I was honoured, a few days ago, with a communication from India, which
contains a Query that is out of my power to answer. But being very
solicitous to do my best towards affording the desired information, I
bethought myself of sending the letter, _in extenso_, for insertion in your
very valuable and exceedingly useful miscellany. I venture to think that
you will agree with me, that the interesting nature of the communication
entitles it to a place in "N. & Q." As the letter speaks for itself, I
shall say no more about it, but proceed to transcribe the greatest part of
it at once.
"Landour Academy, May 26th, 1853.
"Rev. M. Margoliouth,
"Sir,--I do not know in what terms to apologise to you for this
communication, especially as it may entail trouble on you, which can
result in my advantage alone.
"I am a Jew, believing that Jesus is the Messiah; and I trust this will
induce you to assist me in my search after some of my relations whom I
believe to be in England.
"I wrote to Dr. Adler, Chief Rabbi of the Jews in England, some years
ago, but his information was limited to some distant connexions, the
Davises, Isaacs, and Lewises, who still professed Judaism. Subsequent
inquiries discovered two uncles of mine, Charles Lewes and Mordan
Lewes, in London, who informed me that my grandfather, Isaac Levi, was
for ten years a clergyman of the Church of England, and had
congregation at Lynn, in Norfolk, and that he had published a tract
against Judaism. Beyond this I can get no farther information: my
uncles are either too poor or unwilling to prosecute their inquiries
any farther. Could you ascertain for me whether my grandfather left any
family, and if any member is still alive? My object is to discover
their existence, and to renew a correspondence which has been
interrupted for more than forty years.
"I am the grandson of Isaac Levi, for many years dead, reader of a
congregation of Jews in London; my father, Benjamin Levi, is still
alive, and is with me. I keep a school at Landour, in the Hymmalayas,
in the north-western provinces of India. I have been led to write to
you after reading your _Pilgrimage to the Land of My Fathers_, and
seeing in it that you are the author of a work entitled _The Jews in
Great Britain_, which I have not seen, and concluding from this that if
any one can obtain information you can.
"I send this letter to Messrs. Smith and Elder, booksellers, of
Cornhill, London, with a request to send it to you through your
publisher, Mr. R. Bentley," &c. &c.
I do not feel justified in publishing the last two paragraphs in my
correspondent's letter, and have therefore omitted them. I shall feel
extremely obliged to any of the readers of "N. & Q." who could and would
help me to answer the anxious Query from the Hymmalayas.