New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1851-03-17
DR.. Raphalrs Lecture on the POst-Blbiical
History of the Jews.

IfbtOFJ Oi tue Jc0bs
The frat Of this Course Of Lectures was deliy
cred on Monday evening last, a. the Medical
College, Crosby st., before a numerous and 70
spectacle audience. The Lecturer began by ex-
planning the motives that had first induced him to
undertake subject so vast aud important. In
the year ls47, when the election Of Baron Roths
child 10 represent the City OF London in Paria
ment, and the measures introduced for the removal
Of Jewish disabilities had called general attention
TO theJews, he had been requested by the Direct
ors Of the the Polytechnic Institution, at Birming
ham, England, to deliver q courEe Of Lectures on
the history OF his people, and that, though fully
alive to the difficulties of such a task, he had
deemed it his duty to comply with the request
He went on TO say that the Jews were the sole
survivors Of the really olden time, and that their
history connects itself inseparably, and down to
the preaent times, with those most ancient and sa-
cred records from which the civilized world de-
rives its faith and on which it rests its hopes :
that this people, the Jews beyond all others had
exercised the most lasting influence on the human
mind: an influence tina. had outliyed the phlloso-
uby Of Greece and the craftsmanship OF Rome
and 10 which every succeeding century, every
advance IL knowledge, every discovery OF science,
eVeFV lUlprOVemelt IN the bOCldl stem duOfuSA
Greater strength and a wider scope. And yet,
while all this is true, while all that is highest,
boliest, most admired, and most veneratedi az
taches itself to this people, its history and rs IN
aueuce, the people itself expetriated and dis
persed, deprived Of its political existence long
before any Of the States that at present constl-
tate the civilized world had sprung into being
the people itself had, during centuries been the
iest Of folly, and the GcOrn OF PRIDE and IS
in q
obtain a RECOGNITION Of is claim 70 those rights
of citizenship which are inslienablei 70 that alb
solute freedom Of conscience which is mans high
est birthrisht. -,
The post biblical history Of the Jews began with
the close of the canon OF the Old Testament,
and continues 70 the present day IL thus en-
braces & period Of $500 years, and extends to
every quarter Of the globe. During this long
space OF time they would behold the highest mo
tives. the noblest feelings, called into activity
Nor was il only active courage they Wooid nave
10 admire, for they would also behold the inhex'
ible determination TO suffer, wearing out the
ruthless power 20 infict the frmness ct prln-
cipe overcoming the obstinacy OF PreJudlce.-
They would see how, under Disadvantages the
most overw helmiDg, mind triumphs over mat.
ter; the lofty hope over the crushing reality Aod
y bat men would they become acquainted Wiz .-
Not only Alexander and Cesar, Cromweil eDo " q
poleon, bat also those less meteorlc out e4uAly
eifted and far more beneficial heroes OF mind, VINO
5prirs the struggle Of cesturiss could keep alive
the inward spuit which babe defiance 70 TIE pres
cure from without. Do not think, said ne' tnat
because 500 years hs7e elapsed SINCE tue oDuy
rolitic OF the Jews was destroy ed, their history
can offer DO Ecenes grand, impressive ana h'shy
instructive II il be true that the nooiess sisns
in nature is that Of good man struggl ing against
adversely, what mustit be to see an entire PeOPie