wealthy and respectable, but you will frequently light
upon it in the huts of the labourers, in the garrets or cellars of the
penniless, and even in the hulks and convict-garrisons (_presidios_). I
myself saw it in the prison of Seville. As for the few copies of the
entire Bible which I had at my disposal, they have been distributed
amongst the upper classes, chiefly amongst the mercantile body, the
members of which upon the whole are by far the most intellectual and best
educated of the subjects of the Spanish monarchy.

I have thus cast my books upon the waters. It is for the Lord on high to
determine the quantity of good which they are to operate. I have a
humble hope however that they will be permitted to do some. If the eyes
of only a few of these unhappy people amongst whom I am still sojourning
be through them opened to one of the damning errors of popery, I shall
esteem myself amply remunerated for all the pain, the anxiety, and I may
almost say misery (for the flesh is weak) which I have experienced in the
work, even for that--to me, the most heart-breaking of everything--the
strange, the disadvantageous light in which, I am aware, I must
frequently have appeared to those I most respect and love. My situation
throughout has been a most peculiar one, rocks and quicksands have
surrounded me on every side, and frequently I have been compelled to give
offence to my friends in order not to afford a triumph to the enemies of
God and His cause.

In your last kind communication, I think, you said that neither our
excellent friend Mr. B. [Brackenbury] nor myself appeared properly to
appreciate the worth of two other of our friends who had been labouring
in Spain. Permit me here to observe that we both appreciate their
sterling worth of character and piety; they are both very extraordinary
individuals, one particularly so, and the zeal which both have displayed
in a holy cause is quite above praise. But it is necessary in order to
accomplish much good in a country situated as this is at present, that
the greatest prudence and foresight go hand in hand with zeal and piety.
A corrupt Government, influenced by an atrocious priesthood, has for the
last three years been on the look-out to take advantage of every rash
movement of the helpers in God's cause in Spain. It ought always to be
borne in mind that though nominally a constitutional country, Spain is
governed by despotism the more infamous and dangerous as it