of the corporation must be decisive. The said Jews shall be allowed to remain in the town for a specified time, whilst the matter is brought to a termination, agreeably to the tenor of this law.

whence it had originated had been explained | pensable advantage to the community at to him by a Russian gentleman well ac- large. And in every such case the opinion quainted with the subject; who had also detailed to him some of the sufferings it bad entailed on the Russian Jews. The restrictions it imposed on the unfortunate Jews were calculated to roase their feelings and fully justified the friends of humanity in instituting an inquiry respecting it. For the sake of those of our readers who may not have seen the Ukase, we join a copy:

V. Jews thus obtaining the privilege of commencing business, may not settle any where without having, besides their certifisub-cate, a regular government passport.

VI. Even the Police master, himself, Ukase issued by Imperial mandate for regu- cumstances, to remain in the town more may not suffer a Jew, under the above cirlating the existing laws concerning the re-than six weeks; but his further stay must sidence of Jews, for a limited time, in any depend on the corporation, who are not to of the cities of Russia." allow it without weighty reasons for so doing. A license for longer period than six months, cannot be given without still higher authority.

I. Those Jews who have liberty to trade and to carry on handicrafts in the provinces exclusively appointed for their settlement, by the enactments of the year 1804,† are not permitted to traffic in the interior government of Russia, that is to say, they are not to offer for sale any articles, either in shops or at their lodgings; still less are they to hawk about any wares or utensils, whether belonging to themselves or others, Neither may they open workshops, still less employ foremen, apprentices, or labourers, whether Christians or otherwise, in any department whatsoever.

II. They may remain for commercial purposes, such as bill business, contracts, or supplies, provided they have an express permission from government to that effect.

III. Professed artizans may settle, in order to perfect themselves in connection with some Guild, or for the purpose of communicating instruction in any particular branch of the art in which they may possess distinguished ability.

VII. Jews having no government passport, or who having such a passport, have, nevertheless, no license to euter any town in the interior, shall be sent back by the police to the places of their abode, after the expiration of the time specified in the 28th section.

VIII. If, after an order to that effect, they either refuse to go, or return agaiu, they shall be regarded as vagrants; and by virtue of the Ukases of 15th Nov. 1797, 25th Feb. 1823, and 8th June 1826, they, together with those who allow them to remaiu, or who harbour them in their houses, shall be amenable to the law as vagrants, or abettors of vagrants.

IX. Jews condemned to banishment must not be detained for debtor or creditor aocounts, but satisfaction must be sought in the usual way agreeably to the commercial relations subsisting between the different countries to whom the parties belong.

X. The execution of an order of banishment is only to be delayed by the police officer.

1. When the Jew is in one of the town hospitals; or,

IV. Every Jew desirous of learning craft, or of imparting the knowledge of his peculiar art, must present himself before the city corporation, and give an account of himself, what kind of artizan he is, or what he wishes to learn. When the corporation, together with the officer of the Guild, have examined the certificates of the individual, let it then be ascertained who in his particular line might be called on to judge of his ability; also, whether the art XI. Rabbins, or other religious funche professes is known in the town, and whe- tionaries, are to be sent away by the police ther the knowledge of it will be of indis-officer, immediately on the discovery that they are such.

The friend who brought over this edict from Russia, was himself witness to respectable Jews and Jewesses domiciliated in the Russian towns for sixteen, and even twenty years, craving a respite for a few days, and for leave to depart by sea, compelled to break up their establishments (at what loss may easily be supposed), and driven to the frontiers by the route prescribed. + Lithuania, &c. &c.

2. When he shews a proper certificate from a medical man, stating that he could not be sent away without injury to his health.

XII. Jews are not allowed to change their passports. And the expiration of their allotted time for remaining any where, shall furnish an imperative ground for dismissing them.

XIII. Foreign Jews who enjoy the privilege of other foreigners, in those governments only that are appointed for the residence of Jews, are required to be subject in every other respect to the laws and re

1

gulations imposed on subject Jews; that is to say, if they bave proper passports they may be suffered to enter any of the provinces of Russia for the like space of time and for similar purposes, but in all other cases they must be sent over the frontiers. Attested by the Grand Master of Police of St. Petersburgh.

friends of humanity, to express our feelings and sympathy, and see if we could not do something to relieve them. Some gentlemen, who had spoken to-night, had said that it was no hardship to be subject to the provisions of the Ukase-that the Jews might either remain in the provinces, under the regulations made by the Government, or take their departure. But was it no hardship to those that remained to be without religious instruction? What would the po

Mr. Herrman, a foreigner, and Mr. Coben opposed the meeting on the ground that the restrictions complained of were not hard-pulation be at the end of ten or fifteen years ships; and that the Russian government had a right to make such political regulations as it thought proper.

