(whose last letter I have received), I remain, etc.,
George Borrow.
To J. Tarn, Esq.
St. Petersburg, Feb. 1, 1835.
The last account which I had the honour of transmitting to you detailed expenses in the editing of the Mandchou Testament as far as the first two sheets of St. John. That Gospel having by the blessing of the Almighty passed through the press, and a copy of it bound, and also copies of the three other Gospels, having been forwarded to London, I snatch a moment from my occupation to give an account of my late outgoings, the sums drawn for having been considerable on account of my having many and large bills to discharge. When I last wrote, I retained in hand 75 roubles 50 copecks, of the sum of 3500 drawn for; since which sum I have drawn for the separate sums of 5000 and 500 according to the books of the Sarepta House. I had advanced to the printer in consequence of the illness of his compositors the sum of 250, which being deducted from the 5000 I shall, in order to prevent confusion, take no notice of, and proceed to give an account of the disbursement of
| R. | C. | |||
| 5575 | 50 | |||
| 11 Jany. 1835, paid Mr. Pluchard for one hundred and sixty-five reams of paper at 25R. per ream | 4125 | |||
| 27 Dec. 1834, paid Mr. Lauffert for the binding of St. Matthew | 450 | |||
| Do. for 2 chests to contain St. Matthew | 10 | |||
| Jan. 2, 1835, to printer for 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 of St. John | 200 | |||
| Do. for printing 6000 titles, being sufft. for 6 of the 8 parts of the Test. | 60 | |||
| Jany. 9, from 10 to 16 of St. John | 150 | |||
| Do. for the casting of 6 large type, for titles, not in Baron Schilling’s colln., the rest being furnished by him | 4 | |||
| Do. 16. From 16 to 22 of St. John | 150 | |||
| Do. 22. To Mr. Lauffert for bindg. St. Mark’s Gospel | 450 | |||
| Chests | 10 | |||
| Do. 22,. 22 to 26 and a half of St. John | 112 | 50 | 5721 | 50 |
| The Society are therefore at the present moment further indebted to me | 146R. | 0C. |
Should you discover at any time any inaccuracy in the accounts which I transmit, you will much oblige me by instantly making me acquainted with the same, in order that a satisfactory explanation may be given. The sacrifice of time to the correction of the manuscript and proof-sheets scarcely allows me a moment’s leisure, and I am moreover compelled to superintend the printers and book-binders, for everything goes wrong without a strict surveillance.
By the time these lines reach you the Acts of the Apostles (the Lord willing) will have passed through the press. Next week I hope to write to the Revd. J. Jowett.
I remain, etc.,
G. Borrow.
P.S.—I believe that the seven shillings may be accounted for in this manner. I charged seven pounds for my passage to Hamburg, whereas I paid seven guineas.
To the Rev. J. Jowett
(Endorsed: recd. March 23, 1835) St. Petersburg, Febry. 20 [old style], 1835.
Revd. and dear Sir—I take advantage of the period of the Russian Carnival, during which all business is at a stand-still, to transmit to you some account of the manner in which I have been engaged, since the time when I last addressed myself to you. True it is, that I have not much to communicate; for the history of one day is that of a week, and a month; and when I state that the printing of the Mandchou New Testament is advancing rapidly to a conclusion, I shall have stated all I can of much importance; but as you and our excellent friends at home have a right to demand particulars, I will endeavour to be as particular as lies within my power.
About a month since I placed in the hands of Baron Schilling bound copies of the first four parts of the Testament, the Gospels; he having kindly promised to cause them to be conveyed to London by one of the couriers belonging to the Foreign Department, to which the Baron is attached. I have reason to believe, however, that you have not received them yet, as I have been informed that they remained in Petersburg some weeks after they had been deposited in the Foreign Office; but in this respect I am not culpable; and having no direct means of sending packets to London, I am glad to embrace any which may come in my way, especially those not attended with expense to the Society. In the mean time, I wish to inform you that I am at present occupied on the last sheets of the fifth volume of the Testament, namely, the Acts of the Apostles, in getting which through the press I have experienced much difficulty, partly from the illness of my compositors, and partly from the manner in which the translation was originally executed, which has rendered much modification highly necessary.
How I have been enabled to maintain terms of friendship and familiarity with Mr. Lipoftsoff, and yet fulfil the part which those who employ me expect me to fulfil, I am much at a loss to conjecture; and yet such is really the case. It is at all times dangerous to find fault with the style and composition of authors and translators, even when they come to your door to ask for your advice and assistance. You may easily conceive then, that my situation has been one of treble
