136 Dr. Franklin’s Legacy.—Leeds Philosophical Socicty. 
ted to the vicissitudes of their unhappy 
State ; to the uncertainty of their personal 
security, either with regard to their pro- 
perty, or to the numerous obstacles 
which the laws or customs of other na- 
tions have opposed to the tree develope- 
ment of their industry and their activity, © 
That this apathy and abandonment 
have in no wise resulted from the prin- 
ciples of their religion, nor the interpre- 
tations of their doctors, but in truth, are 
only an unfortunate. effect of habits, 
which the privation of a free exercise of 
their industrious faculties has made them 
contract, 
That the Mosaic legislation manifests 
that all manual labours were honourable 
among the children of Israél, and that 
there is no mechanical art which js in- 
terdicted to them, but on the contrary, 
the Holy Writings excite them to acts of 
industry. Psalm 128. “When thou 
eatest the labour of thine hands, thou 
shalt be blessed, and it shall be well with 
thee.”—Proverbs, chap. 28, ver. 19, “He 
that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with 
bread, but he that followeth the st 
shall be filled with poverty.”—Chap. 2 
ver. 27. “ Prepare thy work without, od 
make ready thy things in the field, and 
after build thine house.” Their Rabbins 
in the Misna, are also quoted as authoe 
rities, which inculcate that there is a re= 
hgious merit in pursuing industrious 
trades; and in the Talmud it 1s declared, 
that the lather who does not educate 
his son to some profession, is rearing a 
thief. 
In consequence of all this, the Great 
Sanhedrim, in virtue of the powers inves- 
ted in them, ordain, that all Israelities, 
and particularly those of France and 
Italy, who now enjoy civil and political 
rights, shall seek for means and adopt 
them to inspire their youth with the love 
of labour, and an ambition to excel in 
useful trades, and liberal arts, as these 
laudable pursuits are conformable to our 
holy religion, and serviceable to the 
country, which in men unoccupied and 
without some cailing can only see dan- 
gerous citizens. The Great Sanhedrim, 
further invites the Israelites’ of France 
and Italy to purchase lands, as a means 
to attach themselves more strongly to 
their country, and to renounce those 
baser occupations which degrade men in 
the eyes of their fellow-citizens, and 
finally to acquire their esteem and kind- 
ness by industrious habits. . 
(To be concluded in our next ” ee 
(Sept. ¥, 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazines 
ie Tomiic, 
FB APPENING to take up your Mis- 
H cellany in a cofice-house the other 
day, [ observed a query in your last 
Number, respecting the appropriation of 
two thousand pounds bequeathed by Dr. 
Franklin to the Cities of Boston and Phi- 
ladelphia. Being just arrived from Ame- 
rica, I am happy in having the pleasure 
of gratifying your querist on this sub= 
ject. 
Ve have only to regret that the vene- 
rable Doctor’s fortune was not equal to 
his plans of charity, as it has appeared 
that the sums disposed of in this truly 
patriotic manner, though small, have 
been. the means of ¢ dvancing in society 
mnany persons, who_have proved to be its 
most useful members. This fund has 
been greatly increased of late, as well by 
legacies from others, as by the regular 
interest of the monies so employed; sveat 
care being taken by the directors of these 
charitable funds ‘to invest them in 
honest bands. . 
The learned Doctor knowing by ex= 
perience the useful effects of a sinall sum 
in proper hands, im writing his will, found 
this method of thanking that world, 
which had been so kind tu him, and takes 
advantage of the opportunity to promote 
the welfare of society, by recommending 
early marriages. | Your’s, &c. 
London, July 29 1807. Wal. 
To the Editor of the Monthly Magazine. 
SIR, 
IVE me leave to express the plea- 
sure I felt in the perusal of an ar= 
ticle inserted in your valuable Miscel- 
lany for April last, from Mr. Wright of 
Wisbeach, announcing an institution for 
philosophical research established there, 
as it promises ultimate success, though 
its dawn may be obscured by a train 
of circumstances disadvantageous; at 
the same time indulge me in announs 
cing to the lovers of experimental phi-. 
losophy, that a Society has very recently 
bean established at Leeds in Yorkshire, 
under the name of “The Leeds Phitoso- — 
phical Society,” whose object is scientific 
research. 
contined to twenty-four the first year, 
after which they will be regulated 
according to existing 
Each member subscribes one 
annually, ip 
guinea 
order to defray 
The number of members is 
‘circumstances... 
the 
expences — 
