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the Russian capital. He was to assist Mr. Lipóftsof in editing selected portions of the New Testament (the whole was decided upon at a later date) and, should permission be obtained from the Government, to superintend the printing. If the required powers were refused, he was to help Mr. Swan in transcribing and collating the Manchu version of the Old Testament, and in the meantime use his best endeavours towards perfecting himself in the Manchu-Tartar language. Above all he was requested to hold himself in readiness to set out immediately the decision of the General Committee was known. On July 24, a red-letter day in the life of the author of The Bible in Spain, the eagerly awaited confirmation of his appointment arrived. Thus the one-time pupil of William Turner, collector of "harumscarum" young men, who some years previously had written to a friend in a paroxysm of the "Horrors": "If ever my health mends... I intend to live in London, write plays, poetry, &c., abuse religion, and get prosecuted," became the accredited agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society. On the evening of the day following, Borrow took leave of his mother and set out upon a journey, which, indirectly, led to his finding himself famous as the author of The Bible in Spain. On July 29 there was a formal interview with the editorial sub-committee of the Society. And two days later he sailed for Hamburg, travelling second-class for reasons of economy. He possessed excellent credentials in the shape of letters of introduction to many influential residents in St. Petersburg.

I am loaded with letters of recommendation to some of the first people in Russia [he writes me on the eve of sailing]. Mr. Venning's [an English merchant, resident at Norwich, recently returned from St. Petersburg, where his charity and probity had placed him in high favour with the Emperor and officials] packet has arrived with letters to several of the Princes, so that I shall be protected if I am seized as a spy; for the Emperor is particularly cautious as to the foreigners whom he admits. It costs £2 78. 6d. merely for permission to go to Russia, which alone is enough to deter most people.

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August saw Borrow at his destination. He was enthusiastic in his admiration of the capital of "our dear, glorious Russia." St. Petersburg he considered "the finest city in the world"; other European capitals were unworthy of comparison. He was loud in his praise of the "hundreds of enormous palaces,'

the long streets "straight as an arrow. . . . In a word, I can do little but look and wonder." The meeting and harmonious mixing of East and West early attracted his attention. The Oriental cultivation of a twelve-inch beard placed its wearer in marked contrast with the moustached or clean-shaven Westerner. In short, Russia took hold of Borrow, and warmed his imagination. Here were new types, curious blendings of nationalities unthought of and strange to him, a veritable mine of wealth to the student of humanity. Then again, there was the great kindness with which he was received both by the English Colony and the natives: to the one he appealed by virtue of a common ancestry; to the other, on account of his knowledge of the Russian tongue, not to speak of his mission, which acted as a strong recommendation to their favour. On his part Borrow reciprocated the esteem. He was a good friend, as well as an implacable enemy. "The Russians," he writes to his mother, "are the best-natured, kindest people in the world, and though they do not know as much as the English [he was not referring to the Colony], they have not their fiendish, spiteful dispositions; and if you go amongst them and speak their language, however badly, they would go through fire and water to do you a kindness." Later, when in Portugal, he heartily wishes himself "back in Russia where I had left cherished friends and warm affections."

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One of his most important, and at the same time useful, friendships was with Baron Schilling de Canstadt, the philologist and savant, who had generously placed his library at Borrow's disposal. The Baron was one of the greatest bibliophiles of his age. His famous collection of Eastern manuscripts and other priceless treasures delighted the heart of his new friend. No expense or trouble had been spared in the acquirement of additions to the collection. On one occasion the Baron had agreed to have printed and supply a hundred million (100,000,000) copies of a short Manchu prayer in exchange for some Mongolian religious books he desired to possess. In this literary treasure-house Borrow saw facilities for study such as he nowhere else could hope to obtain. He looked upon his mission as inspired by a higher power than man's, and was devoutly grateful to the beneficent Providence that seemed to smile upon his efforts and afford him every opportunity for the successful accomplishment of his undertaking.

The story of Borrow's labours in connection with the printing of the Manchu version of the New Testament forms a study of unswerving courage and will-power overcoming apparently insurmountable obstacles. The mere presence of difficulties seemed to increase his eagerness to overcome them. Disappointments he had in plenty, but his indomitable courage and untiring energy, backed up by the earnest support he received from Earl Street, enabled him to emerge from his first serious undertaking with the knowledge that he had succeeded where failure would not have been discreditable. The remainder of the year 1833 was occupied in assisting Mr. Swan to transcribe Puerot's version of a portion of the Old Testament, and afterwards collating the whole. This done, the formal sanction to print the Lipóftsof version of the New Testament had to be awaited. There was hesitation and suspicion in official quarters. It is to be conceived that the Government was not eager to assist the agent of an institution whose Russian branch it had been successful in suppressing. Baron Schilling and, unofficially, the Hon. J. D. Bligh, the British Minister, interested themselves in the scheme, and were eventually successful in obtaining the necessary permission. A mild wave of enthusiasm passed over the head office in Earl Street, and the good Baron was voted a present of Eastern books, such as were calculated to rejoice the heart of that ardent bibliophile. Whilst awaiting instructions from home Borrow was not inactive. He engaged the services of a native Tartar to assist him in his study of Manchu.

