His Grace acknowledged, on the part of Mrs Tait and the friends of the institution, in feeling language the compliment which had been paid to Mrs Tait and himself, and passed a high eulogy on the general benevolence and kind-heartedness of Sir Moses, wishing him in his old age all the blessings which God could endow him with.
Sir Moses' absence was deeply regretted by all present; unfortunately indisposition prevented his joining the numerous assembly. I give a copy of the letter he addressed to Mrs Tait on that occasion:—
"My dear and esteemed Mrs Tait,—I sincerely thank you for your and his Grace's invitation to be present at the ceremony of the 8th inst. I feel I cannot promise myself that happiness. Nothing, however, but want of health would prevent my enjoyment of that gratification.
"May you and his Grace live many years to witness the good effect of your admirable institution, which is so calculated to afford relief to the destitute and suffering. I hope you will allow me the pleasure of adding the amount of the two enclosed cheques to its funds, one in the name of my beloved wife, and one in my own.
"With my profound respects to yourself and the Archbishop, and kind regards to your amiable family.—I am, most truly yours,
"Moses Montefiore."
The Archbishop sent the following letter in reply:—
"Stonehouse, St Peter's, Thanet,
June 12, 1876."My dear Sir Moses,—I must not delay longer to thank you very heartily for the pleasure you gave to Mrs Tait and myself and our girls and my son, not to mention all connected with St Peter's Home, by the kind present which was unveiled last Thursday.
"We regretted your own absence, but Dr Loewe kindly and efficiently represented you. Mr Weekes unfortunately was not present, but all admired the excellent way in which the bust was finished, and I hope you will assure him of our thanks.
"Your generous donation in your own name and in that of her who is so dear to you, came most opportunely to complete the payments for the new building, which, I trust, with your kind help thus given, and that of other friends, may long be a blessing to the suffering.
"I trust by God's blessing that your health continues good, and that the summer weather is favourable to your restoration.
"With kind regards from all our party here, and from my son, who is in London.—I am, my dear Sir Moses, ever yours sincerely,
"A.C. Cantuar."
The year 1877 was charged with serious events, which fully engaged his attention.
Being informed in the month of January of the great distress then prevailing among the Turkish soldiers in consequence of the war in Bulgaria, and the great political changes following to the death of the Sultan Abdul Aziz, Sir Moses forwarded a generous donation, in aid of the sufferers, to the Ambassador of the Sublime Porte in London.
A few days later he communicated to the Board of Deputies the sad intelligence he had received, that in the villages of the district of Vaslui, Moldavia, three hundred Jewish families had been robbed of the greater portion of their effects, and driven from their homes by order of the Prefect. The Board, on having the facts verified, sought the intervention of the British Government, which was immediately accorded, the result being that the Prefect and three of his sub-prefects were superseded.
To relieve the sufferers in their distress, Sir Moses and Baron Lionel de Rothschild transmitted generous donations to the scene of trouble. The Board of Deputies also organised a fund for the relief of the sufferers, and remitted a considerable portion of the amount collected, by telegram, for distribution among the refugees.