Bacchus: MAINARD.. of the sick, and prescribes the remedies, The following witty epigram was which nearly include the whole of written by this venerable votary the physician's office; and he afterwards prepares those medicines which he has ordered, and applies them if necessary, which employments are the business of the apothecary. La mort nous guette; et quand ses lois Des Cabarets en l'autre monde. RACINE. Having stated the nature of their engagements with their patients, let us take a view of the manner in which their emoluments arise, and here I When this poet was pursuing his think we shall find that society studies under Claude Lancelot, he have established a custom in opposimet by accident with the Greek ro- tion to reason, for the apothecaries mance of the Amours of Theagene and are paid only in their latter capacity, Chariclea. His master took the book and not for their advice; by this from him and threw it in the fire. A means their reward, as well as their second copy meeting with the same support, becomes entirely dependant fate, young Racine bought a third, on the medicines which they send in; and after having learnt it by heart, he took it to Lancelot, and said, "You may burn this as well as the others." ORIGINAL LETTER OF WILLIAM JU LIUS MICKLE, THE Poet. (Never before published.) Quanquam ridentem dicere verum Quid vetat ? words. and they are frequently called, where the exercise of their knowledge and experience must take place, but where few or no medicines are required, which in my judgment constitutes the injustice I charge the public with towards them. And admitting for a moment your accusation in its full force, that medicines are sometimes sent in which are innocent and unnecessary, At a visit which I lately made to I maintain that, even then, there is my physician, I attempted to rally no more than an apparent opposition him on the practice of the apothe- between their practice and their hocaries, who, I with pleasantry al- nesty, for certainly it is no more than ledged, were accustomed to make strict justice that they should be paid their patients' apartments repositories in one manner or another for the apfor medicines, but he gravely inter- plication of that necessary experience rupted me nearly in the following and judgment, which is not to be acquired but by a tedious and an Although I have heard similar expensive education; and which is oncomplaints among different ranks of ly to be put in practice by a voluntary society, I believe they are without laying down of their personal liberty. foundation; on the contrary, I think "From this account of their situthe apothecaries are treated with in- ation, I think it appears plain, that justice, which in my opinion will ap- custom has adopted a mutually unpear evident by pointing out their pleasant method of rewarding them situation with the public. when they are employed without a " I suppose that in four fifths of physician, which it is not in the power the cases of sickness which obtain of the apothecaries, but with the conmedical assistance throughout this sent of their patients, or with the kingdom, the apothecary is called in united approbation of the public, to alone, at the beginning of the com- alter. But some individuals forgetplaint, and that he remains employed ting the effects of a liberal education without any farther assistance in the themselves, are ungenerous enough to greater number of them; therefore, accuse the apothecaries of a want of in these instances he acts in the capa- sufficient disinteresteduess, without city of physician as well as of apothe- having considered the matter with cary; that is to say, he endeavours to proper attention." specify the disease, and to find out its As I found I was unable to answer causes; he gives the necessary direc- him, I dropt the subject of discourse tions to those who have the care of with acknowledging that he had the ad vantage of me in pleasantry, but I con- am become a convert to the opinion fess he placed the matter in a very which he advanced. different point of view from what I had considered it before, and that I TH CRITICISM, "Nulli negabimus, nulli differemus justitiam.” GLASGUENSIS. Transactions of the Parisian Sanhe- grading adulation to the present ruler drim, or acts of the Assembly of of France bespeaks a wretchedness Israelitish Deputies of France and of intellect still more contemptible, Italy, convoked at Paris, by an We forbear from specifying here Imperial and Royal Decree, dated the particular passages, because we May 30, 1800. Translated from mean to advert to similar instances in the original. Published by M. the addresses of the deputies in the Diogene Tama: with a preface and course of our review. illustrative notes, by F. D. Kirwan, After having thus combated the arEsq. 1 vol. 8vo. 1807. guments of his opponents, M. Tama HIS is in every point of view an next gives some copious extracts from important, an interesting, and a a work entitled An Appeal to the singular publication. It presents a Justice of Kings and Nations, writ striking phenomenon in an age of ten and published at Strasburg in wonders; it stands conspicuous amidst 1801. This is a singularly eloquent surrounding singularities; an enthusi- production, even in a translation. astic mind might dwell upon it with Its object is to destroy the cruel pre strong and various emotions; a reli- judices which have so long existed gious one might view itwith awe and with respect to the Jews, and to de trembling. tail some of the numerous hardships The French editor of this volume and sufferings which they have in conbas amassed together a great quantity sequence sustained at different periods, of information respecting the habits, In some parts enthusiasm may be susthe manners, the principles, and pected of performing the office oftruth, tenets of the Jews. It is curious and and especially in those that relate to the interesting; and there are some pieces domestic manners and virtues of this in vindication of them that are truly people. The following extract will eloquent. The work contains like- afford