Israel. Civil and social relations between us and them, our fellow-citizens and brethren, facilitate the diffusion of Christian truth; and even though the little cloud, for which we have waited and looked, be but as a speck on the horizon, it will overspread the heavens, and descend on the wellsown field in "showers of blessing."

Christian brethren! watch with us the openings of Divine Providence, and enable us to improve them, until, wherever there is a Jew, there the truth in Jesus may be presented to him.

Palestine.

THE Rev. John Mills, author of "The British Jews," has lately returned from a tour to the East. His principal object was, to inquire into the present condition and future hopes of the Jews in the land of their fathers. He stayed about two months in Jerusalem, spending the time mostly among the Jews, and was most kindly received by them. He visited all their synagogues, schools, and other institutions, and found them to be few and very inferior in character. All the male children are taught to read in Hebrew; and as they advance in age, are instructed in the prayers and Jewish authors; but no science is taught them, not even the art of writing, except occasional lessons in the Hebrew. There is one

exception to this rule, a free school kept by a Jew, a native of Aleppo, where the lads are taught to write Arabic, the vernacular language of the country. Both males and females are brought up in complete ignorance of all European languages and culture.

There are four languages in general use among the Jews, the Hebrew, the Arabic, the Judeo-Spanish, and the Judeo-German. The Hebrew only is the language of their religious service. Only a minority, however, understand it well-that is, fully comprehend its meaning; but to understand its grammar and philosophy is out of the question. Those who belong to the learned class are generally able to speak it. A goodly number are also capable of speaking the Arabic, the common language of the country. The Judeo-Spanish, a patois peculiar to the Jews, is a mixture of Spanish and rabbinic, and is the common language of the Sephardim community. The Judeo-German is a similar mixture of German and rabbinic, and is the common language of the Ashkenasim community. The people, with but few exceptions, are very poor, and the majority in daily want of the necessaries of life; and from communications lately received by Mr. Mills, from Jewish and Christian friends at Jerusalem, the present winter is likely to be one of great suffering amongst them, owing principally to the great and rapid rise in the price of food.

Mr. Mills visited all the places inhabited by Jews, and especially the four holy cities,-Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberias, and Saffet,-and elicited a very full body of information relative to their social and religious life, for which his previous knowledge gave him great advantages over the general tourist. With reference to the present war, he found that the Jews, as well as the Easterns generally, were impressed with the notion that Russia would be victorious, and that the Czar would send his army to the Holy Land, and greatly oppress the Jews; but only for a short time, when Messiah, their deliverer, would appear for their salvation. To this opinion

there was but one exception, a rabbi at Tiberias, who told them that they were all mistaken, that a blind man could see that the Czar would not succeed, as proof quoting Isa. lxiii. 4, and adding his cabbalistic comment, far too dark and arbitrary for any ordinary mortal to comprehend.

Mr. Mills paid particular attention to the Samaritans of Naplous, the ancient Sichem, the city of their forefathers, where this singular people have dwelt for more than three thousand years. There remains now but a feeble remnant (about 150 souls) of that once powerful nation. He found them living entirely apart from Jew and Gentile, and as much enmity existing between them and the small Jewish community of the town, as did two or three thousand years ago. He elicited much information from their priest Amram in way of comparison of their social and religious customs with those of the Jews, and found them to agree on many points, but to differ on others. He also, in company with the priest, ascended Mount Gerizim, to examine their sacred ruins, the very mountain at the foot of which one of their women, nearly two thousand years ago, said to our Saviour, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain." The spot which most interested Mr. Mills was that where they kill and eat the passover lamb, and where the whole community spend seven days in tents once a year.

He also paid as much attention to the antiquities of the country as time would permit him, acting, in this capacity, on behalf of the Palestine Archæological Association. One item in his antiquarian researches cannot fail to interest our readers. Near Jerusalem, on the Damascus road, there are two peculiar mounds, commonly believed by the natives to be heaps of refuse, from the soap-boiler's works of former times. Their peculiar character, however, led some of the English residents to suppose them to be the ashes of the sacrifices, and prevailed upon Dr. Rotti, of Munich, who visited Jerusalem in 1853, to carry with him samples for analysis in Germany. It has been submitted to the test of the famous Liebig's laboratory, and the result, we understand, is favourable to the supposition of their being the real ashes of the sacrifices. Mr. Mills also brought samples, one from near the top, and the other from near the base of the larger mound. He found also a similar mound near Nablous, and brought with him samples of that likewise. These three samples he handed over to the council of the said association, who had them analysed by Prof. Faraday. We understand that the professor's opinion does not coincide with that of the German, but that the result will undoubtedly be published in due time.

