28 NOVEMBER 1891, Page 14

ROMAN CRUCIFIXION.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."' SIR,—In the interesting article on "The Mahommedans of Liverpool," allusion is made to the Crucifixion as a Roman sentence and a Roman form of punishment. The first is un- doubted; but as to its being a Roman form of punishment, ought it not to be borne in mind that crucifixion was originally the invention and favourite sentence of Rome's racial enemy, Carthage? The fact of an Aryan nation adopting a Semitic punishment does not surely change the origin and nature of

3 Langland Gardens, Frognal, Hampstead, N. W., Nov. 23rd.

[What on earth has Carthage to do with Jewish guilt or innocence ?—ED. Spectator.]