[45] The letter may be consulted in Dr. Knapp.
[72] Opinions have differed acutely about Quesada. Richard Ford’s letters show that he held the general of the Army of the Faith in considerable respect. Borrow himself devoted one of the most fascinating chapters of “The Bible in Spain” to a sketch of Quesada.
[73] Through the kind exertions of Sir John Bowring’s sons, Mr. Lewin Bowring, of Torquay, and Mr. F. H. Bowring, of Hampstead.
[75] It will be useful to print this letter in full:—
“Oulton, Lowestoft, Suffolk.
June 14, 1842.“My dear Sir,—Pray excuse my troubling you with a line. I wish you would send me as many of the papers and manuscripts, which I left at yours some twelve years ago, as you can find. Amongst others, there is an essay on Welsh Poetry, a translation of the Death of Balder, etc. If I am spared to the beginning of next year I intend to bring out a volume called ‘Songs of Denmark,’ consisting of some selections from the K. Viser, and specimens from Evald, Gruntvig, Oehlenschläger, etc. I suppose that I must give a few notices of those people. Have you any history of Danish literature from which I could glean a few hints? I think you have a book in two volumes containing specimens of Danish poetry. It would be useful to me, as I want to translate Ingemann’s ‘Dannebrog,’ and one or two other pieces. I shall preface all with an essay on the Danish language. It is possible that a book of this description may take, as Denmark is quite an untrodden field.
“Could you lend me for a short time a Polish and French or Polish and German dictionary? I am going carefully through Mukiewitz, about whom I intend to write an article.
“‘The Bible in Spain’ is in the Press, and, with God’s permission, will appear about November, in three volumes. I shall tell Murray to send a copy to my oldest, I may say my only, friend. Pray let me know how you are getting on. I every now and then see your name in the Examiner, the only paper I read. Should you send the papers and the books, it must be by the Yarmouth coach, which starts from Tottenham. Address—George Borrow, Crown Inn, Lowestoft, Suffolk. With kindest remembrances to Mrs. B., Miss B., and family,
“I remain, dear Sir,
“Ever yours,
“George Borrow.
“Doctor Bowring.”
[91] Borrow contemplated carrying out a plan of his own for the teaching of the Gospel. On December 27th, 1835, he wrote from Evora in the Alemtejo to Dr. Bowring as follows:—
“For the last six weeks I have been wandering amongst the wilds of the Alemtejo, and have introduced myself to its rustics, banditti, etc., and become very popular amongst them; but as it is much more easy to introduce oneself to the cottage than the hall (though I am not utterly unknown in the latter) I want you to give or procure me letters to the most liberal and influential minds of Portugal. I likewise want a letter from the Foreign Office to Lord de Walden. In a word, I want to make what interest I can towards obtaining the admission of the Gospel of Jesus into the public schools of Portugal which are about to be established. I beg leave to state that this is my plan and no other person’s, as I was merely sent over to Portugal to observe the disposition of the people, therefore I do not wish to be named as an Agent of the B. S., but as a person who has plans for the mental improvement of the Portuguese; should I receive these letters within the space of six weeks it will be time enough, for before setting up my machine in Portugal I wish to lay the foundation of something similar in Spain.”
[99a] Juan Antonio Bailly. See chap, vi., p. 110.
[99b] Don Luis de Usóz y Rio was one of Borrow’s staunchest friends in Spain, and looked after his affairs in Madrid while he was on his provincial journeys. Usóz was largely responsible for the great collection in twenty volumes of the works of Spanish Reformers of the Sixteenth Century.
[99c] Librarian of the “National.”