f
affairs in Spain, I embrace the present opportunity. In the first place
however I beg leave to apologise for not having ere this performed my
promise of writing. Many causes unnecessary to recapitulate prevented
me; but I steadfastly hope that already with your usual considerate
goodness you have imputed my tardiness to anything but neglect.

A convoy starts for Andalusia on the 13th, and I intend to avail myself
of it so far as to send therewith my servant Antonio with the horses and
the Testaments which I destine for circulation in that province. I shall
myself follow with the courier. True it is that I had determined to
proceed by Estremadura, but circumstances have occurred which have
induced me to alter my resolution. The roads in Spain are in a worse
state than ever; and in Estremadura particularly, which for some time
past has enjoyed a tolerable state of tranquillity, a band of Carlist
robbers have lately made their appearance, who murder, make prisoner, or
put at ransom every person who has the misfortune to fall into their
hands. I therefore deem it wise to avoid, if possible, the alternative
of being shot or having to pay one thousand pounds for being set at
liberty, which has already befallen several individuals. It is moreover
wicked to tempt Providence systematically. I have already thrust myself
into more danger than was perhaps strictly necessary, and as I have been
permitted hitherto to escape, it is better to be content with what it has
pleased the Lord to do for me up to the present moment, than to run the
risk of offending Him by a blind confidence in His forbearance, which may
be over-taxed. As it is, however, at all times best to be frank, I am
willing to confess that I am what the world calls exceedingly
superstitious; perhaps the real cause of my change of resolution was a
dream, in which I imagined myself on a desolate road in the hands of
several robbers, who were hacking me with their long ugly knives.

We have been very successful of late, having, since my last letter to Mr.
Brandram, sold no less than two hundred Bibles, so that not more than one
hundred and fifty remain of the five hundred which were sent to me from
Barcelona in sheets. I have discontinued selling Testaments in Madrid,
as it appears to me that we shall have barely sufficient, unless
something unforeseen occurs, for Andalusia and one or two other points
which I wish to visit. When I recollect the difficultie