Obj. ID: 40619
Jewish printed books  The Case and Appeal of James Ashley of Bread-Street, London.., London, 1753

This text was prepared by William Gross:

The Case and Appeal of James Ashley, of Bread-Street, London, Addressed to the Publick in General, by James Ashley. Published by the author, London, 1753. English. A composition by James Ashley about crimes which were allegedly committed by the Polish Jew Henri Simons and the legal steps taken against him. With a frontispiece portrait of Simons, titled "Henri Simons the Polish Jew". The Polish-Jewish merchant Henri Simons arrived in London in 1751, and while in the city he was robbed by James Ashley. His attempt to sue the robber was unsuccessful, and following it Simons himself was charged with assault and robbery as well as giving false testimony. After a complicated legal procedure Simons was acquitted and released. This booklet includes a frontispiece engraving of Simons by the English painter and engraver Thomas Worlidge (1700-1766). While the booklet presents Ashley's claims against Simons, the engraved portrait of Simons is quite sympathetic. According to Alfred Rubens this is the first engraving portraying a Polish Jew ever printed in England. See: Portrait of Anglo-Jewry 1656-1836, in: Transactions (Jewish Historical Society of England), Vol. 19 (1955-59), pp. 16-17. [1] engraving, VI, [2], 47 pp, 19.5 cm.

The story of a trial in England against a Polish Jew named Henry Simmons who stood trial for perjury. The frontispiece is an etched portrait of him. Henry was first convicted and then acquited on appeal and an action brought against his accuser, one James Ashley.