69 



pularity on their meafures, and to maintain them in power ; we muft 

 believe with caution.-If a report flowing from a party, in oppof.tion to 

 thofe who govern, Hiould tend to make the meafures of government 

 odious and contemptible, and to Ihake thofe, who admimfter U, from 

 their feats, that they may make room for their opponents; we mult be- 

 lieve with caution. Contending fefts of religion are ufually animated 

 with great mutual hoftility and rancour, and employ no fmall (hare ot 

 induftry and malice, in traducing and viUifying each other. -When we 

 find reports ufl^ered into circulation, under the aufpices of religious con- 

 teft, and acrimonious bigotry, we muft affent with caution. When a 

 ftory tending to place an individual in a ridiculous or odious light, pro- 

 ceeds' from his rival, or his enemy; or when, on the other hand a 

 report calculated to advance his fame and fortunes, or to exalt his 

 charafter, is circulated by his friends, his dependants, his near con- 

 nexions, or the party or faftion to which he has devoted himfelf; m 

 fuch cafes, we muft affent with caution. 



Hiftory is crouded with inftances of the fallacioufnefs of popular ru- 

 mours, originating from fuch polluted fources. The Jews, ever odious 

 yet ever neceffary in the commercial world, have been a conftant objeft ot 

 oppreffion, and refource to rapine ; they have thriven, and been plundered, 

 in almoft every country of the habitable globe. As a pretext for this 

 condua, popular prejudice was excited againft this unhappy feft, and 

 rumours of atrocities, imputed to them, were bufily circulated, aud eagerly 

 believed. Among other enormities, it was faid of them, in early times, 

 that they ufed to entice Chriftian children from their parents, m order 

 to crucify them.* The Chriftians, in the reign oi Nero, were accufed 

 by authority,! and believed by many, to have been gmlty of fett.ng 

 Rome ou fire ; and this calumny became the pretence for a cruel per- 

 fecution againft them. ^^ 



* See the old Ballad of the " Jewls Docker," Percy's CoUefllon. 



■ t Ergo abolendo rumori, Nero fubdidit reos, et qu3=fitiffimis p«nis adfecit quos per 

 fla^iua invifos vulgus Chriftianos appellabat. 



