And as to our being forced to bear arms on our Sabbath and holy days as in late years has been by command of some particular officers, without any necessity or urgent occasion (which is quite contrary to our religion unless in case of necessity where an enemy is in sight or apprehension of being near us) on which we have always been ready, all which have been the motives and reason that we made our application to his Majesty, humbly praying relief and protection to our just grievances and that we may enjoy the privileges as by the favour of our Letters Patents and Denization doth allow us, which indeed was sufficient when any infringement was designing against us, except the four last acts.

Now looking upon your Excellency the only protector and recourse we have in this Island under the happy government of his most excellent Majesty, we humbly pray your Excellency will please to represent our hard fate that we have laboured under, that for the future we may be so happy to find your Excellency's clemency towards who as in all duty are bound to pray, etc."

II.

THE GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL'S ANSWER TO THE BARON DE BELMONT.

[Ibid. ff. 84 to 88.]

Upon receipt from your Lordships of the copy of the Memorial presented to his Majesty in behalf of the Jews of this Island by the Baron de Belmont, I sent to some of the chiefest of that nation and shewed them the said memorial and bid them put into writing the reasons they had to make such applications to his Majesty by the said Baron de Belmont, which they have done and I now transmit it to your Lordships.

What they say about being so taxed by the Assemblies they mention is truth, and had the act gone forward in the

last Assembly for making Reparation to the Sufferers in the late War, it would have amounted to such a sum that their part therein mentioned would not have been extravagant.

But to trace all from the original; their first introduction into this Island was upon condition that they should settle and plant, which they do not, there being but one considerable and two or three small settlements of the Jews in all the island. But their employment is generally keeping of shops and merchandize, by the first of which they have engrossed that employment and by their parsimonious living (which I do not charge as a fault in them) they have thereby means of underselling the English, that they cannot many of them follow that employment nor can they in reason put their children to the Jews to be trained up in that profession, by which the English nation think they suffer much both in their own advantages, and what may be made to their children hereafter.

And it is well known that in time past, the Jews made it their request that they might on any occasion be taxed by the lump, and the reason they gave and which was obvious to and prevalent on the English, was because they being a people distinct from the English knew one another's circumstances and abilities better than the English could, and therefore the more likely to do right to one another as well as to take off the jealousy of partiality, had they been particularly taxed in the parishes where they dwelt as the English are, but of late they have desired otherwise because they fall out in their taxing one another. For these reasons the Assemblies have always when public money was to be raised thought it but reasonable that they the Jews, who in the opinion of the Assembly eat out the English in trade and get it very much into their own hands, and thereby the profits and advantages that might be made by the retailing trade to the English nation, have thought it but just that they should pay something in proportion more than the English, and what they propose in those cases of money is not to be contradicted by the governor and council, lest thereby the whole bill may fall.

As for their bearing arms, it must be owned that when any public occasion has happened or an enemy appeared they have been ready and behaved themselves very well; but for their being called into arms on private times and that have happened upon their sabbath or festivals, they have been generally excused by their officers unless by their obstinacy or ill language they have provoked them to the contrary, the law of this country without regard to the Jews or any other, giving power to the officers to call all men to arms when there is thought occasion for it.

It is likewise too plain that the meaner sort of that nation buy anything from our negroes by which they encourage them to steal from their masters, or any else, that they may sell it to the Jews to make money to buy drink or to play with one another. By which many evils happen both to the negroes and their owners, and altho' this has been endeavoured to be hindered, yet a way could never be found to prevent it, this trade being driven on most at night or Sundays when people are at church and hereby the ignorance of the negroes gives advantage to the Jews to buy anything of them for very small value and much under its real worth which the sooner sets them on to stealing more.

To which may also be added, that they are not at the trouble and charges of any civil and military offices (which are great here there being no pay or allowance for them) except to a constable sometimes, where the poundage money for the taxes pay their expence of time. Nor are their taxes considering the great stocks they have in trade more in proportion than a poor planter's that in debt and labours hard to clear himself, besides they are entered much into the wholesale trade and many English merchants consign their goods to the Jews here which is a great discouragement to the English factors.

This is the truth of the present state of the nation of the Jews here, where if any taxes be laid upon them, which they do not like, it's for the consideration aforesaid and by the

Assemblies, who often resent it. Nor is it in the power of the governor and council to contradict them in raising of money which they will do as they please or not at all, tho' never so great occasion or necessity for it.

By his Excellency's command,

THO. NICHOLLS, Clerk of the Council."

III.

JEWS IN JAMAICA.

[Board of Trade Journal, Vol. 16, fol. 5. Cf. also ff. 14 and 24.]

"At Meeting of Board of Trade March 3 1703.

Mr. Lereira laid before the Board a Petition presented to Her Majesty by Antonio Gomes Serra, Andrew Lopez and Moses de Medina in behalf of the Jews inhabiting in Jamaica. With the Signification of Her Majesty's Pleasure thereupon by Mr. Secretary Hedges, that the same be referred to the Consideration of the Board. And he further desiring a Copy of the Memorial presented by the Jews at Jamaica to the Governor and Council, there relating to their Taxes with the Answer of said Governor and Council thereunto in the year 1700."

[Entered Jamaica B, folio 80, etc.]

MEMOIR OF JOHN MOSS.

BY LUCIEN Moss, Philadelphia.

John Moss, who was one of the early merchants of Philadelphia, was born in London in 1771, and came to America when a mere boy, quite poor, but industrious and full of energy.

He was an engraver on glass, and had his shop at what was then 56 Arch street. A piece of his work, now in the possession of the writer, and executed in 1788 for Moses. Simon, of Richmond, Va., bears testimony to the skill he had attained in his calling when less than eighteen years of age. The demand for his work, however, was limited, and seeking a more remunerative business he turned to the dry goods trade, which he began in a small way, and in 1807 opened a shop at 89 High street, now Market street, where he continued until 1814, when he removed his extended business to 37 Dock street, and thence in 1818 to 77 S. Front street.

He somewhat later entered into the shipping business, having his counting-house in Front street until 1829. His fleet consisted of four large vessels of about 800 tons, called respectively "Brilliant," "Tontine," "Hetty" and "Moss Rose." These were engaged in the Liverpool trade, and were all provided with elegant cabin accommodations for passengers.

In 1814 he established his dwelling in the old-fashioned double house, No. 189 Spruce street, where he surrounded himself and his family, consisting of wife, four sons and four daughters, with every reasonable comfort. His huge fireplace with its colossal andirons and glorious wood fire is a lasting tradition.