Another very serious occupation was the examination of the type which, ten years previously, had suffered as a result of the flood. Here are Borrow's own words, from a letter addressed to Mr. Jowett:

I wish to say here a few words respecting the state in which these types came into my possession. I found them in a kind of warehouse, or rather cellar. They had been originally confined in two cases; but these having burst, the type lay on the floor trampled amidst mud and filth. They were, moreover, not improved by having been immersed within the waters of the inundation of '27 [1824]. I caused them all to be collected and sent to their destination [the printers], where they were purified and arranged-a work of no small time and difficulty, at which I was obliged to assist.

Eventually the authorisation to proceed arrived from London, together with a handsome remittance to meet immediate requirements. The hour of real and serious work had arrived.

In contracting for paper, Borrow showed that he was possessed of a keen business mind.

My first care [he says] was to endeavour to make suitable arrangements for the obtaining of Chinese paper. Now those who reside in England, the most civilised and blessed of countries, where everything is to be obtained at a fair price, have not the slightest idea of the anxiety and difficulty which, in a country like this, harass the foreigner who has to disburse money not his own, if he wish that his employers be not shamefully and outrageously imposed upon. In my last epistle to you I stated that I had been asked 100 roubles per ream for such paper as we wanted. I likewise informed you that I believed that it was possible to procure it for 35 roubles notwithstanding our Society had paid 40 roubles for worse paper than the samples I was in possession of. Now I have always been of opinion that in the expending of money collected for sacred purposes it behoves the agent to be extraordinarily circumspect and sparing. I, therefore, was determined, whatever trouble it might cost me, to procure for the Society unexceptionable paper at a yet more reasonable rate than 35 roubles. was aware that an acquaintance of mine, a young Dane, was particularly intimate with one of the first printers of this city, who is accustomed to purchase vast quantities of paper every month for his various publications. I gave this young gentleman a specimen of the paper I required, and desired him (he was under obligations to me) to inquire of his friend, as if from curiosity, the least possible sum per ream at which the printer himself (who from his immense demand for paper should necessarily obtain it cheaper than any one else) could expect to purchase the article in question. The answer I received within a day or two was 25 roubles. Upon hearing this I prevailed upon my acquaintance to endeavour to persuade his friend to bespeak the paper at 25 roubles, and to allow me, notwithstanding I was a perfect stranger, to have it at that price. All this was brought about. I was introduced to the printer Mr. Pluchard, by the Dane Mr. Hassfield, [later Borrow's intimate friend and correspondent] and between the former gentleman and myself a contract was made to the effect that by the end of October he should supply me with 450 reams of Chinese paper at 25 roubles per ream, the first delivery to be made on the 1st of August; for as my order was given at an advanced period of the year, when all the paper manufactories were in full work towards the executing of orders already received, it was but natural that I should verify the old apophthegm "Last come last served." As no orders are attended to in Russia unless money be advanced upon them, I deposited in the hands of Mr. Pluchard the sum of 2000 roubles, receiving his receipt for that amount. Here was a less palatable and by no means picturesque instance of Eastern characteristics that the Russian had absorbed. Borrow, however, had lived among gipsies, "more mercenary than the Jews," and proved equal to the commercial finesse of the Russian.

The next undertaking was to secure a printer, and Borrow came to an arrangement with the firm of Schultz and Beneze "to compose and print the Mandchou Testament at the rate of 25

roubles per sheet." But another difficulty arose, a difficulty sufficiently overwhelming to discourage a man of less resource than the Bible Society's agent. The compositors were unacquainted with Manchu; but Borrow, nothing deterred, set to work to teach the men the alphabet, and how to distinguish one character from another. At the end of a few days he judged them sufficiently instructed to make a start, and "gave them the commencement of St. Matthew's Gospel to copy. They no sooner saw the work they were called upon to perform than there were loud murmurs of dissatisfaction. It is quite impossible to do the like,' was the cry." The original printed text had been so scored with emendations by the editor, whose hand was both irregular and obscure, that Borrow himself could only decipher the additions with difficulty. But it was scarcely to be expected that he who had conquered "the Flaming Tinman" in fair fight, would give in to a crowd of mutinous workmen. The case was desperate, for the fulfilment of his mission depended upon these A compromise in the shape of pour boires was arrived at. "I was therefore," the indefatigable director of the enterprise writes, "obliged to be continually in the printing office, and do three parts of the work myself. For some time I found it necessary to select every character with my own fingers, and to deliver it to the compositor."

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Thus it was that Borrow learned to compose. When all the characters had been used up it was necessary to print as many forms as were ready, in order to release the type, for there was not sufficient for the whole work. But no paper had arrived, and a fortnight's inactivity followed. Then six reams came to hand, four and a half of which were promptly returned to the maker as unfit for use. The following week fifteen reams more arrived, eleven were sent back as unsuitable. A start with the actual printing was now made. Then followed another pauseabsence of paper again being the cause. Such difficulties were enough to break down the strongest determination. However

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owing to my pressing remonstrances and entreaties, a regular supply of about twelve reams per week of the most excellent paper commenced." Even now accidents occurred. On one occasion, during Borrow's temporary absence from the office, a consignment of paper arrived, and without examination Beneze handed it to the printers for use. But the quality was inferior, as the

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