approaching very nearly to the irony of the Greek philosophers; it pierced, like the sting of a bee, those, on whom he found it, occasionally, necessary to inflict it. But he was always on his guard, and stiffled many a witty thought, from fear of giving offence.

The great Frederic once sent for him, to come to Potzdam. It happened to be Saturday, on which day Jews are not allowed to ride on horseback or in coaches. Mendelsohn therefore entered the royal residence on foot. The officer on duty, a sprig of nobility, who, of course, had never read either "Phædon," or the "Philosophical Letters," being informed that he was a Jew, called Mendelsohn, asked, amidst a volley of swearing and guard-room wit, what could have procured him the honour of being called to the king? The terrified philosopher replied, with the true causticity of Diogenes, " I am a slight of hand player." "Oh!" says the lieutenant, "that's another affair," and suffered the juggler Mendelsohn to pass, when he would have examined—who knows how long?—the philosopher Mendelsohn, and perhaps have arrested

him in the guard-room; since it is well known that more jugglers than philosophers pass through palace gates.

It was an invariable rule with him, never to enter into a discussion, on any particular matter, without first coming to a perfect understanding on the fundamental principles; for he maintained-truly enough !—that the majority of literary squabbles arise from definitions misunderstood. The Polish rabbis usually call their learned conversations "disputes," because they immediately interpose objections and subtleties before the question is fairly stated. This Mendelsohn disliked above all things. One day, one of these gentry tumbled into his room, then full of company, and, in their unceremonious way, accosted him with "I am come to have a dispute with you, Rabbi Moses !" "I protest, before this company," said Mendelsohn, good-humouredly, "that we are at peace with each other, and it shall not be broken." How many thousands of polemical volumes there would be less in the world, if every

פילפול *

one attacked, from no other motive than that of the rabbi, had confined their answer to Mendelsohn's pacific declaration !

To the decisions of sound common sense he was remarkably partial, and deemed it the principal element of his philosophy. There are several letters of his, on mercantile affairs, still extant, in which he invariably appeals to it, as the highest tribunal, and also refers to the same, all friends who applied to him for advice.

Providence had blessed him with affluence. His fortune enabled him to live genteelly, keep a hospitable table, and support both his own, and his wife's poor relations, with a most liberal hand. Whenever any one had occasion for his good offices, and they were successful, the inward gratification of the philanthropist was seen to beam on his countenance. Many traits of integrity, magnanimity, and humanity, are still the favourite theme of his friends' conversations; to recite them here, would not be in keeping with the biography of the most retired, the most modest of men.

How highly he was esteemed by the literati of Berlin, appears from the articles respecting him in the "Berlin Monthly Magazine," in Nicolai's "German Library," and particularly from the preface written to his last work, "To the Friends of Lessing," by the professors Engel and Herz. This preface is the most unintentional-and therefore the most affecting-eulogy on the departed sage. It is like the spontaneous tear of a noble heart, dropped on the grave of goodness and excellence.

On a bust in Professor Herz's study, there was the following inscription:

Moses Mendelsohn,

The greatest sage since Socrates,
His own nation's glory,

Any nation's ornament,

The confidant

Of Lessing and of Truth,'
Died,

As he lived,

Serene and wise.

Professor Rammler erected to him a monu

ment, with this inscription:

Moses Mendelsohn,

Born at Dessau, of hebrew parents,
A sage like Socrates,
Faithful to the ancient creed,

Teaching immortality,

Himself immortal.

The following is a list of Mendelsohn's works.

HEBREW AND IN HEBREW CHARACTERS.

Nesibat Hashalom: i. e. The Path of Peace. The five Books of Moses, with commentary and German translation.

Commentary on Ecclesiasticus.

A Paraphrase and Commentary of Maimonides' Meditations.

Hanephesh, (the Soul.) Two Dissertations : edited after his death by Mr. D. Friedlaender.

The Song of Solomon, with German translation: edited after his death by Mr. Aaron Wolfszohn and Mr. Joel Briel.

IN GERMAN.

Philosophische Schriften, 2 vols.

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