Without this only a small number could enjoy the liberty and equality which an enlightened republic vouchsafes to every newcomer without distinction of race or creed. Still these absorbingly interesting early periods had to be passed over briefly, despite the wealth of available material, to keep within the bounds of a single volume, and to be able to carry out the plan of including in the narrative a comprehensive view of the near past and the present. While no excuse is necessary for making the latter part of the work longer than the earlier, though in most works the inequality is the other way, the author regrets the scarcity of available sources for the history of the Jewish immigration from Slavic countries other than Russia. There were times when German Jewish historians were reproached with neglecting the Jews of Russia. In those times there was a scarcity of necessary “_Vorarbeiten_” or preparation of material for the history of the Jews of that Empire. To-day, as far as the history of the Jewish immigrant in America is concerned, the scarcity is still greater as far as it concerns the Jews who came from Austria and Roumania. The principal sources which were utilized in the preparation of this work are: _The Publications of the American Jewish Historical Society_ (20 vols., 1893–1911), which are referred to as “Publications”; _The Jewish Encyclopedia_ (Funk and Wagnalls, 12 vols., 1901–6); _The Settlement of the Jews in North America_, by Judge Charles P. Daly, edited by Max J. Kohler (New York, 1893), often referred to as “Daly”; _The Hebrews in America_, by Isaac Markens (New York, 1888); _The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier and Citizen_, by the Hon. Simon Wolf, edited by Louis Edward Levy (Philadelphia, 1895). Other works, like Dr. Kayserling’s _Christopher Columbus_, Mr. Pierce Butler’s _Judah P. Benjamin_ (of the American Crisis Biographies, Philadelphia, 1906) and the Rev. Henry S. Morais’ _Jews of Philadelphia_, were also drawn upon for much valuable material which they made accessible. All of these works were used to a larger extent than is indicated by the references or foot-notes, and my indebtedness to them is herewith gratefully acknowledged. Where biographical dates are given after the name of a person born in a foreign country, the date of arrival in the New World is often fully as important as that of birth or death. This date is indicated in the text by an _a._, which stands for _arrived_, as _b._ stands for _born_ and _d._ for _died_. In conclusion I gladly record my obligation to Mr. Abraham S. Freidus of the New York Public Library for aid in the gathering of material; to Mr. Isaiah Gamble for re-reading of the proofs; to Mr. Samuel Vaisberg for seeing the work through the press, and to my sister, Bertha Wiernik, for assistance in the preparation of the index. _P. W., New York, July, 1912._ CONTENTS.