than the
Temple itself. Throughout the whole of our interview he evidently
laboured under great fear, and was continually looking behind and around
him, seemingly in dread of being overheard, which brought to my mind an
expression of Sir George Villiers, that if there be any truth in
metempsychosis, the _anima_ of Count Ofalia must have originally belonged
to a mouse. We parted in kindness, and I went away wondering by what
strange chance this poor man had become Prime Minister of a country like
Spain.

I have now given a plain narrative of what I have been about up to the
present moment, by which you will see that I have accomplished all that
lay within the circumscribed sphere of my ability, and have brought every
engine into play which it was in my power to command. Let it always be
borne in mind that it was no fault of mine that, immediately after my
arrival in Madrid from my journey, a retrograde Ministry came into power,
the head of which is a weak, timid, priest-ridden man. Sir George has
several times told me, that had the Ministry of Calatrava and Mendizabal
remained in place, he himself would have answered that I should have
received no interruption in my labours, and that he will almost say the
same in respect to any future Ministry; and it is impossible that the
present can long maintain its ground, as it is disliked by the Court and
despised by the people.

I therefore write at present for instructions. Shall I wait a little
time longer in Madrid; or shall I proceed at once on a journey to
Andalusia and other places? I am in strength, health and spirits, thanks
be to the Lord! and am at all times ready to devote myself, body and
mind, to His cause. Therefore I pray that my friends at home will point
out the course which they think I ought to pursue under these
circumstances. In a few days I shall send my account to Mr. Hitchin. I
have hitherto delayed, not having yet settled for the printing of the
Basque St. Luke. I received your kind letter of the 8th ultimo.

I remain, my dear Sir, most truly yours,

G. B.

_P.S._--I have received the 500 Bibles in sheets from Barcelona.

Translation of a Memorial to his Excellence the Count D'Ofalia

(_Endorsed_: Memorial of Mr. G. Borrow to Count Ofalia, Madrid, recd.
March 28,1838.)

To His Excellence The Count D