United Kingdom is of the ordinary quality which grows well in the whole of Northern Europe, and even in bleak and comparatively sterile Russia; while we import from Holland, Germany, and the North of France not much less than 10,000,000lb. yearly, representing a money value of at least £1,250,000." One of our contemporaries at Bristol has "interviewed" Messrs. Wills, the well-known manufacturers, who express their opinion that " provided the Excise could get over the difficulties of the collection of the revenue and keeping sufficient supervision over the ripening crops, there might be some very fine tobacco grown here, after sufficient knowledge has been obtained of the crop to select, the adaptability of the soil, and the nature of the manuring required. But tobacco is a most exhausting crop, and it would be a case of very high farming to be productive and profitable. It would not, of course, equal the American plant; but it would doubtless successfully compete with the quality of the German and other Continental tobaccos, of which thousands of tons are grown in a year." After this assurance, we shall probably soon hear of attempts at tobacco farming.-Gloucestershire Chronicle, April 3, 1886. 1599.-AN OLD GLOUCESTER JEWESS.- -Miss Amelia Abraham, a well-known Jewess, of Southgate-street, Gloucester, died on Thursday morning, at the advanced age of 95 years. The old Jewish family of the Abrahams have been long resident in Gloucester, having lived in Southgate-street for about 200 years. Miss Abraham was born in the house in which she died. Her father previously lived in the house now occupied by Mr. Strong, baker, which he left in 1765. He was a dealer, travelling jeweller, and money-changer, the latter being a profession which flourished in the days when a considerable foreign trade was carried on at the port. He was the rabbi in the Gloucester synagogue, which was then held in Mercy-place, opposite the Infirmary. He used to prepare and bake the shew-bread for the Passover, which was occasionally distributed to Christians; and this occupation was continued by Michael Abraham, his son, who succeeded his father as rabbi, and who also slaughtered the sheep and oxen for Mr. Hazeldine, butcher, which were destined for consumption by the Jews, after being certified in the usual manner to be healthy meat, and to have been killed in Jewish fashion with a long knife. Miss Abraham was the last representative of the old flourishing Jewish community of Gloucester. Many years ago she received substantial help from Sir Moses Montefiore, Sir Francis Goldsmid, Professor Marks, and others, but on receiving an almshouse pension which had been voted to her by the trustees of the Gloucester Charities, this aid was withdrawn. At one time there was a large community of Jews in Eastgate-street, Gloucester. We are told that the late Mr. Abraham many years ago, when asked by a gentleman of this city why it was that the Jews were declining in prosperity and numbers, replied that when the Quakers came into a town at one end the Jews left it at the other. Be that as it may, the number of Jews in Gloucester has sensibly declined of late years. At one time all the pawnbrokers of the city were Jews, and they followed other occupations in which their astuteness as dealers served them in good stead. The funeral of Miss Abraham took place yesterday, at the Jews' burying-ground, at the back of St. Michael's Schools. It excited a good deal of interest. When the reading of the service was finished each of the Jews present, according to seniority, threw into the grave three spadefuls of earth. At the conclusion of the ceremony, according to Hebrew custom, all who took part in it washed their hands, for which purpose a bucket of water had been provided. Only a few of those present were allowed to enter the burial ground during the ceremony, but at its conclusion the door was opened, and the crowd freely admitted. The grave is situated in the left-hand corner of the ground on entering, where formerly stood a house in which was performed the ceremony of "watching the dead," which is now dispensed with. The ground seems nearly filled with graves, many of which bear tombstones with Hebrew inscriptions, and there is one somewhat pretentious monument.— Gloucestershire Chronicle, August 7, 1886. 1600. HARESCOMBE : THE WILL OF JAMES MICHELL, WITH INVENTORY, A.D. 1698.-The following two documents contain, I think, some noteworthy particulars. J. MELLAND HALL. In the Name of God. Amen. I, James Michell, of Harescomb, in the County of Gloucester, Gentlemen, being sick and weake in body, but of p'fect and well disposing mind and memory, thanks be given to Almighty God for the same, doe make and ordayne this my Last Will and Testament, in manner and form following, That is to say, First, I bequeath my soul to Almighty God my Creator, assuredly trusting in and through the meritts of Jesus Christ my Redeemer to be made partaker of Eternall happiness, And my body I committ to the earthe, to be decently interred at the discretion of my Executors hereinafter named, And as for that worldly Estate which Almighty God has been pleased to bestow upon mee, I dispose thereof as followeth : Imprimis, I give to my daughter Bridgett, the wife of James Small, the sum of Two hundred pounds of lawful money of England, to be paid to her within the space of twelve months next after my decease, And I also give to her the said Bridgett my bed, with the furniture thereto belonging, in the Parlour Chamber in my dwelling house. Item, I give to my daughter Margarett my best bed in the Greene Chamber which was her mother's, with all that belongs thereto. Item, I give and devise unto my grand children, John, Elizabeth, and Mary Michell, the children of my