plantagie van den Joodschen eigenaar Manuel Pereira op, en vermoorden
hunnen meester. Hierop zond Isaac Arias, voormalig Officier der
Joodsche compagnie, die zijne bezittingen in de nabuurschap had,
eenige vrijwilligers van zijne natie, onder aanvoering van David
Nassy en Abraham De Brito, tegen de Boschnegers uit. Zes weken lang
bleef deze bende op vijandelijken grond, zoodat niemand wist wat
van haar geworden was; doch bij hunne terugkomst bleek het, dat
zij een allervoorspoedigsten aanval hadden gedaan, terwijl zij de
afgehouwene handen van zes gesneuvelde Negers, en zeven-en-veertig
krijgsgevangenen medevoerden. Jeder Officier ontving daarop van den
Raad voor dezen tocht f. 75; jeder burger f. 36; elke gewapende Neger f.
20, en jeder zwarte die met levensmiddelen belast geweest was, f. 5 ter
belooning." See also Dr. Kayserling, _l. c._, pp. 208-209. He does not
state what the rewards were.
[88] Cf. Dr. Hahn's article on _Primitive Jewish Settlements in
America_, in _The American Jews' Annual_ for 1886-87, p. 36, who says
that "among those who fell on the battlefield was David Nassi, in 1743,
at the age of seventy. That was his thirty-first campaign against the
French." We are inclined to believe that this is wrong, for earlier
historians (see the following note) state that he died of a broken
heart--a victim of slander. Furthermore, he did not fight against the
French, but the Maroons. See also Isaac de Costa, _op. cit._, p. 321.
[89] Cf. Koenen, _l. c._, p. 297-98: "Vijf jaren later deed dezelfde
onvermoeide Israeliet (David Nassy), die wel dertig tochten tegen
de Boschnegers heeft ondernomen, ofschoon reeds bejaard, nog eenen
aanval op het dorp der kreoolsche Negers, die door hunne meerdere
beschaving en hun omgang met de Europeers de gevaarlijkste van alle
waren. Deze strooptocht had plaats op den grooten Verzoendag der
Joden. Zonder dat zij zich door de heiligheid van het feest lieten
terughouden, trokken deze, de rivier Suriname langs, het binnenland
in, vervolgden den vijand, staken zijne hutten in vlam, roeiden de
veldvruchten uit den grond, brachten een aantal Negers om, en voerden
veertien krijgsgevangenen met zich. Doch Nassy werd het slachtoffer
van een list des vijands. Men maakte hem diets, dat de waterbronnen
door de Negers vergiftigd waren; en hij, door gebrek aan de noodige
verversching gedwongen, neemt op zich om terug te keeren, zonder den
last of de orders ven deen Raad af te wachten. Zijne benijders en
tegenstanders wisten hem deswege bij den Raad in een kwaad gerucht te
brengen; zijne verdediging werd naauwelijks aangehoord; zijn proces
opgemaakt. Dit krenkte den wakkeren man zoo geweldig, dat hij door eene
koorts werd aangetast, die hem in den ouderdom van zeventig jaren ten
grave sleepte. Na zijnen dood werd zijn geloofsgenoot, Isaac Carvalho,
in zijne plaats tot Kapitein der Joodsche burger-compagnie benoemd."
Cp. also, Kayserling, _l. c._, p. 209.
[90] See Koenen, _l. c._, p. 298-299: "Eenige jaren daarna werd een
verdrag van vrede met de meer en meer gevaarlijk wordende westelijke
Marrons gesloten. Doch nu vertoonde zich een nieuw gevaar van den
kant der oostelijke of Tempati-negers, die in het jaar 1749 eene
plantagie plonderden, en de Negerslaven die zich aldaar bevonden,
met zich voerden. Deze plantagie behoorde eenen Joodschen eigenaar,
en heette _Auka_; van daar bleef aan deze opstandelingen de naam
van _Auka-negers_. Tegen dien vijand was het, dat in 1757 een tocht
werd ondernomen, gedeeltelijk onder den Christenoverste Rijsdorp,
gedeeltelijk onder den Joodschen Kapitein _Naar_, die reeds vroeger
zestien malen tegen denzelfden vijand opgetrokken was. De uitslag ook
van deze onderneming was allergunstigst. _Naar_ verbrandde een groot
Negerdorp, maakte een aantal gevangenen, waaronder zich zekere Corydon,
de belhamel der opstandelingen, bevond, en werd voor zijn manmoedig
bedrijf door den Raad met een aanzienlijk geschenk begiftigd." See also
Dr. Kayserling, _l. c._, p. 209: "Im Verein mit dem obersten Rijsdorp
bekriegte Naar die noch immer Verheerung anrichtenden Neger. Er
verbrannte eine ihrer groessten Doerfer, nahm ihren Häuptling gefangen
und wurde wegen seiner an den Tag gelegten Tapferkeit ansehnlich
belohnt."
