History of the Ancient Synagogue of the Spanish and Portuguese
Jews. By Dr. Moses Gaster. (Not published.)—We noticed in these columns on August 10th the account of the Jewish applica- tion to Oliver Cromwell, made, it was alleged, by Manasseh ben Israel. Of that fact there is, we should suppose, no doubt. . No allegation was made in Mr. Lucien Wolf's volume that Cromwell gave the Jews his protection. They seem to have taken it for granted ; possibly had some informal assurance of it. Anyhow they came, and it was when an attempt was made after the• Restoration to disturb them that Charles II. answered the petition by an assurance of his protection, so long as the petitioners de- meaned themselves "peaceably and quietly." This answer Dr. Garter describes as "the Charter of Charles II." Whether he is referring to the other story as something that he must "relegate to the domain of romance" we cannot say. Non nostrum tants, componere Wes. Dr. Gaster's book contains a full account of the fortunes of the Synagogue founded in 1701, and is intended to celebrate its bicentenary.
Previous page
