During the last fifteen years, France has communicated to the 100,000 Jews dispersed in her departments every civil right Among them there are many men of cultivated minds, such as Rodriguez, Furtado, Eli Levi; Bing, lately dead, and universally regretted; Lipman Moses, known as the author of Hebrew and German poems; Berr Isaac Beer, who, at the commencement of the Constituent Assembly, victoriously refuted the paralogisms advanced by Lafare, bishop of Nancy, against the admission of Jews to civil rights; Michael Berr, an advocate, and member of several learned societies; Zalkind Howitz, author of some esteemed works; as for instance, "On the Resignation of the Jews;" Terkem and Anschel, the former professor of the higher branches of mathematics, the latter of physics and chemistry, at the Lyceum of Meutz, &c. &c.

No Jew has ever had a seat in any of the French National Assemblies, into which Catholics, Lutherans, Calvinists, Negroes, and Mulattoes were admitted; but several have filled with honour the offices of judges, administrators, and municipal officers. In the department of Mont Tonnere, one of them is mayor of his commune, of which he has put the financial affairs in very good order, and is esteemed an excellent farmer.

Mr. David Zinstheimer, a Rabbin of Aisace, has displayed much learning and eloquence in a letter which he addressed, two years ago, to such as professed the Jewish religion; preaching charity towards all men, aud the duties they owe to their country. The induence which he derives from his sacerdotal character enables him to second the views of the government, which wishes to turn the attention of the Jews to agriculture, and the exercise of the liberal and mechanic arts. The praiseworthy conduct of this Rabbin forms a striking contrast to that of many of his brethren, whose folly and ignorance might lead us to suppose that they do not belong to the present age To be versed in the Talmud is by them considered as the maximum of learning. They contract and debase the minds of their followers by the fooleries with which their memory is charged, and by a multitude of puerile observances, some of which are not the most decent, im

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posed upon the women in particular. Fearful of losing their power, they sound the alarm as soon as any of their flock evince a desire to cultivate their understandings. From the same motive, in the German provinces lately annexed to France, they oppose the establishment of separate schools for the Jews, or sending of their children to those of the Christians.

In the past centuries of our era, especially from 450 to 559, difference of religion did not hinder the Jews and Christians from intermarrying; but such unions are very rare in our times and not above four or five are known to have taken place in France since the Revolution.

The Jews have less dislike to the military profession than to agriculture. A considerable number of them serve in the French armies; several of them are officers; and two have risen to the rank of chiefs of battalions.

Formerly the Portuguese and German Jews detested the Caraites, and mutually hated each other. In the

last century a Prussian Jewess, having married a Portuguese physician, her relations put on inourning, as if she had been dead. A Caraite having come to Frankfort, would have been murdered there, if Ludolph had not saved him from the fury of the synagogue. A Rabbin had previously given it as his decided opinion, that if a Caraite and a Christian were drowning at the same instant, the Rabbinical Jew ought to make a bridge of the body of the Caraite for the purpose of saving the Christian.

Their ideas, however, have undergone a considerable change in that respect. It is not a hundred years since fifty Jewish families of Amsterdam baying expressed a wish to declare themselves Caraites, the government prevented them. Lately, at Paris, a religions festival united under the roof of one Synagogue the Portuguese and German Jews. This, however, is suppos ed to have resulted less from a conformity of doctrine than from an indifference, which is partly the fruit of their education. In their childhood they heard their teachers not only ap prove, but even prefer, the Talmud to the Bible; for the Rabbins compare the latter to water, and the Talmud to wine. In their riper years, revolting against the reveries of the Mishna, they have not been able to separate the absurd tales from the truths which enlightened reason reveres.

For some years past, a spirit of reform has manifested itself among the Jews of Leghorn; who in 1796 made some alterations in their religious rate

among those settled at Amsterdam, four or five hundred of whom have established a separate synagogue; among those of Berlin, the greater part of whom no longer attend their synagogue, and some of whom, ten years ago, addressed a celebrated Letter to the Protestant pastor Tellier. They offered to join the Protestant church, without believing its doctrines; for they reduced their symbol to four or five significant and abstract propositions, which do not indicate any symptom of Christianity.

The progress of mental improvement among the Jews is, however, most observable in Germany; where several men of learning are earnestly endeayouring to improve the mode of education. The Jews have had a share in this moral revolution. Mendelsohn, a creative genius, raised himself to a high rank amang philosophers: and his renown was the electric spark which kindled the genius of the Hebrews. Mendelsohn had for contemporaries or successors men of distinguished reputation, some of them now no more, such as Bloch, Herz, Maimon, Hartevig, Vezelize, &c. ; others still living, such as Friedlander, uncle and nephew, Wolfsshon, Frænkel, Schottlander, &c.; but in particular Bendavid, president of the Society of Friends of Humanity at Berlin, and author of several profound works, who has endeavoured to apply Algebra to the theory of taste in the arts. Seve, ral times the Berlin Academy of Sciences had expressed a wish that Mendelsohn might be appointed one of their associates; but Frederic, who has been called the Great, refused his assent, because he world not have in the list of members the name of a Jew, joined to that of Catherine II. of Russia! This trait of little-mindedness will probably not be copied, if the Academy should now present to the Prussian Government, as a candidate, Bendavid, to whom it has already decreed several prizes.

