He received a communication from one of the gentlemen who pleaded their cause, as follows:
"Most esteemed Sir,—Your letter, which was a pleasant surprise to me, has reached me but very recently, because being addressed to Koutais, and I being at Kiew, it has followed my steps throughout all Russia, while after leaving the Caucasus I travelled on business from town to town.
"I cannot find words to express my thankfulness for the honour and moral assistance, of which your letter has been so eloquent an expression, especially as the cause which actuated your noble heart in addressing this letter is common to us. I too am of Jewish origin, and your name was known to me from my early childhood, when I learnt to connect it with all that refers to disinterested humanity and manly championship of the cause of our oppressed brethren. How sweet to my heart to feel myself associated with the great deeds of your glorious life!
"I do not think it necessary that you should trouble yourself with so fatiguing a journey as the one to Tiflis. Our unfortunate brethren have been discharged for the present, and though the Procurator has put in his protest against the judgment, and the affair is to be tried again at the Court of Appeal early in the autumn at Tiflis, I firmly hope that it will end with a final discharge, justice working tolerably well in Caucasia. If, however, it should be otherwise, then, but not till then, we shall require your generous assistance, and beg you to come to St Petersburg. Meanwhile I will believe in the power of Truth and Reason.
"I implore you not to be disquieted, and to receive the assurance of the highest esteem and deep devotedness of yours, &c.,
"L. Kupernick."
In token of gratitude, these gentlemen sent him their photographs, which he placed in his library, the Gothic room.
Though suffering from illness, Sir Moses never relaxed his efforts on behalf of those who stood in need of his counsel and intercession, and he was constantly in correspondence with friends who were engaged in similar projects of peace and charity. Baron G. von Bleichröder of Berlin communicated to him satisfactory accounts of certain measures adopted by the Government in favour of communities in Roumania and Kutais, and Sir Moses hastened to thank him for it in a suitable letter.
April 22nd.—A telegram from Safed, Holy Land, brought the news of the great distress that now prevailed, and he at once forwarded £100 to his Excellency Musurus Pasha, with a request to send the money to the Governor of Safed as a contribution towards the relief of the distressed Moslems of that place. The following is the Ambassador's acknowledgment:
"Imperial Ottoman Embassy,
London, 24th April 1880."My dear Sir Moses,—I shall be very happy indeed to transmit your generous gift to his Highness Midhat Pasha, Governor-General of Syria, to whom I will send a copy of your letter, and I shall fulfil an agreeable duty in making known to the Imperial Government this fresh proof of your sympathy.
"I am truly sensible of your good wishes towards my august Master and myself personally, which are the more precious as coming from one who is known to all the world for his high character and goodness of heart, and whose philanthropy is attested by so many munificent acts.
"Our long friendship renders it unnecessary for me to dwell on the high esteem which I have for you, or to assure you of my goodwill towards the whole of the race, of whom you are such an honoured and illustrious member.—Believe me, with every good wish and the greatest respect, my dear Sir Moses, yours most sincerely and faithfully,
"Musurus."
Subsequently he received a very kind letter from Midhat Pasha, enclosing a list of names of all the Moslem recipients of his gift, with full particulars of the mode of distribution adopted by his Highness. Midhat Pasha, Sir Moses remarked, if permitted to remain a few years in Syria, would introduce most salutary reforms in that country. But unfortunate circumstances soon called him away from Damascus, his sphere of action causing him to end his days not far from the tomb of his Prophet.
Towards the end of May Sir Moses was highly gratified by the maiden speech delivered in the House of Commons by Baron Henry de Worms. The Baron belonging, like Sir Moses, to the Conservative party, Sir Moses wrote him the following letter of congratulation:
"East Cliff Lodge, May 25th, 1880.
"My dear Baron Henry de Worms,—I cannot refrain from expressing to you the great pleasure I derived from the speech you delivered in the House of Commons. You showed yourself as a faithful defender of the cause of religion, and I fervently invoke the blessings from Heaven upon you for having thus boldly raised the standard of Truth in the presence of the mighty of the land.
"I shall be glad to convey to you personally the sentiments of delight which fill my heart, and hope to have the opportunity of doing so by paying you a visit as soon as I am able to go to town.—With kind regards, I am, my dear Baron de Worms, yours very truly,
"Moses Montefiore."
In reply to his letter, the Baron wrote: