108 JEWS IN ROME. 



the city, where alone they are permitted to dwell.* No Jew 

 is allowed to be a householder in Rome; but their permission 

 to remain in the cit)^ is renewed every year, upon the payment 

 of an annual tribute. The ceremony attendant on this grant 

 is very curious, and I was so fortunate as to be a witness to 

 it the last time I was in Rome. 



HENRIETTA. 



Pray, aunt, tell us all about it. 



The form is this, as nearly as I could gain from what I 

 saw, and from the answers given to my inquiries, as I was 

 never able to find any published account of the ceremony. 

 A herald from the Roman Government goes to the quarter of 

 the Jews eight-and-forty hours before the commencement of 

 the Carnival, and orders them to leave Rome in four and 

 twenty hours. The Jews send three of their Rabbi to the 

 authorities, to ask if any thing can be done, on their part, to 

 revoke the mandate. They are told to try. The three Rabbi 

 then go to the Palazzo de' Conservator!, in the Capitol, where 

 they are received by three of the Conservatori to hear their 

 proposals. The Rabbi present to them, kneeling, a large 

 nosegay of flowers, in which is enclosed a draft for the sum 

 appointed as a tribute. The chief Conservator takes it and 

 tells them they shall hear further about it, and dismisses 

 them with the word " And at," accompanied by a kick with 

 his foot. The Conservatori then carry the Jews' nosegay to 

 the chief Senator of Rome, before whom the deputation is 

 next summoned. He signifies to the Rabbi that their pro- 

 posals are accepted, and that the Jews will be permitted to 

 remain in Rome another year. They are then dismissed; 

 the chief Senator orders the great bell of the Capitol to be 

 rung, to announce that the Carnival has begun; and parades 

 the Corso and the other principal streets of the city in his car- 

 riage of state, accompanied by the Conservatori, and the other 



* As they formerly were restricted in London to the Old Jewry. 



