remonstrances of Pope Gregory VII. The same kindly feelings towards that people prevailed without intermission in the kings who reigned over Castile and Leon during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Alphonso IX., of Castile (A.D. 1158-1214), surnamed on account of his valour and other excellencies, the Good and the Noble, showed them still greater favour, because of his love for the fair Rachel, a damsel of that nation, who was at last slain by several knights, who conspired together to put her to death (A.D. 1196.) Ferdinand II. (of Castile, and III. of Leon, after 1250), surnamed, like his nephew, Louis of France, the “Saint,” is celebrated in the history both of the Christian Church and the Spanish kingdoms, for the recovery of Cordova and Seville from the Mahomedans, in the year 1236 and 1248.

Very different, however, was his treatment of the Jews from that of the French king, who bore the same epithet. After the conquest of Seville, the Castilian prince granted them many favours, and large possessions in land.*

No king had ever before bestowed on the Jews in his kingdom such high distinction, or availed himself so much of their talents, as Alphonso X.,

In 1797, a member of the Royal Academy of History at Madrid, presented to that learned body some remarks on the ancient synagogues of Seville, and especially two waxen impressions from seals, one round, the other square, bearing the arms of Castile. One bore round the edge this inscription: "The holy Assembly of the Synagogue of Seville, which may God preserve, its stronghold and Redeemer." The other bore simply the names of "Todras and Levi, son of Samuel and Levi whose soul rests in Paradise, son of Israel Levi."

surnamed "the Wise," and the "Astronomer," the son of Ferdinand (A.D. 1252-1284). This prince has been sometimes unjustly reproached for devoting more of his time to study than to the affairs of his kingdom; but several victories, gained either by himself, or during his reign over the Mahomedans, and his labours in time of peace for the prosperity and well-being of his country, entirely acquit him of the charge.

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To him the nation is indebted for a collection of laws in the vernacular tongue, known by the name of Las pastidas." He took great pains to introduce the Spanish language, instead of Latin, into all the public acts. The early efforts of Spanish national literature owe much to this prince, who took great pains to improve the language of his country; for this purpose, he caused some of the writings of ancient authors to be translated into Spanish; such as Cicero, Virgil, Ovid, and the works of Boetius and Prudentius. With the same view, and also a desire of promoting healthful civilization among his people, he formed a plan for translating the Bible into the language of Castile, and the Old Testament. Learned Jews, selected by the king, were appointed to perform the task. His version, with the addition of a few corrections and changes, is considered to be the same as that printed in 1533 by the Jews in Italy, which has since been known and celebrated as the Bible of Ferrara. At all events, it is quite certain that the old version was closely followed by later translators.

The services of learned Jews were equally in request to assist the scientific labours of the king in mathematics and astronomy. Rabbi Isaac Ben Lid, precentor of the synagogue, Rabbi Samuel,

and his brother Rabbi Jehuda Bar Moses Haccohen, with Rabbi Zag, all natives or inhabitants of Toledo, wrote several interesting works, giving a view of the progress then made in astrology, the use of the astrolabe, and mineralogy. Some of these were translations from the Arabic of Ali Aben Ragel, Avicenna, Averroes, and others, and written either in Spanish or Latin. These learned men, with several other Jews, Arabs, and even Christians, to the number of fifty, were chosen by the king, as his assistants in the composition of an astronomical work, known by the name of "Tabulæ Alfonsine," which he achieved at a great expense, by his own personal co-operation, as a monument of the very peculiar interest he felt in this science.

JEWS IN THE INDIAN ARMY.

THE following facts, respecting Jews in India, have been communicated to the Editor of the "Jewish Intelligence." Dr. Buchanan, as our readers will remember, gives some interesting accounts of Jews in India. We were informed some time since by an officer of the Indian army, that the most intelligent and trustworthy men in the native regiments in India are Jews, and that the authorities, when they want a post of trust, and requiring intelligence, well filled, seek out one of these Indian descendants of Israel.

The account given to the Editor of the "Jewish Intelligence" is as follows:

"In the year 1716, the population of the Island of Bombay amounted to only 16,000 souls, but I regret to say I have no memoranda, nor can I find any details, of the census taken on that occasion.

In the year 1816, a census was taken, when it was found that the population of the Island of Bombay had increased to 161,550, of whom 800 were Jews, natives of India.

"In the year 1849, another census was taken, when the population of the Island of Bombay amounted to 566,119; of whom 19,294 were nominal Christians, and 1,132 were Jews, viz. :— Boys under 13 years of age.

Girls do.

Males 14 to 50

do.

158 do..... 142

do..... 371

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In a series of letters regarding the native army which I wrote, and were published in the 'Bombay Times' in 1840, the following extract

occurs:

“The Jews are also very good men, and there is a sprinkling of them throughout the army. I believe the 19th Regiment has more than any other corps in the service, from 70 to 80; the 4th, 21st, and 24th Regiments, have from 20 to 35 each; but the remaining corps in the service have but a few, varying from 3 or 4 to 15 at the utmost. Almost every Jew in the ranks of the Bombay army, has been either born or brought up from infancy in their respective regiments.'

"The information contained in the above sentence, I obtained part personally, and the rest from a correspondence with the adjutants of several of our native regiments.

"In my own corps we had, a few years ago, five or six native commissioned officers who were Jews.

Our Havildar (Serjeant) Major was a Jew; some of our pay-orderlies of companies, and several of our drummers and fifers were also Jews.

"I regret I did not bring home with me a mass of memoranda, which I had in my possession before I left India, or I could tell you much regarding their habits, &c., but this I can say, from personal experience, I always found the Jews amongst the most cleanly, well-behaved, and I may say, by far the most intelligent, of our native soldiers. And with the exception of being addicted to drink, and when this was carried to excess, to quarrels among themselves, it was very seldom that a Jew was ever brought up for any offence to the orderly room. They never intermarry with the Hindoos or Mahometans, and live by themselves."

The following extract from a letter from a clergyman in Kurrachee, written in Feb., 1851, will be read with interest :

"I have great pleasure in telling you there is a demand for Scriptures, and hope you will send me a supply of them: Old Testaments, in parts, from Genesis to Malachi; and also, if you have any in stock, I should like some copies of the Old Testament bound up in a volume. These I have had application for from Jews (soldiers) in the native regiments stationed here."

We are glad to know that the spiritual interests of the descendants of Abraham, in that distant part of the British Empire, are not neglected. The schools in connection with the Mission of the Free Church of Scotland have for many years past had a number of Hebrew children among their pupils. For an account of this interesting work, we must refer our readers to the printed reports of the labours in that Mission.