XLI.
[A Zionist] Letter, addressed by a [French] Jew to his Co-religionists in 1798
“Brothers,
“You who have groaned for so many ages under the weight of the cruelest persecutions, do you not wish to burst from the state of degrading humiliation in which intolerant and barbarous religions have placed you? Contempt accompanies us everywhere. Our sufferings are unpitied and despised. The unshaken constancy with which we have preserved the faith of our ancestors, far from procuring for us the admiration due to such a conduct, has only increased the unjust hatred which all nations bear towards us. It is only by affecting the exterior of baseness and misery, that we are enabled to secure our property and preserve our unhappy existence. It is at least time to shake off this insupportable yoke—it is time to resume our rank among the other nations of the universe. Vile robbers possess that sacred land which our ancestors were compelled to yield to the Romans. They profane the holy City which we defended with so much courage. Posterity has preserved a dreadful remembrance of the struggle—we, surely, have not forgotten it. That courage has only slumbered: the hour to awaken it is arrived. O my brethren! let us rebuild the temple of Jerusalem!
“An invincible nation, which now fills the world with her glory, has shewn us what the love of country can perform. Let us implore her generosity—request her assistance; and we may be assured that the philosophy which guides the chiefs of that nation, will induce them to give our demand a favourable reception.
“We are more than six millions of people scattered over the face of the earth; we possess immense riches: let us employ the means that are in our power to restore us to our country. The moment is propitious, and to profit by it, is our duty. The following are the means best suited for carrying this holy enterprize into execution:—There shall be established a Council, the members of which shall be elected by the Jews, who are spread over Europe, Asia, and Africa.”
[Here the writer divides the Jews into the 15 following tribes, viz. The Italian, Helvetic, Hungarian, Polish, Russian, Northern, British, Spanish, Gallic, Dutch, Prussian, German, Turkish, Asiatic, and African. These the author proposes shall each form a body of electors in the capitals of the respective districts; and then he proceeds.]
“The fifteen deputies of these tribes shall form the Council, which shall hold its sittings at Paris. When they shall have assembled to the number of nine, they may begin to deliberate on the object of their mission. Their decisions will have with all the Jews the force of laws; they shall be obliged to submit to them. The Council shall appoint an agent, to communicate to the Executive Directory of France the propositions which it may think proper to make to the French government.”
“The country we propose to occupy shall include (liable to such arrangements as shall be agreeable to France) Lower Egypt, with the addition of a district of country, which shall have for its limits a line running from Ptomelais or Saint John D’Acre, to the Asphaltic Lake, or Dead Sea, and from the South point of that Lake to the Red Sea. This position, which is the most advantageous in the world, will render us, by the navigation of the Red Sea, masters of the commerce of India, Arabia and the South and East of Africa; Abyssinia, and Ethiopia, those rich countries which furnished Solomon with so much gold and ivory and so many precious stones, will trade the more willingly with us, that the greater part of their inhabitants still practise the law of Moses. The neighbourhood of Aleppo and Damascus will facilitate our commerce with Persia; and by the Mediterranean we may communicate with Spain, France, Italy, and the rest of Europe. Placed in the centre of the world, our country will become the entrepôt of all the rich and precious productions of the earth.
“The Council shall offer to the French government, if it will give us the assistance necessary to enable us to return to our country, and to maintain ourselves in the possession of it,
“1. Every pecuniary indemnification.
2. To share the commerce of India, &c. with the merchants of France only.
“The other arrangements, and the propositions to be made to the Ottoman Porte, cannot yet be rendered public: we must, in these matters, repose on the wisdom of the Council, and the good faith of the French nation. Let us choose upright and enlightened deputies, and we may have confidence in the success of this undertaking.
