Footnotes
[3] Probably Passover biscuits, which Sir Moses was in the habit of sending sometimes to his friends who expressed a desire of having them.
CHAPTER XII.
1859.
INTERVIEW WITH THE DUC DE GRAMMONT—ANOTHER UKASE—INFLUENTIAL PROTEST IN THE MORTARA CASE—PERSECUTION IN ROUMANIA—ATTITUDE OF THE FRENCH AND TURKISH GOVERNMENTS TOWARDS THE JEWS.
MAY 20th.—Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore arrived in Paris. Lady Montefiore's state of health being very unsatisfactory, Sir Moses resolved to remain five or six days in the French capital to allow her some rest.
May 24th.—He called at the British Embassy, where he saw Viscount Chelsea, who recommended him to write to Count Walewski to express his gratitude for the warm and generous efforts of the Duc de Grammont in the Mortara case. This Sir Moses did, and the next day the Minister of Foreign Affairs wrote him a note to the effect that he would receive him on the following Friday. Sir Moses accordingly called on his Excellency, and told him that his object was to thank the Emperor and his Excellency for the very generous exertions they had made for the restoration of the child Mortara to its parents, and to express his gratitude towards the Duc de Grammont for the very zealous manner in which he had exerted himself at Rome to attain that object, and he (Sir Moses) believed that, although his exertions had not been attended with the success so much desired, the Duke had done much good, as his warm expostulations would no doubt prevent, at least for some time, any similar outrage against humanity. "Not only his co-religionists," Sir Moses observed, "but also the Christians in England, felt deeply in this unfortunate case, and were equally affected by the circumstance."
His Excellency said that not only the Emperor, but all the people in France, felt keenly on the subject. The Emperor had written to the Duc de Grammont in the strongest manner. His Excellency was sure that the Duc de Grammont had done his best.
Sir Moses then begged of his Excellency to use his influence at any future time when an opportunity occurred to obtain the restoration of the child to his parents, and this his Excellency promised to do, saying that he was happy to have made Sir Moses' acquaintance. The reception, Sir Moses remarks, was truly kind and friendly. The Count said he believed the boy was well treated, to which Sir Moses rejoined that he thought so; but this was little consolation to his parents for being robbed of their child.
Before leaving Paris Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore had the satisfaction of hearing some pleasing news regarding their co-religionists in Russia.