may not be broken, to express the totality of the lamb.  There is also placed on the table a small quantity of raw charvil instead of the bitter herbs ordered; also a cup with salt water, in remembrance of the sea crossed over after that repast; also a stick of horse radish with its green top to it, to represent the bitter labour that made the eyes of their ancestors water in slavery; and a couple of round balls, made of bitter almonds pounded with apples, to represent their labour in lime and brinks.  The seat or couch of the master is prepared at the head of the table, and raised with pillows, to represent the masterly authority of which the Jews were deprived in bondage.  The meanest of the servants are seated at the table for two nights with their masters, mistresses, and superiors, to denote that they were all equally slaves in Egypt, and that all ought to give the same ceremonial thanks for their redemption.  Cups also are prepared for the wine, of which each person must drink four in the course of the ceremony.  One cup extraordinary is set on the table for Elias, which is drank by the youngest in his stead.

All things having been thus prepared, the guests wash their hands, and seat themselves at table.  The master of the family, soon after this, takes his cup of wine in his right hand, and the rest at the table doing the same, he says, together with all the others, “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast created the fruit of the vine.”  This is followed by a. thanksgiving for the institution of the passover. Then the cup of wine is drank by all.  Afterwards the master of the family says, “Blessed art thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, who hast sanctified us with thy commandments, and commanded us to cleanse our hands.”

Then the master of the family desires the guests to partake of the charvil dipped in salt water, which he gives them with an appropriate blessing.  He makes them touch also the dish, containing the egg and shank bone of the lamb, and repeat with him a formula of words suited to the subject.  He then takes the second cup of wine, and uses words in conjunction with the rest, expressive of the great difference between this and any other night.  After this, copious remarks follow on the institution of the passover.  Then follow queries and answers of the rabbis on this subject:  then historical accounts of the Jews:  then the fifteen acts of the goodness of God to the Jewish nation, which they make out thus:—­He led the Jews out of Egypt:  he punished the Egyptians:  he executed judgment on their gods:  he slew their first-born:  he gave the Jews wealth:  he divided the sea for them:  he made them pass through it as on dry land:  he drowned the Egyptians in the same:  he gave food to the Jews for forty years in the wilderness; he fed them with manna:  he gave them the sabbath:  he brought them to Mount Sinai:  he gave them the law:  he brought them to the Laud of Promise:  he built the Temple.