“O! my brethren! what sacrifices ought we not to make to obtain this object? We shall return to our country—we shall live under our own laws—we shall behold those sacred places which our ancestors illustrated with their courage and their virtues. I already see you all animated with a holy zeal. Israelites! the term of your misfortunes is at hand. The opportunity is favourable—take care you do not allow it to escape.”¹
This appeal—a prototype of Pinsker’s Autoemancipation and of Herzl’s Judenstaat—produced a deep impression, but since the whole expedition proved a failure, Jewish opinion—not on the principle, but on the opportunity and the means—was divided.
XLII.
“Transactions of the Parisian Sanhedrim,” by Diogene Tama
Transactions Of The Parisian Sanhedrim,
Or Acts Of The Assembly Of Israelitish Deputies of France and Italy, Convoked At Paris By An Imperial And Royal Decree, Dated May 30, 1806.
Translated From The Original Published By M. Diogene Tama,
With A Preface And Illustrative Notes By F. D. Kirwan, Esq.
London;... Published by Charles Taylor, Hatton Street. 1807.
(8º. xvi. + 334 pp.) [I. S.]
XLIII.
“Signs of the Times”—“A Word in Season”—“Commotions Since French Revolution”—“History of Christianity”—“The German Empire”—“Fulfilment of Prophecy,” by Rev. James Bicheno
The Signs of the Times:... By J. Bicheno ...
London: Printed For The Author; And Sold by Parsons, Paternoster-Row; Wayland, Holborn, London; and James and Cottle, Bristol.
Price 1S. 6D. [1793]
Of whom may be had the Author’s Friendly Address to the Jews, and a Letter to Mr. D. Levi. Price 1s. 6d.
(8º. 4 ll. + 67 pp.) [B. M.]
A Word in Season:... To Stand Prepared For The Consequences Of The Present War ...
By J. Bicheno,... London ... 1795.
(8º. 2 ll. + 53 pp.) [B. M.]
The Probable Progress And Issue Of The Commotions Which Have Agitated Europe Since The French Revolution,...
By J. Bicheno ... London ... MDCCXCVII.
(8º. 2 ll. + 94 pp.) [B. M.]
A Glance At The History of Christianity,...
By James Bicheno, M.A., Newbury ... MDCCXCVIII....
(8º. 28 pp.) [B. M.]
The Destiny Of The German Empire;...
By J. Bicheno, M.A.... London:... 1801....
(8º. 2 ll. + 96 pp.) [B. M.]
The Fulfilment of Prophecy Farther Illustrated By The Signs Of The Times;...
By J. Bicheno, M.A. London ... 1817.
(8º. xvii. + 254 pp.) [B. M.]
XLIV.
“Restoration of the Jews”—“Friendly Address to the Jews,” by Rev. James Bicheno—“Letter to Mr. Bicheno,” by David Levi
The Restoration of the Jews, The Crisis Of All Nations;
Or, An Arrangement Of The Scripture Prophecies, Which Relate To The Restoration Of The Jews, And To Some Of The Most Interesting Circumstances Which Are To Accompany And Distinguish That Important Event;
With Illustrations And Remarks Drawn From The Present Situation And Apparent Tendencies Of Things, Both In Christian And Mahomedan Countries.
By J. Bicheno, M.A.... London ... 1800. [Price Two Shillings And Sixpence.]
(8º. 2 ll. + 115 pp.) [B. M.]
The Restoration Of The Jews The Crisis Of All Nations;
To Which Is Now Prefixed, A Brief History Of The Jews, From Their First Dispersion, To The Calling Of Their Grand Sanhedrim At Paris, October 6th, 1806.
And An Address On The Present State Of Affairs, In Europe In General, And In This Country In Particular.
Second Edition.
By J. Bicheno, M.A.
London:... 1807. (Price 5s.—Entered at Stationer’s-Hall.)
(8º. 2 ll. + 235 pp.) [I. S.]
He also wrote:—
A Friendly Address To The Jews....
To Which Is Added, A Letter To Mr. D. Levi; Containing Remarks On His Answer To Dr. Priestley’s Letter To The Jews; Shewing, That however his Arguments may affect the Opinions of Dr. Priestley, they form no Objection against the Christian Religion.