[91] See the _Essai Historique sur la Colonie de Surinam_, etc.,
(Paramaribo, 1788; Dutch version, Amsterdam, 1791), Vol. I, p. 123. Of
this rare and valuable work, which was called forth by the writings
of Dohm on the _Emancipation of the Jews_, only one copy (in the
British Museum) is known to be in existence. The writer of these lines
is having the volumes copied in view of his _History of the Jews in
Surinam_. See for further references his paper in the _P. A. J. H.
S._, No. 3, pp. 126-30. It is worthy of mention that this is the
_first_ work published in Paramaribo.
[92] Cf. Rev. E. M. Myers' _Centurial_ (New York, 1890), p. 117, _ad
ann._ 1750.
[93] Cp. _Essai Historique sur la Colonie de Surinam_, etc.
(Paramaribo, 1788), Vol. I, pp. 98, 99; Koenen, _l. c._, pp. 299,
300 gives a graphic account: "Zoodanige belooning, de eerzucht ook
van den nog jeugdigen _Isaac Nassy_ prikkelende, berokkende dezen
moedigen jongeling zijn ondergang. Naijverig op de onderscheiding, door
zijnen geloofsgenoot verworven, en wanende, dat de Boschnegers tegen
een' geregelden aanval geen moed noch kracht wisten over te stellen,
verzamelt hij in haast een twaalftal zijner vrienden, wapent hunne
beste slaven en de zijnen, voorziet zich met een onbeduidenden voorraad
van krijgsbehoeften en levensmiddelen voor tien of twaalf dagen en
vervolgt alzoo den op de vlucht gedreven vijand. Doch hij stutte op een
veel grooter aantal dan hij berekend had. Eenen tijd lang hielden de
blanken zich nog staande. _Nassy_ leide groote dapperheid aan den dag,
en ofschoon hij een geweerschot in het rechterbeen bekomen had, deed
hij nog groote moeite om zijne lieden te hereenigen en hun zinkenden
moed weder aan te wakkeren. Doch te vergeefs. Hij werd levend door de
Negers gevat, en wreedaardig vermoord. Wellicht zouden zij hem nog het
leven gespaard hebben, ten einde de voldoening te smaken van zich door
een' blanke te laten dienen; maar de wraakzucht, die al te hevig in
hun woesten boezem blaakte, liet hun zelfs deze wreede barmhartigheid
niet toe. Zij verloren echter bij deze gelegenheid een tweetal hunner
opperhoofden, en nog wel twintig gemeenen." See also Kayserling, in
_Monatsschrift_, _l. c._, pp. 209, 210.
[94] Cf. Koenen, _l. c._, p. 300-301: "Den 23sten Mei, 1761, werd er
een vrede met hen gesloten, die thans een einde maakte aan de gewapende
tochten," etc., etc.
[95] See _Essai Historique sur la Colonie de Surinam_, etc., Vol. I, p.
130.
[96] Cf. _Essai Historique_, etc., Vol. I, p. 135; Koenen, _l. c._, p.
301-302.
[97] See Koenen, _l. c._, p. 300: "... De afkeer des verdrukten
Negers was veel grooter voor den Israelitischen meester dan voor den
Christenplanter; en de Jood was harder tegen den armen slaaf, dan zijn
landgenoot van verschillend geloof," etc.
[98] Cf. Koenen, _ibid._, _l. c._, p. 300-301: "... Haasten wij
ons intusschen, tegenover deze treurige bedenkingen de aangenamer
opmerking te maken, dat de volkplanting wegens hare verdediging niet
minder verplichtingen aan hare Joodsche bevolking in die dagen gehad
heeft, dan vroeger wegens de oorbaarmaking harer woeste gronden, of
als het moederland door de herlevendiging van deszelfs handel; en dat
dus de Jood in de kolonien door het beoefenen van den landbouw en het
waarnemen der landsbeveiliging, die verdiensten verworven heeft, die
hem in het Gemeenebest zelve nog schenen te ontbreken."
