"East Cliff Lodge, Ramsgate, October 26th.
"My Lord,—I cannot adequately convey to your Lordship the gratification afforded to me by your Lordship's esteemed communication of the 24th inst., informing me of the prompt and efficient measures taken by your Lordship for the protection of the Jews of Damascus.
"I feel assured that the energetic manner in which your Lordship has thrown the shield of the British Government over the Jewish community of that city will, under Providence, be the means of saving the lives of many innocent persons.
"The knowledge of this fact must afford your Lordship the highest satisfaction, and it is indeed a source of pride and triumph when, as in this case, the influence of the British Government is successfully exerted in the cause of humanity and justice.
"Believe me, my Lord, I am deeply impressed with your Lordship's kindness, which cannot fail to elicit the warmest sentiments of admiration and gratitude from the hearts of the whole Jewish body.—I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's faithful and obedient servant,
"Moses Montefiore."
"To The Right Hon. Lord John Russell, &c."
The following letter from Mr Brant bears testimony, if any were needed, to the groundlessness of the charges against the Jews:—
"Damascus, October 16th.
"Sir,—In your letter of this day's date you ask me to state what I know of the behaviour of the Jewish community during the late outbreak against Christians.
"I know that many of the principal members took refuge in the houses of Mussulmans for fear of being massacred if they remained in their own. I do not know that any one of your nation has been proved to have been concerned in injuring the Christians. Some have been accused of doing so, and were detained in prison, but I begged his Excellency Fuad Pasha to have them fairly tried, and, if found innocent, to order their release, which, I believe, has been, or is on the point of being done.
"I am not aware that any Jew has behaved ill in this calamity, and the accusations I have heard seemed to be the result of prejudice and a malicious disposition, and not to be grounded on any established proof.—I have the honour to be, with respect, Sir, your obedient, humble servant,
"James Brant."
"To Jacob Screz, Chief Rabbi of the Jewish Congregation at Damascus."
"I certify the above to be a true copy of the original letter.
"William H. Wrench, Acting Consul."
"Damascus, October 19th."
Sir Moses also had letters prepared on the subject, which were to be forwarded to the Turkish Ambassador and Sir Culling Eardly, with copies of the Damascus letter, and a few days later Sir Culling sent him the copy of a letter he had written to Lord John Russell. It was an admirable and affecting appeal for his Lordship's intervention.
October 25th.—He received a most satisfactory reply to the letter he had addressed to Lord John Russell respecting the persecution of the Jews in Damascus. His Lordship had telegraphed to Constantinople, had sent instructions to Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador at that place, and to the Consular Agents at Beyrout and Damascus, to take immediate steps for the protection of the Jews.
The next day Mr G. Kursheedt, who had gone to Jerusalem with instructions respecting the Juda Touro Almshouses, returned in safety from the Holy Land, and gave Sir Moses an account of the state of his co-religionists in Jerusalem. It was by no means unfavourable.
October 31st.—Sir Moses convened a meeting of Deputies of British Jews for the following Monday evening, to bring before them Sir Culling E. Eardly's letters respecting the boy Mortara, and it would rest with the Deputies, Sir Moses remarked, to say what part they would take with Sir Culling in his efforts to get young Mortara away from Rome.