JEWS. 
in a publication of considerable interest, a 
small volume, lately published, entitled, 
“ New Sanhedrin, and Causes and Conse- 1 
quences 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 bles- 
sings and rights of citizens, they have made 
sacrifices and concessions which seem but 
ill to accord with the' due observance of 
that law which subjoins, that if a man of- 
fend in one point, he is guilty of all. That 
the restoration promised to this people is to 
be considered of a moral and political na- 
ture we think cannot be doubted. Such 
indeed was the opinion of the learned Bp. 
Warburton. Whether 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 determine. This much is evi- 
dent, 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 Buonaparte, that his Jewish sub- 
jects 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 spe- 
culations, and excuse themselves from hor 
nest 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 property, and to 
abandon the low pursuits of sordid avarice. 
This decree also annuls all obligations for 
loans made by Jews to minors, without the 
sanction of their guardians ; to married wo- 
men without the consent of their husbands ; 
or to military men, without the authority of 
their superior officers. Bills granted by 
French subjects to Jews, cannot be de- 
manded, unless their holders prove that the 
full value was given without any fraud. All 
debts accumulated by interest above five 
per cent., are to be reduced by the courts 
of law ; if the interest growing on the ca- 
pital exceed twenty-three per cent., the 
contract is to be declared usurious. No Jew 
is to be allowed to trade without a patent, 
which patent is to be granted to such indivi- 
duals only who produce a certificate to the 
Prefects that they are no usurers. These re- 
gulations are to be continued during ten 
years only “ in the hope, that after that pe- 
riod, there will be no difference between 
the moral character of the Jews and the 
other citizens of the empire.” If the con- 
trary shall appear, the law will be conti- 
nued in force. It is doubtful whether the 
faith of the children of Israel, in Bonaparte 
as their reigning Messiah, will not be a little 
staggered by .these regulations. Bonaparte 
has had the following return made to him of 
the number of Jews in all the different 
parts of the habitable globe: viz. In the 
Turkish empire one million ; in Persia, Chi- 
na, and India, on tbe east and west of the 
Ganges, three hundred thousand; and in 
the west of Europe, Africa, and America, 
one million seven hundred thousand ; mak- 
ing an aggregate population of three mil- 
lions. One third of this number are al- 
ready under the dominion of the French em- 
pire. For an account of the Jewish cere- 
monies, &c. see the late Mr. David Levi’s 
work on that subject. \ 
The following is a summary of their re- 
ligious creed : 1. That God is the creator 
and active supporter of all things. 2. That 
God is one, and eternally unchangeable. 
3. That God is incorporeal, and cannot 
have any material properties. 4. That God 
shall eternally subsist. 5. That God is 
alone to be worshipped. 6. That whatever 
has been taught by the prophets is true. 
7. That Moses is the head and father of 
all contemporary doctors, and of all those 
who lived before, or shall live after him. 
8. That the law was given by Moses. 
9. That the law shall always exist, and ne- 
ver be altered. 10. That God knows all 
the thoughts and actions of men. 11 . That 
God will reward the observance, and pu- 
nish the breach of his laws. 12. The Mes- 
siah is to come, though he tarry along time. 
13. That there shall be a resurrection of. 