[99] _Beschrijving van de plechtigheden, nevens de lofdichten en
gebeden uitgesproken op het eerste Jubelfeest van de Synagogue der
Portugeesche Joodsche gemeente, op de Savane in de Colonie Suriname,
genaamd Zegen En Vrede. [Berakha Ve-Shalom] op den 12den van Wijnmaand
1785._ (Amsterdam, Hendrik Willem en Cornelis Dronsberg, 1786). The
volume is described at length in my paper on _Early Jewish Literature
in America_, _P. A. J. H. S._, No. 3, pp. 126-129, where the Hebrew
title is also given.
[100] See the writer's _Literary Gleanings on American Jewish History_,
No. II, in the _Menorah Monthly_ for September, 1895 (Vol. XIX), pp.
149-152.
[101] See S. J. Rudelsom's _Lofzang op den bleyde dag der inhuldiging
van ... J. G. Wichers, gouverneur-generaal over de colonie v. Suriname,
2 Juni, 1785_. The Ms. of this interesting pamphlet will soon be
printed, with other works of Surinam Jews, in the French Jewish
periodical, _Révue des Études Juives_, published in Paris. See also _P.
A. J. H. S._, No. 3, p. 127.
[102] _Plechtigheden, vreugde gezangen en gebeeden in de Hoogd.
Joodsche Synagogue Neve Salom, te Suriname, op d. dag d. inhuldig.
van Sir Charles Green, Gouverneur-Generaal over Suriname, opgesteld en
gezongen d. J. M. De Vries, Voorzanger._ (Paramaribo, 1804.) See also
_P. A. J. H. S._, No. 3, p. 130.
[103] See _Plechtige Vreugde Gezangen, en Gebeden, Verricht in de
Hoogduitsche Israelitische Sinagogue Neve Salom ... te Suriname, ter
gelegenheid, en op den blyden dag der Inhuldiging van Zynen Hoog Edelen
Gestrengen Heer Abraham De Veer, Gouverneur-Generaal der gemelde
kolonie,--Gezongen door den Eerwaarden Heer Tobias Tall._ The Hebrew
title and other particulars are given in the writer's paper, _P. A. J.
H. S._, No. 3, pp. 130-131.
[104] Cf. Dr. Kayserling, _Monatsschrift_, l. c., p. 213.
VI.
EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER OF DAVID EBRON (DATED 1597) TO KING PHILIP II,
GIVING AN ACCOUNT OF HIS DISCOVERIES AND SERVICES TO THE STATE, IN
SOUTH AMERICA.
Among the numerous letters, documents and registers of the Albaic
archives,[105] which bear special reference to the discovery
and colonization of America, is particularly noticeable the
culture-historic, perhaps valuable memorial address of DAVID EBRON
from Constantine, Algeria (dated December 9th, 1597), to the Emperor,
Philip II. The writer introduces himself in the preliminary note as an
Israelite, who, at a tender age, fled to Africa, and rendered important
services to the King of India and other personages of rank in various
sections of Africa.
He enumerates many items of surprising significance, apparently
anxious to array them as an overwhelming evidence of his abilities and
reliability, and eager to impress upon the august reader the great
amount of gratitude due him for his achievements. He prepared accurate
sketches of distant regions and established settlements, dependent upon
his generous bounty; he discovered countries and conquered them, and
whatsoever had been attempted in Santa Marta, South America, within the
last five years, may be safely attributed to his energetic activity and
perseverance. Thence he repaired by land to Peru, and enlisted in the
service of the monarch in Huancabelica. The last remarkable harvest in
quicksilver, which was so advantageous to the king, was chiefly due
to his judicious management. By careful husbanding of material and
laudable zeal he was instrumental in not only saving sixty and some
odd thousand pesos (!) involved in the annual transportation of small
fleets from Lima and Panama but equally as much by causing galleys to
be constructed there.
Through the personal malice and mean manoeuvers of two officials, the
well-merited reward for the last mentioned benefits was withheld from
him. "But," affirms the abused victim of ingratitude with a dignified
emphasis, which seemed to restore his confidence, "my accomplishments
in this regard may easily be ascertained by application to Gutierrez
Florez, the Indian minister of commerce in Seville."
