The Litchfield County post., 1827-10-18

the kess Ehen0i, Hro Othcr great otncers ot
the Porte, they boldly declared themselves 10
he Christians; they said, that the only rea-
son why they were prosecuted by their fel-
lOw-countrymen was, because they believed
that the Messiah had come and they asked
the Turks whether they also did not believe
that this was true. They presented their ha-
ratch papers, saying that they were faithful
subjects of the Sultan, and that their humble
desire was, to be allowed to live as such, pro-
tected by the Government from the persecu
tons Of the Jews. After their seizure, the
Jews had used al their efforts TO obtain the
execution of one of their number. Sentence
of death was passed upon the bOokbinder by
the Grand Rabbi and his three assistants, and
petition was presented TO the DragOman Of
the Porte, himself formerly Jew,) offering
him large reward if he would Obtain for
them its being put into effect. 1--WE demand"
they said, e the death of this accursed man,
whose blood be upon u.s." This circumstance
is the more remarkable, as the Jews never al
low, if it be possible to prevent it, any one of
| their nation, whoever he may be, or whatever
crime he may he guilty Of to be put to death
by the Turks. To prevent this, their nation
al purse is always open, and thousands and
| thousands of piastres are given on such Occa-
sions. Here, however, was a crime similar
I to that which our Saviour and his Apostles
had committed; and they were prepared to
avengc it with similar blindness and obdura-
cy. May the veil, ere long, be taken from
| their hearts and | trust in God the time is
rapidly approaching
The DragOman of the Porte, to his honor,
refused to dip his hands in innocent blood
and, in conversation with Mr.. Hartley com
pared their conduct to that of their forefathers
before PLATE; and all that their interest and
money could effect was to obtain sentence
Ethat they should be sent to the Bagni0. the
prison of the Arsenal, for the term of six
months.
| During this critical inter val between the lst
of Dec. the day of their apprehension,an and the
| 7th, when they were committed to the Bagn-
10, which they passed at the prison of the
Porte, they were cut off as much as possible
from all intercourse with their friends, and
were assailed by the Jews with every kind of
temptation to renounce their faith. A full
{ pardon and immediate deverance were prom
ised them, if they returned to their old reli-
| gion, and death was held out to them as the
! consequence ofthcir perseverance. The young
man was the principal object of these as
saults, whose father,now returned from Adri-
anople, and intended father-in-lAw, (for tho
SO young, he was already atlianced in mar
! riage, and the money of the dowry paid left
no means untried to reclaim him. He has,
however. shown throughout an admirable
! firmness, and a lively faith and zeal; nor does
I he appear to have had more than one moment
of weakness during the whole course of his
severe trials : this was shortly after his appre-
{ hension. when he was assured that if he re-
turned to his parents and old religion,he would
not only secure himself from punishment, but
that this would be the only means Of saving
I the life of the Armenian and his two friends
turning to whom, he SAID, "For your sakes
[ must yield" They, however, exhorted him
not to be deceived by the professions of the
j Jews, but to stand firm, aud that, if necessa-
ry, they would all die together. His courage
was Immediately restored and he has ever
since, by his example, been the main support
and encouragement of this little band On
one occasion especially, their fortitude was
: put to the test: for the Jews, seeing that they
could not work upon them by promises, had
it finally announced that their fate was sealed
and that the next morning they would be led
to execution. Thus. for whole night, they
had the view ofdeath before their eyes; and
they spent it in reading the New Testament
with weeping and prayer. Two other Jews
were lelt III pflSOLl WltI tneln,WnOm the DOCK
binder, Tor, as l should now say, John Bap-
tist,) reproved for their unbelief IN the Messi-
ah, exhorting them to follow their example,
and become martyrs for the name of Christ
These Jews, unmoved by their behaviour and
exhortations, wrote to the Rabbits, to inform
them that there was no hope of their ever re-
turning to the Jewish religion, and that the on
! ly course to be pursued with them was to get
them put to death.
| The punishment of the prisoners in the
Bagnio, consists in being chained, two and two,
with heavy chains, and employed in the la
borious works Of the Arsenal, under the su-
perntendence of the Turkish guards, who
J beat them if they do not perform the task to
their liki-S There are about 700 persons in
this prison, of whom about 500 are Greek
slaves, the greater part prisoners taken in the
Greek war. The circumstances of this affair
having produced general sensation and SYM
pathy throughout the city, had penetrated
within the walls of the Arsenal and the pris-
oners, when brought there, were kindly vel
coined ny the poor Christian slaves, WI no went
in body to the Agha and officers, to beg they
might be kindly treated, and not put to severe
| labour. In consequence of this mediation.
| they passed the two first days unmolested -
but after this several Jews came, and among
| them the father and the intended father-in.
law of the young man, who, after another
truitless attempt to bring them back to Juda-
J ism, went u gave considerable sum of mon