The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-14 00:00:00

IHE JEWS IN MOROCCO.

The Anglo-American Times, in reviewing " The
Arab's Pledge," says :
This little tale is founded on incidents which oc-
curred in Morocco in 1830, and is intended to illus-
trate the oppression suffered by the Jews in that
country. The story opens with a description of the
city which lies at the foot of the Atlas, the moun-
tains rising in grand imposing masses eastward,
while around spread groves of dates, palms, planta-
tions of olives, gardens, and orchards. Beyond, to
the west, are plains, barren for the greater part of the
year, but after the periodical rains carpeted with
grass and wild flowers, dotted with evergreen woods,
and marked in strips of cultivation nearly to the
sea coast. When the author wrote (which he did
after a residence in the country of six years) the
Jews lived among the Moors in a state of abject
degradation. They had to wear a distinguishing
dress, with a black cap and shoes. They had to
pass mosques bare-footed, as well as official resi-
dences, gates of towns, and persons in authority.
For striking a Moslem the penalty was amputation
of the hand, but the greatest danger arose from the
terms of the Mahommedan law, by which if two
witnesses swear that a Jew has repeated the Moslem
confession of faith his denial is worthless, and he is
invested with the Moorish dress, and compelled to
conform to Moslem rites, under peril, in case of re-
fusal or recantation, of being burnt alive. On this
law the plot is grounded. A young soldier of the
Sultan's Guard, named Hassan, became enamoured
of a beautiful Jewess, Azora. As the only means
of obtaining her, at the instigation of another sol-
dier, Abdslem Ibn Hadj, he conspired to swear that
she had made the confession of faith. Next morn-
ing the two visited Azora, whom they arrested and
carried before the Cadi, making the necessary oath.
The judge desired to hand her over to Hassan,
after praising God for her conversion. The girl,
however, resists, declares the oath of the
Moslem soldiers to be utterly false, and an-
nounces her intention never to apostatise from
the faith of her fathers. The Cadi's failing
to overcome her resolution orders her to prison,
when she appeals to the Sultan, which appeal,
when publicly made, cannot be passed over. She
is accordingly removed to the presence of Mulai
Abd Errahman, Sultan of Marocco, about 40 years
of age, swarthy in complexion, regular in features,
handsome black beard and moustache, eyes mild in
expression, though blazing out with terrific energy
when excited by passion, broad forehead, with an
ample turban of fine muslin. The beauty of the
Jewess captivates the monarch, who desires to
transfer her to his own harem, which he dare not do
in the face of Moslem fanaticism, unless he can in-
duce her to make a confession of the Moslem faith.
The story proceeds to describe the attempts of the
Sultan to obtain his object and Azora's resistance,
who elects death in preference to apostasy. The
author takes the opportunity of drawing some ad-
mirable pictures of Moorish life in Marocco. One
of the best is his description of a hunting party.
"Once on the plain, the usual mad riding began,
parties of ten, fifteen, or twenty horsemen charging
at full speed, and on reaching the Sultan fired their
guns at his feet, and wheeling off to the right and
left, while others came up in successive charges.
This complimentary custom is never omitted. The
Moors are enthusiastically fond of this ' powder
play,' as they call it, the Sultan himself often joining
in it. On such occasions he takes the centre of the
line, and is always allowed to be a neck ahead of
the rest." It is necessary that a story of Marocco
should bring in both races who rule in Barbary—
the Moors, who occupy the towns and cultivate the
fertile country, and the Arabs of the desert. This the
author accomplishes by making the Sheik of the
Lion tribes the rescuer of Azora. Azora's father
had been the means of liberating the Arab chief
many years before when a prisoner in Morocco,
who gave him a pledge which he swore to redeem
in case of danger to the Jew. Azora's betrothed
Yusuf was despatched by her mother with the pledge
to the Arab, and the cafila lie joins is captured in
the desert by the tribe of the chief. Named Ibn
Ishem recognises and prepares at once to redeem his
pledge. The tribes are put in motion, and 6,000
horsemen penetrating through the chain of moun-
tains sweep down on the plains and scour over the
whole open country. The Arab, while himself ad-
vancing in force, despatches a trusty messenger to
the city to watch over the safety of Azora.
The incidents of the story are tragical, and are told
by one intimately acquainted with Moorish life.
l'ho Sultan, failing in every effort to terrify the girl
into compliance with his wishes, at last orders the
execution according to Mahommedan law. A pyre is
erected half a mile from the city, and Azora is about
to become a martyr to her faith. The procession
has arrived—the green flag of Islam is planted
near a tree, when the Arab's messenger, who is
intently watching for the advent of his chief, sees a
jackal break from the wood, looking back as he runs,
then out from the forest emerge in a long line the
Arab horse. For a moment they pause to re-form,
then the rush of a thousand chargers is heard as
they thunder over the plain, sweeping down the
funeral pyre and ficattering the More in the

wildest flight till they are arrested by the mud walls
of Morocco. This story of oppression is happy
in its illustration of the benefits conferred on his
race by Sir Moses Montefiore. That great Hebrew
philanthropist, after successfully achieving the
amelioration of the laws against the Jews in
Marocco, carried his labours into a new field, and
has just accomplished in Roumania results similar
to those obtained in West Barbary. It was in his
eightieth year that Sir Moses undertook the task of
employing the wealth and influence which had re-
warded a long life of successful industry in
personally carrying into effect the designs he had
for many years entertained. The name of Moses
Montefiore will be long remembered with veneration
by the tribes of Judah, and although he has
attained to the dignity of a baronet of this realm
he will hereafter be better known by the children
of Israel as the great philanthropist of their race.