In reply to the former, a gentleman said the Ukase was the harshest and most unjust that could have been issued against the unfortunate Jews. Was it no grievance that those who had resided thirty or forty years in the provinces, should be driven from their houses at four-and-twenty hours' notice? If sympathy could relieve the sufferers, they would have the sympathy of every one; but sympathy alone was of no avail. If the Chairman could propose any thing that would tend to ameliorate the condition of the unfortunate people, he was sure the meeting would give it their most cordial support.

but a set of infidels, and a curse to the land they dwelt in? It had been said, that this meeting was called for nothing but an ostentatious display. But what was to be said of the extraordinary sense, the extraordinary eloquence, and the extraordinary erudition of him who called it an ostentatious display, to express feelings that must and would lead to something higher. The proceedings here would be calculated to rouse the spirit of the Jews in Russia. Apathy, which was a curse greater than even persecution itself, was destroying the very marrow-bone of our spirit, as well as our moral character. But were the persecutions of the Ukase the only persecutions which the Jews were suffering? No! Unfortunately, within the last three years, there had been no less than seven or eight persecutions in different parts of Europe. Some time ago the Duke of Darmstadt had passed an edict excluding Jews from the fairs, and the King of Bavaria had ordered no less than seven or eight Synagogues to be shut up.

Several gentlemen present said they could affirm it as a fact,

The Chairman then rose to state his views regarding the object of the present Meeting, which, he observed, had been called to take into consideration the persecution endured by the Jews in Russia, in consequence of the Ukase. It was not for him to anticipate what might be proposed at this The latter part of this statement was demeeting. One person might propose an ex-nied by Mr. Herrman. pression of sympathy-another, to send ten thousand pounds to his suffering Jewish brethren-aud another, something else. The Russian Government had been aggrandizing its territories to an immense extent. The Jews, who from long residence had been looked upon as citizens of Russia, had extended their numbers and settled there; and yet they were now to be told that they must go away-some of them having only twenty-four hours allowed them for their departure. The calling of the present meeting originated not with him (the Chairman); it had been proposed to a body of 100 or 150 individuals, who had agreed to meet to take into consideration this extraordinary Ukase. Some gentlemen had said, that the issuing of this document was a mere matter of policy on the part of the Emperor of Russia, who might do what he liked in his own country, and no one here had a right to interfere. True it was, that the Government of Russia had a right to do what it liked, and it might even order the heads of the unfortunate Jews to be cut off, without the Jews here being able to prevent it; but it was incumbent on us, as brethren and

The Chairman continued.-At Darmstadt, a law was contemplated to alter the observance of the Sabbath to Sunday. At Frankfort, the number of marriages in a year were restricted to twelve natives, and three foreigners yearly, although the whole number of Jews was upwards of 1,000 families. There were other persecutions at Lubeck, Bremen, and other places. These were only specimens of the persecutions to which the Jews were constantly exposed, and yet such was the want of national spirit among them, that no inquiry was made into the cause, or efforts made to remove them, by that part of the nation which was not immediately affected by them. The condition of these persecuted men was such that it could only be compared to that of Job, who complaiued that his friends stood aloof from him. Those who had money, for the greater part appeared to be destitute of proper feeling, and were so engaged in the improvement of their fortunes or in fashionable amusements, or else were so mach in dread of exciting any hostile feelings in persons

possessed of power, that he feared any ap- | time, been heaped on our devoted race, by persons frail and imperfect like ourselves, we at the same time desire to feel deeply affected by the consideration that the Almighty is just, and that these sufferings are the necessary results of our iniquities and those of our forefathers, denounced by our lawgiver and prophets.

ing, when the address should be presented and a committee nominated. Several other gentlemen addressed the meeting, and a gentleman stated that a meeting of Christians would be convened in a few days, to take the subject into consideration.

The Chairman returned thanks; observing that his wish was to rouse once more the spirit of nationality in his brethren. If this could once be done, their oppressions would

ccase.

This second meeting of the Jews was held as proposed, on Wednesday, the 19th.

