"Friday, 29th.—My dear Judith and I walked to the British Embassy, and were most kindly received by Lord and Lady Stratford de Redcliffe; we were there nearly two hours. His Lordship had been informed of all that had passed at my audience with the Sultan, and was pleased with the result. He will give me a letter to Mr Wood (now Sir Richard Wood) at Damascus, respecting the inscription in the Capuchin Church, and will endeavour to obtain my firman on Monday next. He spoke for some time to me respecting the Holy Land, and the purchase of land there. A few years since three Englishmen bought an estate of 40,000 acres, with much good timber, within two miles of the Sea of Mormora, within a mile of a town, and with good roads, for £15,000 sterling.
"Lady Stratford was most courteous, and walked with Judith and me through her garden; it is quite a paradise. They wanted us to stop and dine with them, but on account of the Sabbath in the evening, we could not accept.
"July 1st.—Mr William Doria of the British Embassy came with his Káwáss, and accompanied me to the Porte, and to Ali Pasha, the Grand Vizier. Dr Loewe went with me. His Excellency claimed acquaintance with me, and confirmed in the most flattering manner all that His Majesty the Sultan had promised me. He said the firman should be ready in two or three days. Ali Pasha is a mild and agreeable man, and expressed much pleasure in assisting my philanthropic efforts.
"July 2nd.—Dr Loewe accompanied me to Rechid Pasha. We smoked a pipe, and had coffee with him. He will send me to-morrow letters of introduction to the Governors of Beyrout and Jerusalem. On my taking leave, he said I should write to him from England, if I should at any time desire anything for my co-religionists. I gave him a copy of Dr Loewe's Circassian and Turkish Dictionary; he conversed with the Doctor about it."
CHAPTER VI.
1855.
ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM—MISS ROGER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE JEWISH GIRLS' SCHOOL THERE—SIR MOSES PURCHASES A PIECE OF LAND—ORIENTAL METHODS OF BARGAINING.
ON July 3rd Sir Moses writes: "Mr Pisani informed me he had received the firman for the building of an hospital, and also that for myself, which, according to the usual practice, he had forwarded to the Ambassador for transmission to me; adding in his note, 'I also have the satisfaction to announce to you that the Sultan has been pleased to confer upon you the Medjidjeh of the second class.'
"This distinction will, I hope, convince the people in the East that His Imperial Majesty the Sultan and his Government approve of my efforts for my co-religionists.