On his return from his seventh pilgrimage to the Land of Promise, Sir Moses printed, but did not publish, a "Narrative of a forty days' sojourn in the Holy Land," in which he stated what his object was in undertaking so fatiguing a journey at so advanced an age, and I propose giving the reader extracts of the most important passages in Sir Moses' own words.
He says:—
"With the intention of assisting the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews in their endeavours to improve the condition of our brethren in the Holy Land, I presented the reply which I received to my letter, addressed to the authorities in the Holy Land on the 29th July 1874, to the Palestine Committee of that Board, by whom they were subsequently published for circulation among their members.
"However satisfactory," he continues, "these letters may have been to me, and to all those who, like myself, had the opportunity of knowing the Holy Land, there were still some who expressed great doubts regarding the correctness of all the statements made therein, and being afraid lest such doubts, when spread amongst the Hebrew communities, might damp the ardour of those who appeared ready to offer a helping hand in the great object in view, I resolved, notwithstanding the entreaties and remonstrances of dear relatives and esteemed friends, to proceed at once to Jerusalem, so as to be enabled to confer personally with those who had addressed to me the letters in question, as well as with others whom I had not the opportunity of seeing during my former visits to the Holy Land."
Sir Moses continues—
"I purpose in this my narrative of a forty days' stay in the Holy Land, simply to state what I have seen and what I have heard, and to accompany all important statements by documents emanating from the several communities, or from other persons of undoubted veracity, confirming, in every respect, the highly favourable opinion I have hitherto entertained of our brethren in Palestine.
"June 15th.—After having offered up my prayers in the mausoleum of her who, like a guardian angel, so often sustained me on my journeys with her loving affection and judicious counsel, I left East Cliff about mid-day for Dover."
Sir Moses was accompanied on this self-imposed Mission by Ed. Aikin, Esq., M.R.C.S., Ed. Samuel, Esq., and by the writer of this.
CHAPTER XXXV.
1875.
SEVENTH VOYAGE TO PALESTINE—RECEPTION AT JAFFA—ARRIVAL IN JERUSALEM.