The  history  of  the  Jews  in  the  Sclavonian  countries,
Russia,  Poland,  Bohemia,  and  the  Austro-Hungarian  mon-
archy, acquires  an  especial  interest  only  in  the  centuries
succeeding  the  middle-ages,  though  they  lived  very  early
and  in  great  numbers  in  Poland,  and  were  numerous  in  Prague
before  the  end  of  the  tenth  century,  where  Boleslaus  II-
granted  them  permission  to  build  a  synagogue  in  recompense
for  their  services  in  his  wars  against  the  Pagan  tribes,  and  to
Boleslaus  V.,  duke  of  Poland  (1264)  the  Jews  were  indebted
for  peculiar  privileges.  His  great-grandson  King  Cassimir
showed  them  still  greater  favor,  out  of  love,  it  is  said,  for  a
beautiful  Jewess  named  Esther.  An  authority  before  us
courteously  says,  "  The  beauty  of  the  Polish  Jews,  both  men
and  women,  is  remarkable,  partly  as  the  characteristic  fea-
ture of  their  nation,  and  partly  as  an  endowment  which  they
share  in  common  with  the  population  of  that  interesting
country,"  and  further  compliments  them  on  their  extraordi-
nary sagacity,  which,  we  presume,  will  not  be  disputed.  The
condition  of  the  Jews  in  those  countries  was  not  unfavorable,
at  least  tolerable.  They  enjoyed  the  protection  of  their
kings,  and,  with  exception  of  the  usual  restraints,  were  under
the  general  law.  Banishments  and  persecution  rarely  oc-
curred, except  by  an  invasion  of  Tartars  and  Moscovites.
