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of unpublished documents, including a lengthy letter from Borrow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unpublished Borrow letters are either printed in their entirety or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.