serving that I believe myself at present competent
to edit any book in Mandchou, _if that be what is wanted_, and beg leave
to remain, dear Sir, your obedient humble servant,

GEORGE BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

_June_ 9_th_, 1833
WILLOW LANE, ST. GILES, NORWICH.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I have mastered Mandchou, and I should feel obliged
by your informing the Committee of the fact, and also my excellent friend
Mr. Brandram.

I assure you that I have had no easy and pleasant task in acquiring this
language. In the first place, it is in every respect different from all
others which I have studied, with perhaps the exception of the Turkish,
to which it seems to bear some remote resemblance in syntax, though none
in words. In the second place, it abounds with idiomatic phrases, which
can only be learnt by habit, and to the understanding of which a
Dictionary is of little or no use, the words separately having either no
meaning or a meaning quite distinct from that which they possess when
thus conjoined. And thirdly the helps afforded me in this undertaking
have been sadly inadequate. However, with the assistance of God, I have
performed my engagement.

I have translated several pieces from the Mandchou, amongst which is the
. . . or Spirit of the Hearth ([Greek text]), which is a peculiarly
difficult composition, and which had never previously been translated
into a European language. Should you desire a copy, I shall have great
pleasure in sending one.

I shall now be happy to be regularly employed, for though I am not in
want, my affairs are not in a very flourishing condition.

I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, your most obedient humble servant,

GEORGE BORROW.

To the Rev. J. Jowett

WILLOW LANE, ST. GILES, NORWICH,
_July_ 3rd, 1833.

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--Owing to the culpable tardiness of the post-office
people, I have received your letter so late that I have little more than
a quarter of an hour to answer it in, and be in time to despatch it by
this day's mail. What you have written has given me great pleasure, as
it holds out hope that I may be employed usefully to the Deity,