being who hitherto has, most cruelly, been a degraded slave, is now by the local authority set at his liberty, and that abominable traffic of human beings is now on the point of being abolished. The details of this most humane action are as follows::

A few days ago, a poor slave came to Sir Thomas Reade, begging to be protected from the cruelties of his master; which Sir Thomas most promptly afforded, and at the same time thought this to be the very moment when something might be done for the poor negro race. Accordingly, the following morning he went to Bardo, the Bey's residence, where a long parley took place between him and H.H. the Bey, in which Sir Thomas Reade so successfully advocated the abolition of slavery, that the Bey at once consented to give liberty to all his own slaves, to put a stop to the importation and exportation of them, and to get all his subjects in his regency to follow his example. This, may it be remarked, is no trifle; as the property possessed in slaves is great, and consequently the abolition of slavery will be felt very severely by many. Let Christian nations read this, be astonished, and wonder at the noble actions of a Moslem prince.

If the Bey of Tunis carries out his noble and philanthropic intention, he will immortalize his name in the annals of African freedom and civilization-united with that of the British consul-general.

This has been published as early as 1841. Things are done in these countries with very slow progress: hence, it took three years before something was

done, and I doubt not but it will take three years more before slavery will entirely be abolished.

In mentioning the slave-trade of Tunis, I cannot refrain from remarking the harsh step that has been taken with Cav. Gaspary, the late British viceconsul. This gentleman has been falsely accused of having permitted to embark slaves at the Goletta in a Greek vessel, for which he has actually lost his situation! The character of Mr Gaspary will, however, not suffer in the least; as his honesty, integrity, and humanity, are but too well known to those who have the pleasure of his acquaintance.

CHAPTER XIV.

The Jews.-Probable time of their first settling in Barbary. -Their state.-The Roman Catholics.-Greeks.—Protestants.-Protestant mission.-Death of Mr London.

THE native Jewish population, it is believed, amounts to nearly thirty thousand. The precise time when they first came to settle in Barbary is uncertain. Those of Jerba boast of inhabiting that island before the coming of Christ. It is not at all improbable that Jews have inhabited this part of Africa in the time of the Phoenicians. They must afterwards have been greatly augmented from Egypt, where we find in the year 38 upwards of a million. In Cyrene* they were in very great numbers. Augustus Cæsar granted them full citizenship. If it be true that, in their revolt in that country in 115, no less than 220,000 Greeks perished, then their number must have been very

* Amongst the strangers recorded in Acts ii., we find Jews from "Libya about Cyrene." "About Cyrene" certainly refers to the present Barbary States. Many of the strangers from these parts were, I have no doubt, of those who were "added to the church," and that "should be saved." The miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit having touched their hearts, they returned to their country, praising God, and very likely laid the foundation to the African church, which we find at one time in such a flourishing state.

great. Abdallah and Okba, it would appear, have also brought many from the East; and we find, in the beginning of the eleventh century, their school at Kairwan in a very flourishing state. The names of Isaak Ben Suleiman Israelite, Hushiel, Hananel, and Nissim Ben Jacob Ben Zahun, men of the greatest learning, reflect honour upon it. They had also schools of learning at Mehediah, and in other places of Afrekiah. Their number was afterwards greatly increased from Spain, on account of the heavy persecutions which befell them in that country. "Although, since their settlement," (in Barbary,) says Dr Jost, in his History of the Jews, "they were to a certain extent oppressed in point of law, still they continued during a succession of centuries the most civilized community, and, therefore, in possession of the most important branches of industry." They occupied themselves with the cultivation of the vine, fishing, and weaving. They were gold and silver smiths, carpenters, blacksmiths, &c. But it could not be expected that a nation possessed of a love for learning as the Jewish nation is, would rest satisfied with heaping up riches only; they well knew that he who has wisdom need not be born to kingdoms, to riches, or to fame; he knows how to acquire them, and is independent of all, having all within himself." Hence, you find amongst their learned, not only rabbies, but also linguists, historians, mathematicians, and astronomers.

The barbarities practised upon them at different times by the Mohammedans were very great; but

yet, it must be confessed, they never suffered so much from them as they did from those professing to be followers* of the meek and lowly Jesus. The Jew has often been forced to embrace Mohammedanism in order to save himself from a cruel death under the bastinado and woe unto that person who, after having done so, dares to recant; nothing but his head would atone for it. Their property has often been taken from them, and if they attempted to resist, their lives were taken also. Their children have been forced from them, and made Mohammedans. What a remarkable fulfilment of the words of Moses: "Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long."-Deut. xxviii. 32. They are now, it is true, treated better; however, it is not uncommon to see these poor sons of Abraham ill treated by the sons of Ishmael. On one occasion I saw a Jew boy insulted in the street; and on my interfering, a respectable-looking Mohammedan told me, "Why do you take the part of these dogs? they neither believe in Jesus nor in Mohammed, and will therefore go to hell what does it matter whether you beat them?

:

My friend, the Rev. Mr Ewald, in his Journal † for 1834, says: "In walking home I saw a heart

* "The account of the Jews who have been plundered, sent naked into banishment, starved, tortured, left to perish in prison, hanged, and burnt, by Christians, would fill many volumes."-Jortin's Remarks, vol. ii. p. 420.

† Jewish Intelligencer.