By J. Bicheno, Newbury. London:...
(8º. vi. pp. + 1 l. + 88 pp.) [I. S.]
Which occasioned the following reply:—
A Letter To Mr. Bicheno, Occasioned By His Friendly Address to the Jews, And A Letter To Mr. David Levi, Containing Remarks On Mr. Levi’s Answer To Dr. Priestley’s First Letters To The Jews.
By David Levi, Author Of Lingua Sacra, The Ceremonies Of The Jews, etc....
See pp. 127–134 in “Letters To Dr. Priestley, In Answer To His Letters To The Jews, Part II.” Occasioned By Mr. David Levi’s Reply to the Former Part. Also Letters 1. To Dr. Cooper, ... 2. To Mr. Bicheno, 3. To Dr. Krauter, 4. To Mr. Swain, And 5. To Anti-Socinus, alias Anselm Bayly. Occasioned By Their Remarks On Mr. David Levi’s Answer To Dr. Priestley’s First Letters To The Jews. By David Levi, ... London: ... M,DCC,LXXXIX.
(8º. 2 ll. + 159 pp.) [I. S.]
XLV.
“Attempt to Remove Prejudices Concerning the Jewish Nation,” by Thomas Witherby
An Attempt To Remove Prejudices Concerning The Jewish Nation. By Way Of Dialogue.
By Thomas Witherby.
Part I.¹
London: Printed For The Author, ... 1804. (Entered at Stationers-Hall.)
(8º. xx. + 511 pp.) [I. S.]
XLVI.
“Observations on Mr. Bicheno’s Book,” by Thomas Witherby
Dedicated to the Jews.
Observations on Mr. Bicheno’s Book, Entitled The Restoration Of The Jews The Crisis Of All Nations:
Wherein the revolutionary Tendency of that Publication is shewn to be most inimical to the real Interest of the Jews, who are not to expect the Restoration to their own Land until they are, by the free Grace of the God of their Fathers, enabled to acknowledge his Justice, Righteousness, and Mercy, in their long-continued Dispersion, and in the Preservation of their Nation amidst those awful Sufferings which they have endured under his righteous Judgments.
Together With An Inquiry Concerning Things To Come;...
London: Printed For The Author ...
(8º. xx. + 323 pp.) [I. S.]
Page iii.: (Dedicated) “To The Jews. Distinguished Nation.... Thomas Witherby. Enfield, Middlesex, Aug. 22, 1800.”¹
XLVII.
“Letters to the Jews,” by Joseph Priestley
Letters To The Jews; Inviting Them To An Amicable Discussion Of The Evidences Of Christianity.
By Joseph Priestley, LL.D., F.R.S....
Birmingham, ... MDCCLXXXVII. [Price One Shilling.]
(8º. 2 ll. + 54 pp. + 1 l. (Catalogue.) [I. S.]
Letters To The Jews. Part II. Occasioned By Mr. David Levi’s Reply To The Former Letters.
By Joseph Priestley, LL.D. F.R.S.... Birmingham, ... MDCCLXXXVII. [Price One Shilling.]
(8º. iv. + 56 pp.) [I. S.]
Page 56: “Your brother in the sole worship Of the one only true God, Joseph Priestley. Birmingham, July 1, 1787.”
XLVIII.
“An Address to the Jews on the Present State of the World,” by Joseph Priestley
A Comparison Of The Institutions of Moses With Those Of The Hindoos And Other Ancient Nations;
With Remarks on Mr. Dupuis’s Origin of all Religions,
The Laws and Institutions of Moses Methodized,
And An Address to the Jews on the present state of the World and the Prophecies relating to it.
By Joseph Priestley, LL.D. F.R.S. &c....
Northumberland:¹ ... MDCCXCIX.
(8º. xxvii. + 428 pp. + 2 ll. (catalogue).) [B. M.]
pp. 393–428: “An Address To The Jews.”
XLIX.
