Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-04-29
1870 EDz1


Ar. Editor My beng a Jew and loyor Of ,ruth
no less Than an adnirer of MosEs MENpELsoHY will
with the following remarks: -"
Eno 'hisiory OF tie Jews, by TIC Rev. Mr. Eli
man, has been highly Recommended by various iour
naIs, both oere and in England pnd the opinions
'He'S'oTe WHICH the reverend author advances arc
Tue more likely of being generally adop;cd iIouoE
'hey be not always founded in truth II i, nor M,
purpose 10 review the whole book: bat only To nu,icc
"hat Is said OF Mendeisohn, in the concrding ma RI
VI the tnfo Volume: The passage in question is
couched in the following words:
IN Germany, the public mind was surprised at the
unusual phenomenon of a jew suddenly stnrt
ING FORWARD IN The career of letters, and assuming
niBn ana acknowledged rank IN the rapidly awaken
iDg literature Of that country as metapbv-ic,I and
philosophical writer. This was the celebrated Mo-
ses Mendelsohn, who, by genius and unwcaried an.
tPHcalloh pFoKe through the most formidable obs a.
Giles, poverty, dependence and the spirit of bs se.
Inc Jews were proud of his distinction but from
oIed at his deserton Of their ancient opinions: the
Christians confidently looked forward TO the occs.
SION OF SD enlightened mind TO the Church; the phi
iosoPherS expected HIM 10 Join in their fierce cru-
SADIE against religion. Mcndelsohn retained his o,vn
caIu and independent course. Ho remained mt
wardly member of the synagogue, while lie tbrevv
e5ide disdalntuiy tie trammels Of Rabbin:stn io =
letter OF LaYater, urging him TO embrace Chri,ari
w. ne returned firm and temperate indication of
ms adherence to bis former faith; his mild and arno
NC spirit had DttIc III communion with the unurin,
piea apostles OF lntdeIity. 1t would be dcultto do
- ''' Si'uo uPIiou5 OF Rlendel5on, whose mind
10 some respects sngulaTly lucid in others partok nj
the wage and dreaming mysticism Of his countrvrnon.
Dut u he mad any fixed view, II probably was IN i,
fuse INTO kind Of phosophic, or as would nov, Lo
caHea' ratiGnalzlng Judaism, the spirit of pure chris
.-' I'VE Du' whatever the opinions oil Mcndosobn
whether Jew, Christian, or ntide his success in LOT
'ers exercised an important influence both on tbc
minus OF bis own BRETHREN aud on tie estimate, -
which The Jews wore held at least. in C;c,r1ar,,
May OF The Jewish yorth. emancipatcd by his OK
T dp rom feDoinism, probably rushed headlong
Go"n inc preciplce Of unSelier while on the Ohio,
hohG a Kndler feeling gradually arose towoIds rho
nIethrcn Of mnn whose writings dpljohted ami -
s'r t;! many Of the rising youth Of Gcrmanvn
NHoeVef reads the extract here given (which hy
ls SJ 10 al lhe reverend author dcgns TO say or
tIlnk, that MendOlsohn had never given an ,,crri"
ocal declaration Of his belief and TINT if ie n = , 49,
certain u he was Jew, Christian. or inGJcI
i,uo, confess mat Mr. MIlman has adopted most
,S ,,oo, pun VI 'htowing odit0n upon character
w S'cut 20 Ue as5ailed directly. But ouy goc,o,.,
was Dclther Christian nor Ip6del nor al bo 80
aisaainiulIy throw aside the trarntnoIs ~ p.LL;r
ISM icw brief extracts from his cor,o ,,@TJo,,
WI!n - y. Layaer Will be- sufficient to prove ibis
80 go. Ss''5o SHOWN 10 you, Mr.. Editor, and many
" your ieadcrs that Mr. Lavatcr, minister or w
Ich' IN Switzerland, translated book "On , ~
aences OF Christianity" from tho FroneL &c a.
bonnet ana dedicated IL 10 Mr.. McndelsoI,n y,b -
s,oed ~ Berlin, and challenged him, either r. gscJ.
"",e"@ ar bonRet, or in cnse he stoyLi GyJ
HteD coHctuslUe, 10 dn t0huL loLi,,, I,e r I,L 80
ProChy should Jd him. rIh S,groIs y ~ ly'' , W.
aohe, hnd nc Tedd NE t0ork and Goy1d IL ,,,..s,,
O'e ~ Other words, L1vater called on NorJoI,at >,
10 embrace Christianity. This choIengo nIaooJ a..
NJ ~ dIsagreeable situation; as 20 remain s,irr,
No., "uyo appeared as though 10 were afrtid 10
meet Layater or os a silent acGniescenee in The ,,,I
% Christianity but again TO enter the arena If ,I
GlOgcal controversy would have expossd bi 81 III IL
''"H vi general W Tho li1trod md mairriiv hill I'D