the number of strangers, and its increase proceeds in a manner beyond all conception. The amount of goods imported into St Petersburgh last year was above 90,000,000 of roubles, and that of goods exported nearly 77½, millions.
St Petersburgh, April 12.—On Easter Sunday there was published a very remarkable imperial mandate, in favour of the Jews who are converted to Christianity. The following are some of the chief articles:—
1. All Jews embracing the Christian religion, no matter of which confession, shall have privileges granted them, whatever profession they may adopt, suitable to their knowledge and abilities.
2. In the northern and southern governments, lands shall be assigned them gratis, where such as please may settle at their own expense, under the name of Society of Jewish Christians.
3. This society shall have its own privileges.
4. At St Petersburgh a Board shall be formed, of which Prince Alexander Golyzin shall be president, under the denomination of "Board for the affairs of Jewish Christians;" on which, and on no other magistrates (except in criminal cases), the society of Jewish Christians depends.
5. This Board is bound to attend to every thing relating to the settlements, and to report on it to the Emperor. In the settlements of the Jewish Christians, which are given to them as hereditary property for ever, the society can carry on any kind of professions, build cities, villages, or single dwellings; the lands are given to the whole community, but not to individuals, and cannot be sold or mortgaged to strangers. In these settlements the Jewish Christians and their posterity have entire religious liberty in the Christian confession of faith which they embrace. The society is under the immediate protection of the Emperor, and depends entirely on the Board in St Petersburgh, to which alone it will give account. No other local magistracy shall interfere with them; their preachers are only under the Board. The internal government of the society is under administration of the Society of the Jewish Christians, consisting of two superiors and four adjuncts, chosen by the Society from its own members, and confirmed by the Board. It manages the internal concerns, the police, &c. and has a particular seal. It may expel improper members, and receive new ones, but must report on this to the Board. The members of the society obtain the rights of citizens in the Russian empire. They may carry on trade at home and abroad, conformably to the general laws; establish manufactories, &c. without being registered in any guild. In their settlements the society may brew beer, distil brandy, &c. They are free from billeting of troops, and for twenty years from taxes; are not bound to military service, &c. Foreign Jews who, after embracing Christianity, shall join this community, may leave the country when they have paid their debts, and the legal contributions for three years on the capitals which they have acquired in Russia. This regulation excites the more attention, because it is well known that our ambassadors in Germany are expressly ordered to give no more passports to those who desire to emigrate.
TURKEY.
The friends of humanity will lament to learn, that the German physician, Rosenfeld, one of those persons who ventured to inoculate themselves with the plague, has fallen a victim to his generous devotion.
Some movements on the Persian frontiers have taken place, occasioned by the conduct of Ibrahim Pacha, commander of the Turkish fortress of Bejazid, who was discharged from his office and had fled to Persia; but his not returning at the desire of the neighbouring Turkish governors, has caused the Turks to commit some excesses in the Persian villages, for which the Persian Crown Prince threatens to exact reparation by force of arms.
The city of Constantinople has been again a prey to the ravages of fire, upwards of 300 houses having been destroyed.
The Pacha of Smyrna, the richest in all Turkey, has been beheaded by order of tho Grand Signior, for forwarding recruits and assistance to the Dey of Algiers.
A private letter from Cairo mentions, that they had experienced a circumstance not remembered by the oldest inhabitant four days of successive torrents of rain, which had nearly destroyed whole villages. The houses having been built of unbaked clay, scarcely a dwelling escaped without injury, and had the rain continued a few days longer, the city of Cairo itself must inevitably have been washed away.
America
UNITED STATES.
By the American papers, received 2d April, we see that the spirit of hostility to the introduction of British manufactures is still manifested, by resolutions and proposals, tending to show the inveteracy of a portion of the people against every thing English.
The celebrated Mr Randolph has retired from public life.
An address has been presented by the citizens of Washington, to Mr Madison, on his retiring from the presidency.—His reply relates chiefly to the welfare of that city; and, amongst other matters, informs them, that ultimate good will follow from the disaster which befel the capital.
It appears the American Commodore, Chauncey, concluded a new Treaty with Algiers on the 25th December, on the basis of the Treaty of June 1815.