a favourable specimen of the wise an account of the deliberations language of this pamphlet, of the Jewish deputies, respecting the questions proposed to them by Bonaparte. We will endeavour to give an outline of the contents and nature of this curious production. "Weighed down by taxes, and forced to contribute more than Christians for the support of society, they had hardly any of the rights which it gives. If a destructive scourge The first part of the volume is oc- happened to spread havock among cupied with writings and acts relating the inhabitants of a country, the Jews to the former condition of individuals had poisoned the springs, or those professing the Hebrew religion in men, cursed by heaven, had, neverFrance, and M. Tama enters at length theless, incensed it, by their prayers, into a vindication of his brethren against the nation they were supposed against the aspersions of a M. Poujol to hate. Did sovereigns want pecuand a M. de Bonald. These remarks niary assistance to carry on their are extremely trite, and shew that wars? The Jews were compelled to M. Tama is but ill qualified to wield give up those riches in which they the weapons of controversy. His sought some consolation against the mode of reasoning is often ridiculous; oppressing sense of their abject condiand in every case it is easy to perceive tion: as a reward for their sacrifices, that his arguments are all derived from they were expelled from the state a gross and glaring self-interest. This they had supported, and they were however, might be pardoned as a afterwards recalled to be stript again. -venial error, but his fulsome and de- Compelled to wear exteriorly the R 2 very has yet held up to our notice. badges of their abject state, they against us every where but in France. [AUGUST were, every where, exposed to the in- The slightest expression of grief wrung sults of the vilest populace. When from us marks us a ferocious people. from his solitary, retreat an enthusi- They wish to take from us even the astic hermit preached the crusades to last distant hope of future happiness, the nations of Europe, and a part of to seize whatever belongs to us most its inhabitants left their country to legitimately, and that, like senseless moisten with their blood the plains of victims, we should in the mean tin e Palestine, the knell of promiscuous refrain from any sign of resentment, massacre tolled before the alarm-bell which, powerless in itself, excites only of war. Millions of Jews were then derision or contempt.” murdered to glut the pious rage of the crusaders. It was by tearing the en- and as such, it proclaims loudly the This we fear is a faithful picture, trails of their brethren that these warriors sought to deserve the protection persecuting men. sanguinary excesses of misguided and of Heaven. Skulls of men and bleed- Christ requires that we should live as ing hearts were offered as holocausts brethren, and not maintain its dic The religion of on the altars of that God who has no tates by excesses that would disgrace pleasure even in the blood of the inno- the most ferocious savages that discocent lamb, and ministers of peace were thrown into a holy enthusiasm by these bloody sacrifices. It is thus this volume is the imperial and royal that Basil, Treves, Coblentz, and decree from the palace of St Cloud, The next inaportant document in Cologn, became human shambles. It May 30, 1806, the object of which is thus that upwards of four hundred thousand victims, of all ages, and of the principal jews to deliberate upon was to call together an assembly of both sexes, lost their lives at Cesaria the means they might deem the fillest and Alexandria. The recollection of these horrors draws tears of biced the exercise of mechanical arts and "to re-establish among their brethren from my eyes, and I cannot help blushing for the whole race of mankind. And is it after they have experienced such treatment that they are reproached with their vices? Is it after being for eighteen centuries the sport of contempt, that they are reproached with being no longer alive to it? is it after having so often giutted with their blood the thirst of their persecutors, that they are held out as enemies to other nations? Is it, when they have been bereft of all means to mollify the hearts of their tyrants, that indignation is roused if, now and then, they cast a mournful look to wards the ruins of their temple, toward, their country, where, formerly, happiness crowned their peaceful days, free from the cares of ambition and of riches' Is it when the career of arts and of industry has been completely shut against them, that the this assembly of Jews, under their It deserves to be remarked, that in Jewish nation is represented as a lazy, present system, great good sense, indolent, useless race, a burthen to knowledge, and propriety, were disthe country which supports them? played; as much indeed as could have But whither am I going? Our per been expected from any assembled secutors would have us to kiss our number of people of any persuasion, fetters, and hug to our hearts the mur. This may serve to shew that the prederers of our brethren, in return for tended amelioration that is so ostenthe inveteracy which they manifest tatiously vaunted as the ostensible ob useful professions, in order to replace resources to which many of them have by an honest industry the shameful resorted from generation to generation, these many centuries." It was therefore decreed that on the 15th July following, an assembly of individuals professing the Jewish religion and residing in the French territo. y, should be formed in Paris. was accordingly formed of upwards The assembly of one hundred deputies from the different departments, and their first sitting took place on the 26th July, their sabbath day, but which they loyally disregarded in obedience to their ancient laws, which command above all things a prompt obedience to all orders whatever from sovereign." their ject of this convocation of them, is We return now to the abstract of the work. In the second sitting of July the 