“Yesterday my attention was called to your editorial of the 4th _ult._ by _Rabbi_ Sneersohn, who at the same time requested me to try and explain why the poor Jews in this country have not yet succeeded in earning an independence by the cultivation of the soil, as poor people in other countries generally do to some extent. He supposes that I ought to know something about it, as I have been brought up to farming in Canada, where poor people generally do succeed in earning a good living by agriculture; and for about two years (in 1854 and 1855) I also had some experience in reference to agriculture in this country, where it must be admitted that lately it has been far otherwise.... The cause of the great want of success hitherto, it appears to me, is, because people have not fairly considered the great magnitude and importance of the object to be accomplished, and seriously gone to work to accomplish that object with that kind of earnestness with which men go to work to build a railroad, or engage in any other great undertaking, which they have decided would conduce greatly to the advantage of the public, and for their own profit also.... When the Greeks are making efforts to become a people again, and the Italians or Romans trying to restore something of their former greatness, shall _Israel_ alone be totally indifferent as to whether they are a nation or not? The poor of Israel have done their part――they have come here in thousands to live or die, as God or man shall permit. Let the rich and enterprising do their part, and then let us see whether we shall eventually succeed even better than did the remnants of the Greeks or Romans. “Very truly yours, “HENRY WENTWORTH MONK. “_Jerusalem_, Palestine, _Oct. 1, 1863_.”