The Prussian Jews had, during the last six years, published a Journal in Hebrew, in which they attacked, with argument and ridicule, the reveries of the Talmud. This periodical work is to be revived at Dessau under a new torm, and the title of The Salemite; or a Journal for the Diffusion of Knowledge among the Jews, by M.M. Frænket, Wolf, and Rundel.

The Jews have been reproached for undervaluing the female sex. in the daily prayers of the men is the following passage:-" Blessed be the rea

tor of Heaven and Earth for not having made me a woman ;"-whilst the woman was taught to say with humility, "Blessed be thy name for having made me as I am."-They begin to repair this injury, especially at Berlin and at Hamburgh, where there are many Jewesses whose education has been conducted with the greatest care, aud who are distinguished by a union of virtue and learning. In Michael Berr's "Appeal to the Justice of Nations," there are some curious notes relative to this subject.

Some enlightened Jews do not approve of having schools exclusively appropriated to the children of their nation. It would undoubtedly be a powerfal mean towards eflecting a complete political union, if they all frequented the schools and universities of the Christians; but the prejudices of the latter, by rejecting them, or at least attaching a kind of stigma to Judaism, induced them to establish separate schools in different towns and cities of Germany-at Nuremberg, Furth, Breslaw, Koningsberg, &c. They have likewise such schools at Berlin, Frankforton-the-Mayne, Dessau, Seezen, in particular for the education of poor chil dren. They are almost all supported by voluntary contributions. The regulations of these schools, and several elementary works, expressly written for their use, have been printed. At Frankfort-on-the-Mayne, M. Giesenheimer, uniting music with poetry, has printed for the scholars a collection of picces every way calculated to inspire virtuous sentiments.

In 1795 a society of Jews, for the most part young men, founded at Dessau a separate school for the children of their nation. They had to contend against a multitude of obstacles; but the protection of the government, which approved of the statutes of that school, the success attending their mode of instruction, and the public and solemn examinations, caused the establishment to prosper. The founders addressed 'themselves to the benevolence of persons in easy circumstances, and received abundant succours ; by means of which they were enabled to enlarge their plan. They have ac cordingly increased the number of the masters; and they are now preparing a fit place for the library. The pupils, whose number amounts to about one hundred, are under the direction of Mr. Frankel; and a better choice could not well have been made. He is assisted by professors worthy of him; among others, by the modest Tikich. In this

school they follow the method of Pestalozzi, M. Olivier, formerly a colleague of Basedow, and who has given us a learned analysis of the system of languages, and of the manner of teaching them.

At Seezen, a town situate between Brunswick and Gottingen, a college was founded in 1801, for the children of the Jews, by M. Jacobsohn, who fills a high office in the service of the Duke of Brunswick, and enjoys the esteem of all ranks. He confided the direction of it to a man of learning and zeal, M. Scottlander, counsellor to the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt, who is engaged in writing a history of his nation. There are ten professors, although the number of students does not yet amount to more than fifty; but it daily increases. The arrangement of the building, and the administration of the establishment, may serve as models. There, as well as at Dessau, the children are distinguished by neatness and cleanliness, by good order, and an air of health and content. The poor are admitted gratis, and the others pay in proportion to their ability. They are taught the German, French, Hebrew, and Latin languages, geography, history, declamation, natural history, mathematics, technology, &c.-At Seezen they add to the above the Greek language and music; and it is intended soon to establish a school of industry. Each student has a small plot of ground allotted to him, which he cultivates with his own hands; and it is part of the plan of this school to wean them from commerce, the spirit of which is so deeply rooted among the Jews.

They communicate to the pupils here the elements of such knowledge as is necessary for every station in life, and the acquisition of which prepares the way for the developement of the greatest talents, if they happen to be endowed therewith. I have admired the facility with which conversation was carried on between the professors and some of the pupils, though very young, in the French and Latin languages, and on various objects of instruction. I have seen them, during their recreation, solve very complicated arithmetical problems, and make mathematical demonstrations. Those details sufficiently evince the capacity and diligence of the pu pils, who are all Jews, and of the professors, some of whom are Jews and some Christians, and who live most amicably together. With respect to such of the pupils as, from the inferierity of their talents, are rendered unt for the pursuits of literature and the

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sciences, the Duke of Brunswick has lately taken some wise measures to facilitate to them the learning, and to ensure to them the free exercise of arts and handicrafts.

On the front of the new synagogue for the College of Seezen it is proposed to have two hands joined together with an inscription, the object of which is to remind Christians and Jews that they worship the same God.

