Observe this, Isaac: Mr Ashurst argues upon what are called broad, wide, and benevolent principles. He would give liberty to the Jew because the man was born a Jew; because he couldn’t choose his father and mother, his creed or colour. It is his fortune to be a Jew, as it may be the fortune of the Bishop of London to be a Christian. Therefore the common councilman would give him equal freedom with the rest. Now, the royal Duke would emancipate the Jew because “he contributes a large portion” to the funds of Christian charities. With the Duke, the Jew buys the favour with hard cash! Sir Moses ought to be an alderman, because he gave the Duke “a very handsome sum” for a charitable meeting! The Jew touches the common councilman through his reason, his sense of justice; but the Hebrew moves the royal Duke purely through his breeches-pocket. “We owe a great deal to the Jews,” says Cambridge; “and _therefore_ they ought to be freed.” Now suppose, Isaac, that the Jews had been poor; that they had never subscribed handsome sums; could the Duke, according to his own logic, have lifted up his voice in their behalf? I fear not. Thus, then, it is, Isaac, Mr Ashurst and men of his school give liberty as a right--the Duke of Cambridge and such reasoners sell it. There’s a good deal, Isaac, to think of in what Mr Ashurst says; that no man chose his colour or his country. Only suppose now, if Sir Robert Peel had been born one of the--what d’ye call ’em?--the spinning dervishes, whose whole religion is said to be in doing nothing but going round, and round, and round! Why, one can’t help thinking that Sir Robert would have gone round with any of ’em. Just suppose, too, Sir James Graham born a Chinaman. Instead of dining off Christian beef and mutton, don’t you think he’d have eaten rats glazed with rice? and now, all the world knows, a rat’s a thing he can’t abide to think of. Only think, Isaac, how many white-skinned public folks, if they’d been only born in Africa, would have been _born_ as black--yes, quite as black--as if they could now be turned inside out. Is it any merit of Lord Brougham’s that he wasn’t born to play with knives and balls like Ramo Samee? On the other hand, is poor Ramo to be despised because he hasn’t the salary of a shelved chancellor? I should think not. There’s capital wisdom in what Mr Ashurst says--the best of wisdom. And let us hope that even lords and bishops will by-and-by come to understand it. And so no more from your old friend, JUNIPER HEDGEHOG. LETTER XIII.--_To Mrs Hedgehog of New York._ DEAR GRANDMOTHER,--You ought to be in England just now, we’re in such a pleasant pucker. The Church is in danger again! I have myself known her twenty times in peril, but now she really is at the very edge of destruction.