er still amongst the peasantry;
but though compelled to acknowledge the ignorance of the Spaniards in
general, I have great pleasure in being able to state that during the
latter years it has been becoming less and less, and that the rising
generation is by no means so illiterate as the last, which was itself
superior in acquirements to the preceding one. It is to be hoped that
the progress in improvement will still continue, and that within a few
years the blessings of education will be as generally diffused amongst
the Spaniards as amongst the people of France and England. Government
has already commenced the establishment of Normal Schools, and though the
state of the country, convulsed with the horrors of civil war, precludes
the possibility of devoting to them the care and attention which they
deserve, I have no doubt that when it shall please the Lord to vouchsafe
peace unto Spain they will receive all the requisite patronage and
support, as their utility is already generally recognised.

Before quitting Madrid I entered into negotiation with Mr. Charles Wood,
a respectable Englishman established there, for the printing of 5000
copies of the New Testament in Spanish, which number, if on good paper
and in handsome type, I have little doubt might be easily disposed of
within a short time in the capital and in the principal provincial towns
of Spain, particularly Cadiz and Seville, where the people are more
enlightened than in other parts in most respects, and where many would be
happy to obtain the sacred volume in a handsome yet cheap form, and some
in any shape whatever--as there the Word of God is at least known by
reputation, and no small curiosity has of late years been manifested
concerning it, though unfortunately that curiosity has not hitherto been
gratified, for reasons too well known to require recapitulation.

In the rural districts the chances of the Scriptures are considerably
less, for there, as far as I am aware, not only no curiosity has been
excited respecting it, but it is not known by name, and when mentioned to
the people, is considered to be nothing more or less than the mass-book
of the Romish Church. On various occasions I have conversed with the
peasantry of Estremadura, La Mancha, and Andalusia respecting the holy
Book, and without one exception they were not only ignorant of its
contents, but ignorant of its nature; some who could read, and pretended
to be acquainted with it, said that