read, and probably cause their destruction if ever they found their
way into the Chinese Empire." {117a} Borrow left nothing to chance;
he thought out every detail with great care before venturing to put
his plans into execution.

Although busily occupied in an endeavour to stimulate Russian
government officials to energy and decision, Borrow was not
neglecting what had been so strongly urged upon him, the perfecting
of himself in the Manchu dialect. In reply to an enquiry from Mr
Jowett as to what manner of progress he was making, he wrote


"For some time past I have taken lessons from a person who was
twelve years in Pekin, and who speaks Manchu and Chinese with
fluency. I pay him about six shillings English for each lesson,
which I grudge not, for the perfect acquirement of Manchu is one of
my most ardent wishes." {118a}


This person Borrow subsequently recommended to the Society "to assist
me in making a translation into Manchu of the Psalms and Isaiah," but
the pundit proved "of no utility at all, but only the cause of
error."

Borrow was soon able to transcribe the Manchu characters with greater
facility and speed than he could English. In addition to being able
to translate from and into Manchu, he could compose hymns in the
language, and even prepared a Manchu rendering of the second Homily
of the Church of England, "On the Misery of Man." He had, however,
made the discovery that Manchu was far less easy to him than it had