During the year 1852 he devoted much time to important meetings in his own community, and on the 3rd of May accompanied the Chief Rabbi to Manchester for similar communal purposes.
A few days later, Dr Thompson of Beyrout came to inform him that he was on his way to Constantinople to obtain a firman for a railway route by the Euphrates Valley to India, and that he then proposed forming a company for the purpose under Colonel Chesney. Sir Moses understanding that an easy road would then be made from Aleppo to Damascus, thence to Safed and other places in the Holy Land, felt much interested in the scheme, and promised to communicate with his friends on the subject.
May 17th.—He gave a large dinner party in honour of the Lord Mayor, and in the course of the evening took the opportunity of conversing with several gentlemen present on the subject of Colonel Chesney's proposed railway scheme.
CHAPTER IV.
1852.
VISIT OF THE HEREDITARY PRINCE OF EGYPT—BARON LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD RETURNED FOR THE CITY—THE NORTH AMERICAN RELIEF SOCIETY—SIR MOSES ON THE DISTRESS IN PALESTINE—SERIOUS ILLNESS.
"ON June 21," Sir Moses writes, "at six o'clock in the morning I received a telegraphic note, informing me of the arrival of his Highness Mohammed Said Pasha, Prince héreditaire d'Egypte," who very shortly afterwards became Khedive.
"I went," Sir Moses writes in his Diary, "to the railway station, and at ten minutes to eight his Highness arrived. He immediately got into our carriage, and, as we were driving off, the Turkish Ambassador came to receive him and followed us to Park Lane. The Pasha was attended by Mr Zohrab, Mr Galloway, two physicians—Dr Gaëtani Bey and Dr G. A. Haage, Zoulfikar Effendi, Ali Capitan, his Secretary, and four Mamelukes, his servants. They all came to Park Lane. The Pasha took a pipe and coffee, and then all, together with the Ambassador, went down to breakfast. At twelve His Highness, myself, Mr Zohrab, and Mr Galloway went to Greenwich. The physicians and secretaries followed in our carriage. We went on board His Majesty's yacht, the Hásseid Háïr or Good Omen, Captain Longridge, a screw steamer magnificently fitted up. In about two hours we got under way, and ran down to near Gravesend at the rate of twelve miles an hour. On our way back there was an elegant dinner served on board, and on coming to anchor at Greenwich I went on shore with Mr Galloway, the Pasha and his suite remaining on board.
"June 22nd.—We went in our carriage to Greenwich, met there Mr Galloway and Gaëtani Bey, and went on board His Highness's yacht. After paying our respects to him, he and all the party went on shore. He chose the large carriage. I and Mr Galloway and Gaëtani Bey accompanied him to the Royal Observatory. Professor Airy very kindly showed His Highness and all the party his astronomical instruments and explained their use. We then rode to Park Lane, where my dear wife had prepared a splendid entertainment for His Highness and party; there were ten at table. In the evening the Pasha had many visitors, including the Turkish Ambassador.