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CHAPTER VIII.

Jewish Naturalization Bill-Sir John Barnard's OppositionPassed both Houses in 1753-Repealed the next yearElias de Paz's Will-Foundling Hospital-The Internal Quarrels in the Jewish Synagogues-The Casus Belli a Bubble-The higher classes ashamed of their connexion with the Synagogue-Desire to amalgamate with the English-Sir Sampson Gideon-The Father of the late Dr. Solomon Hirschell appointed Chief Rabbi-He found his berth to be no bed of roses He resigned and accepted a similar post at Berlin-The great Earthquake of 1755, at Lisbon, increased the number of Jews in this country-Interesting and romantic tales-A specimenDa Costa's Letter and Present to the British MuseumThe Bishop of Clogher's Letters to an eminent Jew". The P.S.-Goldney's friendly Epistle to the Jews-His Counsel to Archbishop Seker-His interview with Rabbi Aaron Hart.

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Ir would appear that the services which the Jews accorded to the distressed nation in 1746, were appreciated by right-minded Englishmen ;

a bill was therefore introduced into Parliament, to naturalize all foreign Jews, without their being obliged to take the Sacrament. The bill passed both Houses in the year 1753. Unfortunately, however, for the Jews, the ministry of the day was by no means a favourite one with the great mass of the people. The Jew Bill was therefore made subservient to annoy the government, and many were the petitions, and loud were the clamours against the natural rights of the Jews. Sir John Barnard, the personal enemy of Sampson Gideon, poured forth a torrent of invectives against the ministry, in the name of the people of England, that was enough to drown, and extinguish the best feelings of humanity, which the best men were inspired with. The popular feeling was raised to that degree that the ministry was literally terrified, and could think of no alternative, but the degrading one of submitting without a struggle, to the popular unmeaning clamour. On the first day of the ensuing session, the first minister of the crown introduced a bill for the repeal of the Naturalization Act, and it of course passed both houses with signal triumph. A modern writer speaks thus, in reference to that act:

"The repeal of the Jewish Naturalization Act, by the Pelham's in 1754, the year after its enactment, is one of the most painful incidents in our constitutional history. It had been passed by considerable majorities in both houses, and with the full acquiescence of the bishops; and it was abrogated under the most shameful avowals of popular compulsion. In vain Lord Temple pronounced the clamour to be 'disaffection clothed with superstition,' and declared that the persecution of the Jews must lead to that of the dissenters."*

The same year that the repeal of the Naturalization Bill took place, the Jews were subjected to an additional annoyance. A very rich Jew,

Elias de Paz, died, and in his will bequeathed the sum of twelve hundred pounds towards the erection of a Hebrew college. But the Crown considered that the money thus willed was for superstitious purposes, and therefore confiscated it, and George II ordered the money to be transferred to the Foundling Hospital, the most favourite institution with the aristocracy since its establishment.

* "Edinburgh Review." 1847.

The following year, 1755, the Jewish congregations suffered considerably from internal quarrels and dissensions, arising from a course the Rabbies imagined they were bound to take, viz., of dismissing the Shochtim,* on the charge of having clandestinely destroyed the distempered pellicles of the animal's lungs, and thus caused the congregation to eat forbidden meat. Rabbi Jacob Kimchi, who lived then in London, and took an important part in the affair, thought proper to publish a Hebrew pamphlet on the subject, in Altona, which begins thus,

"The circumstance which took place here [in London] was to the following effect. On the year 5. 5. 15, [1755] when the seat of the law in the German Synagogue was occupied by the great Rabbi Phaïbhush, may the memory of that righteous and holy one be blessed; and when the Spanish Synagogue was represented by the

* Shochtim are the officials appointed by the Chief Rabbies to slaughter the animals, according to the prescribed laws of the Talmud, as well as to examine the lungs, in order to see that the animals were free from any fatal disorder or disease. The Shochat, or Shochtim, must therefore be a person, or persons, well instructed in the Jewish laws, as well as possessing a fair knowledge of anatomy.

father of the House of judgment, the grand or great Rabbi Isaac Nieto, may his light shine; and also by the accomplished, pious, and meek Rabbi Isaac del Walü, may the memory of the righteous and holy be blessed; and by a third one, viz., the Rabbi Benjamin Lurinshi, may he live; they consulted and decided to dismiss the Shochtim then in office, because they were suspected of tearing off the films, [from the lungs of the animals] and Rabbi Chayim Albels was appointed as the accredited metropolitan Shochtim," &c.

It appears from the Hebrew pamphlet alluded to, that as long as the above Rabbies remained alive and in office, the discontentment of the people dared not to vent itself beyond whispering demurs; but two of the actors shortly after died, namely, Rabbi Phaïbhush, of the German Synagogue, and Rabbi Isaac del Walü, of the Spanish Synagogue. Rabbi Isaac Nieto saw it proper to resign; and thus a change took place, and the affairs of the congregation assumed a different aspect. The decision of the late Rabbies was repealed, and the synagogues represented a variety of small circles divided amongst themselves, excommunicating each other, and pro

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