"I do not bring these facts to your notice," continues the
self-vindicator in haughty terms, "in order to obtain reward from your
Majesty, but that your serene highness might perceive how zealously
and indefatigably, I, a _secret Hebrew_,[106] travelled everywhere,
despite harassing circumstances, obstacles end even imminent perils,
and have forsaken your realm out of pure fear to die outside of my
faith, which, according to my conception is the only true creed
appointed by the Almighty, the Creator of heaven, sun, moon, sea and
all things therein, you, gracious Sire included. I do not revive these
recollections in order to deplore my ill-fortune or petition for the
proper remuneration and recognition denied me for the various favors
rendered, for such great and weighty benefits I am yet in a position to
offer from here, without necessitating my residence there; only out of
simple attachment to your royal highness, whom I desire to serve and in
order that the memory of this Israelite and his faithful acts be not
wholly eradicated from your heart, I am quite satisfied to continue
the diligent execution of projects confided to my trust. O, would it
please the Heavenly Father, that the Jews in your dominion could enjoy
the same liberties and privileges accorded to them by the exemplary
toleration of the Pope in Rome, Venice, Milan, Naples, in the whole of
Apulia, Ragusa, Florence, Pisa, Ferrara, Mantova and Italy and _here in
Constantine_ and the Barbary States.
Would that they were permitted to migrate from one portion of your
realm to the other and live under the same circumstances as elsewhere.
Then I would not resign from the office I so loyally occupied, and
your countries would considerably increase in commercial opulence--it
is inconceivable why your Grace should not participate in the profits
reaped by others--then your armies, military exploits and campaigns
against Lutherans, heretics and other enemies would be much more
successful than they have been heretofore.
"And as regards the Spanish Inquisition against the Jews,"[107]
further declares this remarkable champion of the Mosaic faith, "I
have absolutely no objection to urge, if it is directed against such
as voluntarily embrace Christianity and secretly profess the ancient
religion." He calls the King's attention to the fact that within two
months he could at command transport 200,000 pesos cash money into the
state treasury without injuring anyone; in a similar manner he is able
in one single day, whenever the King willed it, to obtain more than one
million pieces of gold from Santa Fe in the new kingdom of Granada.
Other treasures are spoken of as accessible to the all-conquering
genius of _David Ebron_, and obtainable by him for the King, whom he
is intent on reconciling to his Jewish subjects. His eloquence reaches
the fever heat of indignation, however, when he alludes to the thievish
officials in the King's employ. "What a pity, your Majesty, that so
much money is stolen in India and Spain. I could aggravate myself to
death when I contemplate upon the mass of wealth wrongfully acquired
by your representatives and ministers. Were I to enumerate all the
outrageous robberies committed against you, O mighty Sovereign, in
Seville, and apprise you of the doings of that infamous horde there
stationed, and admitted into your court! ... O lips, if only you
would divulge the secrets which oppress the heart! O tongue! why not
reveal what you know and feel?" In concluding his remarks, he places
himself at the disposal of the government as confidential agent in the
affairs of Portugal, the marriage of the Oranian, and similar matters,
and enjoins upon the King to communicate with him under the seal of
strictest privacy, should he require his co-operation or assistance at
any future time. "The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob," says he, "who
created the universe, protect and exalt your Majesty and inspire you
to deal leniently and indulgently with your Hebrews, whom God never
totally ignores or forgets, but inflicts with penalties and disasters
only to try their fortitude and allegiance!"
This quite forgotten explorer and financier, whose eloquent plea in
behalf of his race can not fail to appeal to every one, and whose only
demand for the enormous service rendered to his king is more tolerance
toward his people, deserves an honorable place in the annals of
American Jewish History as a loyal, patriotic subject.
VII.
ENTERPRISE AND INFLUENCE OF THE GRADIS FAMILY IN THE WEST INDIES, AND
DURING THE CANADIAN WARS.
This is not to be a series of biographical sketches on the Rothschilds
of the Eighteenth Century, for neither the space nor the scope of this
work would permit of such an elaborate history. This chapter aims
merely to set forth the political prominence attained by the family
of Gradis,[108] to whose hands the fortunes of two continents were
entrusted, and whose labors of love and patriotic services during the
war-times of France in America, deserve to be chronicled in our annals.
Reserving the elaboration of the family's antecedents, and other
interesting particulars for another large paper on the _History of the
Jews in Martinique_--the seat of their chief activity--we shall here
detail those facts which concern our topic the most.
We may begin with _David Gradis_, who, in 1731, was naturalized in
Bordeaux,[109] and who died in 1751. Already in 1696 he founded the
great mercantile house which had commercial connections with England,
Holland, Paris, southern France and the West Indies. The exports were
linen, wine and alcohol. In the year 1715, David Gradis tided over the
financial crisis under Louis XIV., after paying a draft of 150,000
francs, which his house endorsed. In fact the hard times did not
affect him much, for we know that only two years after he conducted
all the transatlantic commerce. He fitted out three ships, one bound
for Cayenne and two for the Island of Martinique (or _Martinico_).
