ity, for the whole edition was limited to about a
hundred copies.' Then Hasfeld gives two poems from the book, which
really justify his eulogy, for the poetic quality of _Targum_ has not
had justice done to it by Borrow's later critics.

[102] The name is frequently spelt 'Hasfeldt,' but I have followed the
spelling not only of Hasfeld's signature in his letters in my
possession, but also of the printed addressed envelope which he was in
the habit of forwarding to his friends in his letters.

CHAPTER XVII

THE MANCHU BIBLE--_TARGUM_--_THE TALISMAN_

The Bible Society wanted the Bible to be set up in the Manchu language,
the official language of the Chinese Court and Government. A Russian
scholar named Lipoftsof, who had spent twenty years in China, undertook
in 1821 to translate the New Testament into Manchu for L560. Lipoftsof
had done his work in 1826, and had sent two manuscript copies to London.
In 1832 the Rev. William Swan of the London Missionary Society in
passing through St. Petersburg discovered a transcript of a large part
of the Old and New Testament in Manchu, made by one Pierot, a French
Jesuit, many years before. This transcript was unavailable, but a second
was soon afterwards forthcoming for free publication if a qualified
Manchu scholar could be found to see it through the Press. Mr. Swan's
communication of these facts to the Bible Society in London gave Borrow
his opportunity. It was his task to find the printers, buy the paper,
and hire the qualified compositors for setting the type. It must be
admitted Borrow worked hard for his L200 a year. First he had to ask the
diplomatists for permission from the Russian Government, not now so
friendly to British Missionary zeal. The Russian Bible Society had been
suppressed in 1826. He succeeded here. Then he had to continue his
studies in the Manchu language. He had written from Norwich to Mr.
Jowett on 9th June 1833, 'I have mastered Manchu,' but on 20th January
1834 we find him writing to the same correspondent: 'I pay about six
shillings, English, for each lesson, which I grudge not, for the perfect
acquirement of Manchu is one of my most ardent wishes.'[103] Then he
found the printers--a German firm, Schultz and Beneze--who probably
printed the two little books of Borrow's own for him as a 'make weight.'
He purchased paper for his Manchu translation with an ability that would
have done credit to a modern newspaper manager. Every detail of these