Star.
London, England, 1830-03-15 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

Remarks on the Civil Disabilities of British Jews, by'
FRANCIS HENRI- GOLDSMID. Colbourn and
Bentley.
The repeal of the Test Act, and subsequently of the
penal laws affecting Roman Catholics, it was expected
would facilitate the extension of a like measure of justice
to the British Jews. This measure has now been brought
under the consideration of Parliament, and the reception
it has experienced justifies the most confident hopes of
success. Mr. Goldamid's pamphlet is a very candid and
clear exposition of the claims of that class of his Ma-
jesty's subjects to the favour which they solicit, and which
we may venture to assert, if not now granted, will not be
long delayed. The following is an extract :
" If those, therefore, who are anxious, from benevolent
motives doubtless, that what they regard as spiritual
blessings should be generally shared, think that mixing
largely with our fellow-men nourishes prejudice, or that
knowledge increases error, or that prejudice and error pro-
mote the interests of religion, then they will do wisely
and well, in resisting such changes as those here advo-
cated. But if they believe the contrary of all this ; if
they believe that benevolence towards our neighbisur, that
an acquaintance with the works of nature and with the
productions of highly-gifted men, fit the mind for an ac-
knowledgment of truth, and that the cause of truth is the
cause of religion : then does it behove them seriously
to consider, to whether, instead of opposing, they ought
not to further, by every means in their power, the remo-
val of all restrictions upon conscience.
" On the other hand, no Christian needs apprehend that
he will diminish by a single individual the number of ad-
herents to his faith, if he promote communication between
them and the followers of the law of Moses.

" Ala tins of this description can scarcely, under any
circumstances, be felt by a man thoroughly convinced
that the correctness of his belief is clear and indispu-
table. But their existence is, I imagine, rendered im-
possible by the fact, that the Jews never attempt to make
a single convert. Nor is this line of conduct adopted
from prudential motives; it is recommended by their re-
ligious opinion 4. The Jews have no idea that it is
incumbent on the whole human race to observe the
ordinances of their inspired legislator; they conceive
that this is required only of him, whom birth has placed
among the sons of Israel ; and they hold that the
stranger who declares himself a member of their commu-
nity, undertakes voluntarily, and perhaps somewhat
' presumptuously, a burtkensome duty, of which the
strict fulfilment is indeed meritorious, but the neglect
thenceforward criminal. Their notions on this head
are in fact forcibly, though perhaps rather strangely, ex-
pressed in a saying of the Rabbins "He who is not
born in the law needs not bind himself to perform the law;
but he who is born in the law, must live in the law, and
in the law he must die." These precepts certainly in-
culcate that adherence for belief for which the Jews are
remarkable, but can never produce a zeal for seeking
proselytes.
" It is, however, not on the interests of religion, but
on the fear of political danger, that the advocates
of restrictions have usually grounded their opinions
and arguments. Now political danger can surely never
be apprehended from the Jews. The smallness of
their number is of itself sulicient, to render any such
dread so extravagant, that the most timorous will
never entertain, nor the most fanciful venture to ex-
press it. That twenty or thirty thousand individuals
should wage either open or secret war against nearly
as many millions, should nourish any serious design
of overthrowing the laws established by so vast a ma-
jority, would scarcely be suspected, even if the thirty
thouitand were as remarkable for restlessness and prone-
ness to sedition, as the Jews have always been for
their loyalty and love of order. Such are their con-
stant and distinguishing characteristics. " Seek ye the
peace of the city where ye dwell, and pray for it, for in
the peace thereof ye shall have peace. ' This was in
old time the precept of one of the prophets of Israel,
and its observance forms a leading principle of the re-
ligion of the Jews. Nor is it difficult to prove that this
principle has had considerable influence on their conduct ;
for during their residence in England, which has now''
lasted nearly two centuries, not a single instance has oc-
curred, where one of that persuasion has been, I do
not ssy guilty, but even suspected of any offense against
the state."