other subjects of
His Majesty, of renting the local revenues derived from
the sale of spirits. Not, however, that I would consider
this restriction a hardship, excepting so far as it is a
distinctive mark upon the Israelites in Poland.

"(_d_) They are excluded from the great advantages
derivable from the acquirement of science and literature,
by being prohibited from following the professions of
chemists, architects, lawyers, and several other similar
avocations.

"Like their brethren in Russia, the Israelites of Poland
are accused of great aversion to every kind of manual
labour, preferring to gain a livelihood by devotion to
petty commerce. It is alleged also, that they are
disinclined to agriculture, avoid every mechanical
pursuit, and defraud the Government of the excise and
customs; that they distinguish themselves from the rest of
the inhabitants by their particular costume; and finally,
that the precepts of their religion, to which they most
scrupulously adhere, are of antisocial tendency.

"I entreat your Excellency's kind consideration of the few
observations which I deem it essential to offer, in
reference to the foregoing imputations. The statistical
accounts of Poland shew that, in proportion to the number
of Hebrew inhabitants, there are more mechanics amongst
them than amongst any other class of His Majesty's Polish
subjects; they devote themselves to the most laborious
occupations, and it may be easily ascertained that there
is not only a great number of Hebrew brickmakers,
blacksmiths, paviors, and carpenters, but there may be
found two thousand Israelites who break stones on the
chaussees. As a most striking instance, I shall name to
your Excellency a small town of the name of Kalnary, where
there exist no less than 486 families following mechanical
pursuits, amongst a Hebrew population of 1500 families, as
I believe may be proved by the official accounts of the
police.

"Your Excellency, I am confident, will be of opinion that
it may be justly inferred, if, under the restrictions
against which the Hebrew mechanic has daily to contend, he
still perseveres in his pursuits with honesty, and remains
spotless in his character, this class of persons would be
greatly augmented if all those obstacles were to be
removed which now press so heavily on industrial exertion.

"With respect to agriculture, permit me