ve the high gratification of knowing
that in future those amongst his Hebrew subjects can,
under no pretence whatever, be accused of idleness, the
nature of their occupation being registered in the
archives of the respective Guberniums they inhabit. I,
however, humbly venture to suggest the addition of two
other classes to the four already specified, as a
proceeding in accordance with the enlightened views of His
Majesty's Government. I allude, first, to labourers of
every description, domestic servants, clerks, commercial
agents, brokers and employees, water-carriers, porters,
waggoners and carmen, provision dealers, cutters of wood
for fuel, and persons engaged in similar occupations. The
nature of their pursuits does not qualify them to be
enrolled in any of the four classes, yet they are a body
of people who, as your Excellency will admit, deserve to
be looked upon with an eye of mercy for two reasons.
First, because they are continually exerting themselves by
their incessant labours to maintain themselves and their
families in an honest and respectable way; and, secondly,
because the existence of such individuals is most
essential to the promotion of the welfare and comfort of
His Majesty's Hebrew subjects belonging to any of the four
classes. For if the latter were obliged to devote their
time and attention to all the work originally intended to
be executed by their inferiors, what would become of their
business? Would it then not appear quite natural that in
the course of time their situation would become precarious
to such a degree that they would have to give up their
avocations altogether. Another class of people which I am
particularly anxious to introduce to the consideration of
His Majesty's Government is that which comprises the
spiritual leaders of the congregations, assessors of the
Hebrew ecclesiastical courts, scribes qualified to write
the sacred scrolls of the Pentateuch, and other religious
documents, persons qualified to slay animals for food in
conformity with the Jewish law, readers of prayers in the
Synagogue, readers of the Pentateuch to the congregation,
operators of circumcision, students who devote themselves
to the study of Hebrew theology, and teachers of religion.
The body of people just mentioned, your Excellency will
give me leave to say, I regard as the very soul of the
congregation, for it is reli