Emancipation of the Jews

In Francis' *History of the Bank of English*, p. 24., mention is made of an offer on the part of the Jews to pay 500,000l. to the state on the following conditions;— 1. That the laws against them should be repealed; 2. That the Bodleian Library should be assigned to them; 3. That they should have permission to use St. Paul's Cathedral as a Synagogue. It is stated, on the authority of a letter in the Thurloe State Papers, that this proposition was actually discussed. The larger sum of 800,000l was demanded; but, being refused, the negotiation was broken off. This proposition is said to have bee…