ce. I
took the firman with me, as it had to be deposited in the Archives of
the Ottoman Empire, and the Pasha had only sent it to me that I might
be convinced of its authenticity. An official copy was, by order of
the Sultan, forwarded to the Haham Bashi. His Excellency, Rechid
Pasha, received us immediately, and said he hoped I was satisfied with
what the Sultan had done for us. Mr Pisani then handed me an official
copy of the firman, and I gave the original to the Pasha. I had first
begged to be allowed to keep it, but His Excellency said it was
impossible, and my copy of it was in every respect accurate.

The following is an exact translation of the firman Hatti-Sherif
(addressed to the Chief Judge at Constantinople), at the head of which
His Imperial Majesty the Sultan Abd-ool-medjid wrote with his own hand
the following words: "Let that be executed which is prescribed in this
Firman:"--

"An ancient prejudice prevailed against the Jews. The ignorant
believed that the Jews were accustomed to sacrifice a human being to
make use of his blood at their feast of Passover.

"In consequence of this opinion, the Jews of Damascus and Rhodes (who
are subjects of our Empire) have been persecuted by other nations. The
calumnies which have been uttered against the Jews, and the vexations
to which they have been subjected, have at last reached our Imperial
Throne.

"But a short time has elapsed since some Jews dwelling in the Island
of Rhodes have been brought from thence to Constantinople, where they
have been tried and judged according to the new regulations, and
their innocence of the accusations made against them fully proved.
That, therefore, which justice and equity required has been done on
their behalf.

"Besides which the religious books of the Hebrews have been examined
by learned men, well versed in their theological literature, the
result of which examination is, that it is found that the Jews are
strongly prohibited, not only from using human blood, but even that of
animals. It therefore follows that the charges made against them and
their religion are nothing but pure calumny.

"For this reason, and for the love we bear to our subjects, we cannot
permit the Jewish nation (whose innocence of the crime alleged against
them is evident) to be vexed and tormented upon accusations which have
not the least foundation in truth, but in conformity to the
Hatti-Sherif which has been proclaimed at Gulhani, the Jewish na