a time of public and solemn festivity among the ancient Hebrews.

This was kept every fiftieth year: it began about autumnal equinox, and was proclaimed by the sound of trumpet throughout all the country. At this time all slaves were released, all debts annihilated, and all lands, houses, wives, and children, however alienated, were restored to their first owners. During this whole year all kind of agriculture was forbidden, and the poor had the benefit of the harvest, vintage, and other productions of the earth, in the same manner as in the sabbatic or seventh year. As this was designed to put the Israelites in mind of their Egyptian servitude, and to prevent their imposing the like upon their brethren, it was not observed by the Gentile proselytes.

The Christians, in imitation of the Jews, have likewise established jubilees, which began in the time of pope Boniface VIII. in the year 1300, and are now practised every twenty-five years; but these relate only to the pretended forgiveness of sins, and the indulgences granted by the church of Rome; together with the privilege of performing a thousand frolics in masquerade.