she had always loved Britain which was once the nursery of saints
and sages--for example, Bede and Alcuin, Colombus [_sic_] and Thomas of
Canterbury; but she added, those times had gone by since the
re-appearance of Semiramis (Elizabeth). Her Latin was truly excellent;
and when I, like a genuine Goth, spoke of Anglia and Terra Vandalica
(Andalusia), she corrected me by saying that in her language those places
were called Britannia, and Terra Betica. When we had finished our
discourse, a gathering was made for the prophetess, the very poorest
contributing something. What wonderful people are the Jesuits! When
shall we hear of an English rector instructing a beggar girl in the
language of Cicero?

Ever yours,

G. B.

To the Rev. A. Brandram

(_Endorsed_: recd. Feby. 25, 1839)
MADRID, 16 CALLE SANTIAGO,
15 _Febry._ 1839.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--In my last communication I stated that I had got
everything in readiness to commence operations in the neighbourhood of
Madrid, and indeed since that period I have entered upon my labours in
reality, though unforeseen circumstances produced an unavoidable delay of
several days. It is with feelings of gratitude to the Almighty that I
now state that considerable success has attended my feeble efforts in the
good cause. All the villages within the distance of four leagues to the
east of Madrid have been visited, and Testaments to the number of nearly
two hundred have been disposed of. It will be here necessary for me to
inform you that these villages, for the most part, are very small; some
of them consisting of not more than a dozen houses, or I should rather
say miserable cabins. I left my servant Antonio to superintend matters
in Madrid, and proceeded with Vitoriano, the peasant from Villa Seca, in
the direction which I have already mentioned. We however soon parted
company, and pursued different routes. The first village at which I made
an attempt was Cobenna, about three leagues from Madrid. I was dressed
in the fashion of the peasants of the neighbourhood of Segovia in Old
Castile, namely, I had on my head a species of leather helmet, or
_montera_, with a jacket and trowsers of the same material. I had the
appearance of a person between sixty and