"We arrived at the Palace a few minutes before half-past five. Mr Green soon arrived, and he presented my companions to His Serene Highness.
"Prince Charles (now His Majesty, the King), was most courteous and kind to us. We dined in the Palace, contrary to His Highness' custom. He generally dined, he told me, in his garden, but was fearful I might take cold. I sat on the Prince's right; he was exceedingly courteous, and spoke on many subjects. He had been in Morocco, in the year 1862, during the Spanish war, in Gibraltar, and twice in England. We had an excellent entertainment, and his military band played some beautiful pieces in the garden during dinner.
"The Prince and all the party went into the garden afterwards, and I had the honour of smoking a cigar with him. Coffee, cigars, and liqueurs were handed round. We returned much pleased.
"Thursday, August 29th.—This morning the chief officer of police, and Monsieur Soveser, Chef de division au Ministère de L'intérieur, called, and arranged with Sir Moses to accompany him to-morrow to see the Christian charitable institutions in the city, in accordance with the wish he expressed yesterday to His Highness. He then rode to Mr Green's, and had the great benefit of half-an-hour's conversation with him. 'I hope,' Sir Moses says, 'I satisfied him that the object of my visit to Roumania was limited entirely to obtain from the Prince and his Government their assurance that the Jews should enjoy security of their persons and their property, and be treated kindly and with justice.'"
On his return to the hotel an extraordinary scene of tumult and uproar presented itself.
Notwithstanding the reply of the Prefecture to the Notice No. 3915 given by the editor of the Natiunea, informing him that in Roumania no lists for signature may be laid out in the streets and public places, except on the occasion of the Plébiscite, a table was placed, with the lists in question for signatures, in front of the windows of the apartments occupied by Sir Moses, and thousands of people crowded round the table, many of them approaching towards the windows in the most threatening attitude. Some persons from the hotel then suddenly entered the room occupied by Sir Moses, terror-stricken at what they had seen and heard in the streets, calling his attention to the crowds at his window, and saying, "They want to take your life."
Sir Moses addressing the threatening populace from the Hotel at Bucharest. Vol. II., page 205.
Most persons in Sir Moses' position would have manifested great fear and excitement, but this was not the case with him. He went to the window facing the enraged populace, opened both wings, and placed himself right in front of it, and I had the privilege of being permitted to place myself at his side.