thy likeness, and hast prepared for him and from him

At the end of each sen

Blessed be he, and

Rejoice, shout and be

a house for ever and ever.' tence the people responded, blessed be his name.' Rabbi. merry, thou barren. Thou wilt soon gather thy children about thee in joy. Blessed art thou, O Lord, thou that makest joyful Zion's children. Thou makest joyful with joy a lovely pair, as thou didst make joyful thy creature according to thy image in the garden of Eden of old. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who rejoicest bridegroom and bride! Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the world, who hast created rejoicing and joy, and also bridegroom and bride. The voice of love and affection, cordiality, peace and friendship, shall be speedily heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem;—the voice of rejoicing and the voice of joy ;-the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride ;-the voice of shouting, and of wedding days, and of marriage, and of feasting days, and the voice of the music of the youth. Blessed art thou, O Lord, who makest joyful the bridegroom with the bride, and makest them. prosper."

"After this the bridegroom took the cup of wine and tasted it, and then gave it to his spouse. Both of them continued standing during the whole service. Then the Rabbi said, "Praise the Lord, for his mercy endureth forever. Joys shall increase in Israel, and sorrows shall flee away, and it shall be for a good sign. As the Jews present. offered their congratulations to the bridegroom they said, 'A good sign." The nuptial torch was then. extinguished, but immediately lighted again, and the bride was reconduct-

ed to her chamber by the women with the sound of cymbals.

"While the Rabbies were performing the service some of the people attended to it with great devotion, but others were talking, laughing, and walking about the room. The Rabbies went through the service in the hurried, indistinct manner, which seems to pervade all religious services of the East."

The following extract also from the same source, is given in connexion with some facts which afterwards came to my knowledge.

"The most interesting part of my labors in Alexandria, has been among the Jews. I have become particularly acquainted with three. One of them is Dr. M. who was Mr. Parsons' physician. He is a native of Germany, but has been many years in this place. He is reputed skilful in his profession, is one of the Pasha's physicians, and is a man of extensive learning and very respectable talents. He has a library of about two thousand volumes, among which are the Scriptures in different languages, and several valuable theological books. He shewed me the writings of Eusebius, and spoke of them as highly valuable. He has also the works of several of the Christian fathers.

"We hoped to be able to enter into some interesting discussions with him, but did not intend to begin immediately. At almost his first visit, however, he told us that Mr. Wolff had spoken to him concerning us. We then entered into conversation concerning the Jews. He says there are about four hundred in this place. Their language is Arabic; they read Hebrew, but understand very little of it; and are ex

ceedingly ignorant, barbarous, and superstitious. I then said, 'Are they still waiting for the Messiah?' He replied, 'Yes; but they care very little about the Messiah that has come, or any one that will come. They might easily be hired to consent that there should never be a Messiah.' Speaking of the Talmud, which he studied a long time while young, he said, 'It is a perfect Babel, a confusion of language, a confusion of logic, theology, and every thing else. In a whole volume you will scarcely find twelve sentences worth reading.' I observed, No pretended Messiah has now appeared for a long time.' And I hope,' said he, 'none ever will appear. In Europe it would be impossible for one to succeed; he would soon be detected. In this country he would probably lose his head immediately. If any monarch should now undertake to assemble the Jews, they could not live together. The Jews of Germany, of England, of France, of Spain, and of Asia, differ so much, that they would not tolerate each other. The way to make Jews Christians, is to give them the privilege of citizens, and let them intermarry with Christians.'

"He speaks of the Gospel as containing very sublime morality, and of Jesus Christ as holding a high rank, and possessing a most unexceptionable character, when viewed as a lawgiver, and the founder of a sect; and says the stories in the Talmud concerning him are ridiculous and absurd beyond all conception. He one day took up a Hebrew Testament, and turned to the sermon on the mount and said, 'This is excellent. This would be good to read to the people every day.'

"I lent him the Memoir of Martyn, which he read and returned. A few days since, I sent him an English Bible, and several Tracts in different languages. The next time I met with him, he told me, that the title of one of the Tracts interested him extremely. To use his own phrase, it pierced his skin. This was Leslie's short Method with Deists, which I sent him in French. This was the last interview I have had with him. He has just sent me three letters of recommendation to Jews at Cairo."

Other missionaries have recorded interviews with Dr. Marpugo, of similar interest. This truly eminent Jewish physician was high in favor with the Pasha and the European residents. Having however declined complying with his request for certain services among the soldiers, he was ordered forthwith to depart from the country. To this command he replied that he was not a subject of the Pasha's and could not therefore without a violation of the treaty with his government (Austria I believe) be driven from Egypt. Hearing however that the Pasha had said, "By and bye Dr. M. will be found dead in the streets and I shall give myself no trouble to enquire by what means he came to his end," he hastily fled from Alexandria to Constantinople. There he resided for some time engaged in the practice of his profession, and though negligent of Jewish observances, was on account of his distinguished abilities much courted by the Jews. Subsequently at the request of the Pasha, he returned to Egypt. He had left his wife behind in that country, and while at Constantinople became enamoured with the daughter of Castro the Jewish Printer. Yet he did not give the a pledge, which precedes lawful

wedlock, and her father with a feeling which is I believe usually very strong among the Jews, resisted his proposals, until she had attempted to put an end to her existence. He then consented that she should follow Dr. M. to Egypt, but before her arrival, he had suddenly died. Some were disposed to believe that he had fallen a victim to the Pasha's desire of revenge, but such a feeling could as easily been gratified at Constantinople. If he was carried off by poison, it was more probably administered at the instigation of his wife, who thus secured his wealth against her Constantinople rival.* It is melancholy to see one thus favorably situated and so well qualified to have become a second Joseph to his brethren, though he renounced their superstitions yet failing to trust in Him, who came as a "Light to lighten the Gentitles, and the glory of his people Israel."

Abyssinia. Though not among the "countries bordering on the Mediterranean," yet as Abyssinia is most accessible on the side of Egypt, it deserves in this connexion a passing notice. Within the Christian era, the Jews have for several centuries maintained an independent government in one of its provinces. At times they have waged furious and bloody wars against both Christians and Mahometans, but since their reigning family has become extinct, they have been sub

Dr. M. is mentioned by some traveller during his first residence in Egypt, as refusing wine that was offered him by another physician, because he suspected an attempt to poison him. It would not be amiss for travellers in the East to imitate the practice of Ali Bey, who always carried about his person a powerful emetic of sulphate of zinc, by way of precaution against such attempts.