shouted, '_Ave Maria_! Death to the heretics!' Early
in the morning the _Alcalde_ presented himself at the _posada_, but
before entering he made an oration at the door to the people in the
street saying amongst other things: 'Brethren, these are the fellows who
have come to rob us of our religion.' He then went into Antonio's
apartment, and after saluting him with great politeness said that as a
royal or high mass was about to be celebrated that morning, he had come
to invite him to go to church with him; whereupon Antonio, though by no
means a mass-goer, rose and accompanied him, and remained two hours, as
he told me, on his knees on the cold stones to his great discomfort, the
eyes of the whole congregation being fixed upon him during the time.

After mass and breakfast, he departed for Guadalajara, Vitoriano having
been already despatched there under a guard. On his arrival he presented
his letters to the individuals for whom they were intended. The Civil
Governor was convulsed with merriment on hearing Antonio's account of the
adventure. Vitoriano was set at liberty and the books were placed in
embargo at Guadalajara: the Governor stating, however, that though it was
his duty to detain them at present, they should be sent to me whenever I
chose to claim them. He moreover said that he would do his best to cause
the authorities of Fuente La Higuera to be severely punished, as in the
whole affair they had acted in a most cruel, tyrannical manner, for which
they had no authority. Thus terminated this affair, one of those little
accidents which chequer missionary life in Spain.

Vitoriano is now with me at Naval Carnero, as he begged me almost on his
knees to be permitted to attend me and to be employed as before. At his
imprisonment he smiles. Antonio and myself have lately been very
successful at Madrid, having sold considerably upwards of a hundred
Testaments and several Bibles. It is with deep gratitude I state that
the poor of Madrid receive the Scripture with gladness: to the rich I
offer it not, their hearts are hard. I am writing a journal of the
present expedition.

GEORGE BORROW.

To Mr. W. Hitchin

(_Endorsed_: recd. March 21, 1839)
MADRID, _March_ 9, 1839.

On the other side I send you my account, which I hope you will find
correct. In