number is prescribed, must be of equal length and breadth among themselves, and contain a certain number of lines. The Talmud contains strict rules concerning the material, the colour, the ink, letters, divisions, writing instruments, etc., which are closely followed, especially in copying the Pentateuch. The minuteness of such regulations renders it a most irksome task for the sopher or scribe to write out a synagogue roll. The revision of the Torah, as the synagogue roll is often called, must be undertaken within thirty days after its transcription, else it is unfit for use. Three mistakes on one side or skin are allowable, but should there be four, or should there happen to be an error in the open and close sections of the law, in the position of the songs in Exod. xv. and Num. xxi., which are the only portions of the Pentateuch written in poetical lines, then the whole copy is worthless. The great beauty of penmanship exhibited in their synagogue copies has been always admired. They are taken from authentic exemplars, without the slightest deviation or correction. Seldom do they come into the hands of Christians, since as soon as they cease to be employed in the synagogue, they are either buried or carefully laid aside.-KITTO. Cyclop. Bibl. Literature, ed. Alexander, vol. ii., page 56.

.מורה נבוכים THE GUIDE OF THE PERPLEXED

This religio-philosophical work, by Maimonides, originally written in Arabic, and entitled na bab, created a new epoch in the philosophy of the Middle Ages. It was first read in Hebrew in the translation of Ibn Tibbon, first published about 1480, then in Venice 1551, Sabionetta 1553, Berlin 1791-96, Salzbach 1828, etc. It was translated into Latin by Justinian, Bishop of Nebis, "R. Moses Ægyptii, Dux sive Director dubitandum," Paris, 1520:

then, again, by Buxtorf, jun., "Doctor Perplexorum," Basel, 1629. The first part was translated into German by Fürstenthal, Krotoschin, 1839; the second by M. E. Stein, Vienna, 1864; and the third by Scheyer, Frankfort-on-theMaine, 1838. Part III., 26-49, has been translated into. English by Dr. Townley, "The Reasons of the Laws of Moses," London, 1827. The original Arabic of the first and second parts has, for the first time, been published, with a French translation, and elaborate notes, by Munk, Paris, 1856-61. Comp. Geiger, Comp. Geiger, "Moses ben Maimon," Breslau, 1850; "Fürst Bibliotheca Judaica," ii. 290-316; Steinschneider, Catalogus Lit. Heb. in Bibliotheca Bodleiana, col. 1861, 1942; Jost, "Geschichte des Judenthums," Leipzig, 1858, vol. ii., page 428; etc., Frankel, "Hodegetica en Mischnam," Leipzig, 1854, page 320; "Die Religions Philosophie des Moses ben Maimon," in "Jahrsbericht des Judisch-theologischen Seminars,” Breslau, 1859; Graetz, "Geschichte der Juden," vol. iii., Leipzig, 1864, etc.-Dr. GINSBURG in Kitto's Cycl. Bib. Liter.

LAST AUTO DA FÉ IN PORTUGAL.

Antonio Jose, a Portuguese dramatist, was by birth a Jew. He wrote some comic operas, which, though coarse in style, had a vein of humour and gaiety, and gave the first promise of an original Portuguese drama. From 1730 to 1740 they drew crowds to the theatre. Jose was seized as a Jew, imprisoned in the dungeons of the Inquisition, and was burnt alive at the last Auto da Fé in 1745.—SOUTHEY?

JEWISH DISABILITIES.

Sir Robert Grant's Bill for releasing the Jews from civil

disabilities, was rejected by the Lords, August 1, 1833; another, introduced by Lord John Russell, after passing the Commons, was also rejected by the Upper House, May 25, 1848; a third, which also received the sanction of the Lower House, was thrown out by the Lords, July 17, 1851. Similar Bills were rejected in 1853 and 1857.

By the 21 and 22 Vict. c. 49 (July, 23, 1858), the House of Commons was empowered to modify the oaths in such a manner that they could be taken by Jews; and by the 23 and 24 Vict. c. 63, the words " upon the faith of a Christian" were expunged permanently in the case of a Jewish member. An Act to relieve Jews elected to municipal offices from taking oaths, etc., had been passed in the 9th of Victoria.-Compiled from HADYN'S Book and TownSEND'S Manual of Dates.

ASSYRIAN IDEAS.

When the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity, they brought with them a multitude of new opinions and superstitions which had not been known in former times, and also some much purer doctrines, among which was a belief in the immortality of the soul, which, after the captivity, was universally received, except by the Sadducees, who rejected it. I have already given some proofs from the Tablets that this doctrine was held by the ancient Assyrians and Babylonians, and that the Jews adopted this belief and retained it ever after. At the same time they accepted many other opinions which they found prevalent in the land of their captivity. The Assyrians believed most strongly in demoniacal possession, in the power of exorcism, in charms, talismans, and holy water; in the constant presence of good and evil angels and demons, some merely fantastic, others very hurtful and malignant. Among other things, the Jews brought from Babylon the

U

names of the twelve months, which are foreign, and not Hebrew words.—H. T. TALBOT. Trans. Bibl. Archæology.

PRIVILEGES GRANTED BY JOSEPH II.

The Jewish nation or people, who through a long course of centuries had so often been doomed to lament the caprices or rapacity of monarchs, and to become victims to the revolutions of States, were now (1780) among the first to experience the benefit of living under a government where the prince had sufficient comprehension to discover that his own interests are in a less or greater degree inseparably connected with the security and prosperity of every class and order of his subjects. Among other immunities and privileges granted by the Emperor to that people, they were particularly admitted to the right of exercising all kinds of arts and trades, of applying themselves to agriculture, and to the invaluable privilege of freely pursuing their studies in the universities without any impediment whatsoever on the score of religion; so that upon the whole they seem now to possess in general the same advantages with other citizens.

Besides the signal benefits which he before conferred on the Jews, he engaged (1782) so warmly in their favour, as to write letters himself to the different trading and handicraft corporations of Vienna, requesting that their youth might be received as apprentices in the various trades and callings of that city.-Ann. Regis., vols. xxvii., xxix.

ABBREVIATIONS.

The writings of the later Hebrews teem with abbreviations, a knowledge of which is essential to all students of Rab

binical literature. Limited space precludes more than this allusion to them. One instance only will be cited, with with which the pious writers were wont to terminate their labours, and which the compiler of this work also adopts.

תם ונשלם שבח לאל ברא העולם-In full, it reads

"It is finished and completed, praise be to God, the Creator of the Universe"; and it is herein symbolized by its initial letters

.ת" ו" ש" ל" ב" ה"