29th, some Commissioners of Bonaparte were instructed to propose twelve questions to the assembly for their answer. Some of these questions appear to involve subjects of mere curious speculation, while others have evidently a deeper purport than is manifest from a superficial consideration of them; for example the sixth, Do the Jews born in France and treated by the law as French citizens, acknowledge France as their country Are they bound to defend it? Are they bound to obey the laws, and to follow the directions of the civil code?" Those who are best acquainted with the usual policy of the present French government, will best know how to appreciate the above. The answers returned to these questions by the deputies are worded with extreme caution, and betray a constant fear lest they should thwart the views or wishes of Bonaparte. The preparing of these answers occupied several sittings. As a specimen, we select the following. "Third Question.--Can a Jewess marry a Christian, and a Jew a Christian woman? or does the law allow the Jews to intermarry only among themselves? "Answer.--The law does not say that a Jewess cannot marry a Christian, nor a Jew a Christian woman; nor does it state that Jews can only intermarry among theinselves. "The only marriages expressly forbidden by the law, are those with the seven Canaanean nations, with Amon and Moab, and with the Egyptians. The prohibition is absolute concerning the seven Canaanean nations with regard to Amon and Moab, it is limi ́ed, according to many Talmudists, to the men of those nations, and does not extend to the women; it is even thought that these last would have embraced the Jewish religion. As to Egyptians, the prohibition. is limited to the third generation. The prohibition in general applies only to nations in idolatry. The Talmud declares formally that modern nations are not to be considered as such, since they worship, like us, the God of heaven and earth. And, accordingly, there has been, at several periods, in- to the word usury. They observe termarriages between Jews and Chris- further, that it is impossible it ever tians in France, in Spain, and in Ger- could have had that acceptation; for many these marriages were some- usury is an expression relative to, and time tolerated and sometimes forbid- compared with, another and a lawful den by the laws of those sovereigns, who had received Jews into their dominions. interest, and the text contains nothing which alludes to the other term of comparison. The word nechech, "Unions of this kind are still found they say, answers to the Latin word in France; but we cannot dissemble foenus; to say therefore that it means that the opinion of the Rabbies is usury, another must be found that against these marriages. According implies interest; but no such vocable to their doctrine, although the reli- exists in the Hebrew language. gion of Moses has not forbidden the They give however, rather a lax inJews from intermarrying with nations terpretation to the law of Moses. not of their religion, yet, as marriage, They maintain that the spirit of its according to the Talmud, requires re- application is now lost; it was intendligious ceremonies called Kiduschim, ed to foster benevolence and kindness with the benediction used in such towards each other; but that now cases, no marriage can be religiously since the Jews have become a trading valid unless these ceremonies have and mercantile people, they consider been performed. This could not be themselves as authorized to take it done towards persons who would not even from their brethren in affairs both of them consider these ceremo- of commerce and speculation, nies as sacred; and in that case the married couple could separate without the religious divorce; they would then be considered as married civilly but not religiously. In answering the twelfth question they maintain that the law which allows to take interest from the stranger, evidently refers only to nations in commercial intercourse with them, "Such is the opinion of theRabbies, or there would otherwise be a marked members of this assemby. In general contradiction between this law and they would be no more inclined to numerous passages of scripture,which bless the union of a Jewess with a uniformly recommend kindness, goodChristian, or of a Jew with a Chris- will, and benevolence, towards strantian woman, than Catholic priests gers. themselves would be disposed to sanc- With the answers to his questions tion unions of this kind. The Rabbies Bonaparte professed himself satisfied, acknowledge, however, that a Jew, requiring however, a religious pledge who marries a Christian woman, for their strict adherence to the prin does not cease on that account, ciples contained in them: also that they to be considered as a Jew by his should find a place near the Talmud, brethren, any more than if he had and thus acquire in the eyes of the married a Jewess cicilly and not reli- Jews of all countries and of all ages, giously." the greatest possible authority. He deWe wish our limits would permit creed also, that they should be ratified us to extract also the eleventh and by the decision of the Great Sanhetwelfth questions with their answers. drim which was to be convoked on They are, "Does the law forbid the the 20th October following. Jews from taking usury from their We must not omit to mention that brethren?" and Does it forbid, or these Jewish deputies celebrated the does it allow to take usury from strangers?" Deuteronomy (chap. xxiii. v. 19.) In answering these questions, the says, "Thou shalt not lend upon deputies observed with regard to the interest to thy brother, interest of first, that the Hebrew word nechech money, interest of victuals, interest of has been improperly translated usury; any thing that is lent upon interest." in the Hebrew language it means in- It is almost unnecessary to observe, terest of any kind, and not usurious that what is here translated interest interest. It cannot therefore, be by the Jewish deputies, is rendered taken in the acceptation now given by the word usury in our translation. |