E. Levy, Esq. having been again unanimously voted into the chair, after some ineffectual opposition from the two gentlemen who figured in the minority at the former meeting, requested Mr. Israel to read the Russian ukase, and the resolutions of the last meeting.

This having been done, the Chairman stated that, pursuant to their directions, he had prepared an address to the synagogues of Great Britain, which he now proposed for their adoption.

Mr. Israel read the address, and moved that it should be received and adopted.

The following address was read in paragraphs, every one of which was unanimously agreed to.

"To the Children of captive Israel, inhabiting the Dominions of his Britannic Majesty, whom God preserve. Amen.

Peace and safety be unto you, from our God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob. Amen.

"Having seen a certain Ukase issued by the Emperor of Russia, respecting that portion of captive Israel inhabiting a certain part of his Imperial Majesty's dominions, which appears to have been enforced on or about August last, we cannot but feel deeply afflicted at the direful calamities which such an ukase must occasion to our unfortunate brethren; more particularly so upon those helpless widows and still more helpless orphans, who have resided in that extensive empire and rigorous climate.

Keenly do we feel that part of the said decree which, while it tolerates, under some marked restrictions, the settlement of a certain class of our brethren, excludes from the benefits of such toleration all their religious functionaries.

"Most deeply do we lament this regulation, as depriving such families of all religious instruction and consolation under their sufferings, which will unavoidably produce woful consequences upon their moral and spiritual character; thus spreading the contagion of infidelity among a people hitherto characterised by devoted adherence to the religion of their forefathers.

cree in its effects upon those upon whom it mediately or immediately operates, we cannot but consider that it will be still more disastrous in its influence on generations yet unborn.

"If the dispersion of our nation and the calamities we have endured are the result of our departure from the laws of our Almighty King, what must be the condition of those who will be reduced to a state of ignorance and degeneracy unexampled in the history of our nation, when deprived of religious in

struction?

"If we and our forefathers, blessed with the means of acquiring knowledge, have been too much estranged from our God, what will be the condition of those who are to come after us, if such persecutions should become general? and if one potentate can thus cruelly persecute our race, what is to prevent the imitation of his example, but our appeal to those feelings of compassion, and that sense of justice, which belong to civilised man?

"What but humble and contrite supplication to that great Being who hath succoured our people in all ages, and who hath often turned the curses and oppressions of man into the means of making to himself a glorious name, as our preserver and deliverer?

"Calamitous and distressing as this particular persecution is, its force is greatly increased when considered in conjunction with other persecutions which have operated within these three years past. to the injury of our afflicted brethren in different parts of civilized Europe; such as those in Lubec, Bavaria, Dachy of Altenburg, and that in contemplation at Darmstadt; the different oppressive edicts of the Pope; and, lastly, the cruel and demoralising laws which are even now operating in Frankfort.

"All these persecutions manifest a prevailing spirit, which should alarm the Israelites of all countries and climes, and incline us to rouse our hitherto but too dormant feelings, and to search our ways; that so, by tracing effects to causes, we may attempt to find a remedy for the accumulated evils which have befallen and still surround us; that we may acknowledge the justice of our Creator, even the King of Israel, and own that these, as well as all other chastisements which have been heaped upon our devoted heads, are, as it respects the Almighty, merited by our sins and those of our forefathers, as denounced by our lawgiver and prophets.

"This meeting do therefore think it a solemn duty, which they owe to themselves, to their children, to the whole house of Israel, and their God, to call upon their brethren in Great Britain to assemble, ia order to consult upon the best means of arousing the attention of the whole house of "But, alarming as we consider this de- Israel to the cause of all its evils, to ascer

Mr. Levy was then requested to forward the address to the different congregations of England, which he engaged to do, and ex-guilt (which was expressed at the late meetpressed his conviction that the Christian states of Europe only required the Jews to regenerate themselves, to arouse their latent energies, and to show symptoms of life and nationality. He hailed the present movements as an earnest of much better things, and expressed his conviction that when the Jews were once more brought to a right spirit, and nationally associated, they would be made by their Almighty King a blessing

The political condition of the Jews, to which our attention is directed by the above article, is a subject of painful interest, whether we revert to the elevation whence they are fallen, or contemplate the state of degra-possess it; and he will do thee good, and dation and oppression in which they are sunk amongst the nations of the earth. Measures of even a more harsh character than those of the Russian Emperor are said to have been adopted towards them in other quarters. The most absurd of these is a regulation of the Governor of Frankfort, by which not more than fifty out of a thousand are allowed | thee."