burnt remains, the calcined walls of Khorsabad, without one being able for centuries to decipher the inscriptions on the monuments, had they even been known to exist, prove how utter must have been the destruction, how overpowering the overthrow which befell the kingdom of Judah's oppressors and Israel's captors, the mighty monarchy of Assyria.-The Occident.

LETTER FROM MR. BEN OLIEL.

TO THE FRIENDS OF ISRAEL.

Tunis, 12th Nov. 1851.

DEAR BRETHREN,-By a late communication from England, I learn that "the society is in a very anxious position as to pecuniary resources, being in debt to the treasurer about 8001." It were, I think, far better such news should never reach the missionaries; for while it may lead some to more earnest pleading with Him whose is the earth and the fulness thereof, to afford support to the cause in which we are embarked, others it may discourage and cast down. In this instance, I have experienced both. How could it be otherwise? At the end of June last, I left Gibraltar, my station, as some of you by this time may be aware, on a tour, or visit of inquiry, into the numbers and state of my Jewish brethren in Algeria and the State of Tunis, to find out some fertile soil, in order to extend our labours in this interesting, but long neglected country, or transfer our mission at Gibraltar to some more promising field. I have, accordingly, visited Oran, Algiers, Philippeville, Constantina, Bona, and now address you from Tunis. I shall not speak of the former places, but of this, which I find to be the most important and promising field. Here are, within five miles circumference, not less (it is supposed by persons who have resided here for years), than THIRTY THOUSAND JEWS! who live mostly in a separate quarter. Between fifty and sixty British, French, Italian, and Maltese Protestants; of whom I may name the British Vice-Consul, the late and present Consuls of the United States, and their families, besides an English and two French pious families. Of the Italians two are converted Sicilian priests; one was at the Malta College, the other has been lately ordained by a French missionary, who made a short stay here, as an evangelist. The numerous Italian refugees here are, as is well known, religious as well as political, and, I doubt not but some, at least, may openly profess themselves Protestants. Among the Maltese is a pious gentleman, who was a local preacher in connexion with the Wesleyan Mission at Malta, now given up; and is at present partly employed in the service of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The Catholics are computed to be above eight thousand. They have a church and convent, with, I believe, a bishop and ten Capuchin monks, zealously endeavouring, as I am assured, to pervert the Protestants. Several hundred Greeks, perhaps from five to seven, mostly Ionians, who also have a chapel, and an old priest to officiate. The Turks, Moors, and Arabs amount to above one hundred thousand; thus making the total population of this single city, including the suburbs, to amount to between one hundred and forty and one hundred and fifty thousand souls.