PEACE 'I HE NORMAL CONDITION 01
HE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

The following letter has been addressed to the
editor of the Anglo-American Times

Sir,—The constitution of the United States was
framed by men whose highest purpose was to lay
the foundation and erect the superstructure of a
peaceful republic. Hence peace is its normal state.
During a great part of the period, from 1783 to
1812, Europe was one vast war camp; but America
was neutral and enjoyed peace. By the meshes of
the slave party, and by departing from the prin-
ciples of its founders, the nation was drawn in
1812, into a war with England. After three years
it returned to its normal state, and no war took
place till 1846 ; when, by the plottings of the slave
party, it was blindly led into the war with Mexico.
Peace was soon restored and continued till the
breaking out of the slaveholders' rebellion.
The principles and working of the Federal and
States Government never caused a war. Each war
arose from the slavebolders, who were jealous for
their system. Hence their attempt to protect it led
them early in the history of the Government to de-
stroy harmony between the Federal and States
Government ; subsequently to cause two wars with
foreign nations ; and finally to attempt to destroy
and overthrow the Government.

In 1859 the nation had been so completely
moulded by the peace-loving character of its insti-
tutions, and neither seeking nor expecting war,
that its army, all told, numbered but 15,000 men.
These had to protect the interstate relations of
thirty-two States, whose inhabitants numbered
thirty-two millions of people ; to guard on the
North 3,000 miles of frontier, bordered by British
territory ; to protect the Southern frontier, bordered
by Mexican territory ; and to defend the country from
all and sundry who might attempt to invade it.
By the surrender of Mason and Slidell, the United
States prevented a war on a disputed point of inter-
national law ; at least the law officers of the British
Crown required several days to search into the
question, and ascertain whether it was right or
wrong in law to take Mason and Slidell from the
Trent.

But the most striking fact illustrative of the
American determination for peace was the dis-
banding of more than half a million of Federal
soldiers when the Southern Generals laid down the
weapons of rebellion. This was not done for effect.
It was the natural working of the institutions of
the people. These men were speedily absorbed in
the usual daily tasks of industry in the workshops
or the fields. In character they were much like the
soldiers of Cromwell, of whom Macaulay observes
that the facility with which they returned from the
conflicts of war to their usual labour at home seemed
to be a pecular feature in their character. People
believe deeds in preference to words. The speeches
of the Emperor of France fail to quiet the fears
which have been aroused by his measures to enlarge
the army.

Now though there are several strong securities
for peace between England and America, the peace-
able foundation on which the Republic rests is the
strongest of all. When Tyler was President of the
United States some long cannon were cast to over-
come Mexico, and compel it to give up Texas to the
United States. One of these was called the "peace-
maker." It was being tried on board a steamship
and exploded, killing two slaveholders, Mr. Upsher,
Secretary of State, and Mr. Gilmer, Secretary of
War. Mr. Elihu Burritt, the American Consul at
Birmingham, considers a sack of flour a very good
" peacemaker." He observed that people who ob-
tain their meal from the same bag are not apt to
quarrel. This is true. The first effect of any diffi-
culty with America would be to cut off its supply of
breadstuffs, and increase the price of bread, a
very unpopular thing to do. The national debt
of England has not operated as a peacemaker—a
debt which it is not considered practicablq to pay—
and hence there is no popular feeling in favour of
doing so. The case is different, however, in the
United States. The payment of its national debt is
regarded as required alike by duty and honour, and
hence there is a popular feeling in its favour. As
war would prevent this payment, the debt is virtu-
ally a peacemaker.

There have been several points of controversy
between England and America, which have been
amicably adjusted by the good sense and good feel-
ing of the Governments and the Ambassadors—as
the Maine boundary, the Oregon territory, the sur-
render of refugee slaves, and the right of search, the
last being settled by President Lincoln.
We have, then, as arguments for lasting and un-
broken peace between England and America, the
institutions of America expressly designed to secure
peace ; the extinction of slavery the only real ele-
ment of discord ; the precedents established by
the amicable settlement of various questions owing
to the good feeling and good sense of the Govern-
ments, Ambassadors, and people of both nations ;
the cheap bread question in England ; the desire of
the Americans to pay their national debt ; to which
may be added many others, including the com-
mercial, literary, and religious connections of both
countries, their family relationships, and their in-
creased sympathy secured by the passage of the
recent Reform Bill.

These all unite to assure us that if difficulties
should in future arise between the two Govern-
ments they will be peaceably removed, either by
arbitration or by some mode in harmony with the
friendly feeling of the two nations, and the moral
power they are exerting on the civilised world.

LONDON GAZETTE.-LAST EVENING.

