ABOUT twenty years ago, some French merchants at Cadiz having received a consignment of leather from one of our manufactories, were much alarmed at seeing the officers of the inquisition enter their houses. They desired to see the leather newly arrived, and having observed that it bore the image of the holy virgin, which was the mark of the manufactory, exclaimed against the profanation. They remarked that the leather being intended to make shoes, the image of the Mother of Christ ran the hazard of being trodden under foot, and therefore confiscated it. The affair was referred to the supreme tribunal at Madrid. The merchants, much alarmed, had recourse to the court, by means of their ambassador. The court and the tribunal received the complaint in the manner it merited. The officers of the inquisition were enjoined not to molest strangers under such trifling pretexts, and the merchants recovered their leather without farther trouble. Bourgoing's Travels in Spain. Letter from the Jews of Spain to those of Constantinople.-Honoured Israelites, health and greeting! Know that the king of Spain by force obliges us to turn christians, and deprives us of our effects, and destroys our synagogues, and works us many other vexations, so that we are altogether confused and uncertain how to act. We therefore intreat you by the law of Moses to give us some assistance, and send us, with all speed, the result of your deliberations to regulate our conduct. CHAMORRA, Chief of the Jews in Spain. The Answer. Beloved Brethren in Moses, We have received the letter, in which you have acquainted us with the troubles and misfortunes that oppress you; and we sympathize with you in your sufferings. This is the opinion of the chiefs and rabbis. You say that the king of Spain by force obliges you to turn christians. Do so, therefore, because you can do nothing else. You say that he deprives you of your effects; make your sons tradesmen, that so by little and little you may deprive them of theirs. You say that he takes away the lives of many of your brethren; make your sons physicians and apothecaries that they may take away theirs also. As they have destroyed your synagogues, make your sons divines and priests that you may destroy theirs; and as they work you many other vexations, make your sons notaries, and lawyers, and councellors; if you follow the advice that we give, you shall well revenge yourselves, and by this submission you will gain wealth and possessions, and we shall see that from being abject and despised you will become respected. Ussus, Chief of the Jews in Constantinople. AKENHEADS, PRINTERS. FINIS. |