Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, Volume 2 (of 2) / Comprising Their Life and Work as Recorded in Their Diaries, from 1812 to 1883

by Sir Moses Montefiore; Lady Judith Cohen Montefiore

With reference to the kindness evinced on this occasion by the British Government, he makes an entry in his Diary under the date of July 28th as follows:—

"With feelings of gratitude to the God of my forefathers for all the mercies to the children of His Covenant, and for His blessings on my anxious efforts to relieve the sufferers by famine and sickness in Persia, I received this forenoon a letter from Mr Odo Russell, informing me that Lord Granville had the pleasure to comply with my request to forward to Her Majesty's Minister, Mr Alison, at Teheran my letter and enclosed £250. His Lordship's benevolence and kindness will cause the distribution of the money at least one month sooner than otherwise it could have been done, and consequently be the saving of much time. God bless him and the British Government!"

July 29th.—Sir Moses attended the morning service in his Synagogue, breakfasted with some friends at the College, and at 2 P.M. attended a lecture delivered by the Principal in the Lecture Hall. On his return to East Cliff he had the satisfaction of finding a telegram from Her Majesty's Minister at Teheran, to the effect that Sir Moses' telegram of the 21st July had been received, and £250 sent to Shiraz as desired.

He commissioned Michael Angelo Pittatore, a distinguished artist, to paint the likeness of Mr Almosniuo, the able secretary during a period of fifty years of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation in London, and that of his wife, the esteemed and indefatigable president of the infant school of that congregation. He also commissioned the artist to paint the portrait of the writer of these Memoirs, the first Principal of the College founded in memory of Lady Montefiore, and presented the picture to that institution.

In October, on the approach of the Tabernacle holidays, Sir Moses had his Tabernacle erected in accordance with his annual custom. In former times he used to have it in a picturesque part of his park, but as he and Lady Montefiore advanced in years he found it necessary to choose a more sheltered spot, and he therefore had it erected in the quadrangle of East Cliff Lodge. Those of my readers who have never seen a tabernacle, as it is called in England, may be interested in a description of one.

It is in the form of a good-sized garden-house, with a movable roof and ceiling of lattice-work, thickly covered with fresh evergreens. The walls of the one constructed under the direction of Sir Moses were hung with tasteful draperies, the windows and door had beautiful curtains, and on the walls were large mirrors and appropriate pictures and scripture texts in gilt frames. A thick carpet was laid down on the floor; flowers and garlands were also distributed wherever practicable. From the centre of the roof a silver lamp with seven branches was suspended; the table underneath was laid out with handsome bouquets and flowering plants in beautiful pots; whilst there was no lack of choice refreshments in gold, silver, and crystal vessels. During this festival a number of relatives and friends dined with him in the Tabernacle every day, and his Christian neighbours and acquaintances considered it a great treat to get an invitation to the dinner.

On the date of this entry I noticed among those present at dinner, Mrs Warre, a lady from Ramsgate held in great esteem by Sir Moses on account of her charitable disposition; Mrs Max Müller, a niece of Mrs Warre, and her husband, Professor Max Müller.

"When I was sitting in the Palace, at the table with the Emperor of Germany," said Professor Max Müller, "my mind was engrossed with the idea that I was in the presence of the Emperor Charlemagne. Now," he said, "sitting in the Tabernacle at the table with Sir Moses Montefiore, I can fancy myself in the presence of the Patriarch Abraham, sitting in his tent, where his hospitality was accepted by angels, and gladdened the heart of all comers."

This observation was sufficient inducement for Sir Moses to speak on subjects connected with the locality of the tent of Abraham: the Holy Land, the Sacred Scriptures, and men of learning in ancient history and literature. Professor Max Müller, on his turn, spoke of Chevalier Bunsen, the author of "Egypt's Place in Universal History;" also of Professor Bernays of the University of Bonn (son of the late Rev. Isaak Bernays, Spiritual Head of the Hebrew community at Hamburg). "My friend, Professor Bernays," he said, "is a strict observer of the dietary laws of the Pentateuch, and I greatly esteemed him for his learning and nobility of character. He used to come and stay with me, on which occasions he was in the habit of bringing with him his own cooking apparatus."

Sir Moses thereupon remarked, it was now admitted by medical men of great eminence that the dietary laws of the Pentateuch contributed greatly to the health and long life of those who observed them.