This was the same Sovereign Pontiff to whom an address of deep gratitude had been presented for his kind and humane treatment of the Jews.
"Wait on the Lord, and keep His way," said Sir Moses, in the words of the Royal Psalmist; "better days will yet come."
In June Sir Moses dined at the Merchant Taylors' Hall, where he met Sir Robert Peel, Lord Hardinge, Lord Salisbury, the Bishop of Oxford, and Mr Gladstone. In reply to inquiries made by some of these gentlemen, he took the opportunity of communicating the information he had received from Moldavia and Rome.
Lady Montefiore states in her Diary that she fulfilled this month the promise she made to the Duchess of Leinster, in presenting Her Grace with two plants of the cedars of Lebanon, which she had brought from the spot.
In July the labours of Sir Moses in connection with the Exhibition commenced, and he presided over a large meeting of the City Committee at the Mansion House for carrying into effect the scheme of the "Great Exhibition of the Industries of all Nations in the year 1851."
News arrived from Damascus, this time of a very gratifying character, and Sir Moses lost no time in communicating the same to the morning papers. It appeared that Osman Bey had, by order of the Sultan, remodelled the Council at Damascus, which, up to that moment, had consisted exclusively of Moslems to the number of twelve, and had formed a new Divan of Moslem, Catholic, Greek, and Jewish members.
He invited the Chief Rabbi to summon a meeting of the leading members of his community, and to elect a person of integrity and talent as a representative to attend the Council, and the choice fell on Solomon Farhhi, one of the sufferers in the lamentable affair of 1840.
During the same month he had the opportunity of witnessing in England another step towards the emancipation of the Jews. "Baron Lionel and Baron Anthony de Rothschild," says an entry in the diary of July 26th, "and others, came into the Lobby of the House of Commons. Baron Lionel went with J. Abel Smith to the Voting Office. At two the Speaker went into the House to prayers; in a few minutes afterwards we were admitted under the Gallery, Mr Smith having put our names down. Baron Lionel de Rothschild, introduced by Mr John Abel Smith and Mr Page Wood, appeared at the Table of the House, and requested to take the oath on the Old Testament; he was very much cheered, but was desired to withdraw, when Sir Harry Inglis moved a resolution to refuse his request. A long and most interesting debate then followed, and at nearly four the question was adjourned till Monday, at twelve o'clock. Mr Bernal Osborne, Mr Page Wood, Mr Joseph Hume, and several others spoke in our favour, and many against, but none with any bitterness."
July 29th.—"Baron Lionel was permitted to take the oaths on the Old Testament by a majority of 54, the numbers being 113 for, and 59 against."
This gratifying event was now the general topic of conversation among members of the House, and the Jews were delighted at the result.