Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-29

tue clorgy ana aity. lie therefore replied to Lava
ter in evasive manner stating that he was surpr
sed at receiving public challenge from a man to-
wards whom he could not maintain silence; but said
at the same time that nothing should draw him into
a religious discussion, and he proceeds To state:
"Yct. for what cared, Judaism might have been
hurled down IN every polemcal compendium, and tri-
uinphantly snecrcd at IN every academic exercise,
andI would not have entered into a dispute about it.
Rabbinical schelors, and rabbinical smatterers
(mongst ChriStians might have grubbcd IN absoletc
scrbblings, which sensible Jew reads or knows of,
and amused the public with the most fantastic ideas
of Judaism, without much q contradiction OH my
part. II is by virtue that wish to shame the OPP
probrious opinion COMMONLY entertained OF Jew,
and not by controversial writings My religious te-
nets philosophy station in civil society, all furnish
me with the most cogent reason for abstaining ii ON
theological disputes, and for treating in my publca
tions, OF those truths only, which equally impor
tant 10 all perstaSions."
Although Mr.. Mendelsohn here plainly saws tina
he would not dispute about religion, he nevertheless
did not leave he world to think that nc was Jew
ut hear for he well knew that the east embirui.,
on this head, would have exposed him TO be called
Christian or an lntdcl philosopher. lie therefore
said TO Mr.. Lavater:
Z" If even You placed my reserve TO the score n
mere timdity and bashuness these very boibies wou
have deserved the moderation and torbcarance of ;
charitable heart
But my scruplcs Of engaging in religious contro
versy. never Proceeded from tmid:ty bashfuness
Let me assure you that was not only from The OH
er day that began searching into my religion. NJ
became very timely sensible of the duty of PUTTING
my actions and opinions TO test. That / have from
my carly youth devoted my hours TO rcpose and re-
laXation 10 philosophy and the and sciences wa:
done for the sole purpose of qualifying myself for THU
important investigation. What other motives coul,
have had? In the situation was then in not IN,
least temporal benefit caS TO be trpccted IRON, m
sciences. | knew very well hat had M chance NJ
Ceiling JOrtOaId IN the ,o0rid Through then,
"lf after many years of invest CATION the dccis
ION of my mind had not been completely in favor O
my religion, 1t would nf.lbly have become known
through ny public conduct. | d Mt conceive villa,
should rvet me to religion, to Appearance so exces
sIvey severe, and commonly exploded. If | were
not convinced in my heart Of its truth"
After saying that he would certainly have cmbra-
ced another religion, ID he had discovered the reli-
gion If his fathers not to be true, he proceed:
| "We;e Indifferent 20 both religions, or dcrided
and scnrncd, N my mind, revelation in general |
should know well enough what policy suggests when
conscience remalus neutral. What is inerc to Diet CIR
me-. Fear of my brethren in the faith? Their tenn
FORA. power Is too much curailcd 10 daunt M.
What thenS Obstinacy? Insocnce? \ prediec-
ton FOR habual notions? Having devoted the Great
est portion OF ny life to the Investigation, may be
supposed 10 possess sufficient rood sense NOT tn :,
Fiice the irdIt o! my Iabours such frivolitics"
These extracts are sufficient TO demonstrate, tina,
Mende!sohn was t,uly an ISraetc. II therefore re-
mans on TO be proved, yet, that he maintained q
proper respect for the rabbins and their WRITINGS
and believe me, Mr.. Editor, that without this resDcc,
the influence OF MenGelsohn upon the German lows
could never have been what it is, and probabl,
Al I r,,,l
blle Mendesohn says 'N
I'm my letter to J. e. Luvater allened from tb
IatmI7, and from the JHaimonides, that we Jews ar
not TO seek TO convert any one who is not born con
iormGoe TO TIC principles Of our religion Vvhoevr
mas tAe least knowledge of Judaism need not be toll
hat these authorities are yeygnployfyy sc;jrc ,,1
Es."-tSec also Life of Mendcs I'M maze I5OI Mn
de!sohn says here, As Pa My words can express i
that he cpaN!lerel he Tuimad (R ,bhinsN a. ,b
thlShestaU t!IoTHy III matters of law: Of conrs, l.
ftra,nnneis OF Ra6b nism thrown asi'n tn
IL Is irue that Mr Aendelsohn died quarter Of
century octoTc was born, and in consequence can
not state to certainty what IDEAS wee cntcrtainr
OF Mendelsohn during lis l!feEs but if at nil lno,
the SplTt OF my associates IN rcliniDn thou nrvc
could have 'trembled at ms descr:ion of their nr
cient opinion" They wbId certainly have fel
soreiy gTlcved If MendelsoBn had desaftcd; but
could not have been more luxurious To our rnjirio
than the writings of Spu6za ,and UreI Ia Cos,a'
The descrIon of the RGT<EaIF. Wocil, and other =
postateS That the ideas of many of AIcuIo' ,b =,
followers approached scepiicig,n | caunyt deny, n,
tS can no more be charged, with any degree Of il,
ice, TO the influence OF this truly great and Gnn
man, than the multiplicity of SCOTS 10 tho f,,rdS
Christianity There. are many other obicct;onobi
points IN the short sXtract yiven above from Mr. NJ;
man history, but am afraid that | have ,Ircod
tIeSpaosed more upon your patience than haze an
| right 10 demand. 80
| 1t may perhaps be said that this defence of Mendc
Sohn IS uncaedf for but beg leave to assert, th1t g,
Jews as little desired the Rev. Prof,s or to writ
o"I "scO'y' Us any man may wish to read the strict
/ April 20 "'y'
| Ia The Editors Of the Richmond yVhie yyu n,c,s
give the above place in their paper.
| - -CS1z-a----------
FROM COLOM3IA.--By the schr. Ea,o,;no n
| Savannah, BogUta papers to the LIST March H. =