t be permitted to say
(between ourselves) that it was a very unadvised act to send such a Bible
as the London one over to Spain, a Bible which does the editor no credit
and the Society less; and it was a still more unadvised act to advertise
in the prints of Valencia that it would be given _gratis_ to the poor.
Mr. Villiers, whom I consulted, made use of these words: 'How is it
possible for you (meaning myself) to sell books at Madrid and other
places, when it becomes known that those very same books are being given
away at Valencia? Moreover, giving away Bibles to the multitude will
seem to imply that there is some plot or conspiracy in the wind, and the
Government, with some shadow of reason, may be called upon to interfere,
and the proceedings of the Society may be brought to a sudden stop in
Spain.' I hope you will excuse these hints; they are well meant, and in
uttering them I have, as you know, the prosperity of our hallowed cause
solely at heart.

G. B.

(I am still very unwell.)

To the Editors of El Espanol

GENTLEMEN,--My attention has this moment been directed by a friend to a
letter which appeared in your journal of the 5th instant, signed Jose
Francisco Garcia and prefixed to a circular of the Governor of the See of
Valencia, the object of which is to forbid the purchasing or reading of
the Castilian version of the Bible by Father Felipe Scio, as edited in
London by the British and Foreign Bible Society, and which the Agent of
the Society at Valencia has announced for sale.

Did the principles of the Bible Society permit them to rejoice at the
misfortunes of their fellow-creatures, even of their enemies, the style
and tone which the writer of this epistle has, unfortunately for himself
and his cause, adopted, would afford them plenteous matter for
congratulation. He calls himself an ecclesiastic and talks about 'the
sacred duty of his august ministry,' and for the purpose, I suppose, of
showing how strictly he fulfils the precepts of his mild Master and
Redeemer, he styles the Society in question 'an infernal Society,' and
speaks of 'its accursed fecundity.' Goodly words! Charitable words!
May I be permitted to enquire in what part of the sacred writings he
found them recommended? Perhaps in the following text of the Vulgate:--

'Vae vobis Scribae et Pharisaei hypocritae, qui decimatis mentham, et
anethum, et cymi