late son Lewis Michell, deceased, All those my tythes at Barnwood and which I hold by a long lease heretofore granted by the late Abbott and Convent of Gloucester, together with my tenant right. . . . . to hold to them, the said John, Elizabeth, and Mary Michell, for all that tyme and terme I have therein. And I doe desire my friends, Josias Randle and James Elly of Gloucester, to be ayding and assisting to them in renewing of the said premisses with the Deane and Chapter of Gloucester, and as soon as the consideracyon money for renewall thereof shall be settled or agreed upon, I hereby order and direct my Executor to pay the same out of my effects that shall come to him by virtue of this my last Will or in virtue of his Executorship. Item, I give and bequeath unto him the said John Michell, my grand sonne, the sum of £100, to be paid to him by my Executor within the space of six months next after his the said John Michell's attayning the age of one and twenty years. But if the said John shall die before the legacy of £100 become payable to him, Then my will is that the sum shalbe paid to his two sisters, Elizabeth and Mary, equally between them, at their respective ages of one and twenty. And if either of them happen to dye before it becomes payable, Then my will is that the whole shall goe to the survivor of them. Item, I give and devise to my Graund sonne Thomas Michell, son of John Michell, my late son, deceased, All those my leasehold lands and tenements which I hold by Lease of Sir Ralph Dutton, lying in Stonyfield Hill, in the parish of Standish, in the County of Gloucester, Provided always, and upon this condition, that if he, the said Thomas Michell, his executors and administrators, do not or shall not well and truly pay, or cause to be paid, unto my daughter Margaret Michell the yearly sum of Fifteen pounds of lawful money of England during her natural life, upon the 29th day of Sept., 25th day of Dec., 25th day of March, and 24th day of June, by equal portions, the first payment whereof to begin upon such dayes as shall next happen after my decease, Then it shall be lawfull for her the said Margaret, my daughter, and her assigns, to enter and distreyne upon the said lands and premisses, and to distress and . . . . . from tyme to tyme to sell and dispose of, and with the money hereby raised to pay and satisfy herself the arrearages of the said £15, paying and returning ye overplus of such moneys, if any. And if noe distresse can be found upon the premisses to satisfie the said £15 per annum, Then my will is, that the said Margaret, my daughter, shall enter upon the said lands, and hold the same during soe long of the lease as she shall need without giving any account of the said profitts. Item, all the rest of my goods, Cattle, Chattels, ready money, and VOL. IV. M security for money, and all other my p'sonall estate or . (my Debts, Legacyes, and funeral expenses being discharged), I give and bequeath unto my said Graund sonne Thomas Michell, the sonne of my said late sonne John Michell, whom I make sole Executor of this my last Will and Testament. Item, I give and bequeath to the poore people living within the tithing of Harscomb, in the parish of Harsfield, Fifty shillings, and Fifty shillings more to the poore of the remayning part of Harsfield parish, and Five pounds to the poore of Randwick. In witness whereof I, the said James Michell, have to this my last will and testament, consisting of two sheets of paper, putt my hande and seal ye seaventeenth day of August, in the tenth year of the rayne of Our Soveraigne Lord King William the Third of England, Anno Domini 1698. Ja: Michell. Signed, sealed, and published and (Codicil.) I, James Michell the Testator, since the making of this my will have upon mature consideration thought proper to make the alteracions and additions following, that is to say, first I give to my Grand daughter Bridgett, the wife of Mr Thomas Stock, Fifty Pounds, to be paid to her in three months after my decease. Item, my will is that all my Lynnen of what sort soever shalbe divided equally amongst my daughters, Bridgett Small and Elizabeth Elyburton, and my Graund sonne Thomas Michell. Item, I give and bequeath to my . . . and two servant maydes Forty shillings a peece, and lastly I make my Cousin Charles Cox, Esquire, and my son in law James Small, guardians in trust for my Graund sonne Thomas Michell during his minority. Witness my hande and seal the 25th day of August, An. Dom. 1698. Ja: Michell. (Inventory of Goods.) A true and perfect Inventory of all the goods and Chattels of James Michell, of the parish of Haresfield, in the Co: of Gloucester, Gentleman, deceased, Taken and appraised by us whose names are hereunto subscribed, this 22nd day of September, 1698, funerall expenses first deducted. Imprimis, Wearing Apparel, Plate, and Reddy Money- £65 0 0 Item, In the Parlour Chamber, One Bed and Bedstead, with a Wrought Coverlett, Curtains, and Vallins, and Counterpane of the same: One duzon of Turkey Work Chaires, half a duzon of Cane Chaires, One Red Serge Table Cloth, One Chest of Drawers Two Tables and Stands with one large looking glass, Two paire of Andirons tipt with Brass, with a fier shovell and paire of Tongs, One paire of Bellows, with a Glass Case and Window Curtains... ... ... Item, In the Hall Chamber, One Bedstead and Two 30 0 0 04 0 0 05 0 0 01 0 0 Item, In the Chamber over the Stables, Two Bedsteads and One Bed ... Item, In the Parlour, Two Round Tables, Eight Chairs 02 ... ... ... 00 02 10 0 ... Item, In the Kitchen, One Settle, Two joynt Stooles, Two 1601.-SWINDON CHURCHYARD INSCRIPTIONS. (See No. 1594.) In 1877 accurate copies were taken of the following eleven inscriptions in the churchyard of Swindon, near Cheltenham: |