culate many copies of God's Word both
amongst the Jews and the Christians, by the latter of whom it was
particularly wanted, their ignorance of the most vital points of religion
being truly horrible. In the second place, I acquired a vast stock of
information concerning Africa and the state of its interior. One of my
principal associates was a black slave, whose country was only three
days' journey from Timbuctoo, which place he had frequently visited. The
Soosi men also told me many of the secrets of the land of wonders from
which they come, and the rabbis from Fez and Morocco were no less
communicative. Moreover I consider it a great advantage to have obtained
the friendship of Mr. Hay, who is a true British gentleman. I found him
at first reserved and distant, and I thought averse to countenance the
object of my mission. In a few days, however, his manner changed
surprisingly, and at my departure he begged me to communicate to the
Bible Society that at all times and seasons he should be happy to receive
its commands, and to render all the assistance in Fez and Morocco which
his official situation would permit him, should the views of the Society
at any future time be directed to those regions.

Permit me, my dear Sir, to correct in your letter something which savours
of inaccuracy. You hint at the issues of the Scriptures in Spain having
been small. Now during the last year I have issued three thousand
Testaments and five hundred Bibles, which is certainly no small
circulation of the Word of God in such a country. But pray inform me why
the circulation has not been ten times greater? Surely you are aware
that among the many peculiarities of my situation was this distressing
one, namely, that I was scarcely ever able to supply the people with the
books that they were in want of. They clamoured for Bibles, and I had
nothing but Testaments to offer them. Had I been possessed of twenty
thousand Bibles in the spring of the present year, I could have disposed
of them all without leaving Madrid; and they would have found their way
through all Spain. I beseech you always to bear this fact in mind in
your reports to the public, otherwise that public will remain strangely
in the dark respecting the spirit of enquiry which is abroad in Spain.

You are quite right in supposing that I entertain a favourable opinion of
Mr. Wood. I know him to be a good husband and father, and a man who
fears the Lord: he is likewise