Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-06-17

for glorious dci,cfer he is the last relic of an illus
uous race which is cocyal with the world-he nations
aoOnt hi are uantne when conparet with the hoary
age of Judaism. lie is a member of small band,
a'nd world of aliens; and the ties of kindred are
therefore stronger, and the social affections AM
mated and called INTO action, than in the case OF
Christians who meets brother IN every man he meets
Assembled IN their synagogue, built after the fashion OF
The temple of Solomon and looking towards the east
their distant home, they chamt solemn worship in
strange tongue with ceremonaiS and religious obser-
yanCes that constantly terminating high cnthus
assn and holy JOY which forbid the degradation of their
character. The very persecution winch has been in
Ictcd upon them has called into action the of
orhtude, BY which they distinguished; and the tenn
PORTING and subscrvIen manners to which they have
been frequently compelled 10 resort has softened and
civilized the character which might otherwise have
been harsh and brutalthc natural effects of the i'll
usage which il has been their hard lot to cncuunter
But allowing the truth of the charge of rnCanuess and
unanlability which has been laid against them and
winch Is the natural rust of their situations the circ;m
stances of their hisory--he decided nationality and
The oriental colouring about the Jewish character re
ie'e them, III our eyes, from that contempt and preu
ace winch Is not uncommonly felt in these en-
hShtenrd tunes, and which has always induced us to
trace, with than common interest tie tcs of this
unfortunate nation, from their last dispersion through
! the dark and dismal periods of European history.
Fhe History OF the jews in England though dreary
tale OF wo we have been induced select as the sub
Ject OF tins article from the light which throws upon
Tue national character of the people Of tins country
ans The nature OF ITS government, curing the dark ages
eNtortons, and prosecutions, is s subec; OF con
graduation to turn our upon the improved state
both of the pcrscc cd and the pcr-ccuiors--an idea
which IS naturally reflected from The opaque surface of
these barbarous times with Unanimous brightness, uoon
our own happy epoch.
The Jews, il has been commonly affirmed hy his,or;
ans, were introduced into England by W lillian the
Couqucror That many jews accompanied that sover.
elgn and las army into BRITAIN and afterwards ,iriu
ms reign locked into the country in greater numbers
nan at any previous period, Is very true bat this
tdeiing nation had made settlement England con
seraoie time before the conquest, Is IS proved by the
Industrious antiquary no compiled; he book before Us
ihe Jews are mentioned in the laws OF Edward the
CohessOr wherein il LAID down, that 1.-THE Jews and
al they possess belong to the tiin@n Aud in char
ter ct "igiait king Of 'Icrca, made The nouks of
Crol land, we find confirmed To them, not oav such
anus as had at any time been given the monastery b,
The Kings OF Alcrca, but also all their possessions W hat
ever, whether they originally bestowed on then,
by hrisiIans or Jews.nf This charter was granted
- 90; but we have farther proof that the Jews were,
settled IN England li3 years before the date OF H.
~ m'. ~ the CHaOnC0L ErCer,iiDls, published by
fgblicht, archbishop of York i'm A. ID zI0 (.i,;s
l.anS arc orbai 10 be present at the jewish icass
ms Is The earliest mention of the Jews ii, The annals
OF Great BriIalu " hen they did enter Great Britain
tt i impossible 10 ascertain. There have been anti
I''ri'S, who have concluded t!at the Jews lived il,
England during The 6'st settlements of the Rom MS
- Np'iah orci, II seems. was found in digging the
i"uhdalnn OF house In LONDON, hay ing on one side
va" tt'ci' representing Sampson drl' e the foxes into
hcId OF corn. Without relying upon so slender an
i"'n"f'ty thus afforded, it is by means improbable
'' 'ne Jews after the final destruction of Jerusalem
should wander into Britain and settle III opI,o which
was, even IN Caesars time, port AID t,ad;n.r cit,
celebrated Tor the beauty of its silu<ion and for bcin
me residence o! multitude of merchants.
Ut ovcY seems To think, that the his torjans re q
ieu concerning the Jews from their iDtro,ucti,r ~,
lie Conquernr till tie reign OF lis successor. rLc
cronIcer Iorctcn, however, states that in the fourth
7f OF ms feign The iFst William held counci. of
ms oafcis' IN winch among ocr things il was urov,
utu tt me Jews, settled IN this Kingdom. sl,ouId bc
unner The Kings projections that they should moi sub
JCc themselves TO any other without his leave: il Is de-
ciFcd tha they and all theirs belong to ti., kim. and
II any should dcain any of their goods he might chai
- u'c''' as his o"n''T ms seems to have been the
only tenure this miserable people ever held ON tins conn
Try before teir Punishment: the king viudjcated them
d" ms own property hest they should become the prev
o any other; their claim to protection was that u lnn
as Use hIIIg preserved them from the :amrcssions If
@Shsts thej would yield the richer prey TO himself
iheir "oic history, IN England, represents tbcin in
The light OF plumber, concndcd for between two mar
ues--aoineiimcs dragged within the clutches of ono
% "gdi" ''ltched BY tie no less dangerous ftngs OF
."e ot'ef' ny eNoring u5uriUus interest and by tax,
S hu't 'ilaSt OF the wants OF needy borrowers cy
iatcncd upon tIc land and acquired nn,eus, :, o.I,L
""'ch lhcy were periodically required 20 dsgorpc by
NC party III whose hands they happened 10 be- TLr
measures winch the king aud powerful aroi,s r-o -
PC"eu 10 resort TO, Tor the purpose of wrncing li
nara earned riches from tie tenaciis lr;so of av,r
''"5 Jews were we may be sure BY no means of .
gchlic nature We shall see, III c course of this ~
. tsOuQIerDr tOI
"'e lo'i OF Edward l. the period of.cir final Danish /
'lh 'ne unfortunate lsraees OF ths country were al
t''e'y INDUCED with privileges that they might get
',"' Cau'nniated abused, and massacred by TIE pe0
PIE, whose bard creditors they and in due time
mat IS TO say, wien the king wanted money tortured
imprisoned, and executed by their protector into
whose presiding care they fed for reIse and vino Ii
a good shepherd guarded them from the solve ,;,i .
Their eeccs were grown, and their carCasses ycrc
dy for tue butcher. dealing with then, a. s,,r.r :,
says the author Of an old pamphlet c Anglo Duirrsl
we nave before quoted suffering them to suck M the
English treasure, which they then squeeze out into their
Golfers" '"'"
The first mention made Of The Jews in the rcirn Of
.,,'n' hu'u7' IS w thc occasion of very singular
transactions -hcthcr II that the kii,r., cnn-
science vas troubled with scrupics or whether he was
PreYaued upon by the handsome presents Of the Jews
or, what Is more probable than either in utter "a I
ness Of all religion he wished TO make sport by brine
g the professors of two dlametricaiy opposite ones into
close contest, for the of himself and cour
tiers; ho" ever this may be- he determined TO hold So
Tenn conference of Jews and Christians 10 dispute ON
lhc evidences OF Chrlstianty-and the bearlCys KING
declared tn me Of y,I.c tltYt ,, you'll ,,;