Sir Moses convened a special meeting of the Board of Deputies of the British Jews. The Board formed itself into a committee of relief, and energetically appealed to its co-religionists, not only in this country, but throughout Europe and other parts of the world, for prompt assistance.
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore gave £200 towards the immediate relief of the sufferers, and many benevolent persons of various denominations followed with generous contributions.
To Sir W. Codrington, the Governor of Gibraltar, who manifested much thoughtful humanity towards the unfortunate Jewish emigrants from Tangier, Sir Moses had the pleasing duty to convey a vote of thanks from the Board of Deputies.
Sir William, in acknowledging the receipt of Sir Moses' letter enclosing the resolution, said that he was only carrying out the intentions of Government in assisting refugees. "You will have heard," he observed, "that Government has since authorised me to give temporary assistance to those necessitous persons, by affording them a bread ration from the commissariat."
"The French Government," Sir William continued, "will receive into Algeria those who wish to go there. I hope that many will avail themselves, and that soon, of this permission, for it will be well for them to seek at once their future permanent abode, wherever it may be."
It appears that the intention of the French Government to receive into Algeria all who wished to go there, impelled another power to make a similar offer to those who wished to go to Palestine; for, a day before Sir William had written his letter to Sir Moses, Mr Kingsite called on the latter, and stated that the Turkish Ambassador wished him to inform Sir Moses that if the Jews were inclined to return to the Holy Land, and could advance money to the Turkish Government to effect the withdrawal of the existing coinage, they should have every liberty and land, with all possible protection. Sir Moses told Mr Kingsite he did not think that there was a single Jew in England who wished to return at present, nor did he believe that a loan for that purpose would be raised. Mr Kingsite was going to speak with a well-known house on the subject.
November 21st.—Sir Moses called on the Turkish Ambassador, who received him very courteously, heard all he had to say, and entered very fully into the whole affair of the Holy Land. He said all would go well, and he would write to the Governor of Jerusalem, and same time send him a copy of his letter which he had forwarded to him some time since. He expressed himself as being anxious to see a colony of Jews in Palestine.
Both the French and Turkish Governments, we see, were desirous of having Jewish colonies in their respective countries; with the sole difference, that the French authorities were content with the poor of all classes, while the Turkish authorities only offered to extend their privileges and protection to the rich colonist.
During the last month of the year Sir Moses received a visit from the father of the unfortunate young Mortara. He gave him a note to Sir Culling Eardly, who promised to do all in his power for the restoration of the boy. A few days later Sir Moses convened a meeting of the Mortara Committee, when it was resolved to write to Sir Culling Eardly, that, having done all in their power in the Mortara case, they could not attempt to do more, but hoped he would persevere and be successful.