it contained hymns to the Virgin, and
was written by the Pope; yet the peasantry of these three provinces are
by no means the least enlightened of Spain, but perhaps the reverse. In
a word, great as the ignorance of the generality of the Spaniards upon
most essential points is, they are principally ignorant of the one most
essential of all, the religion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
No time, however, ought to be lost in supplying those with the word who
are capable of receiving it; though millions in Spain are undoubtedly
beyond the reach of any efforts which the Bible Society can make to
assist them, however much it may have at heart their eternal salvation,
it is gratifying to have grounds for belief that thousands are able and
willing to profit by the exertions which may be made to serve them.
Though the days of the general orange-gathering are not arrived, when the
tree requires but a slight shaking to scatter its ripe and glorious
treasures on the head of the gardener, still goodly and golden fruit is
to be gathered on the most favoured and sunny branches; the quantity is
small in comparison with what remains green and acid, but there is enough
to repay the labour of him who is willing to ascend to cull it; the time
of the grand and general harvesting is approaching, perhaps it will
please the Almighty to hasten it; and it may even now be nearer than the
most sanguine of us dares to hope.
G. BORROW.
To the Rev. A. Brandram
(_Endorsed_: recd. Nov. 30th, 1836)
LISBON, _Novr._ 15_th_, 1836.
REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--On taking leave of you I promised to write from
Cadiz, and I still hope to perform my promise; but as I am apprehensive
that several days will elapse before I shall reach that place I avail
myself of the present opportunity of informing you that I am alive and
well, lest you should become uneasy at not hearing from me at the time
you expected. It is owing to the mercy of God that, instead of being
able to pen these lines, I am not at the present moment floundering in
the brine, a prey to the fishes and monsters of the ocean.
We had a most unpleasant passage to Falmouth. The ship was crowded with
passengers, most of whom were poor consumptive individuals and other
invalids, fleeing from the cold blasts of England's winter to the sunny
sh
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