To the Rev.J.Jowett (ENDORSED:recd.Nov.10th,1834)ST.PETERSBURG,OCT.8[old style],1834.
I HAVE just received your most kind epistle,the perusal of which has given me both pain and pleasure -pain that from unavoidable circumstances I have been unable to gratify eager expectation,and pleasure that any individual should have been considerate enough to foresee my situation and to make allowance for it.The nature of my occupations during the last two months and a half has been such as would have entirely unfitted me for correspondence,had I been aware that it was necessary,which,on my sacred word,I was not.
Now,and only now,when by the blessing of God I have surmounted all my troubles and difficulties,I will tell,and were I not a Christian I should be proud to tell,what I have been engaged upon and accomplished during the last ten weeks.I have been working in the printing-office,as a common compositor,between ten and thirteen hours every day during that period;the result of this is that St.Matthew's Gospel,printed from such a copy as I believe nothing was ever printed from before,has been brought out in the Mandchou language;two rude Esthonian peasants,who previously could barely compose with decency in a plain language which they spoke and were accustomed to,have received such instruction that with ease they can each compose at the rate of a sheet a day in the Mandchou,perhaps the most difficult language for composition in the whole world;considerable progress has also been made in St.
Mark's Gospel,and I will venture to promise,provided always the Almighty smiles upon the undertaking,that the entire work of which I have the superintendence will be published within eight months from the present time.Now,therefore,with the premise that Imost unwillingly speak of myself and what I have done and suffered for some time past,all of which I wished to keep locked up in my own breast,I will give a regular and circumstantial account of my proceedings from the day when I received your letter,by which Iwas authorised by the Committee to bespeak paper,engage with a printer,and cause our type to be set in order.
My first care was to endeavour to make suitable arrangements for the obtaining of Chinese paper.Now those who reside in England,the most civilised and blessed of countries,where everything is to be obtained at a fair price,have not the slightest idea of the anxiety and difficulty which,in a country like this,harass the foreigner who has to disburse money not his own,if he wish that his employers be not shamefully and outrageously imposed upon.In my last epistle to you I stated that I had been asked 100roubles per ream for such paper as we wanted.I likewise informed you that I believed that it was possible to procure it for 35roubles,notwithstanding our Society had formerly paid 40roubles for worse paper than the samples I was in possession of.Now I have always been of opinion than in the expending of money collected for sacred purposes,it behoves the agent to be extraordinarily circumspect and sparing.I therefore was determined,whatever trouble it might cost me,to procure for the Society unexceptionable paper at a yet more reasonable rate than 35roubles.I was aware,that an acquaintance of mine,a young Dane,was particularly intimate with one of the first printers of this city,who is accustomed to purchase vast quantities of paper every month for his various publications.I gave this young gentleman a specimen of the paper I required,and desired him (he was under obligations to me)to enquire of his friend,AS IF FROM CURIOSITY,the least possible sum per ream at which the PRINTER HIMSELF (who from his immense demand for paper should necessarily obtain it cheaper than any one else)could expect to purchase the article in question.The answer Ireceived within a day or two was 25roubles.Upon hearing this Iprevailed upon my acquaintance to endeavour to persuade his friend to bespeak the paper at 25roubles,and to allow me,notwithstanding I was a perfect stranger,to have it at that price.
All this was brought about.I was introduced to the printer,Mr.
Pluchard,by the Dane,Mr.Hasfeldt,and between the former gentleman and myself a contract was made to the effect that by the end of October he should supply me with 450reams of Chinese paper at 25roubles per ream,the first delivery to be made on the 1st of August;for as my order was given at an advanced period of the year,when all the paper manufactories were at full work towards the executing of orders already received,it was but natural that Ishould verify the old apophthegm,'Last come,last served.'As no orders are attended to in Russia unless money be advanced upon them,I deposited in the hands of Mr.Pluchard the sum of 2000roubles,receiving his receipt for that amount.
Having arranged this most important matter to my satisfaction,Iturned my attention to the printing process.I accepted the offer of Messrs.Schultz and Beneze to compose and print the Mandchou Testament at the rate of 25roubles per sheet,and caused our fount of type to be conveyed to their office.I wish to say here a few words respecting the state in which these types came into my possession.I found them in a kind of warehouse,or rather cellar.
They had been originally confined in two cases;but these having burst,the type lay on the floor trampled amidst mud and filth.