"A wet and stormy season at its beginning ruined the prospects of the early crops, which should have been reaped on the plains of Sharon towards Jaffa and down the Ghor, the Jordan Valley, and around Jericho. In ordinary times ample food is obtained from these wide plains, but this year the Jordan flooded its banks, and all about Ramlah on the western side of the hills was a swamp. The consequence has been famine, actual famine, and in deep distress the Jews of Jerusalem utter a cry of anguish to their well-tried friend."
Sir Moses gave publicity to the letter he had received, and several daily papers had leading articles on the subject. He and others did all they could to alleviate the distress, but seeing how often similar calamities befel the people in the Holy Land, he wished to ascertain from the best informed and most trustworthy persons in that country the best means of securing for them some permanent help either in the direction of agriculture or mechanical work or some suitable business. Accordingly Sir Moses addressed the Háhám Báshi and the representatives of the several Hebrew congregations in Jerusalem.
"It has ever been my earnest desire," he writes, "since I first had the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the state of great poverty and distress that prevailed among you, to ameliorate your condition and cause salvation to spring forth in the Holy Land by means of industrial pursuits, such as agriculture, mechanical work, or some suitable business, so as to enable both the man who is not qualified for study, but fully able (by his physical strength) to work as well as the student, who, prompted by a desire to maintain himself by the labour of his hands, may be willing to devote the day to the work necessary for the support of his family, and part of the night to the study of the Law of God, to find the means of an honourable living.
"Already in the years 5599 and 5626 I entreated you to assist me with your wise and judicious counsel, and begged of you to point out to me the right path. I then forwarded to you statistical and agricultural forms to enable you to record therein all the information required, and you most cheerfully complied with my request, and gave me all the particulars referring to these subjects.
"I on my part made known to all my friends and acquaintances the information I received from you; but, unfortunately, from various causes I met with little success in asking for assistance to carry out this great work, and your condition remained the same as before.
"Having again this year noticed all the troubles and hardships you had to undergo from scarcity of bread, and from want of means to procure it, I thought I would again try to ascertain whether any of your suggestions regarding the best mode of ameliorating your condition, either by agriculture or by mechanical work, within or without the house, or some suitable business pursuits, if clearly and distinctly set forth to our brethren, might not, under present circumstances, be more favourably received, and induce them more readily to hasten with their succour to a most deserving class of people, so as to procure lasting comfort among you.
"Let me therefore entreat you to fully acquaint me with your views on this subject: point out to me what I am to do in order to hasten thereby the cause of bringing salvation into the land. Consider well which is the proper path, appearing most clearly to you, to produce the remedy you stand in need of.
"By doing so you will comply with the wishes of your brethren, who love and kiss, as it were, the dust of the Holy Land.
"Be strong and of good courage. Do not say 'Our words are of no avail,' but send speedily a reply to him who holds you in great esteem, and prays for the welfare of his people."
To this letter Sir Moses received replies from the congregations of Jerusalem, Jaffa, Safed, Tiberias, Haiffa, giving full particulars respecting the matters to which he had referred, and these letters he subsequently submitted to the Palestine Committee of the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews. At the end of May the Board of Deputies of British Jews sent a deputation to Sir Moses to again request his acceptance of the Presidency over that body. Sir Moses was very reluctant to accept duties which the state of his health might not permit him adequately to fulfil, but the solicitations of the deputation prevailed upon him, and putting his trust in God to help him, he again accepted the honourable office.
During this year the Fishmongers' Company of London held a meeting, at which, on the motion of the Prime-Warden, Mr W. C. Venning, the freedom of the Company was unanimously voted to Sir Moses; and at the end of June a deputation from the Company, headed by the Prime-Warden, came to Ramsgate to present the document to him, enclosed in a golden casket of beautiful workmanship.
July 1st.—He had the honour of being graciously invited by Her Majesty the Queen to an evening party at Buckingham Palace, but was prevented by indisposition from availing himself of it.
July 6th.—"I should have been pleased," Sir Moses writes in his Diary, "had I been strong enough to go to London. I feel a deep interest in the question now under consideration of the London Committee of British Jews, for assisting our brethren to cultivate land in Palestine. I am confident if capital could be raised for the purpose, the people, the country, and the contributors would all be greatly benefited by the work. I should suggest that a million sterling should be obtained by 1,000,000 of £1 subscriptions, and I believe I could obtain, within one year, that sum for the purpose from the Jews in the four quarters of the globe."
July 26th.—"I feel deep anxiety on the subject of the projected scheme for agriculture in the Holy Land. I would suggest that a committee should be sent to Jerusalem, Safed, Tiberias, and Hebron to report. I should be willing to accompany the commissioners at my own expense, should it be the desire of the Board of Deputies."
August 4th.—Finding his health failing, he resolved to resign the Presidency of the Board. His nephew, Mr Joseph M. Montefiore, came down to him, and Sir Moses acquainted him with his wish. Before he left, Sir Moses read to him the letter which he afterwards posted to him as Vice-President of the Board, and of which the following is a copy:—
"East Cliff Lodge, Ramsgate,
"August 4th, 5634 (1874)."My Dear Joseph Mayer Montefiore,—It is with unaffected pain that I have to place in your hands my resignation of the Presidentship of the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews.
"The considerations which have urged this step have reference to my state of health, which is, unfortunately, such as utterly to preclude that unremitting attention on my part to the duties of the office which their responsible nature demands.
"In retiring from a post which it has been my distinguished privilege to occupy during a lengthened period, I can only assure you that I do so with great regret, and with every earnest wish that, under your able direction, the Board may long continue to exercise its powerful influence for the good of the community, and that every blessing may be enjoyed by yourself and those esteemed friends who represent so worthily the congregations of this kingdom.—I have the honour to be, my dear Joseph Mayer Montefiore, yours very truly,
Moses Montefiore."