1856] The Cost of War. -' 361 



purchase of tracts of land in the most suitable districts in Palestine, 

 on which to found an agricultural colony of converted Jews, which 

 should answer the double purpose of providing the means of subsis- 

 tence for those poor Israelites who, after they had embraced Christian- 

 ity, were reduced to great straits, hardly having an amount of food 

 necessary to sustain existence — and of arising and maintaining the 

 standard of the Cross in the land in which the great and momentous 

 scenes recorded by the Evangelists were transacted, and by that means 

 to bring the Jews in Palestine under the power of Christian influ- 

 ences. The Bishop of Jerusalem addressed the meeting in a very in- 

 teresting speech, expressing his cordial concurrence in the scheme 

 proposed, and pointing out the course which he deemed most adapted 

 to insure its success. The right reverend prelate spoke in the most 

 emphatic terms of the universal desire which at present pervades the 

 Jewish mind to return to Palestine, and said that never, at any period 

 since the destruction of Jerusalem, did circumstances seem so auspi- 

 cious for the return of the Jews to their own land as they do at present. 



The Rev. Dr. McCaul followed, and expressed himself in similar 

 terms regarding the singular concurrence of circumstances favorable to 

 the return of the Jews ; and that, consequently, it was the duty of 

 Christians to do everything in their power to facilitate their wishes. 

 The Rev. Dr. Marsh also addressed the meeting on the '^ signs of the 

 times," — one of the most remarkable of which he considered to be the 

 earnest desire pervading the Jews in all parts of the world to return 

 to their own land. 



Other gentlemen likewise spoke to the same or a similar effect, and 

 steps were taken to form a society, having for its object the establish- 

 ment of an agricultural colony in Palestine, consisting of believing 

 Israelites, who should at once provide the means of subsistance for 

 their poorer converted brethren, and seek to bring the unconverted 

 Jews to the knowledge and reception of Jesus of Nazareth as the 

 Messiah promised to their fathers. 



i i^^%\ 0f Wit. 



Here, says Charles Sumner, figures appear to lose their functions. 

 They seem to pant as they toil vainly to represent the enormous sums 

 consumed in this unparalleled waste. Our own experience, measured 

 by the concerns of common life, does not allow us adequately to 



