Sir Moses remarked in the entry he made that day in his Diary: "I never in my life witnessed a more lovely picture than the Queen, the Prince Consort, and the Royal children, beauty and goodness combined, a perfect picture of a noble family. May the God of our forefathers bestow on them all good, grant them length of days, continued content and happiness, and may His blessings ever be with them. Long and happy live the Queen."
Believing that a visit to St George's Chapel would be entertaining to Dr Etienne and the Pasha, they stopped there, and went over it. On going out of the chapel Colonel Biddulph came to Sir Moses to enquire if a sight of the apartments in the Castle would be agreeable, supposing they were not too much fatigued. Sir Moses did not hesitate to accept the offer, and Colonel Biddulph accompanied them back to the Castle, and shewed them some of the splendid rooms. Then having sent for Mr Richards to accompany them round the galleries, St George's Hall, and the beautiful armoury, he took his leave.
"I much regret," Sir Moses says, "my dear Judith was not with me. She could not have failed to have been pleased."
It was five o'clock when they took leave of Mr Richards.
November 18th.—His Highness, accompanied by Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, arrived at Dover. After remaining the night at the Ship Hotel, the young Prince took an affectionate leave of them, and embarked in the morning for Calais, the Prince intending to reach Paris before midnight.
CHAPTER X.
1858.
THE CASE OF THE ABDUCTION OF EDGAR MORTARA—STRANGE THEORY ABOUT BAPTISM—SIR MOSES INTERESTS HIMSELF IN THE MATTER—ACTION OF THE EVANGELICAL SOCIETY—DISCOURAGING OPINIONS.
LADY MONTEFIORE was still very unwell, and Sir Moses himself was so ill at Dover that he could not leave his couch in the morning after his arrival; but there was no time for him now to allow himself to be treated like an invalid or seek a few weeks' rest.