit so brutal an attack upon it to pass unanswered。 Indeed I was called upon by my friends to reply； and though I am adverse to all theological and political disputes； I feared to refuse； lest the motives of my silence should be misconstrued。 But now I must be permitted to say （between