November 18, 1841.
I am sick of Handbook. I meditate bringing out the first volume, the preliminary and the most difficult, early next spring. It is nearly completed. It is a series of essays, and has plagued me to death. The next volume will be more mechanical and matter-of-fact—what Murray wanted; and I am an ass for my pains. I have been throwing pearly articles into the trough of a road-book. However, there will be stuff in it.
Weary of the Handbook, Ford turned from it with relief to a subject after his own heart. In 1841 George Borrow published his Zincali; or an Account of the Gypsies in Spain. Interested both in the writer and his work, his own mind absorbed in Spanish life, Ford laid aside the Handbook to write an article on the book, which he had himself recommended to Murray for publication. His article ultimately appeared in the British and Foreign Review (No. XXVI., p. 367).
I have made acquaintance (he tells Addington, January 14th, 1841) with an extraordinary fellow, George Borrow, who went out to Spain to convert the gipsies. He is about to publish his failure, and a curious book it will be. It was submitted to my perusal by the hesitating Murray.
Borrow is done (he writes November 3rd, 1841), and I daresay will soon be printed. I took the greatest pains with it, and Lockhart, on reading a portion, wrote to me that it was “perfect”—a great word from a man not prodigal of praise.
In an undated letter to John Murray, he says:
I have written a very careful review of Borrow’s Gypsies, with which Lockhart seems well pleased. The book has created a great sensation far and wide. I was sure it would, and I hope you think that when I read the MS. my opinion and advice were sound.
I have now a letter from Borrow telling me that he has nearly completed his Bible in Spain. I have given him much advice,—to avoid Spanish historians and poetry like Prussic acid; to stick to himself, his biography, and queer adventures. He writes: “I shall attend to all your advice. The book will consist entirely of my personal adventures, travels, etc., in that country during five years. I met with a number of strange characters, all of whom I have introduced; the most surprising of them is my Greek servant, who accompanied me in my ride of 1500 miles.”
The author writes again, November 8th: “The Bible in Spain is a rum, very rum, mixture of gipseyism, Judaism, and missionary adventure, and I have no doubt will be greedily read.”
I have some thoughts of asking him down here with his MS., and pruning it a little for him.