CHAPTER IX.

RESTORATION SCHEMES

Dr. John Jortin――Thomas Newton, Bishop of Bristol――Edward King ――Samuel Horsley, Bishop of Rochester and St. Asaph――Jewish Colonies in South America――Marshal de Saxe’s scheme――Anecdote by Margravine of Anspach――Earl of Egmont’s project――Proposed settlement of German Jews in Pennsylvania――Viscount Kingsborough’s Mexican colony――John Adams, President of the United States.

THE books and pamphlets, consisting largely of interpretations of the Bible, naturally contain many ideas open to serious criticism on the part of a modern reader. Inevitably also (seeing that the writers were theologians) they exhibit a persistent tendency to conversionism. But one thing that continually impresses one is the earnestness and sincerity revealed throughout. The readmission of the Jews into England was likewise connected in some quarters with conversionist tendencies, but on the whole it was an act of justice, and the Jews profited by it.

The writers with whom we have been dealing were men trained from childhood to read the Holy Scriptures, to reflect upon what they read, and to consider every question from the standpoint of their religious convictions. A certain weakness will no doubt be found in the one-sided exegetical tendency shown in the numberless explanations of the seventh chapter of the Book of _Daniel_, and various Apocalyptic prophecies. But have not all the different denominations done the same? Has not each one made use of some part of the Bible in order to support its ideas? Does not every sect explain the word of God according to its own way of thinking? Do not the opinions of one sect conflict with and contradict those of another? It must be remembered that this method of Scriptural interpretation was in keeping with the spirit of the time, and that the entire question was still in its infancy. Be that as it may, one cannot but be grateful for the devotion of these Christian champions, in spite of the peculiarity of some of their notions. Although as Jews we often differ from them as regards the interpretation and application of certain verses, still we cannot withhold our admiration for the sincere enthusiasm which is evinced in most of their writings.

Dr. John Jortin (1698‒1770), an ecclesiastical historian and critic, the author of _The Life of Erasmus_ ... London ... 1758‒1760, and of many books dealing with the problem of the Jewish people, developed the idea that the preservation of this people, “under such long, such signal and such unexampled persecutions and calamities inclines one to think that they are reserved for some illustrious purpose of Providence.”

Thomas Newton (1704‒1782), Bishop of Bristol (1761), a divine of great authority, defended the idea of the Restoration of _Israel_ in words which no Jewish national enthusiast could excel. The Jews, he believes, will be restored to their native city and country. At the same time, he emphasizes the dignity and the necessity of Jewish distinctiveness all over the world, and condemns anti-Jewish prejudice:――

“We see that the great empires, which in their turns subdued and oppressed the people of God, are all come to ruin; because, tho’ they executed the purposes of God, yet that was more than they understood; all that they intended was to satiate their own pride and ambition, their own cruelty and revenge. And if such hath been the fatal end of the enemies and oppressors of the Jews, let it serve as a warning to all those, who at any time or upon any occasion are for raising a clamor and persecution against them”¹ (Appendix xxxvi).

¹ Dissertations on the Prophecies, ... vol. i. ... MDCCLIV. _pp._ 241‒242.

Edward King (1725‒1807), a miscellaneous writer and essayist, was a zealous champion of more enlightened theological views than were approved in his day by the orthodox believers. In one of his books,¹ which is written with intense faith and enthusiasm, and abounds in beautiful passages that appeal to the imagination and heart, the one point in which he is particularly emphatic is the return of the Jews as Jews to the Holy Land.

¹ Remarks on The Signs of the Times; By Edward King, Esq., F.R.S.A.S.... London: ... 1798. (_4to._ 40 _pp._ [B. M.])

Samuel Horsley (1733‒1806), Bishop of Rochester (1793‒1802), Bishop of St. Asaph (1802‒1806), considered King’s book of sufficient importance to publish another¹ in reply, from which one gathers, that the opinions expressed by King were not entirely rejected. “I agree with you,” wrote the Bishop, “that some passages in _Zechariah_ (_fl._ 3408 _a.m._) in particular, make strongly for this idea of a previous settlement ... and so far I can admit....”

¹ Critical Disquisitions on the Eighteenth Chapter of Isaiah, in A Letter to Edward King, Esq., F.R.S.A.S. By Samuel, Lord Bishop of Rochester, F.R.S.A.S. London: ... M.DCC.XCIX. (_4to._ v. + 109 _pp._ [B. M.])

This declaration must have made a profound impression. It was the declaration of a man who was, as a contemporary biographer says, “an ornament to the Senate, an honour to the Church of England, and one of the first characters of the age in which he lived.”

In some tracts written at the beginning of the nineteenth century a semi-political note is already sounded, as, for instance, in the tract _A Call to the Christians and the Hebrews, by Theætetus_ (Appendix xxxvii). This call did not find an immediate response; nevertheless, the political idea of the Restoration of _Israel_ reappeared at various epochs in England as well as in the other English-speaking countries and elsewhere.

The various efforts to establish autonomous Jewish Colonies in America during the early history of that country are not strictly Zionism, but are not without interest from the Zionist point of view. “Under the authority of the Dutch West India Company.... In 1652, a tract of land ... was granted in the island of Curaçao to Joseph Nunez _da_ Fonseca, and others, to found a colony of Jews in that island ... but it was not successful....”¹

¹ _The Settlement of the Jews in North America._ By Charles P. Daly, LL.D. ... New York ... 1893. _p._ 9.

