On being introduced into the presence of Sir Moses they found him surrounded by his nearest relatives and friends, with whom he conversed in high spirits. His voice was clear, his memory perfect.
It is a strange and fascinating picture! There, in the righthand corner of a large high-backed, old-fashioned chintz sofa sits a patriarchal figure supported by pillows. This impressive picture of age, tended by love and respect, is lighted from the right by a stream of sunshine, which pours through the upper panes of a large angular bay window, and rests gently upon a grand head, full of character, fringed with a short, closely cut, snow-white beard. One hand of Sir Moses is thrown negligently across a tall arm of the sofa, the other rests upon the ample skirts of a purple silk dressing gown. Close to the head of the sofa stands a table covered with baskets and great bouquets of flowers. Around on the walls are pictures of the Queen and the Royal family, and of scenes in the Holy Land, and a beautifully carved tablet with the inscription of the Decalogue over a standing desk, for the use of the reader when reciting the daily prayers; also a palm branch and a citron, over which he pronounced the blessings at the Feast of Tabernacles.
The Delegate Chief Rabbi now recited the prayer which he had previously offered in the Synagogue. Sir Moses insisted on standing during the greater part of it. He was much affected by several passages alluding to Lady Montefiore, and joined fervently in the prayer for the Queen.
At the conclusion of the prayer he expressed his thanks to the Delegate Chief Rabbi, and spoke highly of his father, the Chief Rabbi.
The representatives of the Anglo-Jewish community were next introduced to him, and he expressed his thanks to them in touching language.
I then introduced the scribe of Wilna, who had brought with him the Pentateuch scroll. Sir Moses kissed the scroll, almost overpowered with happiness. On opening it, the well-known blessing pronounced by the priest happened to be written in the column before him. He read it aloud, and expressed gratitude to Heaven for having permitted him to see it on this his day of joy.
It was now nearly two o'clock, and the procession from the Town Hall drew near East Cliff. A deputation from the town visited the Lodge, in order that Sir Moses might invest the new Mayor with his present of a new gold chain of office for the service of the newly-made corporation in perpetuity. The members of the Commemoration Committee soon followed. They all, together with a number of ladies and gentlemen, after having partaken of Sir Moses' hospitality, proceeded to his room. There the Vicar of Ramsgate read an address to him. Sir Moses was much affected by it, and expressed his thanks to the Vicar with great warmth, speaking kindly of the Ramsgate inhabitants.
The new Mayor then stepped forward, and Sir Moses placed over his head a magnificent gold chain of office, bearing prominently on a shield the Hebrew letter "Mim" (corresponding to the English letter M, the initial of the name of the donor), saying, "May Almighty God give you and your children and children's children happiness. You are the first Mayor in Ramsgate. May God in His mercy protect you! I am sure He will!"
The Mayor replied, "I do not know what to say, Sir Moses, to thank you for all your kindness." "Do not thank me," Sir Moses rejoined. "What I have done gives me sincere pleasure. As to the praise which has been more than lavished upon me, I take it as a compliment to my co-religionists." The Mayoress then presented him with a bouquet, and Sir Moses received the congratulations of a considerable number of friends. He spoke to most of them, and continued in excellent spirits; but he felt weak, and his medical attendant advising that the room should be cleared, all present withdrew.
It being now near the time when the evening prayers are offered in the Synagogue, the visitors repaired there, and met a large congregation.