It is only a fortnight since I arrived, and I cannot, therefore, give, at present, any very definite account of the religious state of each party. This I may try to do in a proper time. All I wish now to say is, that it exceedingly grieves me to see that I have undergone no small privations, difficulties, and dangers, in this trip, and, apparently to no purpose; for how can we think of establishing other missions or occupying new stations, if the means to support those already established are wanting? I have visited, and have been visited by, nearly all the Protestants here, all of them pleading their cause, requesting me to make known to their brethren in England the state of things here, and showing the desirableness of establishing a Protestant mission, from which they may derive those spiritual benefits of which they are totally destitute now. Shall I tell them that, notwithstanding their lively hopes when they first heard of my arrival, and their grand ideas of the liberality of British Christians to the cause of missions-the cause of the Redeemer and of immortal souls-that I belong to a society commending itself by its catholic constitution to the support and liberality of all true believers, to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ, and composed, therefore, of Christians of various denominations-which is, however, unable to raise a few hundred pounds to support its few missionaries; and, however promising this field may be, it cannot, for want of means, open a mission among the thirty thousand Jews here, so constituted as to grant them the spiritual privileges they long for by the ministrations of the missionary? It would, indeed, seem incredible to one who knows the missionary zeal of the dissenting churches generally, and their liberality to extend the kingdom of our Lord and Saviour, that the only society founded by them for the propagation of the Gospel among the Jews-the ancient people of God, the brethren and kinsmen after the flesh of the Lord Jesus, the Saviour of our souls -should have had almost every year since it came into existence, to make special appeals, that it may not be involved in debt! How is this, brethren? Can it be from want of faith in the Gospel's power to save the Jew, as it seemed to be the belief of a Papist priest, who, in a discussion, told me, "I don't believe the Jews or Mahomedans can be converted to Christianity?" Surely not; for you read the precious Word of Jehovah, which declares that the Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation, to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." And you have had, I imagine, a proof presented to you publicly in London, by the gathering together of many believing Israelites, during the conference of the Evangelical Alliance. Why, then, dear brethren, are you so far in love (for "faith worketh by love") towards Israel-the desendants of God's friends-behind our brethren in the Church of England? I can now understand a remark made by a dear converted brother, who said, "I love the Church of England, and have consecrated myself to God's service in connexion with that Church, because it has done most for my people." I do not mean that I do not, nor do I suppose that there can be a sincere and enlightened Christian who does not, love the members of any church whatever labouring so zealously for the conversion of souls. We all love them "that love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Would to God, Christian Dissenters, that you were as liberal towards the cause of Israael's dispersed and long-forgotten sons in supporting your British Society, as our fellow Christians in the Anglican Church are in supporting their London Society. May He, who disposeth men's hearts to every good work, increase the zeal and liberality of those brethren, and give you

an imitating spirit, and stimulate you to follow in the same praiseworthy path.

There is a circumstance I must not forget to mention in respect to this place. It has but till lately been occupied by a missionary to the Jews from the Church of Scotland, whom circumstances, which I need not name, compelled to retire from this field. Yet, I believe, it may again be occupied, exercising, it is true, much caution and judiciousness to prevent a similar result. Another encouraging fact, and one which should call forth the warmest sympathy of Israel's friends is, that here are two Italian intelligent young Jewesses and a Greek, longing these two years, since the said mission was broken up, to confess publicly their faith in Christ, whose sincerity I have no reason to doubt. My heart aches to think of leaving this place just as I found it-one hundred and fifty thousand souls, and not a single voice to tell them of Jesus' willingness and power to save truly penitent sinners! Forgive, brethren, the strain in which I address you. But really, my heart is full, because of the benighted state of my brethren, and the comparative indifference which Christians have manifested in their cause. I pray and hope that you will give such liberal support to the British Society, as may not only extricate it from its present 'very anxious position,' but also enable it to send missionaries to towns along the coast of North Africa, where there are more Jews in single towns than can be found in the whole United Kingdom.

I am, brethren, in the bonds of Christian love, your humble, faithful servant, A. BEN OLIEL.

ONE OF NAPOLEON'S MAMELUKES.

This Jew, a native of Greece, lost when a child both his parents, and, through fraud, his patrimony. In this forlorn condition, a Musselman, a goldsmith in Constantinople, took him into his house to teach him the trade. After he had finished his apprenticeship he commenced travelling, which he continued for fifty successive years. He visited all the principal cities of Europe; for twenty years he crossed all oceans, and saw all parts of the world. He was one of the three Mamelukes whom Napoleon had brought with him from Egypt, and who formed his body-guard. Meanwhile, he got married in Greece, yet continued his travels. By industry, he came into possession of a large massive house and considerable property. Several years ago he lost his wife; and, in the battle for freedom fought in Greece, in which he also took a part, all his property. His house was burnt up.

"Already many years ago he had cherished the desire to become a Christian. A rich Greek merchant, whose acquaintance he had made on board some vessel, offered him his only daughter in marriage, provided he joined his church; but his aversion to the image-worship practised in the Greek Church,

made him deline the offer. The Roman Catholics, too, tried, but unsuccessfully, to win him for their church. In Germany, he became acquainted with the Protestant confession, which he considered to be the true one; and in Berlin already he was desirous of receiving baptism, which was however refused, because he was not able to produce his apprentice's indenture as a goldsmith. He had then to resume his wanderings, still dressed in oriental attire, wearing a long beard and passing himself for a Christian.

