us sentences in the Russian, Hebrew, and German
languages.

"I particularly inquired the reason why the Talmud Tora
schools had no professors appointed for the Russian
language and other branches of secular science and
literature, this deficiency having struck me the more
after having heard such powerful arguments in favour of
studying these, showing that a knowledge of worldly
science and literature, when combined with that of Hebrew
and the observance of pure religion, was well adapted to
improve an Israelite. The answer to my inquiry was, that
they had not the means to procure such professors; that
to have a master of that description would have given them
the highest pleasure, but that having themselves to
contend with innumerable difficulties in obtaining the
ordinary and most urgent necessaries of life, they deemed
it their first duty morally and religiously to procure,
with the limited means they had, such instruction for
their children as is essential for the enjoyment of their
religion, leaving other kinds of learning for more
favourable opportunities. Of their real feeling on this
head the following incident is an example. I offered the
means of procuring masters for the Russian language,
geography, history, writing, and arithmetic in several
schools, and my offer was most eagerly accepted, and the
following day masters were engaged.

"With respect to the inclination of the Israelites to
frequent public schools, I found that a considerable
number of the Jewish youth do attend these institutions,
and many more would do so were it not that a most
difficult question arises to their parents, who say, 'We
thoroughly appreciate the great advantages derivable from
additional acquirements, but what is to become of our
children after their minds shall have been so instructed
in the higher branches of knowledge and their
sensibilities thereby necessarily refined? or how are we
to provide them with proper habiliments and books required
for the purpose if we can hardly afford to satisfy them
with bread?' Very many Israelites are also much afraid
that the mode of instruction at some public schools, and
at some established for the Israelites exclusively, may
induce their children to abjure the Jewish faith, which of
course is dear to Israelites, and which they are ready to
defend with their lives. For there are schools where
per