Letter from J. W. Parsons to Isaac Leeser;January 24, 1855

Title: Letter from J. W. Parsons to Isaac Leeser;January 24, 1855
Author: J. W. Parsons
Contributor: Isaac Leeser
Location(s): İzmir; Philadelphia
Format: Letter. 2 page(s) on 2 sheet(s).; Letter
Type: Letter
Language(s): English
Physical Characteristics: Typescript
Is Part Of: The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries
content: JEWS IN TURKEY.
Smyrna, January 24, 1855.
ISAAC LEESER, ESQ.:—Dear Sir—Mr. Mitchell, of your city, s friend of yours, was several days detained in this city, and fortunately I became acquainted with him. He requested me to address a letter to you, giv-ing you some information respecting the Jews in this place and in this vicinity. This I readily assented to do; but I mustconfess to negligence in allowing so many weeks to pass without fulfilling my promise. I shall not set it down entirely as negligence; for I have been so fully occupied that I have not found time to write many letters to personal relatives, which I acknowledge as due from me. But as I have at present no time to spare I will not prolong to apologize.
I came to this country in the year 1850, as mission-ary to the Jews of the A.B.C.F.M. Two years we were in Thessalonica, six months, on account of health, in Constantinople, and the rest of the time in this city. While in Thessalonica I made several short tours—ra-ther, one long one and one short one. I will give you the names of the Jewish places and their population, as nearly as I can be tolerably certain of correctness. You know how difficult it is to obtain exact statistics.
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Mr. Mitchell said he would send me a copy of your paper, which I am sure will be very valuable to us, in giving extracts from it, and information respecting the Jews in America. The very appearance of your beautiful journal (of which Mr. M. showed me a copy) would be a marvel to our Jewish friends here, when told that it was published by a Jew. I told Mr. Mitchell that I should value very highly the back numbers of your periodical; he said he would inquire if they could be furnished, and at what price. I trust he will not forget it, or that you will be so kind as to inform me directly.
If you have any particular inquiries to make, I shall

? be most happy to answer them as far as I am able.
Your work is arduous, but I trust you will see the benefit resulting to your people. May the Lord bless you; and I remain yours, truly,
J. W. PARSONS.
Occ. Vol. XIII, page45; Nissan 5615, April 1855.

The above text refers to Occident Volume 13 No. 1 pages 45 through 47. Click here to view.
Identifier: LSDCBx2FF2_5
Date: 1855-01-24
References: True

Part of Letter from J. W. Parsons to Isaac Leeser;January 24, 1855

J. W. Parsons, “Letter from J. W. Parsons to Isaac Leeser;January 24, 1855”, 1855-01-24, Isaac Leeser Digital Repository, accessed September 7, 2024, https://judaicadhpenn.org/legacyprojects/s/leeser/item/68042