MADRID, No. 3, CALLE DE LA ZARZA,
20 _April_ 1836

REVD. AND DEAR SIR,--I have received your letter of the 6th inst., in
which you request me to write to you a little more frequently, on the
ground that my letters are not destitute of interest; your request,
however, is not the principal reason which incites me to take up the pen
at the present moment. Though I hope that I shall be able to communicate
matter which will afford yourself and our friends at home subject for
some congratulation, my more immediate object is to inform you of my
situation, of which I am sure you have not the slightest conception.

For the last three weeks I have been without money, literally without a
farthing. About a month ago I received fifteen pounds from Mr. Wilby,
and returned him an order for twenty, he having, when I left Lisbon, lent
me five pounds, on account, above what I drew for, as he was apprehensive
of my being short of money before I reached Madrid. 12 pounds, 5s. of
this I instantly expended for a suit of clothes, {153} my own being so
worn, that it was impossible to appear longer in public with them. At
the time of sending him the receipt I informed him that I was in need of
money, and begged that he would send the remaining 30 pounds by return of
post. I have never heard from him from that moment, though I have
written twice. Perhaps he never received my letters, or I may not have
received his, the post of Estremadura having been three times robbed; I
can imagine no other reason. The money may still come, but I have given
up all hopes of it, and am compelled to write home, though what I am to
do till I can receive your answer I am at a loss to conceive. But God is
above all, and I am far from complaining; but you would oblige me, upon
receiving this, to procure me instantly a letter of credit on some house
in Madrid. I believe Messrs. Hammersley of London have correspondents
here. Whatever I undergo, I shall tell nobody my situation: it might
hurt the Society and our projects here. I know enough of the world to be
aware that it is considered as the worst of crimes to be without money.
Above all, let me intreat you never to hint of this affair in any
communication to Mr. Wilby; he is a most invaluable man, and he might
take offence.

A week ago, after having spent much time in drawing up a petition, I
presented it to the Ecclesiastic