第134章 3rd August,1838(1)

To the Rev.A.Brandram (ENDORSED:recd.Aug.14th,1838)No.16CALLE SANTIAGO,MADRID,AUGUST 3,1838.

REVD.AND DEAR SIR,-Since writing to you last I have been at some distance from Madrid.Indeed my affairs at the time were in such a condition and so much depended upon my personal superintendence,that I was obliged to depart almost immediately after dispatching my answers to your two last.I am now returned principally on account of a rather unfortunate accident which occurred on the frontier of La Mancha,the particulars of which I shall give you presently.I shall,however,only tarry sufficient time to rest the horses and again go forth,for I am but too well aware that no time must now be lost,my enemies being numerous and watchful.

On leaving Madrid I proceeded in the direction of Aranjuez,selling from twenty to forty copies in every village that lay in the way or near it;my intention was to penetrate deep into La Mancha,and in that view I had forwarded a large supply of books to Aranjuez.

Having arrived there I made a sojourn of three days,during which time,myself,[my]servant and Juan Lopez,of whom I have previously spoken to you,visited every house in the town.We found a vast deal of poverty and ignorance amongst the inhabitants,and experienced some opposition;nevertheless it pleased the Almighty to permit us to dispose of about eighty Testaments,which were purchased entirely by the very poor people,those in easier circumstances paying no attention to the Word of God,but rather turning it to scoff and ridicule.One circumstance was very gratifying and cheering to me,namely,the ocular proof which Ipossessed that the books which I disposed of were read,and with attention,by those to whom I disposed of them,and that many others participated in their benefit.In the streets of Aranjuez and beneath the mighty cedars and gigantic elms and plantains which compose its noble woods,I have frequently seen groups assembled,listening to individuals who,with the New Testament in their hands,were reading aloud the comfortable words of salvation.

It is probable that had I remained a longer period in Aranjuez Imight have sold many more of our divine books,but I was eager to gain La Mancha and its sandy plains,and to conceal myself for a season amongst its solitary villages;for I was apprehensive that a storm was gathering around me.But when once through Ocana,the frontier town,I knew well that I should have nothing to fear from the Spanish authorities as their power ceased there,the rest of La Mancha being almost entirely in the hands of the Carlists,and overrun by small parties of banditti,from whom however I trusted that the Lord would preserve me.I therefore departed for Ocana,situate about three leagues from Aranjuez.

I started with my servant about six in the evening,having early in the morning sent forward Lopez with between two and three hundred Testaments.We left the high road and proceeded by a shorter way,through wild hills and over very broken and precipitous ground.