It is, we believe, Mr. Mills's intention to give to the public the result of his observations during his very interesting tour; and from his having addressed himself for a long time to the study of the Jews, in their living habits and character, we expect much valuable information on subjects which have been but slightly touched by recent travellers in the fatherland of Israel.

The Jews in Sardinia.

THE constitution has secured to them equality of rights with every other citizen, and, unlike an article to the same effect figuring in the Prussian constitution, but which the Protestant monarch knows so well how to void, so as to remain a dead letter, that contained in the Italian charter has been

made a verity by the sincerity of the Catholic sovereign. The Jews of Piedmont are not subject to the least civil or religious disability. But it is not only politically, but also socially that they are entirely emancipated. Religious antipathy and sectarian hatred to the Jews seem to have entirely expired in Piedmont. Every day gives fresh proofs of the good will which the Christian and Jewish populations mutually bear to each other. The great intellectual and moral progress made by the Jewish community of Piedmont, during the few years that all obstacles to its development have been removed, is really astonishing. Everywhere the Jewish youth vies with that of other denominations in arts and science; everywhere new institutions are springing up, and existing ones extended and improved. A Jewish periodical, (the only one in Italy,) so necessary for the intercommunion of the scattered members of Israel, and which, nevertheless, cannot succeed unless the want of it be sufficiently felt, and the mental development have reached a certain height, has of late been established at Piedmont, and seems to take root. The "Educatore Israelita," a monthly publication, which appears at Vercelli, in Piedmont, has become the organ of the Italian Jews. From the high moral tone which pervades its columns, and from the character of the articles which it publishes, we cannot but form a most favourable estimate of the integrity and intellectuality which are able to appreciate such productions. Thus the immunities enjoyed by the Piedmontese Jews also bid fair to render Sardinia the focus of Italian Judaism, as she has already become the centre of Italian liberty. With the Italian patriots, therefore, we call out "Evviva;" and with the English well-wisher of Italian freedom and regeneration, we cheer the monarch, the hope and sheet-anchor of Italy; with the friends of progress and civilisation we unite our orisons for so precious a life, and for the happiness of so good a man. And if it be true, what is generally reported, that Victor Emanuel will accept an invitation from the City of London, a more fit counterpart to his proceedings in his own dominions, and an incident more in harmony with his own sentiments, could hardly have occurred, than that he should have visited this country during the very year when his hosts will be a Jewish Lord Mayor and a Christian corporation. One would almost say that this is providential-that this is the finger of Godwhich assembles under one and the same roof a Catholic Monarch, a Jewish Lord Mayor, and a Protestant Corporation, all meeting on the common ground of universal charity and liberality, thus practically evincing the influence of toleration, and setting a glorious example to the opponents of civil and religious liberty. At this reflection we cannot but exclaim, "This was from the Eternal, let us rejoice and exult." And we cannot but open our hearts to the lively hope that the illustrious example thus set will find many followers; that the cause of constitutionalism, and civil and religious liberty will advance with rapid strides; and that the check recently given to the development of popular institutions abroad will only prove temporary. Let us hope, let us trust, let us pray, let us strive for the speedy realisation of the most ardent wishes of every philanthropic mind.-Jewish Chronicle.

Lord Mayor's Day.

THE Editor of the "Jewish Chronicle," referring to the above festival, says:

What the seer foretold thousands of years since; what at all times flitted as a lovely vision before the minds of the greatest philanthropists; what the virtuous of all ages incessantly strove after; what the martyrs of all generations sealed with the blood of their heart;-it will, it cannot belie mankind. It is revelation emerging from the deepest recesses of the soul. It must be true, it must be fulfilled; and an earnest, an important pledge of its speedy fulfilment in our country has just been given.

