Letters of George Borrow | Page 4

with the assistance of one or two of the old people, but then
they must be paid, for the Gypsies are more mercenary than Jews. I
have already written to my dear friend Mr. Cunningham on this subject,
and have no doubt that he will promote the plan to the utmost of his
ability. I must procure a letter of introduction from him to Joseph
Gurney, and should be very happy to obtain one also from Mr.
Brandram, for in all which regards the Gospel and the glory of Christ,
Joseph Gurney is the principal person to look to in these parts. I will
now conclude by beseeching you to send me as soon as possible
WHATEVER CAN SERVE TO ENLIGHTEN ME IN RESPECT TO
MANDCHOU GRAMMAR, for had I a Grammar, I should in a
month's time be able to send a Mandchou translation of Jonah. In the
meanwhile I remain, Revd. and dear Sir, your most humble and
obedient servant,
G. BORROW.

LETTER: 18th March, 1833

To the Rev. J. Jowett 18TH MARCH, 1833, WILLOW LANE, ST.
GILES, NORWICH.
DEAR SIR, - As yourself and Mr. Brandram expressed a desire to hear
from me occasionally concerning my progress in Mandchou, I now
write to inform you that I am advancing at full gallop, and am able to
translate with pleasure and facility the specimens of the best authors
who have written in the language contained in the compilation of
Klaproth. But I must confess that the want of a Grammar has been,
particularly in the beginning of my course, a great clog to my speed,
and I have little doubt that had I been furnished with one I should have
attained my present knowledge of Mandchou in half the time. I was
determined however not to be discouraged, and, not having a hatchet at
hand to cut down the tree with, to attack it with my knife; and I would
advise every one to make the most of the tools which happen to be in
his possession, until he can procure better ones, and it is not improbable
that by the time the good tools arrive he will find he has not much need
of them, having almost accomplished his work. This is not exactly my
case, for I shall be very glad to receive this same tripartite Grammar
which Mr. Brandram is hunting for, my ideas respecting Mandchou

construction being still very vague and wandering, and I should also be
happy if you could and would procure for me the original grammatical
work of Amyot, printed in the MEMOIRES, etc. Present my kind
regards to Mr. Hattersley, and thank him in my name for his kind letter,
but at the same time tell him that I was sorry to learn that he was
putting himself to the trouble of transferring into Mandchou characters
the specimens which Amyot has given in Roman, as there was no
necessity for it in respect to myself, a mere transcript being quite
sufficient to convey the information I was in need of. Assure him
likewise that I am much disposed to agree with him in his opinion of
Amyot's Dictionary, which he terms in his letter 'something not very
first-rate,' for the Frenchman's translations of the Mandchou words are
anything but clear and satisfactory, and being far from literal,
frequently leave the student in great doubt and perplexity.
I have sent to my brother one copy of St. Luke's Gospel with a letter;
the postage was 15s. 5d. My reason for sending only one was, that the
rate of postage increases with the weight, and that the two Gospels can
go out much cheaper singly than together. The other I shall dispatch
next month.
I subjoin a translation from the Mandchou, as I am one of those who do
not wish people to believe words but works; and as I have had no
Grammar, and been only seven weeks at a language which Amyot says
ONE MAY ACQUIRE IN FIVE OR SIX YEARS, I thought you might
believe my account of my progress to be a piece of exaggeration and
vain boasting. The translation is from the Mongol History, which, not
being translated by Klaproth, I have selected as most adapted to the
present occasion; I must premise that I translate as I write, and if there
be any inaccuracies, as I daresay there will, some allowance must be
made for haste, which prevents my devoting the attention necessary to
a perfectly correct rendering of the text.
I will conclude by observing that I believe myself at present competent
to edit any book in Mandchou, IF THAT BE WHAT IS WANTED, and
beg leave to remain, dear Sir, your obedient humble servant,
GEORGE BORROW.

LETTER: 9th June, 1833

To the Rev.