some particulars until a future occasion.
For the first fortnight I accomplished nothing, and indeed attempted
nothing in the way of distribution, being occupied in making myself
acquainted with the place and studying the character of its inhabitants.
I occasionally spoke to the Christians, who are principally Genoese and
Spanish sailors and their families, on the subject of religion, but with
the greatest caution, being unwilling to alarm the two or three friars
who reside in what is called the Spanish convent, who are the only
officiating Christian priests of the place, and who might have warned
their flock against the heretic intruder. I found, as I had anticipated,
great ignorance among these poor people respecting the most important
points of the religion which they profess, and the Gospel of God they had
never seen nor heard of. At the end of the above-mentioned period I
employed a Jewish youth to carry the Testament to their houses and to
offer it to them for sale. It is with humble gratitude to the Lord that
I am able to state that considerable success crowned our efforts. The
blessed Book is now in the hands of most of the Christians of Tangiers,
from the lowest to the highest, from the fisherman to the consul. One
dozen and a half were carried to Tetuan on speculation, a town about six
leagues from hence; they will be offered to the Christians who reside
there. Other two dozen are on their way to distant Mogadore. One
individual, a tavern-keeper, has purchased Testaments to the number of
thirty, which he says he has no doubt he can dispose of to the foreign
sailors, who stop occasionally at his house. You will be surprised to
hear that several amongst the Jews have purchased copies of the New
Testament, with the intention as they state of improving themselves in
Spanish, but I believe from curiosity. Whatever their motive be, let
them but once read this holy Book and I have no fear of their remaining
enemies of the Lamb whom their fathers crucified. I regret that only few
can read the Spanish language, their law forbidding them to read or write
any characters but the Hebrew. Had I the New Testament to offer them in
the latter tongue, I believe that I could dispose of thousands of copies
in Barbary. My work being completed here for the present, I now hasten
back to Seville; pray write to me speedily directing to the usual place.

I remain, Revd and dear Sir,

Truly yours,