Madrid, 27th March 1848

Rev A Brandram  No.15

Madrid 27th March 1848

My Dear Friend,

I intimated to you in my letter of the 14th of February, that I had then use means for arranging our difficulties regarding the six cases of Books, and that I was in daily expectation of an answer on the subject. With such an intimation you must needs wonder that this answer has not long ago been communicated to you. I hope however you keep always in mind that I am in Spain, and that you do not calculate our meridian as if it were yours. We move slowly here, very slowly in the right way. Would that our movements were as sure and true as slow. But if they are not so now, they will be so sooner or later, and it may be soon.

I will not enter into the various circumstances causing delay, but shall only state, that I have had all along the way my eye steadily fixed on the object before me, and am not aware of neglecting any means required.

Finally, our petition for the entrance of the Books was rejected. This was not on the ground of their being Bibles, for that I never told them, but because the books are bound, and in the Spanish language, against which there are prohibiting clauses in the tariff. I had understood that this hinderance would have been avoided by the means which at the advice of my friends here I had taken, but it seems we have been mistaken.

Finding this door closed, and having some hopes of gaining our object through other means, and that I should soon know the yea or nay of that, I would not write you of the worst, till I should try the other plan.

I brought here when I came a letter of introduction from Lord Clarendon to our Plenipotentiary Mr Bulwer. But some how or other I was not led to use much freedom with Mr Bulwer, in asking any favour. All Embassadors here, as I believe in every country, have the privilege of introducing goods to a certain extent free of duty. It is understood that these are for their own use, but it is always considered that their friends are included. Our Books might have been introduced in this way. But from the reason above mentioned, and two others, I did not apply to Mr. Bulwer in the matter. The two others were, first that I know from a Custom House officer that he had brought in good previously to the full extent permitted, not to say more, which was the case. And secondly, I remembered influences of Downing Street, that as an incubus sits on all our British functionaries here. Nevertheless, having got better acquainted with Mr. Bulwer since my return from the South, I thought I would tell him my wish. He had once stated that his limit of liberties was exceeded, but at the same time showed a great readiness to meet my wishes, much more than I had expected. He said he would try to get my object accomplished through the Portuguese Ambassador who is his friend, and desired I would write a note on the subject of my request. I did so immediately, and after a rather Spanish delay I have had an answer. Mishap is our fortune, or rather misfortune, as it seems, on every hand. Mr. Bulwer after maturely considering the subject writes as follows: – "With respect to the books, I am sorry to say, that I find it impossible to oblige you. What you request is the introduction of an article forbidden by the laws, and the circulation of a book which the Government to which I am accredited forbids circulating, and though I condemn most strongly the narrow bigotry on which these regulations are founded, I could not consistently with my position clandestinely infringe them. In my desire to oblige you, and also to promote your object, I did in the first instance think some means might be found for doing so, but the mode I thought of would be objectionable on the same grounds that apply to my direct compliance with your request, and therefore I fear on the subject you must be disappointed."

That is still a sort of string or two which I wish to try to this our bow, but I will not longer delay telling you how we actually stand. I purpose writing you again soon. We are here at present all in the storm and whirlwind,[1] in the midst of "battle and murder and sudden death." Please to say, and pray, "Good Lord deliver us."[2]

            I am, Very Truly Yours,

                        James Thomson.

P.S. 28th March.

I did not post this letter yesterday, as I learned that the mails would most probably not be forwarded. More likely they will to day, and you may and should have this on Monday next. All was quiet last night, but I fear this is a mere lull and not a restoration of peace and order. is proclaimed in the city and over all the country. Our habeas corpus, if we ever had any here, has been suspended, and more than five persons are forbidden to stand in the streets together.

There was a rumour among the English here the other day, that I was in prison. What could be the cause of the rumour or for the imprisonment, I know not, but reasons and causes are not with us in the ascendancy. I am still at large.

[1] An uprising against the Narváez government took place in Madrid, beginning on the evening of 26 March. (BM)

[2]  From lightning and tempest; 

      from plague, pestilence and famine; 

      from battle and murder and from sudden death.

      Good Lord, deliver us.                                             Book of Common Prayer. (BM)

Madrid, 10th April 1848

Rev  A Brandram No.16

Madrid 10th April 1848

My Dear Friend,

My last letter give you a hint of our troubles here. Many were killed on the night of the 26th and a great number were wounded. Among the former was one Englishman of the Society of Friends lately come here, and among the latter Mrs. Colonel Stopford's waiting maid, who had one of her ankles shattered by three balls. Amputation had to take place, and she is not yet out of immediate danger. I was nearly being caught in the midst of this affray, as I generally go on the Sunday evening to read Prayers in the American Ambassador's house, which would both in going and coming have exposed me. But I was warned in time and did not go out. This is another of the many preservations God has vouchsafed me in the midst of dangers, and blessed be his name for all these mercies.

Did you write me between the 7th January and the 9th February? I have no letter between. I wish we could return again to our numbering, as it is always satisfactory to know with certainty whether all letters come to hand or not. I may here acknowledge the receipt of yours of the 6thMarch, and of Mr. Jackson's of the 27th.