“Letters to Dr. Priestley,” by David Levi
Letters To Dr. Priestly, In Answer To Those He Addressed To The Jews; Inviting Them To An Amicable Discussion Of The Evidences Of Christianity.
By David Levi, ... London, ... MDCCLXXXVII.
(8º. 2 ll. + 99 pp.) [I. S.]
Second Edition MDCCLXXXVII. (103 pp.) [I. S.]
Third Edition, M,DCC,XCIII. (2 ll. + 99 pp.) [I. S.]
L.
“A Famous Passover Melody,” by the Rev. F. L. Cohen
“... Isaac Nathan, a fashionable singing master of London ... conceived the idea of imitating the ‘Irish Melodies’ of Thomas Moore (batches of which had been published since 1807, with the greatest success).... Less fortunate than Moore, Byron’s verses were not wedded to melodies of the national type they professed, because even before Nathan had thus exhausted his choice, he had made a most superficial search through the repertory of the Anglo-Jewish synagogues of his day, which, by the way, had not yet experienced the inspiringly melodious influence of ‘Polish’ Chazanuth.... The opening poem, ‘She walks in beauty,’ for example, he set to a tawdry Lecha Dodi.... But among the six actually ‘Hebrew’ melodies, there were one or two exceptions to the general inferiority of the music; and prominent among these was the tender and expressive air to which, by a happy inspiration, Nathan set the verses:—
‘O weep for those that wept by Babel’s stream.’
Here, at least,
‘Music and sweet poetry agreed,
As well they should, the sister and the brother’;
and the result became world famous as a type of what Hebrew melody might be. It has often been republished; and has also appeared in other settings, as by the Rev. M. Hast to Ibn Gabirol’s hymn:—
‘At morn I beseech Thee,’
or by Ernst Pauer in his Traditional Hebrew Melodies. But what is more especially known to and prized by musicians, it forms the only pianoforte composition of Robert Franz, the great songwriter, under the title
‘Beweinet, die geweint an Babel’s Strand,’
and as such, it has become famous.... The origin of the melody is ... simply the old chant of the Cohanim on the Festivals, as it used to be sung in London synagogues on the Passover a hundred years ago, with a joyous touch of Pesach tune....”¹
LI.
“Reminiscences of Lord Byron ... Poetry, etc., of Lady Caroline Lamb,” by Isaac Nathan
Fugitive Pieces And Reminiscences Of Lord Byron:
Containing An Entire New Edition Of The Hebrew Melodies, With The Addition Of Several Never Before Published;
The Whole Illustrated With Critical, Historical, Theatrical, Political, And Theological Remarks, Notes, Anecdotes, Interesting Conversations, And Observations, Made By That Illustrious Poet: Together With His Lordship’s Autograph.
Also Some Original Poetry, Letters And Recollections Of Lady Caroline Lamb.
By I. Nathan, Author Of An Essay On The History And Theory Of Music, The Hebrew Melodies, &c. &c....
London: ... 1829.
(8º. xxxvi. + 196 + 11 pp.) [I. S.]
LII.
“Selection of Hebrew Melodies,” by John Braham and Isaac Nathan
A Selection of Hebrew Melodies Ancient and Modern with appropriate Symphonies & accompaniments.
By I. Braham & I. Nathan.
The Poetry written expressly for the work By the Right Hon. Lord Byron....
Published & Sold by I: Nathan Nᵒ 7 Poland Street Oxford Strᵗ. and to be had at the principal Music and Booksellers. [Price One Guinea. (1815.)
(4to. 4 ll. + 133 pp.) [I. S.]
A second edition was published in 1861.
(4to. 2 ll. + 218 pp.) [B. M.]
LIII.
Earl of Shaftesbury’s Zionist Memorandum Scheme for the Colonisation of Palestine
Lord Ashley¹ to Viscount Palmerston.
“St. Giles House,
“September 25th, 1840.