WAR-OFFICE, PALL MALL, SEPT. 13.

Ist Regiment of Life Guards—Edward Mashiter—
Dansey,
Gent., to be Cornet and Sub-Lieutenant, by purchase,
vice James Graham, Marquis of Graham, promoted.
4th Hussars—Captain Alexander George Montgomery
Moore to be Major, without purchase; Lieutenant F.
Hodgkins= to be Captain, without purchase, vice
Moore; Cornet John Lambert Swale to be Lieutenant,
without purchase, vice Hodgkinson ; Cornet Henry
Askew Cherry, from 7th Dragoon Guards, to be Cornet
vice Swale.
Bth Hussars—Charles Henry Gregg, Gent., to be Comet,
by purchase, vice W. T. T. L. Fleetwood, whose ap-
pointment, on the 16th October, 1866, has been can-
celled.
15th Hussars—Cornet Rochfort Hamilton Rochfort-Boyd
to be Lieutenant, by purchase, vice Archibald Campbell
Douglas, who retires.
20th Hussars—The promotion of Veterinary Surgeon Wil-
liam Johnson, as First Class Veterinary Surgeon, to be
antedated to the Ist July.
2d Regiment of Foot—Lieut. William Patrick Oliphant
Boulderson, from the 97th Foot, to be Lieutenant, vice
Mudge, who exchanges.
6th Foot —Lieutenant Charles William Henry Wilson to
be Captain, by purchase, vice Richard Bolton, who re-
tires; Ensign Augustus William Whitworth to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Wilson; Edward Arthur Ball,
Goat., to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Whitworth.
10th Foot—Ensign Henry Cbarres Hinxman to be Lieu-
tenant, without purchase, vice Carr, promoted ; John
Jaques Wedge, Gent., to bo Ensign, by purchase, vice
Edward Austin, who retires.
12th Foot—Ensign Edward Turner to be Lieutenant,
without purchase, vice Alfred Woodward, deceased ;
Ensign James Smith Gibb to be Lieutenant, by pur-
chase, vice Turner, whose promotion, by purchase, on
the 31st July, 1867 has been cancelled.
14th Foot—Ensign Powell William Symonds to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Cecil Thomas M'Mahon, who
retires; Arthur Parry Thornton, Gent,• to be Ensign,
by purchase, vice Symonds.
16th Foot—Lieut. Reginald Laurence Herbert Curteis to
be Captain, by purchase, vice Robert Baret Stokes, who
retires; Ensign William Samuel Whittuck to be Lieu-
tenant, by purchase, vice Curteis ; William Henry
Buchan Hepburn, Gent., to be Ensign, by purchase,
vice Whittuck.
19th Foot—Ensign Alfred Jas. Paterson to be Lieutenant,
without purchase, vice Horace Arthur Wells, deceased.
20th loot—Cuthbert Gorge 0911:ulgwood, Gent., tp be

4.---•
...........—._„........ .--- ,
Ensign, by purchase, vice W. F. Nuthall, transferred to
the 63d Foot.

26th Foot—John de Witt Jobb, Gent., to be Ensign, by
purchase, vice W. C. Hemphill, promoted.
28th Foot—Lieutenant Alexander Lyon Emerson to be
Captain, by purchase, vice Edward O'Neill who retires;
Ensign Henry Wallick Maclear to be Lieutenant, 11
purchase, vice Emerson ; John Mead Sherrard, Gent.,
to be Ensign, by purchase, vice Maclear.
29th Foot—Staff-Surgeon Richard William Meade, to IA
Surgeon, vice Surgeon-Major Edward Moorhead, 30'1
appointed to the Staff.
31st Foot—Edward Morant, Gent., to be Ensign, by Or-
chase, vice Yates, promoted.
34th Foot—Ensign Henry Richard Noel-Hill, from the
21st Foot, to be Ensign, vice G. C. D. Bat»pfield, sr
pointed Deputy Assistant-Superintendent of Stores.
75th Foot—Lieutenant J lin Ormsby Moore Vandeleur
be Captain, by purchase, vice Edward Cliffe, who
tires ; Ensign Thomas Charles Watson, from the s°t
Foot, to bo Lieutenant, without purchase, vice V3ll
_ deleur.

77th Foot—Lieutenant John Wordsworth to be CaOlin:,
without purchase, vice William Gain deceased ; Ensigl
William Alexander Spence to be Lieutenant, witbou
purchase, vice George Cook, deceased ; Ensign llol3r/
Wemyss Magee to be Lieutenant, without purcio,s,'„,,'
vice Wordsworth; Lieutenant George Augustus WIT"
to be Adjutant, vice Lieutenant George Cook, ue'
ceased. •

83d Foot—Major William George Drummond Stevit,4
from half-pay, Unattached, to be Major, vice .1.01-!:
Sprot, who retires upon temporary half-pay ; Captain
Edward Meurant to be Major, by purchase, vice 11-
G. D. Stewart, who retires; Lieutenant James George
Scott, to be Captain, by purchase, vice Meurant ;
sign Booth Haye Metcalfe, to bo Lieutenant, by pur-
chase, vice Scott.