A correspondence was immediately opened with the principal Hebrew communities, and with many persons of distinction professing various religious creeds, in Europe and America. In England especially, the Evangelical Society, through Sir Culling E. Eardly, took a leading part in their endeavour to serve the cause of justice. Copies of the memorial, from which I have given the above extract, together with copies of the "Bullarium Romanum" (vol. v., p. 60, xxvi.), against secret baptisms; a letter from "The Jurist," published in London, November 13th, 1858; an extract from the Annual Register of October 1774, referring to the restoration of a Jewish girl, aged nine, to her parents; and a copy of depositions made at Bologna before the notary Verardini, were forwarded to them to guide them in their pleadings for humanity, and frequent meetings of a Committee appointed by the Board were convened by the President to consider the best means for securing the restoration of the child to his parents.
A report of the result of the deliberations of the said Committee has been made by Sir Moses to the Board of Deputies, a portion of which I copy for the information of the reader.
"The letter and memorial from Sardinia," Sir Moses says, "were without loss of time submitted to the Deputies at a meeting, and this Committee was thereupon appointed with power to adopt such proceedings as, in their judgment, they might consider expedient.
"'The Committee met on the day of their appointment, and at once determined to appeal for co-operation to the Central Consistory of the Israelites of France, and to the central Jewish authorities at Amsterdam. They further determined to memorialise the British Government, soliciting its powerful intervention, and feeling well assured of its humane and friendly sympathy. The Committee further resolved to transmit to the press copies of communications received from Turin, and they have every reason to feel grateful to the press, particularly in England, France, Germany, and the United States, for its able and humane assistance.
"'At a subsequent meeting the Committee determined to transmit a report of the case, as it had appeared in the Times newspaper, to every member of the Catholic clergy throughout the United Kingdom, and about 1800 of such reports were circulated accordingly.
"'The Committee, through the medium of the President, have also appealed for co-operation to the Jewish Congregational bodies in the principal cities and towns of Germany and the United States of America, and they rejoice to be able to report that their appeal has been zealously responded to, and that various bodies of their co-religionists are taking active measures to seek redress for the grievous wrong which has been committed.
"'It is well known,' the Board of Deputies announced, 'that the Committee of the Evangelical Alliance and other religious societies of the Protestant community have manifested great interest in this unhappy case. They have on various occasions conveyed to this Committee the expressions of their kind sympathy, and the Committee are assured that the humane and zealous interposition of these important bodies may be relied on.
"'Although, as will have been seen from the correspondence which has been published in the daily press, the British Government is unable to assist the case by a direct intervention, its views thereon are emphatically pronounced, and the Committee offer their grateful acknowledgments for the prompt attention and great kindness they have received from the Earl of Malmesbury and Mr Fitzgerald throughout the communications which have taken place between your Committee and the Foreign Office.
"'The Committee are strongly urged to appeal personally to the Emperor of the French by means of a deputation from your body, and from the Jewish congregations in the principal states of Europe and America, under the hope that His Imperial Majesty, conscious that the public opinion has declared itself indignantly against an outrage so disgraceful to the present age, will exercise his powerful influence with the Papal Government, so as to induce it to restore the young child, Edgar Mortara, to its bereaved parents, and to denounce the repetition of any similar practice.
"'The Committee, however, feel that they would not be justified in the adoption of so important a step without bringing the matter under the attention of the General Board, and have resolved to report thereto their proceedings to date, and to seek therefrom further instructions. They protest most strongly against baptism without the consent of the party baptised.
"'In this particular case the Committee have purposely abstained from entering into the full details of the abduction and of the subsequent events relating thereto. To do this would be to extend this report beyond reasonable limits. The Committee are in possession of important documents and voluminous correspondence, extracts from portions of which have from time to time appeared in the press. After a careful consideration of these documents, your Committee have strong grounds for believing that the alleged baptism never took place. If it did, it was administered by the menial and illiterate servant girl Morisi, when she was herself a child only fourteen years old, and under circumstances which appear to render it invalid, even by the Roman canonical laws. It is quite clear that the child, from its tender age (twelve months), must have been unconscious of the act; that up to the date of its abduction it had been nurtured in the faith of its parents, and so far from there being any truth in the statement that Edgar Mortara rejoices in his adoption into the Catholic Faith (a statement which, considering the still tender age of the child, is manifestly absurd), it yearns incessantly for the restoration to its home,—while, alas! if report speaks truly, its unhappy mother has been bereft of reason, and its father, prostrated in spirit, is about to emigrate from the scene of his recent afflictions.
"'The case in itself is one deserving of the sincerest commiseration; but when viewed with reference to its bearings on society at large, it appeals irresistibly to all; and the civilised world will indeed be wanting in energy and wisdom if it permit the nineteenth century to be disgraced by the retention of the child in contravention of the laws of nature, morality, and religion, and most especially it behoves the Jewish community to exert itself to the utmost in so urgent a cause, so that if it fail it may have at least the consolation of knowing that it has done its duty, while if, under the blessing of the Almighty God, it succeed, it may rejoice not only because the sorrows of an afflicted family will thereby be alleviated, but also because a moral victory will have been achieved, the advantages of which will be recognised and prized by every friend of humanity, law, and order throughout the world.
"'Moses Montefiore, President.'
"At a meeting of the Board, held on the 22nd of December 1858, Sir Moses Montefiore, President, in the chair, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:—
"'That in the opinion of this Board it is desirable to memorialise the head of the Pontifical Government on the subject of the Mortara case.
"'That Sir Moses Montefiore, Bart., President, be requested to present the same personally, if and when his health and engagements, and the health of Lady Montefiore, enable him to undertake the journey.
"'That the Committee on the Mortara case be empowered to prepare the memorial, and to make such arrangements as they may deem expedient for a deputation from this Board, and other public Jewish bodies, to accompany Sir Moses Montefiore on his mission; and to adopt such other measures on the subject as they may consider necessary.'"
Sir Moses, with his usual readiness to serve a good cause, consented to proceed to Rome, the Board having resolved that it was inexpedient to send a deputation to the Emperor of the French, and now commenced making the necessary preparation for his departure, as soon as Lady Montefiore's state of health would permit her to accompany him.
He had, however, a pleasing duty of a political nature to perform before leaving England, which he did not like to relinquish.
He was desirous to assist in the election of Baron Meyer de Rothschild, to fill the vacancy at Hythe occasioned by the retirement of Sir John William Ramsden; and, accompanied by his nephew, Mr Arthur Cohen, Q.C., he proceeded on Tuesday, February 10, 1859, to the hustings.
Baron Meyer de Rothschild was accompanied from Folkestone and Sandgate by a vast cavalcade and two bands, and just before reaching the town the horses were taken from his carriage, and the candidate drawn by the inhabitants to the hustings, where he was received with reiterated plaudits. He was surrounded by a number of influential friends, conspicuous among them being Sir Moses Montefiore.
The usual formalities having been gone through, and the returning officer having declared Baron Meyer de Rothschild duly elected, the latter addressed the electors, after which Sir Moses congratulated them on their choice. They could not, he said, have a better member than Baron Rothschild. (Cheers.) "I thank God," he added, "that old as I am, I have lived to see this day, and to witness your choice. I sincerely thank you all. May God bless you."