You ask in your letter of the 22nd February whether I saw Mr. Brackenbury our Consul at Cadiz. I did see him, and thought him cold, especially considering the letters of introduction I sent him, and I thought the best thing I could say of him was, nothing. The Downing Street incubus no doubt was upon him, but yet he might have been as friendly as the Marks in Malaga who are officially under the same.

Pray did you get the parcel containing the two cushions from Barbary, and the Hebrew Pentateuch from Gibraltar? It was sent from Cadiz by the Packet of the 27th December, which carried a letter of the same date. I may here mention a curious little coincidence. Right opposite the door of my lodging is a "European Bookseller's," and lately there has been stuck up an advertisement banner in large letters "La Bible en Espagne, par George Borrow." It seems this work has been translated into French, and has come to travel here also, and over again, whether for good or evil I know not.

I cannot help congratulating you, and the country, on the elevation of the Bishop of Chester to the Archepiscopal See of Canterbury, as you have noticed to me. May God bless him there and make him a blessing.

In regard to a Summer extensive Tour. What I contemplate, and wish your opinion of, is the following. To go first to San Sebastian, where through friends in that place I should try to get the Gospel of Luke in the Basque language printed, the revision of which has just been completed by the Translator. There are four Basque provinces in Spain, beside what is in France, and in these the major part of the people speak only this tongue. San Sebastian is in one of them.

You will perhaps recollect that I wrote to you formerly about establishing a place of sale on the French side of the River Bidasoa which divides France and Spain. That object I would try to get arranged. Also in that place might be printed with security our Basque volume, should we fail of doing it in San Sebastian. The French call their side of the of the town Behovie, the Spaniards theirs and both Behovia. Now our Books would carry being printed in Behovia, which all the Basque people would consider their own Behovia. In the same manner there, and through the same happy use of the word, we might perhaps print, if judged desirable, the Spanish New Testament. Our printing and paper manufacturing friends in San Sebastian could probably manage these matters for us, for our advantage and their own.

From Behovia I would think of going to Bayonne to arrange about our Spanish Books which should be sent to that place, either from London or Paris. From that port I could sail to different ports on the northwest coast of Spain, and take on each occasion a supply of Bibles and Testaments, and have them landed as part of my luggage.

Further, on this tour, I should like to go Eastward from Bayonne, zig-zagging the Pyrenean Ridge, so as to avail myself of the opportunities that should offer for entering our Books from France into Spain, for which we would need to have supplies in Toulouse and some other French towns. On this course I would make a special point of paying a visit to a small independent republic which has long existed in the Pyrenean mountains. Its name is Andorra, and by a geographical work now before me published this same year, its inhabitants are stated to amount to 15,000, of which 2000 are in the capital of the same name. This little nation is under the protection, I had nearly said of the crown of France, but say in things civil, and ecclesiastically it is part of a diocese of Spain. Now there I should think we might print, and sell, and do what we liked. At all events the place should be visited to see what could be done there in all our work. Lastly, I would go into Catalonia which lies still further Eastward, and extends to the end of the Ridge, and then would visit Barcelona. I would have the Catalonian New Testament particularly under my attention in that quarter.

All this, and less, would make an ample summer tour. What I have given is a mere sketch and outline, and to be filled up more or less as things should appear when in the several places, and as time might permit. I may add, that all this plan is in full accordance with Mr. Usoz's views. We now therefore wait to learn what are yours, as to the whole, and the parts severally.

In regard to the Letter of Credit about which I wrote to Mr. Hitchin, I would observe, that hitherto I have not stood in need of such a document, as in all those parts where I travel there were remittances to be made to England, and I always found parties both ready to trust me, and glad of my Bills. I took out indeed a Letter of Credit to the West Indies for £200, but I never made any use of it, and tore it up at the end of my Seven Years Tour in that quarter. Here there are not remittances of the same sort, and business has to be done with Banks. My first Bill here was drawn in the Union Bank where the chief officer was my particular friend, and hence I found no difficulty. But that bank has broken up, or rather down, and I am obliged to go elsewhere. Mr. O'Shea's Bank is the only other place I can go to, and though I drew my last Bill there in my usual way, it was intimated to me, that through a Letter of Credit was the regular way of doing business. Hence my application for the same. You are aware that the having a Letter of Credit does not imply the immediate drawing f the sum mentioned in it, nor even the drawing of any part of it, for in the West Indies, as I have said, I did not drawn on it at all. Sums are drawn on it from time to time, and as they are drawn, they are advised in England to the house where the letter was procured, and then, and not till then, they will be charged to your account. There is an advantage in having such a letter, as it enables one to draw any small sums, say £10 or £20 at a time, instead of what has been usual with me in Bills of £50. When I wrote I had in view a little journey to see a friendly Priest, and as I am about out on my travelling score, I said I might have occasion to draw soon on it, and from thus noticing the subject I extended to more general and distant travelling. I have now however given up that little journey, owing to the peculiar state of things here at present. A month hence will be quite in time for me to receive this Letter of Credit; and I may observe that my needed of it is not dependent on my travelling, for I shall have to draw whether I travel or not. I have made inquiry since I wrote Mr. Hitchin, and find that any of the City Banks will do as well as Coutt's, though that is the one O'Shea's Bank here is more immediately connected with.

Mr. Jackson's letter of the 4th instant has come in whilst I was writing.

            I remain, My Dear Friend,

                        Yours Very Truly,

                                    James Thomson.