house, subscribed by merchants and traders of the city
of London; who, among other allegations, observed, that the consequences
of such a naturalization would greatly affect their trade and commerce
with foreign nations, particularly with Spain and Portugal. Counsel
was heard, evidence examined, and the bill produced violent debates, in
which there seemed to be more passion than patriotism, more declamation
than argument. The adversaries of the bill affirmed, that such a
naturalization would deluge the kingdom with brokers, usurers, and
beggars; that the rich Jews, under the shadow of this indulgence,
would purchase lands, and even advowsons; so as not only to acquire an
interest in the legislature, but also to influence the constitution of
the church of Christ, to which they were the inveterate and professed
enemies; that the lower class of that nation, when thus admitted to the
right of denizens, would interfere with the industrious natives who earn
their livelihood by their labour; and by dint of the most parsimonious
frugality, to which the English are strangers, work at an under price;
so as not only to share, but even in a manner to exclude them from all
employment; that such an adoption of vagrant Jews into the community,
from all parts of the world, would rob the real subjects of their
birthright, disgrace the character of the nation, expose themselves
to the most dishonourable participation and intrusion, endanger the
constitution both in church and state, and be an indelible reproach upon
the established religion of the country. Some of these orators seemed
transported even to a degree of enthusiasm. They prognosticated that the
Jews would multiply so much in number, engross such wealth, and acquire
so great power and influence in Great Britain, that their persons would
be revered, their customs imitated, and Judaism become the fashionable
religion of the English. Finally, they affirmed that such an act was
directly flying in the face of the prophecy, which declares, that the
Jews shall be a scattered people, without country or fixed habitation,
until they shall be converted from their infidelity, and gathered
together in the land of their forefathers. These arguments and
apprehensions, which were in reality frivolous and chimerical, being
industriously circulated among the vulgar, naturally prejudiced against
the Jewish people, excited such a ferment throughout the nation, as
ought to have deterred the ministry