"He was always in the habit of working at his trade till of late, when, suffering from sore eyes, he had to discontinue it. He commenced merchandising on a very small scale. Thus he came to Marseilles. Near the coast he noticed several Hebrew books laid out for sale. He took a Hebrew-German tract in hand, and while looking at it, a Jew who stood by told him about me. He visited me. I confess, that at first I had but very little confidence in the man. But I put his integrity to the test in many different ways, and found nothing to confirm my doubt that his desire to be saved by Christ was sincere. His late landlord speaks of his character as being unimpeachable, and as being in disposition like a lamb. Since then, he visits regularly my lectures on the Sabbath, and calls daily for instructions. He is ever complaining, though upon the whole he feels very strong. Though advanced in age, his hair is still black, not one turned gray; still wears his beard; his oriental costume, however, he exchanged for the European.

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Knowing no way by which to gain his living in this town, being a stranger here, I employed him as a colporteur, and supplied him with Bibles, Testaments, tracts, &c. He bought himself a basket, which he carries on a strap round his neck, or places it on a small portable table, and takes his stand in the public places, near the coast, the exchange, or the public walks, to offer his books for sale. Such merchandise is rather a novelty in Marseilles, and our long-bearded proselyte is attracting the attention of curious people of all nations under heaven, who constantly crowd around him; but especially Jews, who recognise in him their brother. He speaks nearly all the languages of Europe and the East, but he understands none perfectly. Enough, however, he knows of each, to give to every one who asks him some idea of the nature of his goods, which he calls 'God's-ware' (Gottesachen). Soon he was altogether freed from Judaism, and he has now the moral courage publicly, and without hesitation or fear, to testify for Jesus. His conversion produces here daily more

and more sensation, and already he has to bear the cross and share with us in its shame. The Jews curse, deride, threaten, and spit him even in the face. But the most remarkable is the circumstance, that ever since he had to deny himself for the sake of Christ, he appears to experience His peace more richly. His joy is great and full. He told me that it was none but God who directed his footsteps to me, since with me he had found what he had looked for in vain all the world round. In short, a change of heart is visible in his very countenance. I find it, however, very difficult to instruct the old man, since, except the Hebrew, he can read in no language. After many fruitless endeavours to instruct and acquaint him with Bible truth, I commenced reading to him the New Testament in German. At the close of each parable or saying of Jesus, I made him repeat what he may have retained. Since I adopted this method, a new era seems to have commenced for the good old man. If God spare our lives, I purpose to administer to him the sacrament of baptism next Easter."

According to later news, the old man was received a few weeks after into the Church of Christ in Lyons.—American Jewish Chronicle.

REFLECTIONS ON THE PRESENT STATE OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

WHAT a strange portentous spectacle have we viewed! Earth in all its regions-history in all its scenes, presents not such another. "What shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem?" Go to Egypt, the cradle of science and empire; enter the sepulchral chambers of the Pharaohs; gaze on the mighty ruins of the shrines of Amon. Awe may fill the bosom, and a vague regret for power and knowledge and art and grandeur, once strong and flourishing, now wrecked and fallen; incapable of restoration, since the people themselves are gone, leaving behind them as memorials, only their sepulchres and their ruins. And we survey the vast and solitary plain, where shapeless heaps and pools of water, are all that mark the site of Babylon: and behold, instead of "the glory of kingdoms," the dreary gloom of the desert-instead of the pomp of multitudes, the lonely beast of prey; fear and trembling must overpower us, to see how the curse of God has shivered to its base the mightiest fabric of human grandeur, and hurled it down to the darkness of a grave, from which there is no resurrection! But tell me, with what feelings shall we look upon Israel, the