and
dollars for the privilege of being exempted from personal
military service, but not so at present, for many thousand
Israelites have evinced their devotion to the cause of
their native land, by sacrificing their lives on numerous
occasions, and their services in the army and in the navy
have already been appreciated by their exalted Monarch
himself.

"With respect to the peculiar costume which most of the
Israelites have been accustomed to wear for many
centuries, from what I had an opportunity of seeing I can
assure your Excellency that most of them have already
adopted the European habit, and I have not the least doubt
that, in the course of time, the ancient dress will have
entirely disappeared. It is erroneous to suppose that the
ancient costume is enjoined by, or has any foundation in
religion. Such is not the fact. It originated from a
decree of the Government in existence three hundred years
ago, when the Israelites were commanded under a most
severe punishment to assume this garb to distinguish them
as members of the Jewish faith. The truth of this
statement may be ascertained by referring to 'Vol. Leg.
Polon. Sub. Anno 1538,' Vol. I., p. 254.

"Having now, as I trust to the satisfaction of your
Excellency, refuted all the arguments which have hitherto
been held of sufficient moment to deprive many hundred
thousands of Israelites of the rights and privileges
which, as faithful subjects, they, in accordance with His
Imperial Majesty's humane intention, ought to enjoy, I
most humbly implore His Majesty's Government in its great
wisdom to remove from His Majesty's Hebrew subjects all
restrictions which may prove obstacles to their honest
pursuits in life, and in particular those restrictions
which I have previously alluded to, and which I have
endeavoured to classify.

"Possibly your Excellency, though animated with the
noblest feelings of humanity, may, in the fulfilment of
the duty your high position imposes, deem it necessary to
call my attention to the existence of certain restrictions
which, on account of the pecuniary advantages the State
derives from them, cannot easily be removed; such, for
instance, as the meat tax, which annually amounts, to
300,000 silver roubles. But in answer to this, permit me
to observe that in conformity to His Majesty's most
gracious decree issued in the year 1817, the Israelites