It was moved by Mr John Abel Smith, seconded by Mr Sergeant (now Sir John) Simon,—
That this meeting desires to express its deep obligation to Earl Russell (Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) for the readiness with which he afforded to Sir Moses Montefiore the countenance and support of the Government, and to offer its earnest thanks to Sir John Hay Drummond Hay (Her Majesty's Consul-General in Morocco), to Mr Consul Reade, and to all those who personally aided in carrying into effect the objects, and thus contributed to the success of the journey.
It was moved by Mr Goschen, and seconded by Mr Jacob Waley,
That this meeting, bearing in mind the gracious reception accorded by His Majesty the Emperor of Morocco to the representations of Sir Moses Montefiore, Bart., wishes to record its high appreciation of the desire shown by that enlightened Sovereign to extend his protection and ensure justice to all classes of his subjects, without reference to religious creed, and that this meeting would be gratified if Her Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs would communicate this resolution to His Majesty through the British Consul-General in Morocco.
It was moved by Mr A. Cohen, and seconded by Mr Henry Isaac, that this meeting contemplating with deep satisfaction the social and political equality now happily enjoyed by all the subjects of Her Majesty, feels pride and gratification in remarking how the example thus set has contributed to induce other countries to adopt the same beneficent principles.
Sampson Lucas,}
Saul Isaac,} Hon. Secs.
Ernest Hart,}
Julian Goldsmid,}
Meetings of a similar kind were held by all the Hebrew congregations and many public institutions in the British realm. Resolutions were adopted, and copies of the same conveyed to Sir Moses by their respective deputations; but he did not consider that he had yet completed the work of the Mission.
He thought it desirable to address a letter to the Minister of State in Morocco urging him to see that full effect was given by the Governors and Pashas of provinces to the edict of the Sultan, and, in accordance with his own views on the subject, he sent a letter in the Moorish language to the Minister, of which I here give an exact translation:—
"Grosvenor Gate, Park Lane, London,
"June 1, 1864."To the Illustrious Oozier Sid Taib El Yaminy, Minister of State,
Morocco, &c., &c., &c."May it please your Excellency,—My heart is deeply impressed with thankfulness to your Excellency for the kind letter which your Excellency has so courteously transmitted to me in reply to that which I had the honour to address to your Excellency on the 23rd February last.
"Since my return to Europe I had the honour, while at Madrid, to place in the hands of her Catholic Majesty the Queen of Spain, a copy of the Imperial Edict of your august Sovereign, with a translation in the Spanish language; and while at Paris, to place in the hands of his Imperial Majesty the Emperor of the French a like copy, with a translation in the French language; also on my arrival in London I had the gratification to present to the Government of my beloved Sovereign a like copy, with an English translation.
"The Imperial Edict of his Sheriffian Majesty has obtained a world-wide celebrity, and has everywhere received the eulogies to which it is so eminently entitled.
"The friends of humanity and civilization throughout the world entertain the earnest hope and belief that your gracious Sovereign, and that you, illustrious Sir, will cause that edict to be known and respected by all the governors and officials in the empire of Morocco.
"There is too much reason to fear that there exists a disposition on the part of some of these governors and officials to ignore or disregard the benign commands of the Sultan, and that they are acting in direct contravention of the Sheriffian Majesty's high and exalted intentions, that his Jewish and other non-Mahomedan subjects shall be permitted to enjoy the benefits so humanely secured to them by his Sheriffian Majesty's glorious edict.
"These are indeed sad tidings. Oh, let not these oppressors be allowed to persevere in their wrongdoing. I entreat the immediate and effectual interposition of his Sheriffian Majesty and of your Excellency. The Imperial Edict went forth as a beam of light to my co-religionists in Morocco. Suffer not, I implore you, its brightness to be dimmed, its effulgence to be extinguished. It imparted joy and promise. Permit not that joy to be destroyed, that promise to remain unfruitful.
"Hundreds of thousands of human beings in Morocco raised their voices in praise and thankfulness to God for the benign desire of his Sheriffian Majesty and of your Excellency to ameliorate their condition, and to remove from them oppression and suffering. Let it not be that their fond hopes are a vain shadow; that their cheering anticipations of a brighter future are a delusive dream.
"How great and how sacred are the prerogatives of Majesty! It directs its people's welfare, and their path is bedecked with flowers; it forbears to punish their oppressors, and that path is beset with thorns.
"I know full well, and have personally experienced the kindness of your august Sovereign and of your Excellency, and therefore I rely with firm faith on the generous promises which I have received, that the Imperial Edict should be promulgated throughout the Moorish empire, and its provisions strictly enforced.
"Happy, most happy are the nations dwelling in peace and security! Glorious, most glorious are the rulers to whose wisdom and humanity, inspired by Almighty God, the people look up for the perpetuity of these blessings.
"Condescend, illustrious Sir, to consider these my humble words spoken in the fulness of my heart and with most truthful earnestness.
"Deign to convey my assurances of respect to your august Sovereign, and to receive with favour my wishes for his and your health and welfare, and for the prosperity of the Moorish empire,—I have the honour to remain, your Excellency's faithful and obedient servant,
"(Signed) Moses Montefiore."