49 



2. The accusation was originally preferred in a barbarous 

 age, as an apology for extorting money from the Jews. 3. 

 No equitable conviction on this ground ever took place ; 

 as the decisions in all civilized countries, when adverse to 

 the accused, took place at a time when law was little 

 valued and equity far less. 4. The alleged confessions 

 were made to please the accusers, and for the avoidance of 

 tofture. 5. The remains of Sir Hugh afford no proof of 

 the correctness of the charge: for tradition had been 

 uniform in asserting (though the witness, Matthew Paris, 

 does not allude to this circumstance) that the Jews cut off 

 the upper lip and nose, and « broke off the principal upper 

 teeth." 6. Human blood is not necessary in any of the 

 rites of the Jewish people. 7. If they wished to bring 

 into contempt the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, they would 

 do so either at Christmas or at Easter, not, as in the case 

 of Sir Hugh, on the 27th of August. 8. The same gene- 

 ral charge has been made in countries where Christianity 

 is scarcely known ; the reasons assigned, therefore, are in 

 some degree self-contradictory. 9. The Jews do not 

 practise magic ; and the materials, as well as the effects of 

 their medicinal preparations, are well known. 10. The 

 wisest and best people of every country, have long held 

 that the tradition is an unfounded calumny. 



In summing up and weighing the evidence, it is necessary 

 to separate two points, in their nature totally distinct ; first, 

 the degree of likelihood that some acts of cruelty were at times 

 practised by the Jews ; and, second, the question of their 

 guilt or innocence in connexion with the present charge. In 

 reference to the former, we may admit it as more than possi- 

 ble, that the cruelties to which the Jewish people were subject 

 have provoked retaliation, when there was actually or presump- 

 tively a means of concealment. They are human beings, pos- 

 sessed of like passions with ourselves, and cherishing, no doubt, 



