JEWS 



ed storms had interrupted, to aggrandize 

 its destiny, to fix ours, and to give happi- 

 ness to two nations, who must ever ap- 

 plaud him, to whom has been confided 

 the care of their happiness, after that of 

 their defence. Paris 24th, Tishri, 5567." 

 (6th Oct. 1806) 



This address was shortly after answer- 

 ed by one of concurrence and congratula- 

 tion from the people of the Jewish nation 

 at Frankfort on the Maine ; and the 

 Prince Primate of Francfort, following 

 the French Emperor's example, put an 

 end to every humiliating distinction be- 

 tween the Jews of that city and the 

 Christian inhabitants. The Israelites soon 

 began to manifest the happy consequen- 

 ces of th^ir emancipation, by considera- 

 ble improvements in education and the 

 useful arts. 



The Grand Sanhedrin assembled on 

 Monday the 9th of February, 1807, while 

 the number and distinction of the specta- 

 tors added much to its solemnity. Reci- 

 procal assurances of encouragement, con- 

 gratulation, and thankfulness, were ex- 

 changed, and this august assembly pro- 

 ceeded to make severalimportant regula- 

 tions relative to the Jewish worship and 

 economy. Numerous addresses were 

 read, and the most encouraging orations 

 were delivered, while the great syna- 

 gogue in the street St. A voie resounded 

 the praises of the God of Israel, amid re- 

 peated cries of ISEmpereur, L'Jmperatricel 

 La Famille Imperiale ! and La Brave Jtrmee 

 Francaise ! It might be said of these Is- 

 raelites, as it was once observed of their 

 ancestors, that " all the people worship- 

 ped God, and the King." 



Twenty-seven articles were drawn up 

 and agreed to for the re-organization of 

 the Mosaic worship. Sundry regulations 

 were also made concerning polygamy, di- 

 vorce, marriage, moral relations, civil 

 and political relations, useful professions, 

 loans among Israelites, and loans be- 

 tween Israelites and those who are not 

 Israelites. 



On the 2d of March the Grand Sanhe- 

 drin again sat, and passed a law for the 

 condemnation of usury among the Jews. 

 A most animated discourse was delivered 

 in the Hebrew tongue by M. David Sintz- 

 heim, President of the Grand Sanhedrin. 

 Translations of the discourse, in French 

 and Italian, were afterwards read to the 

 members assembled. A copy of this dis- 

 course, and of the whole of the proceed- 

 ings of the Sanhedrin, have been preserv- 

 ed in a publication of considerable inter- 

 est, a small volume, lately published, en- 



titled " New Sanhedrin, and Causes and 

 Consequences of the French Emperor's 

 Conduct towards the Jews," written, we 

 believe, by William Hamilton Reid. To 

 this work we refer our readers for all the 

 information necessary on this interesting 

 subject. 



Flattering, however, as these proceed- 

 ings are to the Jews on the continent, it is 

 certain that their brethren on this side the 

 water look upon the conduct of the House 

 of Israel in France, Italy, Holland, &c. 

 with a jealous and suspicious eye. And it 

 must be confessed, that, to secure the 

 blessings and rights of citizens, they have 

 made sacrifices and concessions, which 

 seem but ill to accord with the due ob- 

 servance of that law, which subjoins, that 

 if a man offend in one point, he is guilty 

 of all. That the restoration promised to 

 thispeople is to be considered of amoral 

 and political nature, we think cannot be 

 doubted. Such, indeed, was the opinion 

 of the learned Bishop Warburton. Whe- 

 ther the regulations and decrees that have 

 been passed in their favour in France are 

 to be considered as the commencement 

 of this restoration, time alone can deter- 

 mine. This much is evident, that in the 

 restoration of Israel it is said, that every 

 man should possess his -own vine and his 

 own fig-tree ; but if the Jews are either 

 prohibited the occupation, or excused the 

 cultivation of land^ this can never be the 

 case ; and this consideration, among 

 others, seems to have suggested an idea 

 to Bonaparte, that his Jewish subjects 

 ought to be constrained to assist in the 

 cultivation of the land, and in furnishing 

 their quota of active conscripts for the de- 

 fence of his dominions and of their own 

 property. Their improved state, on the 

 continent, in a political point of view, 

 seems not to have been attended with a 

 correspondent degree of moral regenera- 

 tion ; and the French Emperor appears 

 still to be dissatisfied with their way of 

 life. The last decree issued, concerning 

 them, was the 17th of March, 1808, which 

 forbids them, indiscriminately, to pursue 

 their speculations, and excuse themselves 

 from honest labour. To partake of the 

 fruits of the earth, in his large dominions, 

 they must also till the ground. The rich 

 are called upon to purchase rural proper- 

 ty, and to abandon the low pursuits of 

 sordid avarice. This decree also annuls 

 all obligations for Joans made by Jews to 

 minors, without the sanction of their 

 guardians; to married women, without 

 the consent of their husbands ; or to mi- 

 litary men, without the authority of their 



