to mention that in
the year 1823, when the decree was issued, under his late
Majesty, the Emperor Alexander of blessed memory, that the
Polish Jews should cultivate the land, though they were
denied the privilege of becoming proprietors, and though
they had to contend with various other restrictions
connected with agriculture, under the hand of an
Israelite, to which I have already alluded in the
preceding pages, nevertheless a considerable number of
them offered themselves to cultivate the land, but,
unfortunately, could not succeed in their applications.
The local authorities always replied to the petitioners
that the land in question was not qualified for them as
Israelites, that they should look out for some other piece
of ground which the Government could dispose of to them.
In consequence of these answers, the applicants petitioned
for a list of all the land which might be accessible to
Israelites, yet I regret to say that twenty-three years
have since passed without any reply having been given to
this humble request. Thus circumstanced, they petitioned
to the effect that the wealthier classes amongst them
might be permitted to purchase land from private
individuals, either to cultivate the same in person, or to
let it out in small portions to the poor, yet under the
condition that the space of land should not extend to more
than would be sufficient for five or ten farmers to
cultivate. Moreover, the proposed purchasers declared
their willingness to relinquish any right and privilege
any other (non-Israelite) proprietor of land might be
entitled to. They went still further, for in their anxious
desire to secure the honest object of their petition, they
offered the forfeiture of the land in case any of the
parties connected with its agriculture were to be found
withdrawing from personally cultivating it, or were to be
proved guilty of calling in Christian peasants, however
few, for the assistance of the new agriculturists.

"I have no doubt that, equally with their Russian
brethren, the Israelites of Poland are most desirous to
adopt agricultural pursuits.

"It has been charged against the Israelites of Poland,
that they do not render any personal service to the
country in which they live. This charge might not have
been without foundation eighteen or twenty years ago, when
they paid an annual tribute of many hundred thous