THE ACT FOR NATURALIZING JEWS.

The act for permitting Jews to be naturalized, which had, during the
last session, triumphed over such an obstinate opposition, was by this
time become the object of national horror and execration. Every part of
the kingdom resounded with the reproach of the ministry who had enforced
such an odious measure; and the two brothers, who engrossed the greater
part of the administration, trembled at the prospect of what this
clamour might produce at the general election, this being the last
session of the present parliament. So eager were the ministers to annul
this unpopular measure, that, immediately after the peers had agreed
to the nature and forms of an address to his majesty, the duke of
Newcastle, with that precipitation so peculiar to his character, poured
forth an abrupt harangue in that house, importing, that the disaffected
had made a handle of the act passed last session in favour of the Jews,
to raise discontents among many of his majesty's good subjects; and as
the act was in itself of little importance, he was of opinion it ought
to be repealed; for this purpose he presented a bill ready framed,
which was read and committed, though not without some debate. The
naturalization bill, now devoted as a sacrifice to the resentment of
the people, containing a clause disabling all naturalized Jews from
purchasing, inheriting, or receiving any advowson or presentation, or
right to any ecclesiastical benefice or promotion, school, hospital,
or donative; and by the first draft of the bill, which his grace now
presented, it was intended that this clause should not be repealed. It
was the opinion, however, of the majority, that such a clause standing
unrepealed might imply, that the Jews, by being thus expressly excluded
from the possession of any ecclesiastical right of presentation, would
be considered as having the power and privilege of purchasing and
inheriting any lay-property in the kingdom. On this consideration an
amendment was made in the bill, the clause in question was left out, and
the whole act of naturalization repealed without exception.*

* The reverend bench of bishops had, with a laudable spirit
of christian meekness and philanthropy, generally approved
of the indulgence granted to their Hebrew brethren; and now
they acquiesced in the proposed repeal with the same passive
discretion, though one of the number contended for the
saving clause wh