Real Life In London, Volumes I. and II.
the Metropolis, and about five or six thousand more stationed in the
great provincial and seaport towns. In London they have six Synagogues,
and in the country places there are at least twenty more. Most of the
lower classes of those distinguished by name of German or Dutch Jews,
live principally by their wits, and establish a system of mischievous
intercourse all over the country, the better to enable them to carry
on then-fraudulent designs in every way. The pliability of their
consciences is truly wonderful--
“For they never stick at trifles, if there's monies in the way.”
Nay, I remember the time when they used to perambulate our streets
openly, professing to purchase base coin, by bawling--“Any bad shilling,
any bad shilling.” The interference of the Police however has prevented
the calling, though perhaps it is impossible to prevent a continuance
of the practice any more than they can that of utterance. These men
hesitate not to purchase stolen property, or metals of various kinds, as
well as other articles pilfered from the Dock-yards, and stolen in
the provincial towns, which are brought to the Metropolis to elude
detection, and vice versa; in some cases there are contrivances that
the buyer and seller shall not even see each other, in order that no
advantage may be taken by giving information as to the parties.” ~310~~
“Upon my life, the contrivances of London are almost incomprehensible,”
said Bob, “and might deter many from venturing into it; but this
surprises me beyond any thing.”
“It is however too lamentably true,” continued Tom; “for these people,
educated in idleness from the earliest infancy, acquire every debauched
and vicious principle which can fit them for the most complicated arts
of fraud and deception, to which they seldom fail to add the crime of
perjury, whenever it can be useful to shield themselves or their friends
from the punishment of the law. Totally without moral education, and
very seldom trained to any trade or occupation by which they can earn an
honest livelihood by manual labour--their youths excluded from becoming
apprentices, and their females from engaging themselves generally
as servants, on account of the superstitious adherence to the mere
ceremonial of their persuasion, as it respects meat not killed by
Jews--nothing can exceed their melancholy condition, both as it regards
themselves and society. Thus excluded from the resources which other
classes of the community possess, they seem to have no alternative
but to resort to those tricks and devices which ingenuity suggests,
to enable persons without an honest means of subsistence to live in
idleness.
“The richer Jews are in the practice of lending small sums to the poorer
classes of their community, in order that they may support themselves by
a species of petty traffic; but even this system contributes in no
small degree to the commission of crimes, since, in order to render
it productive to an extent equal to the wants of families who do not
acquire any material aid by manual labour, they are induced to resort to
unlawful means of increasing it, by which they become public nuisances.
From the orange-boy and the retailer of seals, razors, glass and other
wares, in the public streets, or the collector of
“Old rags, old jags, old bonnets, old bags,”
to the shop-keeper, dealer in wearing apparel, or in silver and gold,
the same principles of conduct too generally prevail.
“The itinerants utter base money, to enable them by selling cheap, to
dispose of their goods; while those who are stationary, with very few
exceptions, receive and purchase at an under price whatever is brought
them, ~311~~ without asking questions; and yet most of their concerns
are managed with so much art, that we seldom hear of a Jew being hanged;
and it is also a fact, that during the holidays (of which they have many
in the course of a year,) or at one of their weddings, you may see
the barrow-woman of yesterday decked out in gay and gaudy attire of an
expensive nature.”
By this time they had reached the top of the minories, and were turning
down Houndsditch. “We are now,” said Dashall, “close to another place
chiefly inhabited by Jews, called Duke's Place, where they have a very
elegant Synagogue, which has been visited by Royalty, the present King
having, during his Regency, honoured them with a visit, through the
introduction of the late Mr. Goldsmid. If it should be a holiday, we
will be present at the religious ceremonies of the morning.” With this
they entered Duke's Place, and were soon within the walls of this Temple
of Judaism. In taking a view of it, Bob was much gratified with its
splendid decorations, and without being acquainted with their forms, had
_doffd his castor_,{1} but was presently informed by his Cousin that he
must keep his hat on. The readers appeared to him to be singers; but the
whole of the service being Hebrew, it was of little consequence to him,
whether read or sung. He perceived, during the performances of these
prayers, which were every now and then joined in by almost every
one present, that many of the congregation appeared to be in close
conversation, which, however, was taken no notice of by the persons
officiating. He was well pleased with the singing of a youth and the
accompaniment of a gentleman in a cock'd hat; for although he could not
discover that he actually produced words, he produced sounds in many
instances bearing a strong similarity to those of a bassoon. The
venerable appearance and devotion of the High Priest, who was habited in
a robe of white, also attracted his attention; while the frequent bursts
of the congregation, joining in the exercises of the morning, in some
instances almost provoked his risibility.
