CHAPTER VI. Rabbi Nehemiah Chiyon, the heretic-Rabbi Nieto's Fiery Law-Rabbi Joseph Irgas' open remonstrance-Rabbi Moses of Jerusalem-The Jews did not help to blow "The South-Sea Bubble"-Sir Robert Walpole and Sampson Gideon-A happy circumstance--Vulgar prejudice against the Jews-Hebrew Genius honoured-Daniel Irsael Lyra Laguna's Poetical Version of the Psalms-Rabbi Jacob de Castro Sarmiento chosen a Member of the Royal Society, and presented with the Degree of Doctor-The German Synagogue consecrated-Jewish Catechism reprinted-Preface -Jews acknowledged to be British Subjects-Provision for conscientious scruples -- Another Charitable Society organized-Congregation formed at Birmingham-Hambro' Synagogue founded-Jewish Converts. THE heterodox dogmas of a certain Rabbi, Nehemiah Chiyon, seem to have made great inroads in many Jewish congregations; we find, therefore, Rabbi David Nieto's Hebrew pen at work again in the beginning of the reign of George I, which produced a volume bearing the title "Aish Dath," or "The Fire of the Law." Rabbi Nieto in this work assails the heretic most furiously, and considers that he reduced poor Chiyon to ashes. He was not the only one who felt constrained to burn the heretic Nehemiah. For the same year, 1715, another Hebrew book was published, in this country, for the same purpose, by a Rabbi Joseph Irgas. He entitled his work "Touchachath Megoolah," "An open remonstrance." The Hebrew is good, but the spirit extremely violent. It would appear from a remark of a certain Rabbi Moses, of Jerusalem, who was then in London, and corrected and revised that work for the author, that the Jews had not as yet, at that time, printing presses of their own; and that the compositors were Christians who did not understand the Hebrew letters, which rendered the printing of Hebrew works extremely tedious. It redounds, therefore, to the credit of the Hebrews, that notwithstanding the difficulties which beset their literary path, they strove to make head against opposition, with the only prevailing weapon, the pen. The effect of those Rabbies' polemics is unknown. In the year 1720, "a year remarkable beyond any other which can be pitched upon for extraordinary and romantic projects," the Jews stood aloof from contributing their quota to the South-Sea bubble. No Jewish name occurs amongst the bankrupts of the time, though the eyes of all England were turned upon Sir Robert Walpole, the great friend of the greatest Jewish financier of the day; still Sampson Gideon's name does not appear amongst the unfortunate duped defaulters. The poor panic-struck looked up to that great statesman for advice, thinking that the premier, enjoying the friendship of such a man as Gideon, might be able to suggest a mode of extrication, and no doubt Sampson's herculean monetary strength stood the future Earl of Orford in good stead. What a happy circumstance for the Jews that Sir John Blunt had no affinity with the members of the synagogue! The Jews, however, were subject to a painful annoyance in consequence of one of their body applying to be added to the number of brokers, which produced the following document : * Anderson. "Reasons humbly offered to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, against a Jew (who is a known enemy of the Christian religion) his being admitted a broker. "I. That the Act of Parliament to restrain the number and ill-practice of brokers and stockjobbers, only limits the number of brokers to be one hundred, and makes no mention of Jews, or any other foreigners whatsoever. "II. That the Jews, who are already sworn brokers*, not above one half, are of advantage to the merchants in any branch of trade whatsoever. "III. That for the drawing and remitting of money by exchange to and from foreign parts, in which the Jews might be serviceable if need required, there are already more than sufficient; which has occasioned almost one-half of the Jew brokers to run into stock-jobbing; which, with the great number of other Jews employed to act under them as brokers, contrary to the true intent and meaning of the aforesaid Act of Parliament, has been the occasion of great irregularities committed in dealing in stocks. "IV. That there is no one branch of trade * The number of Jew brokers was limited to twelve, at that time. which will receive any detriment by not admitting a Jew to be broker at this time. "V. That the Jew brokers are, for the most part, neither free-men of this honourable City of London, nor any Livery Company, and pay very little towards the support of the public; whereas the petitioners are most of them house-keepers, free-men, and livery-men, who pay Scott and Lott, and are otherwise contributors to the public charge, and have a native right to the immunities and privileges of Englishmen and citizens, which the Jews have not. "VI. That the Jews have not any right to the immunities and privileges of this city, nor deserve any encouragement from this honourable court, will evidently appear by the many statute laws now in force against them, contained in a book printed anno 1703, dedicated to the Reverend the Clergy, and particularly to the members of the convocation,' which book is ready to be produced. And if duly considered, it is humbly hoped this honourable court will find no reason to admit any more Jews to be sworn brokers.”* * See "Seymour's Survey of London." Vol. ii. p. 408. Tovey's "Anglia Judaica." Page 298. |