The Lord Mayor complied with the requisition, and on Wednesday, February the 1st, at three o'clock, his Lordship presided over a large and most enthusiastic meeting. The Egyptian Hall was crowded in every available part, and the reserved seats on the platform were altogether inadequate to accommodate those who were invited to take part in the proceedings.

The representatives of the churches of England and Rome, together with Dissenters and Unitarians, leaders of thought in science and philosophy, representatives of the aristocracy and finance, trade and commerce, all, with equal eagerness, stood up for the cause of the suffering Jews.

It was resolved, "that a fund be raised at the Mansion House for the purpose of contributing to the relief of the distress among the Jewish population of Russia, and among the refugees therefrom, which distress has been caused by the recent outrages of which they have been the victims, and also for the purpose of effecting some permanent amelioration in their condition, in such manner as the committee may deem expedient, whether by emigration or otherwise;" and, "that the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor be requested to receive contributions on behalf of such fund."

The total amount collected through this fund was £108,759. On the day following, Sir Moses, in token of deep gratitude to the citizens of London for the sympathy they had manifested with his unfortunate brethren, addressed the Lord Mayor, sending £500 as a contribution towards the building fund of the City of London College.

His Lordship, much pleased with Sir Moses' attention, replied to his letter in the following terms:

"The Mansion House, London.
"February 8th, 1882.

"My dear Sir Moses Montefiore,—It is with a sense of great satisfaction that I received your considerate letter and generous contribution to the building fund of the City of London College, and I feel assured that the whole of the citizens of London will appreciate the nobility of sentiment which has dictated this liberal gift.

"It will be a source of great pleasure to me to be enabled to report to the Committee to-morrow, that the fund raised here under their auspices for your suffering co-religionists in Russia amounts to nearly £40,000. Assuring you of my sincere esteem and respect, believe me, my dear Sir Moses Montefiore, yours very truly,

"J. Whittaker Ellis, Lord Major."

The late much-lamented Lionel Louis Cohen wrote to Sir Moses as follows:

"I know you are so deeply interested in the results of the great demonstration of last Wednesday, that I think a few lines may be agreeable to you, as to how it is judged by the world at large.

"It was undoubtedly the most imposing meeting which in modern times has been held at the Mansion House. Its moral effect will be very great; not only in Russia but in Germany, and even in France it is already evident that it has thrown back for a time the rising tide of prejudice against the Jews.

"I had the honour, on Wednesday evening, of being invited to the Goldsmiths' Company, and met at dinner men of all parties, who concurred in thinking the moral effect of the demonstration as considerable.

"Probably ten thousand persons will speedily by its means (the Mansion House Fund) be removed from Russia to American and British possessions; they will be the advance guard of a host; and thus the Almighty may turn what to us seems a calamity into an engine of civilization and prosperity.

"Your name was received with enthusiasm at the Mansion House, none the less genuine because, as became him in that place, the Lord Mayor coupled it with your long connection with civic work, and especially with the Merchant Taylors, of which, he said, you were the oldest living member.

"I hope you continue in good health and spirits, and do not worry yourself at your enforced seclusion at home. We all know how active your sympathies are, and how imperfectly we can follow the excellent example you set, but it is well to see a generation, even younger than my own, striving, however inadequately, to do their little best for their poor brethren."

The Archbishop of Canterbury wrote as follows:—