“The religious ceremonies of these people,” said Tom, as they left the
synagogue, “though somewhat imposing as to form and appearance, do not
seem to be strongly interesting, for many of them are engaged during the
whole of the service in some species of traffic; buying and
1 Doff'd his castor--Taken off his hat.
~312~~ selling, or estimating the value of goods for sale. They are such
determined merchants and dealers, that they cannot forget business even
in the house of prayer. We have two sets of them. This is the Dutch
Synagogue; but the most ancient is that of the Portuguese, having been
established in England ever since the Usurpation. The members of it
being mostly wealthy, are extremely attentive to their poor, among whom
there is said not to be a single beggar or itinerant; while the Dutch or
German. Jews get no education at all: even the most affluent of them are
said to be generally unable either to read or write the language of the
country that gave them birth. They confine themselves to a bastard or
vulgar Hebrew, which has little analogy to the original. They observe
the particular ritual of the German Synagogue, and also include the
Polish, Russian, and Turkish Jews established in London. With the
exception of a few wealthy individuals, and as many families who are in
trade on the Royal Exchange, they are in general a very indigent class
of people. Their community being too poor to afford them adequate
relief, they have resorted to the expedient of lending them small sums
of money at interest, to trade upon, which is required to be repaid
monthly or weekly, as the case may be, otherwise they forfeit all claim
to this aid.
“The Portuguese Jews are generally opulent and respectable, and hold
no community with the others. They use a different liturgy, and their
language is even different. They never intermarry with the Jews of the
Dutch Synagogue. They pride themselves on their ancestry, and give their
children the best education which can be obtained where they reside. The
Brokers upon the Exchange, of the Jewish persuasion, are all or chiefly
of the Portuguese Synagogue. Their number is limited to twelve by Act of
Parliament, and they pay 1000 guineas each for this privilege.”
They had now reached the end of Houndsditch, when, passing through
Bishopsgate Church Yard and Broad Street, they were soon at the Bank.
“This building,” said Dashall, “covers an extent of several acres of
ground, and is completely isolated.”
“Its exterior,” replied Bob, “is not unsuited to the nature of
the establishment, as it certainly conveys an idea of strength and
security.”
~315~~ “That's true,” continued Tom; “but you may observe a want of
uniformity of design and proportion, arising from its having been
erected piece-meal, at different periods, and according to different
plans, by several architects. This is the principal entrance; and
opposite to it is the shortest street in the Metropolis, called Bank
Street; it contains but one house. Now we will take a survey of the
interior.”
They entered the Hall, where Tallyho was much pleased to be instructed
as to the methodical way they have of examining notes for a re-issuing
or exchanging into coin.
“Here,” said Dashall, “are the Drawing-offices for public and private
accounts. This room is seventy-nine feet long by forty; and, at the
further end, you observe a very fine piece of sculpture: that is a
marble Statue of King William III. the founder of the Bank. Thi national
establishment was first incorporated by act of Parliament in 1694. The
projector of the scheme was a Mr. James Paterson, a native of
Scotland; and the direction of its concerns is vested in a Governor,
Deputy-Governor, and twenty-four Directors, elected annually at a
general Court of the Proprietors. Thirteen of the Directors, with the
Governor, form a Court for the transaction of business. The Bank is open
every day from nine in the morning till five in the afternoon, holidays
excepted. It is like a little town. The Clerks at present are about
1000 in number, but a reduction is intended. The Rotunda is the most
interesting apartment--we will go and have a look at the Money-dealers.
“Here,” continued he, as they entered the Rotunda, and mingled among
the various persons and sounds that are so well known in that seat
of traffic, “from the hours of eleven to three a crowd of eager
Money-dealers assemble, and avidity of gain displays itself in
ever-varying shapes, at times truly ludicrous to the disinterested
observer. You will presently perceive that the justling and crowding
of the Jobbers to catch a bargain, frequently exceed in disorder the
scrambling at the doors of our theatres for an early admission: and sa
loud and clamorous at times are the mingled noises of the buyers and
sellers, that all distinction of sound is lost in a general uproar.”
Of this description, Tallyho had an absolute proof in ~314~~ a few
minutes, for the mingling variety of voices appeared to leave no
space in time for distinguishing either the sense or the sound of the
individual speakers; though it was evident that, notwithstanding the
continual hubbub, there was a perfect understanding effected
between parties for the sale and transfer of Stock, according to the
stipulations bargained for.
“Ha, Mr. M------,” said the Hon. Tom Dashall, “how do you do?”
“Happy to say well, Sir, thank you,” was the reply. “Any
commands?--markets are pretty brisk this morning, and we are all alive.”
“Pray,” said Tallyho, “who is that extraordinary looking Lady with such
red lips and cheeks, beneath the garb of sadness?”
“A constant visitor here,” replied Mr. M. “I may say a day scarcely
passes without her being present.”
“She has a curious appearance,” said Bob; “her dress is all black
from head to foot, and yet her cheeks disclose the ruddy glow of
uninterrupted health. Is it that her looks belie her garb, or that her
garb belies her looks?”
“Hush,” said Mr. M. “let her pass, and I will give you some information