About 1654 a project was formed for a settlement in Surinam, then a British colony, with Jewish fugitives from Brazil. The scheme is referred to as “Privileges Granted to the People of the Hebrew Nation that are to goe to the Wilde Cust” (_Egerton MSS._, _vol._ 2395, No. 8. [B. M.]).

A grant was made by the French West India Company to David Nasi, a Portuguese Jew, in 1659, by a charter which authorized him to found a Jewish colony in Cayenne.

Some of the later projects are even more interesting. About the year 1749 Marshal _de_ Saxe¹ contemplated erecting a Jewish state in South America of which he would be King. “... We have only meagre accounts of this scheme; I am unable even to say whether he had abandoned it prior to his death....”²

¹ Hermann-Maurice (1696‒1750) [Moritz _von_ Sachsen], Comte _de_ Saxe, Marshal of France, was the illegitimate son of Friedrich August (1670‒1733) the First, Elector of Saxony (1694‒1733), who reigned over Poland (1697‒1733) as August the Second [the Strong]; and Maria Aurora (1668‒1728) Gräfin _von_ Königsmark. His father’s legitimate son (1696‒1763), who succeeded to both dignities as Friedrich August the Second, Elector of Saxony, and as August the Third, King of Poland (1733‒1763), was the father of Maria Josepha, the wife of the Dauphin Louis (1729‒1765), and mother of that unfortunate Monarch, Louis XVI. ♦(1774‒1792) of France.

♦ “(1774‒1792)” should be “(1754‒1792)”

² _Early American Zionist Projects_, by Max. J. Kohler, A.M., LL.B., in Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, 1900, No. 8 _pp._ 76‒79.

The Margravine of Anspach¹ tells us in her anecdotes about him, that “He took a fancy to become a king: and on looking around..., as he found all the thrones occupied, he cast his eyes upon that nation which for seventeen hundred years had neither sovereign nor country; which was everywhere dispersed, and everywhere a stranger.... This extraordinary project occupied his attention for a considerable time. It is not known how far the Jews co-operated with him, nor to what point their negotiations were carried; nor was his plan ever developed: but the project was well known to the world, and his friends sometimes even joked with him on the subject.”²

¹ Elizabeth (1750‒1828), youngest daughter of the fourth Earl of Berkeley, K.T. (1715(6)‒1755), who in 1767 married William Craven (1738‒1791), afterwards the sixth Baron Craven. In the month following his death, she espoused the Margrave of Anspach (_ob._ 1806).

² _Memoirs of the Margravine of Anspach._ Written by Herself ... London: ... 1826. Vol. ii., _pp._ 132‒133.

John Perceval (1711‒1770), the second Earl of Egmont, when scarce a man, had a scheme of assembling the Jews, and making himself their King.¹

¹ Note by Lord Holland (1773‒1840) in _Memoirs of the Reign of King George II._ (1683‒1760), by Horace Walpole (1717‒1797) ... London ... 1847. Vol. i., second edition, _p._ 35.

Hardly was the constitution of Pennsylvania of September 28th, 1776, adopted.... A German Jew, whose name and domicile are not mentioned, forwarded a letter to the President of the Continental Congress ... that a number of German Jews had the intention of settling in America.... Let the conditions be stated to us, gracious President....¹

¹ _A Memorial sent by German Jews to the President of the Continental Congress._ By Dr. M. Kayserling. (Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society, No. 6, 1897, _pp._ 5‒6.)

Edward King (1795‒1837), Viscount Kingsborough, eldest son of George, third Earl of Kingston (1771‒1839), promoted and edited with copious notes a magnificent work, entitled _Antiquities of Mexico_ ... 9 vols. Imperial Folio and 60 _pp._ of a tenth volume. London, 1830‒1848. The drift of King’s speculations was to establish the colonization of Mexico by the Israelites.¹

¹ Gordon Goodwin in the _Dictionary of National Biography_.

In this connection special mention should be made of a great American who was undoubtedly inspired by English Puritanism and displayed the same broad-mindedness as the Puritans in relation to the Jewish problem. This was John Adams (1735‒1826), the second President of the United States of America (1797‒1801), and one of the most distinguished patriots of the Revolution. He was one of the most enthusiastic supporters of the Zionist idea. In a letter addressed to Major Mordecai Manuel Noah (1785‒1851), he says: “I really wish the Jews again in Judea, an independent nation, for, as I believe, the most enlightened men of it have participated in the amelioration of the philosophy of the age; once restored to an independent government, and no longer persecuted, they would soon wear away some of the asperities and peculiarities of their character,...” But, anticipating that he might be wrongly supposed to desire the return of the Jews to Palestine for the purpose of getting them away from America or limiting their rights in that country, he continues: “I wish your nation may be admitted to all the privileges of citizens in every part of the world. This country (America) has done much; I wish it may do more, and annul every narrow idea in religion, government and commerce.”¹

¹ Discourse on The Restoration of the Jews: Delivered at the Tabernacle, Oct. 28 and Dec. 2, 1844. By M. M. Noah. With a Map of the Land of _Israel_. New York: ... 1845. (8º. viii. + 55 _pp._ + folded map.) _p._ vi.: “I find similar and stronger sentiments in a letter from President John Adams, written to me when nearly in his ninetieth year, with all the fervour, sincerity and zeal he exhibited in the early scenes of our Revolution,” _etc._