“My Lord,
“The Powers of Europe having determined that they will take into their own hands the adjustment of the Syrian Question, I venture to suggest a measure, which being adopted will promote the development of the immense fertility of all those countries that lie between the Euphrates and the Mediterranean Sea.
“The consideration of the person or the authority to whom these territories may be assigned by the award of the contracting Powers is of no importance. The plan presupposes simply the existence of a recognised and competent Dominion; the establishment and execution of Laws; and a Government both willing and able to maintain internal peace.
“These vast regions are now nearly desolate; every year the produce of them becomes less, because the hands that should till them become fewer. As a source of revenue they are almost worthless, compared, at least, with the riches that industry might force from them. They require both labour and capital.
“Capital, however, is of too sensitive a nature to flow with readiness into any country where neither property nor life can be regarded as secure; but if this indispensable assurance be first given, the avarice of man will be a sufficient motive, and it will betake itself with alacrity to any spot where a speedy or an ample return may be promised to the speculator.
“An inducement such as this is sufficient to stimulate the mercantile zeal of every money-maker under Heaven, and it would be advisable that the Power, whoever he may be, to whom these provinces may fall, should issue and perform a solemn engagement to establish, in his laws affecting property, the principles and practices of European civilisation: but, in respect of these regions now under dispute, there are, so far as a numerous, though scattered, people is concerned, other inducements and other hopes, over and above those which influence the general mass of mankind.
“Without entering into the grounds of the desire and expectations entertained by the Hebrew Race of their return ultimately to the land of their fathers, it may be safely asserted that they contemplate a restoration to the soil of Palestine. They believe, moreover, that the time is near at hand. Every recollection of the past, and every prospect of the future, animates their hope; and fear alone for their persons and their estates represses their exertions. If the Governing Power of the Syrian provinces would promulgate equal laws and equal protection to Jew and Gentile, and confirm his decrees by accepting the four Powers as guarantees of his engagement, to be set forth and ratified in an article of the Treaty, the way would at once be opened, confidence would be revived, and, prevailing throughout these regions, would bring with it some of the wealth and enterprise of the world at large, and, by allaying their suspicions, call forth to the full the hidden wealth and industry of the Jewish people.
“There are many reasons why more is to be anticipated from them than from any others who might settle there. They have ancient reminiscences and deep affection for the land;—it is connected in their hearts with all that is bright in times past, and with all that is bright in those which are to come; their industry and perseverance are prodigious; they subsist, and cheerfully, on the smallest pittance; they are, almost everywhere, accustomed to arbitrary rule, and being totally indifferent to political objects, confine their hopes to the enjoyment of what they can accumulate. Long ages of suffering have trained their people to habits of endurance and self-denial; they would joyfully exhibit them in the settlement and service of their ancient country.
“If we consider their return in the light of a new establishment or colonisation of Palestine, we shall find it to be the cheapest and safest mode of supplying the wants of those depopulated regions. They will return at their own expense, and with no hazard but to themselves; they will submit to the existing form of Government, having no preconceived theories to gratify, and having been almost everywhere trained in implicit obedience to autocratic rule; they will acknowledge the present appropriation of the soil in the hands of its actual possessors, being content to obtain an interest in its produce by the legitimate methods of rent or purchase. Disconnected, as they are, from all the peoples of the earth, they would appeal to no national or political sympathies for assistance in the path of wrong; and the guarantee which I propose, for insertion in the Treaty to be carried out by the personal protection of the respective Consuls and Vice-Consuls of the several nations, would be sufficient to protect them in the exercise of their right.
“The plan here proposed may be recommended by the consideration that large results are promised to the application of very small means; that no pecuniary outlay is demanded of the engaging parties; that while disappointment would bring no ill-effects except to those who declined the offer, the benefit to be derived from it would belong impartially to the whole civilised world....
“I have the honour to be, my Lord,
“Your Lordship’s most obedient, humble servant,
“Ashley.
“The Viscount Palmerston, M.P.
Her Majesty’s Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.”¹