Lipovzoff.
To J. Tarn, Esq.
St. Petersburg, Decr. 15/27, 1834.
On the other side I send an account of the money disbursed since the period of my last writing to you until the present moment. In respect to the 75 roubles charged for the reprinting of three sheets of St. Matthew, I beg leave to observe, that after several sheets of that Gospel had been printed, after the same manner as that adopted in the first edition, Mr. Lipoftsoff, the Censor, gave me notice that he had determined that the position of the vowel-points should be altered; and I did not think proper to make any opposition. But as common-sense informed me that it was by no means expedient to exhibit two systems of pointing in the same work, I subsequently caused the first sheets to be reprinted. I think it necessary to offer this short explanation to prevent any misunderstanding; for this superfluous expense must be attributed to the Censor’s not knowing originally his own mind, and not to any negligence on my part. I am so pressed for time that I have not been able to refer to my last account, which lies buried amongst the ocean of my papers, and in stating that I retained in hand 123 roubles, I have merely trusted to memory and calculation; but I am sure the Committee and yourself will excuse my little inaccuracy, when I state my situation. My two compositors, whom I had instructed in all the mysteries of Mandchou composition, are in the hospital down with the brain fever, for every kind of sickness is at present raging in this place; and during the last three days I have been running about in all directions in quest of people to fill their situation, until they recover.
Thanks be to the Lord, I have discovered and engaged the person who composed the first Mandchou Gospel of St. Matthew, ten years since; and as next week I shall again station myself in the printing office for the purpose of assisting and instructing, the great work will not be delayed, and in a fortnight or ten days I trust to be able, provided an opportunity occurs, to transmit to England copies of the four Gospels. With my best rewards to Mr. Brandram and Mr. Jowett (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.