confidence upon their able race the blessing of Almighty God.
In tones so mellow did he utter himself, that for many minutes stillness
reigned, every face pale.
Until a baron stood up with ashen under-lip, to say that such a scheme,
it seemed to him, must remain for ever abortive, unless enforced by Act
of Parliament--
But Hogarth checked him quick.
“No, my lord, not by Act of Parliament: the how your lordship may leave
to me. I dare say you will see it in this evening's papers”.
It was by an Order in Council!
* * * * * * *
“DECLARATION of the Court of Great Britain respecting the Order in
Council.
“At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 24th day of March, his
Lordship's Majesty, the Lord Regent, in Council.
“WHEREAS His Lordship's Majesty was pleased to declare in the name and
on behalf of His Majesty the King on the 23rd day of March: THAT if at
any time, after the expiration of the three months following, any of the
hereinafter mentioned trades, occupations, pursuits, or acts, shall
be carried on or done within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland by any person being a person coming within the sense of the term
“Jew” as hereinafter defined, THEN and thereafter such person shall be
liable to the pains and penalties hereinafter specified”.
* * * * * * *
No Jew might own or work land, or teach in any Cheder or school, or
be entered at any Public School or University, or sign any stamped
document, or carry on certain trades, or vote, or officiate at any
public service, and so on: parentage, not religion, constituting a
“Jew”. Through Britain this piece of Russian despotism sent a wave of
quiet gladness, and an epidemic of jest broke out, in club, factory,
“Lane”, and drawing-room: “You hurry up--to Jericho!” became the
workman's answer to a Jew; it was remarked that the chimney of train and
steamship would furnish a new pillar of cloud by day, and pillar of fire
by night, to go before the modern Exodus; they were little to be pitied,
for even Heaven was their mortgagor in land, with promise to pay--the
Promised Land; a syndicate would be formed to “pool” milk and honey, and
either Sharon or Salem would become the new Get-O at any price; being a
rather Peculiar People, they would call the new Temple “the 'Ouse” (of
Prey-ers), and make contango-day coincide with Passover....But let him
laugh that is of a merry heart: as for Israel, with weary breast and
hunted stare he sandalled his foot for the final Exodus: yet not as
them without hope. Already--some days before the Order in Council--the
disappearance of Estrella's body, her daring prophecies, had led to the
embarkation of 700 Jews for Palestine; and when the Regent's Edict gave
startling confirmation of her prediction of “the Return”, in many a
million hearts thrilled the certainty: “the Day of the Lord is nigh!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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