The Life of George Borrow | Page 4

an unknown hack-writer, who hawked about
unsaleable translations of Welsh and Danish bards, a travelling tinker
and a vagabond Ulysses, he became a person of considerable
importance. His name was acclaimed with praise and enthusiasm at
Bible meetings from one end of the country to the other. He developed
an astonishing aptitude for affairs, a tireless energy, and a diplomatic
resourcefulness that aroused silent wonder in those who had hitherto
regarded him as a failure. His illegal imprisonment in Madrid nearly
brought about a diplomatic rupture between Great Britain and Spain,
and later his missionary work in the Peninsula was referred to by Sir
Robert Peel in the House of Commons as an instance of what could be
achieved by courage and determination in the face of great difficulties.
Those seven rich and productive years realised to the full the strange
talents and unsuspected abilities of George Borrow's unique character.
He himself referred to the period spent in Spain as the "five happiest
years" of his life. When, however, his life came to be written by Dr
Knapp, than whom no biographer has approved himself more loyal or
enthusiastic, it was found that the records of that period were not
accessible. The letters that he had addressed to the Bible Society had
been mislaid. These came to light shortly after the publication of Dr
Knapp's work, and type-written copies were placed at my disposal by
the General Committee long before they were given to the public in
volume form.
A systematic search at the Public Record Office has revealed a wealth
of unpublished documents, including a lengthy letter from Borrow
relating to his imprisonment at Seville in 1839. From other sources
much valuable information and many interesting anecdotes have been
obtained, and through the courtesy of their possessor a number of

unpublished Borrow letters are either printed in their entirety or are
quoted from in this volume.
My thanks are due in particular to the Committee of British and
Foreign Bible Society for placing at my disposal the copies of the
Borrow Letters, and also for permission to reproduce the interesting
silhouette of the Rev. Andrew Brandram, and to the Rev. T. H. Darlow,
M.A. (Literary Superintendent), whose uniform kindness and desire to
assist me I find it impossible adequately to acknowledge. My thanks
are also due to the Rt. Hon. Sir Edward Grey, M.P., for permission to
examine the despatches from the British Embassy at Madrid at the
Record Office, and the Registers of Passports at the Foreign Office, and
to Mr F. H. Bowring (son of Sir John Bowring), Mr Wilfrid J. Bowring
(who has placed at my disposal a number of letters from Borrow to his
grandfather), Mr R. W. Brant, Mr Ernest H. Caddie, Mr William
Canton, Mr S. D. Charles, an ardent Borrovian from whom I have
received much kindness and many valuable suggestions, Mr A. I.
Dasent, the editors of The Athenaeum and The Bookman, Mr Thomas
Hake, Mr D. B. Hill of Mattishall, Norfolk, Mr James Hooper, Mr W. F.
T. Jarrold (for permission to reproduce the hitherto unpublished portrait
of Borrow painted by his brother), Dr F. G. Kenyon, C.B., Mr F. A.
Mumby, Mr George Porter of Denbigh (for interesting particulars about
Borrow's first visit to Wales), Mr Theodore Rossi, Mr Theodore
Watts-Dunton, Mr Thomas Vade-Walpole, who have all responded to
my appeal for help with great willingness.
To one friend, who elects to be nameless, I am deeply grateful for many
valuable suggestions and much help; but above all for the keen interest
he has taken in a work which he first encouraged me to write. To her
who gave so plentifully of her leisure in transcribing documents at the
Record Office and in research work at the British Museum and
elsewhere, I am indebted beyond all possibility of acknowledgment. To
no one more than to Mr John Murray are my acknowledgments due for
his unfailing kindness, patience and assistance. It is no exaggeration to
state that but for his aid and encouragement this book could not have
been written.
HERBERT JENKINS. January, 1912.

CHAPTER I

: 1678-MAY 1816

On 28th July 1783 was held the annual fair at Menheniot, and for miles
round the country folk flocked into the little Cornish village to join in
the festivities. Among the throng was a strong contingent of young men
from Liskeard, a town three miles distant, between whom and the youth
of Menheniot an ancient feud existed. In days when the bruisers of
England were national heroes, and a fight was a fitting incident of a
day's revelry, the very presence of their rivals was a sufficient
challenge to the chivalry of Menheniot, and a contest became inevitable.
Some unrecorded incident was accepted by both parties as a sufficient
cause for