G. BORROW.



LETTER: 18th March, 1833



To the Rev. J. Jowett
18TH MARCH, 1833,
WILLOW LANE, ST. GILES, NORWICH.

DEAR SIR, - As yourself and Mr. Brandram expressed a desire to hear
from me occasionally concerning my progress in Mandchou, I now
write to inform you that I am advancing at full gallop, and am able
to translate with pleasure and facility the specimens of the best
authors who have written in the language contained in the
compilation of Klaproth. But I must confess that the want of a
Grammar has been, particularly in the beginning of my course, a
great clog to my speed, and I have little doubt that had I been
furnished with one I should have attained my present knowledge of
Mandchou in half the time. I was determined however not to be
discouraged, and, not having a hatchet at hand to cut down the tree
with, to attack it with my knife; and I would advise every one to
make the most of the tools which happen to be in his possession,
until he can procure better ones, and it is not improbable that by
the time the good tools arrive he will find he has not much need of
them, having almost accomplished his work. This is not exactly my
case, for I shall be very glad to receive this same tripartite
Grammar which Mr. Brandram is hunting for, my ideas respecting