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HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY

14,

1858. Jan.
By Exchange

of dupérates.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1843, by R. W. Potter & Co., in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Rhode Island.

R. W. Potter's Print, Mill Street, Pawtucket, R. 1.

TO THE READER.

The publishers of the following work on the "Restoration and Conversion of the Jews" deem it proper to say a few words respecting the writing talents and qualifications of the author: for, although he may be generally known, yet perhaps, not uníversally. To be sure, the work is to be judged by its own intrinsic worth; still, there may be those, who by being informed of the talents of the writer, would give it a reading, that otherwise would turn from it at sight, as an ordinary catch-penny affair. But, let those who may glance at this notice be assured, that if they feel any interest at all in the subject here treated on, they will find it handled in a masterly manner, by one of the very best writers of the age.

Mr. Bacheler has been long before the public as a writer-an editor and debater. In the polemical field, he has particularly excelled; for although it is believed he has had truth to sustain him, yet he has had to contend with the very master minds of

the age-giants in intellect, though unhappily advocates of error: but he has never been known to leave the field to the discredit of the sacred cause of truth.

For about four years Mr. Bacheler edited with great ability the "Anti-Universalist," which was highly recommended by the religious press in general, and numbered among its subscribers hundreds of clergymen of various denominations. It is not assumed here, that this approbation of the press and clergy is proof positive that he was right; but, it does afford strong evidence that he possessed talents adequate to the work he was engaged in; for, such men as Beecher, would not certainly lower themselves in public estimation by highly recommending a novice.

After Mr. Bacheler retired from editing the "Anti-Universalist," he commenced a controversy with the noted Robert Dale Owen on the existence of a God and Authenticity of the Bible. The discussion was carried on in the columns of the "Free Enquirer," an infidel paper, published in the city of New York, and lasted about a year. This discussion was subsequently published in a volume by itself, and has since been republished in England. It is not only evident from the discussion itself, that the infidel, though a man of the high

est order of intellect, found his equal, if not more, in talent, but, that he sensibly felt it to be so; for it is said he declared at the close of the controversy, that he would never have another; having had his health not a little impaired by this.'

Mr. Bacheler is the author of one of the five essays on a Congress of nations for the prevention of war, published in a splendid volume by the American Peace Society; and which has been sent to all the Potentates of Christendom. This originated by the Peace Society's offering a premium of $1000 for the best essay on this subject: about forty competitors entered the lists, from whose productions the committee selected five essays; and, of Mr. Bacheler's John Quincy Adams, who was one of that committee, said, it was undoubtedly one of the best."

He drew up a memorial to Congress which was adopted by the various Peace Societies throughout the country, on the subject of a Congress of Nations, to which memorial Mr. Adams attributed the preven⚫ tion of a war between the United States and Mexico! He was the author of an anonymous pamphlet entitled "France and Mexico," published at the time of the war between those powers, and which entered into an investigation of the difficulties be

*The one signed Friend of Peace.

tween them. This pamphlet was held in high estimation at head quarters by the most competent judges. Within a few months he has been furnishing articles for the New York American, under the signa ture of Justitia, on the relative concerns of the United States, Mexico and Texas. These productions of his pen have attracted much attention. It is said they are to be translated into French and Spanish, and extensively scattered in pamphlet form.

But it is not intended in this place to give even a hint of all which the author of the following work has accomplished with his pen-accomplished too, it is believed, for the cause of truth. But as the subject of the Restoration and Conversion of the Jews has of late been much agitated, and the negative of the question by very many insisted upon, with all the confidence which a position proved to be true ought to inspire its advocates, it was thought desirable by some of those who maintain the affirmative of the question, that a vindication of their views should be given to the public; and the foregoing remarks on the qualifications of the writer were thought necessary, as has already been hinted, that the cursory observer of the title page might be induced to give the book a reading; for, he may be assured that talent will be found displayed

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