His cargo consisted of wine, alcohol, meal and pickled meat, which
he exchanged for sugar and indigo in the West Indian ports. Another
money-crisis in 1719, passed without materially injuring his prospects,
although he lost heavily. In spite of it, however, he again undertook
foreign expeditions and was, as before, successful. In 1724, his
business expanded to such an extent that he opened a branch on the
island of St. Domingo. His name and fame grew in popularity and
opulence, and French America was glad to acknowledge the enterprise
of this energetic man who passed under the name of _the Portuguese
Merchant_. And, although Jews were not tolerated in the French
colonies, by the stern and scheming Jesuits, as we shall have ample
occasion to show elsewhere, the government was constrained to overlook
his origin and belief, in view of his vast influence and commercial
importance. So universal was the esteem felt for the house of David
Gradis that when his son Samuel, who conducted the interests of the
business in St. Pierre, Martinique, died there in 1732, his remains
were interred in the garden of the _frères de la Charité_, and masses
were held in the cloisters for the repose of his soul. True, the monks
dared not erect a monument to mark the spot. The lieutenant of the
colony urged in argument of their expulsion the fact that were any of
the members of the house of Gradis, there established, to die, their
property would have to be confiscated, for Jews were not permitted to
have possessions. Nevertheless he shut his eyes on their prolonged
residence on the island. Abraham, eldest son of David Gradis, succeeded
his father as senior member of the firm, of which he was previously
a partner. He achieved even more fame than his predecessor. Endowed
with wonderful ability and speculative genius, he also controlled the
trade of France with the West Indies. He received important official
contracts from the government; became intimate with personages of the
highest political rank; obtained the protection and friendship of M.
Maurepas, the confidant of Louis XVI., and added much to the glory
and renown of the house of "_David Gradis, et fils_." His extensive
correspondence with the greatest men of the reign of Louis XV. and
XVI., is still extant.
Through the friends who were influential in his behalf at court, his
ships were fitted out at the cost of the government, and this gave him
further opportunity to enlarge his business connections. Nor was he
ungrateful for these privileges and for the consideration shown him
by his royal patron. Thus we hear of remarkable exploits undertaken
in behalf of his country. In the wars between England and France for
the possession of Canada, he displayed extraordinary activity. In
order to expedite matters, he fitted out ships to Canada, although
the insurance on the cargo, because of the war then pending, was most
exorbitant. If his freight vessels were captured by the armed cruisers
of the enemy, he built and replenished new ones, without caring for
losses thus incurred for France. In 1748, he organized the society of
Canada, under the auspices of the government, in order to test the
possibilities of the land, and thereby again widened the sphere of his
mercantile activity. Important missions were entrusted to him. His
ships carried valuable cargo (presumably military ammunition, etc.),
always at the expense of the firm. He even erected magazines in Quebec.
Later on the government defrayed these costs, but _David Gradis et
fils_ had no little share in the success of these projects.
After his father's death in 1751, Abraham Gradis' financial interests
were still more extended. To give an idea of the scope of his
commercial activity we will cast a momentary glance into the private
accounts of the firm. In 1758, the commerce of the house with the
French colonies alone, amounted to 2,369,326 francs. In the following
year, the firm received the commission to forward 4500 tons of goods
and ammunition for the French troops in Canada. Twelve ships, among
them _eight of his own_ were called into service for the purpose. From
1759 to 1763, when Canada ceased to be a French possession, the export
trade of the firm of Gradis was worth _nine million francs_. These
merchant vessels, on account of the war, had to be manned by a goodly
company of soldiers, who had frequent occasion to defend themselves
from attacks on the sea, and saved quite often the honor of their flag
by their fearlessness and bravery.
During the struggle between England and France for the occupation of
Canada, the house of Gradis dispatched thither many heavily laden ships
at the order and expense of the French Government, which was their
debtor to the amount of several millions on more than one occasion. Of
course these obligations could not be liquidated for some time. Gradis
& Co.'s drafts were not promptly paid, for France was impoverished by
the American wars and had no means at her disposal. Although these
noble financiers suffered heavy losses from the capture and detention
of richly cargoed vessels sent out in the name of France, they did not
lose faith and preserved their balance with a skill and energy which is
remarkable. Far from fearing to sacrifice too much for the fatherland,
they strove more and more to merit the good will and esteem of the king
and the aristocracy. It was indeed a work of charity and patriotism on
their part to ransom French captives.[110] Abraham Gradis, we are told,
authorized an influential business friend in London, to supply the
captains and commanders held as prisoners in England with everything
necessary to ease and comfort their condition.[111]