Besides the ascetical books with which they are provided, M. Schottländer has compiled for the use of the students, a Collection of Poems and Moral Precepts, taken from various authors. The Talmud, among other works, has been put under contribution for this purpose. M. Schottländer has inserted in his book Maimonides's Thirteen Fundamental Laws of the Jewish Faith; a short aal wellwritten History of the Hebrew Language; the second canto of the Moysiade, an epic poem by Hartwig Vezelize, a Rabbin, lately deceased at Hamburg and other instructive and interesting pieces.

In Germany the minst happy effects are expected to result from these Schools of the Jews. They are un wearied in their endeavour to merit admission to a full participation of alk civil rights. This has been granted them already in France. But on the other side of the Rhine they have not been able to obtain the object of the r wishes, notwithstanding the efforts of the learned and respectable M. Dohm.

There seems to be, however, a gradual approximation towards a better order of things. Already, through the zeal of Messrs. Jacobsohn and Breitenbach, twenty-six German princes have repaired an outrage done to humanity, by abolishing that infamous toll which put the Jews upon a level with cloveafooted animals.

In a German state on the right hank of the Rhine, the goverament had been hesitating about the suppressionof this toll, and even pretended to subject to it the Jews dwelling on the left side. But this determination was soon changed, when they were informed of the spirited conduct of M. Jambon S. Andre, the prefect of Mont Tonnere, who proposed, by way of reprisal, that the subjects of the German Prince (the Jews only excepted should be obliged to pay the same toll when they entered France.

Will it be believed, that in the 19th century there exists a republic where public opinion has so stigmatized the Jews, that they dare not.

under pain of being insulted, enter the wide alleys which serve as a promenade to the Christians?—and yet Frankforton-the-Mayne is known to possess citizens estimable in every respect: and who, no doubt, will raise their voice for the purpose of putting an end to this injustice, less dishonourable to those who suffer it, than to those who tolerate it. Will it be believed, that at Berlin, when a Jew has several sons, he cannot marry more than one of them? For the marriage of the second he must have permission from government: the obtaining of which, always attended with expence, becomes progressively more difficult, if the application be about a third or a fourth. Formerly the bridegroom was obliged to purchase a certain quantity of faulty porcelain-ware at the rojal manufactory. But let us hope that the epoch approaches when all the separate Jewish communities will be abolished; when civil toleration, expiating the crimes of preceding generations, will call mankind, without distinction, to fulfil all the duties and enjoy all the rights of itizens.

AMERICA.

Revival of Religion in Little Compton.
Sir,
Cambridge, May 16, 1806.

KNOWING that you feel deeply interested in the cause of our Redeemier, and that any information respecting the prosperity of Zion must afford you the highest satisfaction, I cannot but transmit to you a short account of a revival in Rhode Island, which I received a few days ago in a letter from Newport, dated April 22, 1806.

" In Little Compton, Tiverton, Westport, and Fall River towns, in the south-eastern part of this state, the Lord is, in a most remarkable manner, displaying his power and grace; especially in Little Compton, where Mr. Shepherd is minister. There the attention has been much greater than in the other places. There the Lord appears to display his power and goodness in a most wonderful manner. Aged sinners, on the verge of the grave, and who have appeared, as to religion, like trees twice dead, and plucked up by the roots, now flourish in the courts of our God. Children ien, fourteen, and even eight years of age, cry "Hosanna to the Son of David!" Opposers to the doctrines of distinguishing, electing, and uneon

trollable grace, now rejoice in these doctrines, as their only hope. The enemies of all religion are silent as to opposition; and some are constrained to say," Verily, this is the finger of God!" Almost every family contains a new-born soul; and some two, three, and four. Not less than one hundred appear to have tasted and seen that the Lord is gracious," since the reformation commenced; and almost all the rest are inquiring, "What must we do to be saved?" Their meetings, which are almost daily, are thronged; and every countenance is solemn as the grave. The first Sabbath in April more than forty were admitted into the church. The work appears to increase. It is regular, still, and evidently genuine."

HAVING the honour to be in the management of the Patriotic Fund, I have an opportunity of seeing many letters from the wounded, and from the relatives of the slain in battle, which give birth to serious reflections on Death, and the many miseries of war. These, whilst they quicken sympathy, and promote tenderness towards suffering Humanity, urge to fresh exertions to fulfil the noble purposes which the contributors to that nationally honourable institution contemplated, when they liberally poured of their property into its treasury. Could I be permitted to make public the widow's gratitude,the orphan's thanks, the surviv ing aged parents' blessings, the contributors would deem themselves amply repaid: the expressions would provoke to more lively thankfuluess to Him who, by the teachings of his holy word and the blessings of the Holy Spirit, has distinguished Britain with greater light than is found in all the world beside. This, however, is not permitted; but I cannot refrain from giving to your valuable Magazine extracts from two letters, from common seamen, which this day reached me; and whose contents are remarkable, coming from on board a man of war. I shall, for obvious reasons, suppress names, ➡ the knowledge of which would be of little use; but the letters shall be given verbatim et literatim ; and from the publication, I hope at least the following good will arise: 1st, To incite materual'solicitude to renewed industry, in the inculcation of pious