CHAPTER V.
1854-1855.
A HOSPITAL FOR JERUSALEM—DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF IN PALESTINE—BATTLE OF THE ALMA—SIR MOSES AGAIN SETS OUT FOR THE EAST—HE RECEIVES THE ORDER OF THE MEDJIDJEH—HIS SECOND INTERVIEW WITH THE SULTAN.
JULY 25th.—The Times published the news of Abbas Pasha's death and Said Pasha's succession. Sir Moses immediately addressed letters of congratulation to the new ruler, expressing at the same time the hope that under his benign sway a new era of prosperity would begin in the Holy Land.
August 5th.—Mr Gershon Kursheedt, one of the executors of the late Juda Touro, of New Orleans, arrived to arrange with Sir Moses about the legacy of fifty thousand dollars left at his disposal for the purpose of relieving the poor Israelites in the Holy Land in such manner as Sir Moses should advise.
Sir Moses, at the first interview he had with this gentleman, suggested that the money should be employed in building a hospital in Jerusalem. Mr Kursheedt immediately assented, and Sir Moses gave him the plan and drawing made about a year before, and he said the thing was done. He was most happy, as it settled the principal business he had in England; the co-executors had given him full power to agree to any plan Sir Moses should propose. A letter was prepared by a solicitor to that effect, which Mr Kursheedt signed.
A remittance of £1200 from the Appeal Fund was now forwarded to the Holy Land, and instructions were given to the representatives of the various communities to have Loan Societies in each of the four Holy Cities. Letters were addressed to the Baroness James de Rothschild in Paris and Baron Amschel de Rothschild at Frankfort, to apprise them of the legacy of the late Juda Touro, and of the manner in which it had been decided to employ it.
Sir Moses, however, had soon to learn that Mr Kursheedt had been induced to alter his mind, and had withdrawn the consent he had given to the building of a hospital. The 15th of August, it appears, had been fixed by Sir Moses for communicating the consent of Mr Kursheedt to the American Consul in London, but at the appointed hour, when Sir Moses met Mr Kursheedt at the Alliance, the latter, to Sir Moses' great surprise, said that he must decline going with him to the American Consul, and could not sign the proposed memorandum.
August 22nd.—Sir Moses went to Lord Clarendon to acquaint him with his desire to obtain a firman from the Sultan, giving power to purchase land for agricultural purposes, buildings, &c.; as also to build a hospital in Jerusalem with a Synagogue attached to it. His Lordship said he had written to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, but there were great difficulties regarding the land; as to the hospital, he had heard that one for the Jews had been opened only a month since. This was the hospital known by the name of the "Rothschilds Hospital." Sir Moses informed his Lordship of the Juda Touro bequest, and received a promise that he should be assisted in his good work whenever necessary.
September 19th.—He called on Mr B. Osborn at the Admiralty, to request that he would give him a letter enabling him to see the Russian Jewish prisoners of war at Sheerness.
That gentleman acceded to his request, and gave him a letter to the superintendent of the dockyard, Captain Tucker. An opportunity of seeing them was thus afforded him, and by the permission of the Captain he left many tokens of his benevolence to be distributed, according to the judgment of the superintendents, among the men, women, and children.