What a difference and what a contrast between the throngs lining the water's edge, and looking at the barge gliding along on Father Thames' noble bosom, carrying the Jewish Lord Mayor, surrounded by brother officers of the Christian religion, to the sanctuary sheltering Britain's palladia,—and the motley masses, as our mind's eye, piercing through the night of past centuries, sees them besetting the piers, and, fiend-like, hooting and mocking and despoiling the hapless Jews, when, at the command of one of England's greatest sovereigns, they were cast forth from Albion's hospitable shores to fall an easy prey on the high sea to the rapacity, fanaticism, and bloodthirstiness of iniquitous captains and murderous crews ! What a difference and what a contrast between the Christianity of Edward the Third, when lying monks raved about tortured hosts shedding forth a divine blood, and besotted priests gravely preached conversion by fire and sword,—and the Christianity of the time of Victoria the First, when the cowled and cassocked tribe is shorn of all its power, and the minister of God meekly teacheth peace on earth and goodwill to all mankind! What a difference and what a contrast between the monarch that, without investigation and without trial, decreed the indiscriminate confiscation of the property of thousands of inoffensive subjects, and the wholesale transportation of an entire people, guilty of no other crime, if crime it be, but the independence of opinion in a matter as little affecting the interests of the country as the dream of an infant, and the sovereign that invites Jews to the court festivities, graciously recognises, seeks out, distinguishes, and rewards their merits!

Notice of Books.

Autobiography of a Fugitive Negro. By SAMUEL RINGGOLD WARD, Toronto. Pp. 412. London: Snow.

WE are sincerely thankful that our friend has left with us so valuable a memento of himself, and so truthful an argument against the accursed thing. His reasonings are those of an honest man, indignant that any heart that can feel so deeply, and any frame that can act so vigorously as his own, should ever have borne the shackle. His facts put the seal (if such had been needed) of truth on the most touching descriptions of Mrs. Stowe. There may be sometimes a little too much of detail in speaking of individual friends; but who will find fault with these utterances of simple and unstudied gratitude? Of remarks of an opposite character, we can only hope that they are not so well deserved as they seem to be. We admire the sober reflection, the unaffected humility, and the quiet humour, that brightens these pages, and render them at once instructive and attractive. We mourn for America. We hide our faces for very shame at the names of pro-slavery Christian pastors; and we bless God that, guilty though we are in countless matters, the privilege is yet preserved to us of affording a refuge to the slave, and of welcoming him to all the rights of a man and a brother.

Autobiography is not quite the medium through which we should study a man's real character. We regard it, in this instance, rather as a specimen of the race, depressed, trodden down, and debased, like that of the Jews; but freed and restored to his rights as a man and a brother, proving the African qualified for all the offices of life, and, when renewed by Divine grace, adapted to preach Christ as eloquently and as powerfully as any of the sons of Japhet. We hope to find space for an extract, and earnestly recommend our friends to purchase the volume, assured that it will amply repay the cost, and deserve its place on the study or parlour table. It is not surprising that such a son of Africa should sympathise with the efforts of this Society for the spiritual emancipation of the Jews. Shall we be forgiven for transcribing the note which accompanied a donation from Mr. Ward to the secretary?

Radley's Hotel, August, 1855.

MY DEAR SIR, I am happy to see among your subscribers some who give small sams. This emboldens me to beg you to favour me by accepting this trifle for your treasury. Small as it is, I assure you it is the present measure of my ability, but not at all commensurate with my interest in the propagation of the Gospel among the people from whom our blessed Lord was pleased to spring.

As I hope to be an annual subscriber, God willing, you shall hear again, from your obedient servant, SAMUEL RINGGOLD WARD.

The Treasurership.

THE Committee have much pleasure in announcing to the Subscribers and Friends of the Society that SIR CULLING E. EARDLEY, Bart., has kindly accepted the office of Treasurer of the Society, and that he hopes to secure the active and prayerful co-operation of Christians of every denomination in this evangelical effort for the spiritual good of the Jews.

Missionary Intelligence.

VAN DIEMEN'S LAND.

THE REV. I. M. STRONGMAN acquaints us with the formation of an Auxiliary Society, at a meeting held in Hobart Town, on the 23rd Jan., 1855.

HOME.

ALTHOUGH the following communication from the Rev. J. WILKINSON mentions but one Missionary fact, we give it entire, as supplying encouraging evidence of the cordial feeling manifested in the cause of this Society, and which, we believe, equally exists among the Christian community everywhere, only waiting to be evoked and practically directed:

The Halifax friends received me very cordially, the ministers of five denominations kindly placed their chapels at my service, and the Rev. W. Walters, our secretary, and the Rev. John Lyth, rendered me additional service by introducing me to several friends. I gave thirty-two sermons, lectures, and addresses, in Halifax and the neighbourhood, including Sowerbybridge, Hebdon-bridge, Todmorden, and

Illingworth, putting in circulation after lectures in those places, about forty-six dozens of" Heralds," in order to render permanent the interest awakened. I also took care to organise branch societies where they had not previously existed.

After I had given addresses, &c., in nine or ten chapels in Halifax, I consulted the ministers in the town as to the propriety of holding a public meeting on neutral ground.