It was a great disappointment, the same author writes, to Lord Shaftesbury, who had the highest admiration for the character of the great Hebrew philanthropist. The admiration was mutual, and lasted to the end of their lives.

On one occasion, he relates, Sir Moses sent to Lord Shaftesbury a cheque for £95 to be used for the Field Lane Ragged School, or any other purpose he might think proper. It seems a curious amount. It was sent on the day that his wife would, had she lived, have attained her 95th year.

The last letter Lord Shaftesbury ever received from Sir Moses Montefiore was written with his own hand in his hundredth year, and was as follows:—

Sir Moses Montefiore to Lord Shaftesbury.

"East Cliff Lodge,
"Ramsgate, July 9th, 1884.

"My dear Lord Shaftesbury,—Your able appeal in this day's Times on behalf of the fund to provide the means of giving the poor children of the Ragged Schools a day's enjoyment in the country has this moment been read to me, and, sympathising as I do with the desirable object, I enclose, with very much pleasure, cheque for £15, with the hope that the appeal may be both liberally and cheerfully responded to.

"Believe me, my dear Lord Shaftesbury, that I am delighted with the opportunity thus afforded me of evincing my heartfelt appreciation of the noble and benevolent works in which you have for a very long period taken so benevolent an interest.

"May God help you and prosper your labours. Hoping you are in the enjoyment of good health.—I am, my dear Lord Shaftesbury, very truly yours,

"Moses Montefiore."

Lord Shaftesbury sent the letter and cheque to Mr Kirk, the Secretary of the Ragged School Union, with the following note:—

"July 12th, 1884.

"Dear Kirk,—You may keep the letter as a record of a man in his hundredth year, who can feel and write like one of five-and-twenty. Do not suppose that I have omitted to thank him. That grand old Hebrew is better than many Christians.—Yours,

"Shaftesbury."

Having during the last two months often complained to his medical attendant of being weak and unwell, the latter advised a change of climate. Accordingly, on the 6th of November, accompanied by Mrs Gompertz, his sister, Mrs Helbert, his sister-in-law, and Dr Canham, his physician, he left England on a visit to the south of France and Italy.