ut Jews in his guards. I expressed a hope that
he would promote them if found as deserving as his other
soldiers, to which he assented. I repeatedly said that
the Jews were faithful, loyal subjects, industrious and
honourable citizens. He said, 'S'ils vous ressemblent'
('If they are like you'). His Majesty heartily shook
hands with me as I entered and on my retiring. It is a
happiness to me to hear from every person, from the very
highest to the lowest classes, that my visit to this
country will raise the Jews in the estimation of the
people, and that His Majesty's reception of me will be
of the utmost importance."

_April 10th._--Several persons left their cards, among which we
noticed those of Count Orloff, Lieutenant-General Doubett, Chief of
the Secret Police, the Chevalier Russi di Castilevala. In the course
of the day we went to the office of the Secret Police; they were very
civil. We were given to understand that it was customary for visitors
to St Petersburg to pay a visit to that office. At two o'clock we
called, by appointment, on Count Kisseleff, the Minister in whose
charge Jewish affairs are placed. He received Sir Moses most politely,
and we were with him more than an hour. Sir Moses went over all the
particulars referring to the alleviation of the unfortunate position
of the Jews. The Minister (like Count Nesselrode and Count Ouvaroff)
said they were great fanatics, and he complained of the Talmud being
the cause of their degraded position. Again Sir Moses and myself
defended the Talmud, giving the names of Christian divines who have
spoken in high praise of that ancient work.

Count Kisseleff wished the Jews to cultivate the land, to establish
manufactories, to undertake more laborious work than that to which
they had hitherto been accustomed; and, respecting the removal from
the frontiers, he said they might go fifty versts on either side. He
did not wish to keep them, five or six hundred thousand might leave
altogether. Sir Moses might, if he liked, take ten thousand or more to
Palestine or elsewhere. He shewed him a Ukase about to be published,
which gave them some privileges, but compelled them, within a certain
number of years, to adopt some occupation of an active nature, or to
be punished as vagrants. He said many Jews had gone to settle in
Siberia, but the Governor had taken steps to prevent more of them
going there. The Count further said that the Jews were fanatics,
p