Sir Moses wrote to Lord Granville at the same time, entreating him to recommend his petition to the Shah's gracious consideration; and on January 30th Lord Enfield, by direction of Earl Granville, informed Sir Moses that his Lordship would comply with his wish.
February 18th.—He received another letter from Her Majesty's Minister at Teheran to the effect that the Jews at Bushire, Shiraz, Ispahan, Teheran, Hamadan, and Oroomia were suffering greatly from famine, relief being most urgent. He was very anxious to go himself to Persia.
February 22nd.—We read the following entry in his Diary:—"I went to the Foreign Office, and found that Mr Hammond had been confined to his house for the last two months with the gout. I drove to his residence, where he received me most kindly. I returned the despatches Lord Granville had kindly sent for my perusal, and then I spoke of my desire to go to Persia to endeavour to ameliorate the condition of the Jews. He said the journey was too difficult for me, and would not permit it. Lord Granville would willingly afford me all the assistance I required. 'After the 1st of April,' Mr Hammond continued, 'the Red Sea was closed, the season was already too far advanced, travelling in Persia was most difficult.' He was against my going at my time of life; he thought I must be eighty. I was obliged to own to being in my eighty-eighth year. He was indeed most kind and friendly. When I said I was going by way of Egypt, he said jestingly that the British Consul had great power, and he would put me in prison, and in Egypt there was no Magna Charta. I ought not to go. And what did my nephew, Mr Joseph Meyer Montefiore, say to it? he asked. I replied that my nephew said it was evident I wished to be buried in Persia. It is impossible for any friend to have spoken more kindly than Mr Hammond. He promised to send my letter to Lord Granville."
February 23rd.—His Lordship wrote Sir Moses a most kind note, almost forbidding his going to Persia, but in the most flattering terms. He intimated that Sir Moses could have the letters he desired.
February 27th.—Sir Moses was very weak and too unwell to leave the house to attend Divine service, held in all places of worship, to render thanks for the recovery of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales. He had, however, the happiness, he writes, of seeing the grand procession pass his house. "Long may they live," he observes; "it was a glorious sight, and the hearts of all England glow with delight."
May 15th.—A telegram from the Hebrew community of Smyrna, and from Mr Cumberbatch, Her Majesty's Consul in that city, informed him of very serious outrages committed by foreign Greeks upon the Jews of Smyrna, and upon others on the Island of Marmora, and implored the help of the Board of Deputies, but most fortunately the British Government had already most humanely interposed. The Turkish Government followed their example, and punishment was vigorously meted out to the guilty, perfect tranquillity being restored throughout the island.
Sir Moses was much pleased with the promptitude and energy exhibited by the Sublime Porte, and in his own name and that of the Board, conveyed to Earl Granville and Mr Consul Cumberbatch the deep gratitude he felt for the action they had promptly and readily taken.
Every preparation for the journey to Persia had now been made. The writer, who was to have accompanied him, had already gone to Ramsgate to arrange with him all matters connected with the journey, and then proceeded with him to London to make the necessary purchases.
Sir Moses, however, on arriving at Park Lane, felt greatly fatigued. He retired early to rest, but had a very bad night, and complained of indisposition.