a full and perfect growth those feelings of love toward my native country, which then just began to show themselves. In this manner, also, like a child, did I suffer myself to be afflicted, by the general hatred entertained toward our people by the other nations of the world; a hatred of which I had more reason to boast, seeing that it had its birth in those religious distinctions which exalted us above every other people. Had I possessed any power of reflection, also, or any knowledge of their writings who anciently had discoursed of the Jews, I should have perceived that all of this hatred and contempt, that had not its natural origin in envy of our superior advantages, was to be charged upon the lies, which, first engendered in the brain of the execrable Manetho, fruitful of lies as the Nile of reptiles, had then descended an inheritance of falsehood and error through succeeding generations, but which had ever been greedily seized upon, and with unabating malignity constantly transmitted to those who were to come after. Even the Romans, notwithstanding their greatness of character, and notwithstanding so many families of our nation had lived among them with distinction, and had even been entertained as favorites in the very household of the Cæsars, were not ashamed to treat us with the like injustice, and continually reproach us with our ori

gin and our laws. But the wickedness and injustice were not greater on their part, than were both the vanity and the baseness on mine, so manifest in my courting the favor and regard of those who, at the very same time, so openly despised the people from whom I sprung. As you shall soon learn, however, I was presently cured of a folly, which, I doubt not now, made me to be scorned by the very persons who seemed most to flatter me; for he can never be held as worthy of a real esteem, who appears to be ashamed of his own kindred.

Again I draw from my letters to my mother; for although my recollection is exact and vivid of those days and events, so that, as I think, I could set them down in order, applying to that source alone, yet in this the beginning of my history, I shall, I doubt not, more perfectly comply with your wishes, my kinsmen of Rome, if I appear before you in the very form in which I painted myself in those remote days. It was thus then, the second time, that I addresed myself to the blessed Naomi.

II.

I SAID, my mother, that I would write again so soon as new events had happened. That necessity presented itself immediately upon my sending to you the letter which I last wrote, if those may by called new events which are to be witnessed, not so much in saparate acts or occurrences, as in the ripening of the time toward some general and final issue. Such seems to me to be the condition of Cæsarea. Large numbers of the people indeed, both Jews and Greeks, are little concerned by this quarrel with the Governor, being wholly engrossed by the expected games, either preparing to attend them with every circumstance of display, or to receive into their dwellings as visitors during their continuance, the friends and kinsfolk who make it their five years' custom to assemble at Cæsarea at this great festival. But greater numbers, however, although together with the rest they look forward to the games with pleasure, and to the entertainment of both friends and strangers, are

much more deeply engaged by the difficulties of which I have already given you some account. The games may occupy their hands, but other interests, hopes, and fears are busy at their hearts. Especially is this the case with the Jewish portion of the population. No one would dream that less than an empire were at hazard, to judge by the demeanor of this people. In truth they seem to me at all times a solemn tribe; and this feature of their general character is darkened to a gloom like that of night, by the present aspect of their affairs. Their motion through the street is slow and cautious, with eyes cast down, or talking with one another in low and secret tones - turning continually with sudden movement the head to this side and that, as if expecting instantly the blow of an assassin, or the insult of a Greek. I confess myself amused not a little as I watch them. But if this is so with the Jews generally or rather with the more zealous portion of them how much more is it true of so fierce a spirit as Philip. Not the dark Casca nor the lean Cassius ever carried in their eyes what so threatened States with ruin and revolt. Although I cannot but judge his cause in the main a right one, yet can I not work up myself to his pitch of fury; but, on the contrary, do what in me lies, partly by reason, and partly

by a lighter rhetoric, to soothe his almost disordered mind. My success has been much such as it would have been, had I essayed to stem the northern tide as it rushes in at the open mouth of the Port, making colossal Rome and Asia to tremble on their bases.

On the morning of the day which preceded the opening of the games, and which was to witness the hearing of the Jewish deputation before Pilate, the air being close and oppressive, I sought the cooler walks of the Garden, and reaching the little arbor of which I have spoken, took out my tablets and wrote. I had been not long thus engrossed, when I was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Anna, with a countenance more than usually expressive of anxiety. She seated herself near me, saying, as she did so, "I have come seeking you, and am glad to have found you here, and yet I hardly know why I have come, and I fear lest I deprive you of time that you need for more important objects." I assured her that I was performing no duty of more importance than writing to my mother, and that her own name was the last from my pen; of what I had said concerning her I could not inform her; it was, however, no evil report, she might well believe. But what, I asked, was it which disturbed her, for her countenance spoke of some new alarm. "It is