to take the abjuration oath in common with Christians. Provision, however, was made to conciliate their conscientious scruples, as will be seen from the following act. "Wherever any of his Majesty's subjects, professing the Jewish religion, shall present themselves to take the oath of abjuration, the words 'on the faith of a Christian' shall be omitted out of the said oath and the taking of it, by such persons, professing the Jewish religion, without the words aforesaid, in the manner as Jews are admitted to be sworn to give evidence in courts of justice, shall be deemed sufficient taking."*

The succeeding year another charitable society was added by the Spanish Jews. Its benevolent object was of a threefold nature: viz., to grant annually marriage portions of sixty pounds, to one or more fatherless girls of the Portugese congregation one pound to every poor woman lying-in at the hospital, ten shillings if at her own abode; and five shillings to every poor person above ten years of age, during the first week of mourning.†

*Stat. 10. Geo. I. c. 4.

The Jews are not allowed to do anything during the first seven days of mourning.

About this time was a congregation formed in the important manufacturing town of Birmingham. The name of the founder is not known. The present condition of the Hebrew congregation there will be described at the proper time and place.

In the year 1726, the last year of this reign, the Jewish population had so much increased in London, that a new synagogue was founded, bearing the name of Hambro's Synagogue, which was erected in Fench Church-street.

The Christian ministers of all Protestant denominations were zealously employed in writing and publishing works for the benefit of the Jews, and their work was not altogether in vain, for we read of several Jews of note who were added to the Christian church during the reign of George I.

VOL. II.

E

CHAPTER VII.

The Death of Rabbi David Nieto-His Successor-The Death of Rabbi Uriah Phaïbhush-The Reign of George II eventful-Congregations formed in different parts of England -Villareal Charity School founded-A New Charitable Society organized-A favourable Act of ParliamentThe first recorded Charitable Society of the German Jews -Jewish foresight-The Pretender-Sampson GideonMr. Snow, the Banker, melts with gratitude for unexpected Jewish help-The conduct of the whole Jewish Nation at that perilous period-The Hospital, called Baith Cholim, established-A New Charitable Society amongst the German Jews-Mr. B. D'Israeli's grandfather becomes an English Denizen-Mr. B. D'Israeli's account of the same-The Hebrew Congregation literally abound in the good works.

In the second year of the reign of King George II, the Spanish Synagogue was bereft of their leader, Rabbi David Nieto, which event caused general mourning and lamentation in the

respective synagogues. His son was chosen to succeed him, and was considered a worthy successor of his learned father. The head of the German Synagogue did not survive his cotemporary long. He was soon after called to his last account, and the vacancy in that synagogue was also filled by a son of Rabbi Uriah Phaïbhush.

This reign is an eventful period in the history of the Jews in Great Britain. Congregations were formed in different parts of England, viz., in Canterbury, Chatham, Cambridge, Bristol, Exeter, Edinburgh, Falmouth, Glasgow, Ipswich, Liverpool, Manchester, Penzance, and Plymouth; so that the descendants of Judah's wandering tribes might have been seen in every part of the United Kingdom.

In the year 1730, another Charity School was formed, by one single individual, Isaac Da Costa Villareal by name, for the education and clothing of twenty poor girls of the Portuguese congregation, to be ever maintained from its own funds, and to be under the management of the governors of the synagogue and the heir of the founder. Mr. D'Israeli, in the memoir of his learned father, speaks thus of the above charitable individual:-"There might be found among other

Jewish families flourishing in this country, the Villareals, who brought wealth to these shores almost as great as their names, though that is the second in Portugal, and who have twice allied themselves with the English aristocracy."

Six years afterwards another society was organized in connexion with the same congregation, for giving annually marriage portions of eighty pounds or upwards, to poor fatherless girls.

All this proves that the Jews increased in numbers as well as in wealth and prosperity. Nor was the legislature hostile to them; for in the year 1740, an Act of Parliament passed "That those Jews who had already resided in the American colonies, and who have served as mariners during the war, two years in British ships, are become natural born subjects of Great Britain without taking the Sacrament.”

Up to the year 1745, no charitable society is recorded to have existed in connexion with the

German Synagogue. Doubtless there must have been some nevertheless, but in that year Mr. Lindo mentions the organization of a society under the name of Hachnosath B'rith, "The introduction into the Covenant," supported by subscriptions of ten shillings and sixpence annually: