Be it known by this our Royal Edict--may God exalt and bless its purport and elevate the same to the high heavens, as he does the sun and moon!--that it is our command, that all Jews residing within our dominions, be the condition in which the Almighty God has placed them whatever it may, shall be treated by our Governors, Administrators, and all other subjects, in manner conformable with the evenly balanced scales of Justice, and that in the administration of the Courts of Law they (the Jews) shall occupy a position of perfect equality with all other people; so that not even a fractional portion of the smallest imaginable particle of injustice shall reach any of them, nor shall they be subjected to anything of an objectionable nature. Neither they (the Authorities) nor any one else shall do them (the Jews) wrong, whether to their persons or to their property. Nor shall any tradesman among them, or artizan, be compelled to work against his will. The work of everyone shall be duly recompensed, for injustice here is injustice in Heaven, and we cannot countenance it in any matter affecting either their (the Jews') rights or the rights of others, our own dignity being itself opposed to such a course. All persons in our regard have an equal claim to justice; and if any person should wrong or injure one of them (the Jews), we will, with the help of God, punish him. The commands hereinbefore set forth had been given and made known before now; but we repeat them, and add force to them, in order that they may be more clearly understood, and more strictly carried into effect, as well as serve for a warning to such as may be evilly disposed towards them (the Jews), and that the Jews shall thus enjoy for the future more security than heretofore, whilst the fear to injure them shall be greatly increased. This Decree, blessed by God, is promulgated on the 26th of Shaban, 1280 (15 February 1864). Peace! (Loewe, "Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore," vol. ii. p. 153.) * * * * * FURTHER EXTRACT FROM PROTOCOLS OF THE MADRID CONFERENCE (1880). _Protocole No. 12.--Séance du 26 Juin, 1880._ Le Président observe que la Conférence, ayant accompli, et au delà, la tâche qu'elle s'était proposée, est à la veille de se dissoudre. Mais il doit porter à la connaissance de ses membres, avant qu'ils ne se séparent, une communication importante qui a été adressée par le Saint-Siège au Gouvernement de Sa Majesté Catholique. M. Canovas del Castillo donne lecture de la production suivante d'une lettre, en date du 4 Mai, 1880, qu'il a reçue de son Eminence le Cardinal Nina: