DIARIES OF
SIR MOSES
AND LADY MONTEFIORE

COMPRISING THEIR LIFE AND WORK AS RECORDED
IN THEIR DIARIES FROM 1812 TO 1883.
WITH THE ADDRESSES AND SPEECHES OF SIR MOSES; HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH
MINISTERS, AMBASSADORS, AND REPRESENTATIVES OF PUBLIC BODIES;
PERSONAL NARRATIVES OF HIS MISSIONS IN THE CAUSE OF HUMANITY;
FIRMANS AND EDICTS OF EASTERN MONARCHS; HIS OPINIONS ON
FINANCIAL, POLITICAL, AND RELIGIOUS SUBJECTS, AND
ANECDOTES AND INCIDENTS REFERRING TO MEN
OF HIS TIME, AS RELATED BY HIMSELF.
EDITED BY
Dr L. LOEWE,
MEMBER OF THE ROYAL ASIATIC SOCIETY OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND; OF THE SOCIETE
ASIATIQUE OF PARIS; OF THE NUMISMATIC SOCIETY OF LONDON, ETC. (ONE OF THE
MEMBERS OF THE MISSION TO DAMASCUS AND CONSTANTINOPLE UNDER
THE LATE SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE, BART., IN THE YEAR 1840).
ASSISTED BY HIS SON.
In Two Volumes
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS
VOL. II.
CHICAGO:
BELFORD-CLARKE CO.
1890.

ANCIENT COAT OF ARMS OF THE MONTEFIORE FAMILY,
explained on page 6.

(The rights of translation and of reproduction are reserved.)

Copyright—Belford-Clarke Co., Chicago.

CONTENTS.

DIARIES OF
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore.

CHAPTER I.
1847.

SIR MOSES PRESENTED TO THE QUEEN ON BEING MADE A BARONET—UKASE OF THE CZAR—THE AFFAIR OF DEIR-EL-KAMAR—SIR MOSES' INTERVIEWS WITH LOUIS-PHILIPPE, M. GUIZOT, AND LORD NORMANBY—SATISFACTORY MEASURES OF THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.

THE Diary of the year 1847 continues to refer to gratifying events. Sir Moses orders medical supplies at the Apothecaries' Hall for his dispensary at Jerusalem, is presented to her Majesty on his being created a baronet, and on March 29th he receives a letter from the representatives of the Hebrew community in Kowno, conveying to him the gratifying intelligence that the Emperor of Russia had issued a Ukase, dated 10th December 1846, permitting the Jews to remain in that town free from molestation. But on May the 2nd I find an entry which must have occasioned him much pain, as it refers to an accusation brought against his brethren at Deir-el-Kámár. Fortunately he was in possession of all the papers relative to the subject, and could at once refute the charge in a letter to the Times, of which the following is a copy—

"Sir,—My attention has been directed to a paragraph which appeared in yesterday's Times, being an extract from the Union Monarchique, Paris paper, which extract purports to contain a narrative of the abduction and murder by the Jews of Deir-el-Kámár, near Beyrout, of a Christian child; that, after the lapse of three days, the corpse had been discovered in a field, that the hands, feet, and side of the child had been pierced, and that it had also been bled in the neck. Happily, I am in possession of intelligence of the 5th and 6th of April from a correspondent at Beyrout, in whose veracity I have every reason to confide, and am thus enabled to furnish a correct statement of the circumstances.

"It appears that on the day preceding Palm Sunday several Christian boys joined some religious procession, agreeably to the custom of the place. In the dusk of the evening one of the children, about the age of four years, having strayed from the others, lost its way among the gardens and vineyards. On the following day, when it became known that the child was missing, the fanatic populace attributed its disappearance to the Jews; their Synagogue and houses were tumultuously searched, but, of course, without success; and subsequently the child was found in a vineyard, exhausted by cold, hunger, and fatigue, from the effects of which it soon afterwards expired. This, however, did not silence the clamour of the ignorant multitude, and eventually the affair was referred to the Governor-General. The accused persons had been placed in confinement, but on their brethren undertaking for their appearance in due course, the Governor gave instructions for their immediate liberation, and he has directed an investigation before the judicial tribunal.

"I am happy to say that Colonel Rose, Her Majesty's Consul-General at Beyrout, kindly interfered on the occasion, and that, thanks to his humane intervention and the good sense of the Governor of the district, my poor brethren were protected against the frantic violence of their accusers.

"I had hoped, Sir, that even in the East the absurd, yet cruel, calumnies urged against our faith had ceased to obtain credence; but where ignorance and superstition prevail to so great an extent, it is more a subject for sorrow than surprise to find the occasional resuscitation of the bigotry of a bygone age; but, Sir, I cannot refrain from expressing my deep regret that this melancholy event should have been recorded so inaccurately and in so adverse a spirit by the journal in question.

"I am anxious to obviate its mischievous tendency by an authentic version of the circumstances, and I entertain no doubt, though fully conscious of the value of the space I seek to occupy, that you will kindly admit this letter into your columns, as you will thereby give at least an equal circulation to the true, as you have unfortunately given to the erroneous, statement; though I believe that even without contradiction few would attach any credence to the imputation thus unhappily revived.—I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient humble servant,

"Moses Montefiore."

"Grosvenor Gate, Park Lane, May 2."

Returning to the Diary, we read that on 27th May he and Lady Montefiore had a gracious reception at the Queen's Drawing Room; and on the 28th, they received an invitation from the Lord Chamberlain by command of the Queen to Her Majesty's Ball on Friday, 11th of June, an honour, however, of which they were unable to avail themselves owing to its being Sabbath.

June 20th.—An accusation having been brought anew against the Jews in Damascus, Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore received numerous petitions from representatives of the Hebrew communities in Jerusalem, Beyrout, and Damascus, to intercede on their behalf with the French Government, the Christians in Syria being generally considered under the protection of France.

They at once resolved to go to Paris, and obtain, if possible, from King Louis-Philippe, a declaration of his disbelief in the charges brought against the Jews.

In the present instance it was Monsieur Baudin, "Le Gérant du Consulat de France" (as the French Minister in Paris described him), who, on the occasion of a child disappearing from Damascus (the child, however, was afterwards found at Baal-beck), called upon the Moslem Governor to have a search made in the houses of the Jews, reminding him, at the same time, of the accusations brought against the latter in the year 1840.

July 3rd.—Sir Moses walked to the Foreign Office, having an appointment for that day with Lord Palmerston. He acquainted the Minister with the contents of the letters he had received from the East respecting the late charges brought against the Jews, also with the translation of M. Baudin's letter to the Governor of Damascus. Sir Moses praised the conduct of the British Consuls on the unfortunate occasion, and spoke highly of Mr (now Sir Richard) Wood. His request to Lord Palmerston was that he would repeat to the Consuls the instructions he had formerly given them, to protect the Jews from lawless persecution, and also to give him a letter of introduction to Lord Normanby in Paris to assist him in procuring a private audience of King Louis-Philippe. His object was to obtain from His Majesty a declaration, similar to one made by Augustus III., King of Poland, in 1763, of his entire disbelief in the ignorant delusion about the Jews and the use of blood in the Passover cakes, and to induce him to give directions to his Consuls, not to countenance any charge of the kind. Sir Moses found Lord Palmerston fully aware of all that had passed, as the latter repeated to him the contents of Sir Moses' last letter from Damascus. The Governor had behaved extremely well to the Jews, and Lord Palmerston had sent him the thanks of the British Government.

Lord Palmerston kindly complied with both his requests, and said he would give him a letter from the Government to Lord Normanby, in order that it might remain on record in his office.

July 7th.—Before leaving for Paris, Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore accepted an invitation from Monsieur Zohrab, the Turkish Consul, to attend an entertainment on board a large and powerful new steamship built by White of Cowes for the Turkish Government. They met the Turkish Ambassador, Sir Stratford and Lady Canning, and many other distinguished persons there, who were all most kind and attentive to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore.

On receipt of Lord Palmerston's letters of introduction, Sir Moses started for Paris, where he at once called on the Marquess of Normanby. His Lordship was extremely kind, and paid great attention to what Sir Moses had to say, but could only regret Sir Moses' inopportune arrival. The King was somewhat annoyed at the differences with England, and although Sir Moses might go direct and obtain an interview, still it might be difficult for Sir Moses to move the King—who was then an old man—sufficiently to induce him to get Monsieur Guizot to take the matter up. Lord Normanby was unwilling to incur the jealousy of Monsieur Guizot, but although the British Ambassador entertained little hope of Sir Moses' success, he said that he would reconsider the matter.

July 17th.—Sir Moses received a note from his Lordship, saying that he would be glad to see him to-day (Saturday), between one and two o'clock. "In spite of the burning sun," Sir Moses writes, "Dr Loewe and I walked there (the sanctity of the Sabbath preventing the use of a carriage). His Lordship said he had read over all my papers in respect to the declaration I wished the King to make; he believed it would be impossible to obtain it, and thought I must give up the idea.

"The memorial would therefore require curtailing and altering, and he would look at it if I brought it on Monday at about the same time. On that morning he should see the King of the Belgians at the Palace, and would consider how I might be introduced to the King of France; as I had been presented before, it was not requisite for his Lordship to present me himself."

Paris, July 20th.—The following entry is contained in the Diary:—

"Monsieur Guizot received me kindly, and by no means as a stranger. He attended to the recital of what had occurred at Damascus, and said in reply that Monsieur Baudin was not a Consul; but I said he represented the French Government, and the people believed he spoke their sentiments. Monsieur Guizot then said he would write a very strong letter himself to Monsieur Baudin,[1] and would speak with the King on the subject, and I should hear from him. I immediately went to Lord Normanby, and informed him of all that had passed; he thanked me for calling, as he was just going into the country for a couple of days, and was happy he had been able to facilitate the accomplishment of my object."

August 5th.—Sir Moses went to the Foreign Office to see Monsieur Le Sage, the head of the department. The latter, having mislaid the papers, had to go over the whole business again, but eventually promised to write to Monsieur Baudin, who had exceeded his duty in expressing his own opinion as that of the French Government.

August 9th.—Monsieur Hude came to Sir Moses from Baron James de Rothschild, and brought him the following note, written by the King's own hand, to Monsieur Guizot:—

"Dimanche, 8 Août 1847.

"Mon Cher Ministre,—Je recevrai Sir Moses Montefiore demain aux Tuileries pendant que vous serez occupé à faire la Clôture, c'est-a-dire à une heure précise. Veuillez donc l'en faire prévenir. Je n'ai pas d'autre moment a' lui donner comme vous le savez.—Bon Soir.

"L."

Sir Moses at once put on his uniform, and went to the Palace of the Tuileries a little before one o'clock. The King was in Council, and it was ten minutes before two when the Ministers left to go to the closing of the Chambers of Peers and Deputies. Two minutes after he was conducted through a splendid picture gallery and several large apartments into a room, in which the officer who was his conductor left him.

The King immediately entered, and said, "I am very happy to see you, Sir Moses; you are come from England." Sir Moses then informed His Majesty of the object for which he had solicited the honour of an audience, in compliance with the wishes of his co-religionists in the East. He informed His Majesty of the unfortunate occurrence at Damascus, and asked permission to read him a paper containing the particulars of his petition, to which the King graciously assented, asking if there was sufficient light, as the blinds were closed. The King paid great attention while Sir Moses read, and when he came to the part which mentions the Jews of France, His Majesty observed, that he was happy to have been the first to have given them every civil right, and hoped soon to see the example followed in every country; he fully concurred in the sentiments expressed in Sir Moses' statements. His Majesty very graciously took the paper, when Sir Moses had finished reading it, and said he would give it to Monsieur Guizot, who took as keen an interest in the matter as he did himself, and would attend to it. When Sir Moses mentioned the loss of the child at Deir-el-Kámár, he immediately said, "But it has been found, and there is an end of the matter." His Majesty could not have been more gracious, and Sir Moses was satisfied that the Government would give such directions to their officers in the East, as would prevent their again acting in so cruel a manner with regard to the Jews. On his taking leave, the King inquired if he intended leaving Paris, and said that he was going to-morrow to the Chateau d'Eu, where he would be happy to see Sir Moses at all times.

Sir Moses left the Audience Chamber by the wrong door, and after wandering through two or three rooms, endeavouring to find his way out, he met the King. He very good humouredly said, "You have lost your way; I will show you," and most kindly walked with him through two large rooms which brought them to the end of a long picture gallery, where there were many officers and servants. Here the King bade him farewell. Sir Moses felt the greatest confidence that the great object he had at heart had been blest with success.

Paris, August 10th.—He called at the Foreign Office to return Monsieur Guizot his thanks, and the latter repeated his assurance respecting the protection of the Jews in the East.

August 28th.—This morning Sir Moses received a letter from Monsieur Guizot as follows:

"Paris, August 23, 1847.

"Sir,—The King has forwarded me a letter which you addressed to him on the 9th instant, on the subject of the prejudice unfortunately existing in the East against the Israelites, which has given rise to the accusation of their shedding human blood for sacrifices. You express the desire that the agents of His Majesty in the East should be instructed not only to abstain from doing anything which might tend to strengthen this prejudice, but to use all means in their power to combat and destroy it.

"The Government of the King regards the imputation in question as false and calumnious, and its agents are, in general, too enlightened to think of abetting it in any way. The Government would deeply regret their doing such a thing, and would not hesitate to censure them severely for it. This is what the Government has done in the particular case to which you refer, regarding the disappearance, in April last, of a Christian child of Damascus, and also regarding the accusation which the agent of the French Consulate appears to have been emboldened to bring before the Pasha in this matter. No direct information having reached me on these subjects, I asked the King's Consul at Damascus for an explanation, and commanded him in the event of the facts which had been stated to you proving true, to express my severe disapprobation to the agent, who upon a simple rumour would have ventured such an accusation against a whole people.—Accept, Sir, the assurance of my highest esteem.

(Signed) "Guizot."

"Sir Moses Montefiore, &c."

August 30th.—Sir Moses called on Viscount Palmerston, and communicated to him what had passed between His Majesty the King of the French, Monsieur Guizot, and himself. He gave his Lordship a copy of his Memorial to the King, and of Monsieur Guizot's letter to himself. Lord Palmerston expressed his happiness at receiving so favourable an account, and said he trusted his endeavours would have the desired result, and that the French authorities at Damascus had certainly encouraged the charge against the Jews.

In the same year we find Sir Moses Montefiore's name gazetted (September 24) as Deputy-Lieutenant of the County of Kent, an honour which he highly prized. Later on he laid the foundation stone of the Canterbury Synagogue, and addressed the assembly. On his return to London he presided at a meeting of the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews, which had been convened by him for the purpose of considering the propriety of an address from that Board to Pope Pius the Ninth, to express their thanks to the Sovereign Pontiff for the benevolent solicitude he had manifested for the welfare of the Israelites under his dominion, and for the judicious measures he had adopted to improve their condition. It was resolved to prepare an address to be first forwarded to Lord Palmerston, and then with his consent to be presented by Baron Charles de Rothschild of Naples to the Pope, who, in due course acknowledged the receipt of the same, in a courteous letter addressed to the President by Cardinal Teretti.

December 18th.—He had the satisfaction of learning from the evening papers that Lord John Russell's motion for the removal of the civil and political disabilities affecting Her Majesty's Jewish subjects had been carried on the previous night, the numbers being 250 "Ayes," and 186 "Noes,"—majority, 64.

This pleasing event was followed by another: the reception of a letter from the elders of the Hebrew community of Damascus, in which they expressed their gratitude to him for his exertions on their behalf with the French Government.

Footnotes

[1] Refer to Appendix for Monsieur Guizot's letter.

CHAPTER II.
1848.

THE POLISH AND RUSSIAN JEWS AND THE QUESTION OF AGRICULTURE—THE JEWISH DISABILITIES IN PARLIAMENT AGAIN—THE CHARTIST RIOTS—SIR MOSES AND LADY MONTEFIORE DEPART FOR THE HOLY LAND—ABSURD CHARGE BROUGHT AGAINST THEM—THEIR RETURN TO ENGLAND.

IN the early part of the year 1848 Sir Moses was occupied with the question of agriculture in Poland and Russia, and had several interviews with Baron Brunnow on the subject. A plan, drawn up by Mr Posener of Warsaw, in connection with the tenancy, treatment, and improvement of farms, fields, and estates generally in the dominions of the Czar, was submitted by Sir Moses to the Ambassador, who fully approved of it.

At home his interest was centered in the Bill for the removal of Jewish disabilities, which was read a second time on the night of the 11th February, and passed by a majority of 73, there having been 277 for and 204 against it. Sir Robert Peel, in his memorable speech on this occasion, spoke in most flattering terms of Sir Moses.

Lady Montefiore's interest in politics was also much sustained by her regular interchange of visits with Mrs Disraeli, who was a near neighbour.

April 9th.—In consequence of the threatening Chartist riots, much alarm was felt at the meeting of the rioters which was convened for the morrow, and it was found necessary to take measures for the protection of the Bank of England, the parapet of which was lined and covered with sand-bags, to form a breast-work.

April 10th.—Sir Moses was at Mount Street at half-past eight this morning. Mr Graham, a magistrate, was in attendance, and remained with him till three, swearing in about 450 special constables. "It has been," he says, "a day of much anxiety for the public peace, but, thank God! the Chartists' meeting has proved a complete failure." At three o'clock he went to the Alliance and the Irish Bank, where all the clerks had been sworn in; some were to remain till late in the evening. Sir Moses returned afterwards to Mount Street, where he remained till five.

May 11th.—Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore attended the first Drawing-Room of the season.

May 25th.—Sir Moses proceeded to the House of Lords. "Sir Augustus Clifford," he writes, "was so good as to procure for me a place at the Bar, and at six o'clock a place near the Throne. The debate for the removal of Jewish disabilities lasted till half-past one. It was a painful excitement. The majority against us was thirty-five, much greater than was expected."

The Duke of Cambridge, on that occasion, although one of the opponents of the Bill from conscientious motives, made a speech in which he expressed himself favourably towards the character of the Jews in general, and more especially towards that of Sir Moses.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, however, also from conscientious motives, supported the Bill. The course taken by the latter prince, it may be observed, has been amply justified by the experience of the last forty years. In this country, as well as in all others where Jews have been admitted into the legislature, their presence has unquestionably had no unfavourable effect on the administration of the law.

On the 7th of July Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore made a little excursion to Scotland, and on their return to town attended a soirée at the Marquis of Salisbury's. Whilst they were passing the evening here, visitors of a different description had availed themselves of the temporary absence of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore to effect an entrance into the drawing-room at Park Lane, whence the thieves succeeded in abstracting every article of gold and silver, as well as the Hamburg medal and many other valuable testimonials and mementoes.

In November they took an active part on a Committee which had been formed in Ramsgate, for providing relief for one hundred and sixty emigrants who had been saved from the ship Burgundy, and in December they provided one hundred of the London poor with blankets, again sent medical supplies from Apothecaries' Hall to their dispensary in Jerusalem, and visited the London Hospital and several other charitable institutions.

The reader will probably remember that in the year 1840, when Sir Moses appealed to Cardinal Riverola, head of the Capuchins in Rome, for the removal of the libellous and malicious epitaph in the Church of the Capuchins at Damascus, respecting the supposed murder of Padre Tomaso, His Eminence promised him his aid; but the events of Deir-el-Kámár and Damascus having given undoubted evidence of the spirit of hatred and persecution which still filled the hearts of the people, Sir Moses entertained serious doubts as to the fulfilment of that promise, and resolved to go there himself to ascertain the actual state of affairs.

The French Government having so forcibly expressed their disbelief in the accusations brought against the Jews, and having so severely censured the Agent of the French Consulate in Damascus, he thought, in the event of the epitaph in question being still in existence, he might now be able, with the assistance of the French Government and the Cardinal, to get it removed.

Independently of his own feelings on the matter, he was desirous of complying with the urgent prayer of the representatives of the Hebrew community at Damascus, who addressed several letters to him on that subject. "We have reason," they wrote, "to be greatly distressed on account of this epitaph, as by it the feelings of hatred and revenge entertained by Christians towards Jews may be perpetuated through coming generations. Whosoever sees the inscription is filled with hatred and indignation against Israel."

Many important meetings which he, as President of the Board of Deputies of the Congregation of British Jews, had to attend, and various engagements of communal interest, prevented Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore leaving England before May the 16th.

This delay, however, was productive of considerable pleasure to them, inasmuch as they were thereby enabled to receive the congratulations of their friends on the result of the debate in the House of Commons respecting the second reading of the Oaths Bill (May 7). The numbers were—For, 278; against, 185; majority, 93.

Accompanied by Colonel Gawler, a gentleman who took a great interest in the colonisation of the Holy Land, and had published several valuable papers on the subject, and by the Rev. Emanuel Myers, they left Dover for Calais, reaching Marseilles on the 24th of May and Alexandria on the 5th of June.

There Sir Moses sent the Admiral's letter to Captain John Foote of the Rosamond, who invited him on board his ship the next day to meet Said Pasha. His Highness received Sir Moses very kindly, and expressed pleasure on meeting him again.

They left Alexandria on June 14th on board the steamer Le Caire, arriving at Beyrout on the 16th, where they entered the Lazaretto for twelve days.

Sir Moses presented Lord Palmerston's letter to Mr Niven Moore, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul General, who assured him of his readiness to assist him in the object of his journey to Damascus. Deputations arrived from all parts of the Holy Land, and especially from Damascus, offering their greetings of welcome and their services, but it was found desirable, in order to avoid any unnecessary excitement, to request the representatives of the deputations to return to their respective towns and await the arrival of Sir Moses there.

Dr Fränkel, the doctor in charge of Sir Moses' dispensary at Jerusalem, was sent for to accompany the party to Damascus, and letters were written to the four Holy Cities, viz., Jerusalem, Hebron, Tiberias, and Safed, apprising the communities of the arrival of the travellers.

They passed twelve days in quarantine, not altogether without anxiety on account of Lady Montefiore, who was confined to her apartments for several days by illness. The heat of the weather was very oppressive, and the presence of the graves of some unfortunate travellers who died whilst in quarantine, affected their spirits very much, and conjured up gloomy reflections.

One morning a very large black snake was killed close to the door of their house. It measured six feet ten inches in length, and its bite would have been fatal. They were told that great numbers of them might sometimes be seen in the grounds of the Lazaretto.

Happily the number of letters which required their attention, and the frequent calls from their friends, did not allow them to remain long in this desponding state.

June 19th.—Colonel Moore communicated to them some news which afforded them much pleasure. The Emperor of Russia had conceded to all his subjects in the Holy Land, whose passports had expired, the right of placing themselves under British protection, which, in fact, was allowing them to become British subjects. The British Government had approved of the measure, and at this moment, the Consul said, the Russians and Poles in Syria might, if they chose, be British subjects.

June 27th.—They left the Lazaretto, proceeding to Damascus, where they arrived on July 3rd, taking up their quarters in the house of Isaac Haim Farhhi.

Her Majesty's Consul, Mr (now Sir) Richard Wood, was foremost in his attention to them. The members of the Hebrew community were rejoiced beyond description on seeing those who had made so many sacrifices for them; but, while these manifested their great happiness, there were others, still under the influence of the ancient prejudice against the Hebrews, who could not suppress their chagrin at the presence of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore in Damascus.

Sir Moses being desirous of ascertaining for himself whether the objectional inscription was still in existence, repaired to the Church of the Capuchins, where, to his great sorrow, he saw the stone, bearing the inscription in Italian and Arabic. He immediately had it copied in the presence of Fratre Giovannida Termini Pref^o. dei Mis F. Cappucciai, and Fr. Domenico de Sewazzo Mis F. Apos^co. Cappño, and determined to return, with as little delay as possible, to England, in order to appeal to the English Government, and, through them, to the French and Turkish Governments, for the removal of the tablet.

History affords many examples of fanaticism, but never has there been one more scurrilous and malicious than this. It has been repeated from father to son, and has insensibly become an accepted tradition. Every possible endeavour, Sir Moses thought, should be used to prevent history being tarnished by this new proof of falsehood and defamation.

Great was the anger of the people when they heard of his having been in the church and procured a copy of the epitaph. It was reported that the French authorities intended to celebrate a grand mass in commemoration of the death of Padre Tomaso, which they would attend in uniform and in their official character.

Sir Moses had frequent interviews with the principal Jewish inhabitants, and arranged with them to have some new Jewish girls' schools.

Sunday, July 7th.—They left Damascus and directed their course to Safed, where they arrived on the 15th inst. Here they encamped in tents till the 18th, then proceeded to Tiberias, where they accepted the hospitality of Mr Abulafia. On Friday they set out for Nazareth, remaining there over Sabbath and Sunday. Here a most serious incident happened, for, in the middle of the night of Saturday, they heard a terrible yelling and shouting near their tent; a woman was howling dreadfully at the loss of her child, which she said the Jews had murdered for religious purposes. Fortunately the child was soon found, and the Governor took immediate steps to punish severely the persons who had attempted to bring against Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore an accusation like that brought against the innocent Jews of Damascus. They left Nablous and went to Jerusalem, where they arrived on the 26th, remaining there for a week.

They paid a visit to Hebron for three days, returning again to Jerusalem, and from there directed their course to Jaffa, and embarked on board the Grand Turk for Beyrout, where they arrived on Friday, August 10th, taking apartments at the Hotel de Bellevue, to wait for the arrival of the steamer Le Caire.

During their sojourn in Beyrout, among the numerous visitors who called on them was Colonel Churchill, who was dressed as an Arab chief; he purposed making a tour in the mountains, and then publishing an account of his travels. Mr Moore, the English Consul, paid them long visits, and assured them that the Jews should receive every protection. Sir Moses spoke to him of the dread which the Jews of Tiberias had of increased taxation, and also of the missionaries at Jerusalem.

August 14th.—Signor Finzi, the British Consular Agent at Acre, who had made the journey expressly to see him and Lady Montefiore, paid them a visit. He was a very good and charitable, but not a wealthy man, whom they had seen ten years previously, when they visited the Holy Land the second time. He received no salary from the English Government for the reason, one may suppose, that there are too many in Syria who would be glad to serve in that capacity, even if they had to pay the Government for it, on account of the honour which the office confers upon them. Sir Moses, in appreciation of his services, requested his acceptance of a valuable uniform with gold embroidery and large gold buttons. The reader will perhaps smile at the choice of this present, but those who know the East, and the importance a military dress there imparts to the wearer, will understand the motive Sir Moses had in enabling a good man without means, who was a co-religionist and an English official, to appear on grand occasions as well dressed as other Consuls.

The weather being very hot and oppressive, Sir Moses thought it would strengthen him to take a little trip on the water, and invited Signor Finzi to accompany him in a small boat with four men and Ibrahim the cook, to the mouth of the Nahr-el Kelb, a distance of seven miles by sea, and nine or ten miles by land. Colonel M. Gawler had gone there in the morning to copy the Assyrian inscription.

Though the boat was small and there was a heavy swell, the voyage was pleasant enough until they endeavoured to enter the river, when by some mistake they took the wrong channel, and the boat grounded in the surf, and the waves threatened to overwhelm it. All the men jumped into the water, and two of them seized Sir Moses and carried him on to dry ground. He was greatly alarmed, but with the assistance of Signor Finzi happily escaped with the fright and the wetting.

The Colonel soon joined them, and then proceeded to view the inscriptions, of which however he could only make out that the figure was dedicated to the Emperor Antonius. I myself had visited this spot ten years previously, and made a rough sketch of the tablet and figure at the time. The "Nahr-el Kelb" is known to the student of ancient history by the name of Lycus, the "river of the wolf or dog," whose bark could be heard as far as Cyprus. It is of great interest to the archæologist. The view of the river when coming from Beyrout is very beautiful. A bridge of three arches is built across it, and there are three high and imposing rocks in the immediate vicinity; to the left of the bridge several waterfalls are visible between the foliage of the trees, and the scenery is altogether very grand. After crossing at the ford called Nahr Antelias, the traveller comes to Ras Nahr-el-Kelb; here the guides generally direct the attention of the traveller to the top of the promontory, where they allege a colossal figure of a dog used in former ages to stand on a kind of pedestal hewn out of the rock. During a tempest the figure was hurled into the sea, and a piece of rock is shown under the water, bearing a resemblance to a dog, and which, they say, is part of the very figure once standing on the top of the rock.

Sir Moses enjoyed the little excursion, and returned to Beyrout in good spirits.

August 16th.—After entrusting Signor Finzi with his offering for the poor at Haifa and Acre, and forwarding £537 to Jerusalem on behalf of the Hebrew community of Warsaw, Sir Moses bade farewell to his friends and left for Alexandria, Malta, and Marseilles, where they kept quarantine. Sir Moses was suffering from indisposition, caused by the great heat of the weather, and was made very uncomfortable by hearing that every one who could was preparing to leave Marseilles on account of the cholera, which was raging fearfully in the town. His anxiety was relieved by Clot Bey, first physician to Mohammad Ali Pasha, who assured Sir Moses that he was quite free from fever, and would soon be better. Clot Bey was most kind, coming to see Sir Moses as often as possible until his recovery, and when they left the Lazaretto, he presented Lady Montefiore with some Egyptian antiquities, with which she was greatly pleased. Clot Bey promised to pay them a visit in Ramsgate, where the Egyptian souvenir he gave to Lady Moses is still preserved in her cabinet at the Judith College, among other antique treasures. During the short stay of Sir Moses at Marseilles he made it a point of visiting the gasworks of the company of which he was a director, and so acquainting himself fully with the working of the establishment. At the hour for divine service he went to the house of prayer to return thanks to God for his safe return from the East; and last, though not least, he felt it his duty to pay a visit to an old invalid aunt, Miss Lydia Montefiore, whom he did not know, and who did not remember him. Although very aged and in bad health, she was in good spirits. She chatted with Sir Moses for a long time, and showed him a portrait of his grandmother, Esther Hannah Montefiore, taken when she was a young woman. Miss Montefiore assured Sir Moses that she had always endeavoured to follow the example of her parents, and would live and die a Jewess. She sent her blessing and good wishes to Lady Montefiore, who sent her a handsome souvenir in return.

The travellers soon left Marseilles, and arrived in Paris on the 11th September. Sir Moses called on the Ambassador, Lord Normanby, on the President of the Consistoire, the Chief Rabbi, the different members of the Rothschild family, and some of his own near relatives who happened to be in Paris. They all took a great interest in the exertions of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore for the benefit of their co-religionists, and Sir Moses was glad of an opportunity to tell them of the result, and to enlist their sympathy still more for the good cause.

After a short stay in Paris, they continued their journey to England, and soon arrived in Folkestone, where they found Mrs Gawler, who had come to meet her husband. Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore here bade adieu to the Colonel and Mrs Gawler, as they were anxious to go to Ramsgate as quickly as possible. Immediately after their arrival there they attended divine service in their own Synagogue, to thank God for their safe return home.

CHAPTER III.
1849-1852.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE GREAT EXHIBITION—FRESH MEASURES AGAINST THE RUSSIAN JEWS—COMPLAINTS FROM ROME— NEWS FROM DAMASCUS—BARON LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD TAKES THE OATH ON THE OLD TESTAMENT—SIR MOSES INTERVIEWS LOUIS NAPOLEON AT THE ELYSEE—THE EXHIBITION.

FROM the 16th of September to the 16th of October Sir Moses spent his time partly in Ramsgate and partly in London, pursuing his usual occupations. He continued to attend the meetings of various financial companies and associations of communal and educational interest. He also devoted much time to political matters, expressing his opinions lucidly to his friends, although to strangers he would usually protest that he was no politician. As a rule he would either read or have read to him most of the political leaders in the daily papers. At this period he received a copy of the pamphlet written by his nephew, Mr Arthur Cohen, Q.C., and entitled "A few Arguments in favour of the Jews Bill." Sir Moses spoke very highly of the ability displayed by Mr Cohen in this pamphlet, as well as in a letter he had received from him at the same time on the subject of religion.

During this month they undertook two journeys to Frankfort-on-the-Maine, one for the purpose of consulting with his friends there on the subject of the Damascus inscription, and the other in compliance with an invitation from Baroness Charlotte and Baron Anselm de Rothschild to the wedding of their daughter with Baron Willie de Rothschild.

On his return to London, one of his first acts in the cause of education was the gift of a hundred guineas to the "Merchant Taylors" for a medal to the best Hebrew scholar, and in grateful remembrance of past services he was able to offer Mr Richard Wood, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Damascus, a cadetship at Addiscombe for his nephew, whilst his remittances to charitable institutions, and the forwarding of medical supplies to Dr Fränkel, in Jerusalem, for the dispensary, showed that he was ever mindful of the requirements of the needy.

We now come to the year 1850, the first two months of which Sir Moses devoted to making selections from papers he had received during his stay in Damascus, relative to the removal of the infamous inscription in the Capuchin Church, and when he had completed the work, he called on Lord Palmerston to request his assistance in the matter.

On that occasion he also conveyed to his Lordship the sincere gratitude of the Russian and Polish Jews in the Holy Land for having been received under the protection of the English Government, the Czar having granted the necessary permission. Lord Palmerston promised to write to Lord Normanby on the subject as soon as Sir Moses had furnished him with further particulars, and, as a matter of fact, had already informed one of the consuls, who had interfered with the religious observances of the Jews, that such conduct was against the wishes of the English Government.

In March he was present at a grand dinner given by the Lord Mayor to the Mayors of the several towns and other cities in connection with the Grand Exhibition of the Industries of all Nations. Prince Albert was in the chair; there were three hundred persons present, and the Prince made a good speech. Sir Moses contributed £100 towards the object in view.

In the same month he attended a meeting of the Elders, to inform them of an invitation he had received from the Great Synagogue in reference to the establishment of a West-End branch, towards which, under certain conditions, he and Lady Montefiore offered to contribute £500.

A few days later he was present at the Mogador Committee, when it was agreed to send 500 dollars for the relief of the poor.

At the end of the month of May he was much disturbed by the issue of a Ukase against the Jews of Moldavia and Wallachia, ordering all those who had hitherto dwelt in the villages to quit the same without delay and remove to the towns.

An appeal, signed by a great number of Moldavian and Wallachian Jews, had been forwarded to him, in which they said that, apart from the considerations that they had committed no wrong justifying so severe a decree as that of their expulsion from the villages, many thousands of their brethren would be cut off from the possibility of earning a livelihood, and would thus become reduced to penury. Their religion, they said, would be looked upon with derision and scorn; and all the accusations and calumnies which their enemies had ever raised against them in justification of this harsh measure were fictions and fabrications of their own. "We implore you," they wrote, "give ear to the supplication of your brethren, and intercede in our behalf, that the decree in question may not be put in execution."

About the same time distressing accounts reached him from the Jews at Rome. The supplicants said: "We are now more oppressed than ever; no Christian is allowed to be in a Jew's house, either as servant or companion. The Pope will receive neither an address nor a deputation from the Jews."

This was the same Sovereign Pontiff to whom an address of deep gratitude had been presented for his kind and humane treatment of the Jews.

"Wait on the Lord, and keep His way," said Sir Moses, in the words of the Royal Psalmist; "better days will yet come."

In June Sir Moses dined at the Merchant Taylors' Hall, where he met Sir Robert Peel, Lord Hardinge, Lord Salisbury, the Bishop of Oxford, and Mr Gladstone. In reply to inquiries made by some of these gentlemen, he took the opportunity of communicating the information he had received from Moldavia and Rome.

Lady Montefiore states in her Diary that she fulfilled this month the promise she made to the Duchess of Leinster, in presenting Her Grace with two plants of the cedars of Lebanon, which she had brought from the spot.

In July the labours of Sir Moses in connection with the Exhibition commenced, and he presided over a large meeting of the City Committee at the Mansion House for carrying into effect the scheme of the "Great Exhibition of the Industries of all Nations in the year 1851."

News arrived from Damascus, this time of a very gratifying character, and Sir Moses lost no time in communicating the same to the morning papers. It appeared that Osman Bey had, by order of the Sultan, remodelled the Council at Damascus, which, up to that moment, had consisted exclusively of Moslems to the number of twelve, and had formed a new Divan of Moslem, Catholic, Greek, and Jewish members.

He invited the Chief Rabbi to summon a meeting of the leading members of his community, and to elect a person of integrity and talent as a representative to attend the Council, and the choice fell on Solomon Farhhi, one of the sufferers in the lamentable affair of 1840.

During the same month he had the opportunity of witnessing in England another step towards the emancipation of the Jews. "Baron Lionel and Baron Anthony de Rothschild," says an entry in the diary of July 26th, "and others, came into the Lobby of the House of Commons. Baron Lionel went with J. Abel Smith to the Voting Office. At two the Speaker went into the House to prayers; in a few minutes afterwards we were admitted under the Gallery, Mr Smith having put our names down. Baron Lionel de Rothschild, introduced by Mr John Abel Smith and Mr Page Wood, appeared at the Table of the House, and requested to take the oath on the Old Testament; he was very much cheered, but was desired to withdraw, when Sir Harry Inglis moved a resolution to refuse his request. A long and most interesting debate then followed, and at nearly four the question was adjourned till Monday, at twelve o'clock. Mr Bernal Osborne, Mr Page Wood, Mr Joseph Hume, and several others spoke in our favour, and many against, but none with any bitterness."

July 29th.—"Baron Lionel was permitted to take the oaths on the Old Testament by a majority of 54, the numbers being 113 for, and 59 against."

This gratifying event was now the general topic of conversation among members of the House, and the Jews were delighted at the result.

November 7th.—Sir Moses again attended a meeting of the Committee of the Great Exhibition at the Mansion House, was called to the chair, and received a vote of thanks.

Subsequently he went to the Guildhall to take the oath of qualification for the City Lieutenancy, the Lord Mayor having remained for the purpose, and he then proceeded to Ramsgate.

On December 16th he had an interview with Lord Palmerston, who gave him the promised letter to Lord Normanby, the English Ambassador at Paris; and on the 24th of December Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore proceeded to the French capital, with the object of obtaining an audience of the President of the Republic to solicit the removal of the inscription in the Church of the Capuchins at Damascus.

On his arrival at Paris he was well received by Lord Normanby, who thought that the inscription might be replaced by another, Sir Moses observing that this would quite satisfy the Jews there. General Lafitte, who was then Minister of Foreign Affairs, also granted Sir Moses an interview, and advised him to wait a few weeks, as he was expecting a report from the French Consul-General at Damascus on that very subject. Meanwhile, through the good offices of Lord Normanby, Sir Moses obtained the coveted private audience with Louis Napoleon at the Elysée, and gives the following description of it in his diary:—

"He received me most graciously, said that Lord Normanby had apprised him of my wishes, and that he was glad to see me; asked me to be seated, and sat down himself. I requested his permission to read him my address. He listened to it with the utmost attention, and several times intimated his approval of the sentiments. When I had concluded he said, 'I am sensibly affected by your address; I will give immediate instructions, and write very strongly. I am very happy in having it in my power to serve the cause of truth.'"

The words of the then powerful President of the French Republic could certainly not have been more satisfactory, and Sir Moses had every reason to be pleased with the result of his audience.

Before leaving Paris he had an opportunity of seeing Monsieur E. de Valbesen, the French Consul, who had just arrived from Damascus. That gentleman, however, did not give Sir Moses the information which he had so much at heart, and which would have interested him most.

Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore now returned to Ramsgate for a few days' rest, and then proceeded to London, where Sir Moses, who had been appointed Chairman of the Fine Arts Section of the Great Exhibition, had many committee meetings to attend.

On January 20th they paid their first visit to the Exhibition, which was not nearly completed. In his zeal for the promotion of the welfare of the Holy City, and with the object of drawing the attention of the public to the superior talents of his co-religionists in Palestine, Sir Moses exhibited two beautiful vases executed by Mordechai Schnitzer of Jerusalem, and consented to the request of Messrs Mortimer & Hunt of New Bond Street to allow the silver testimonial (produced by them from a design of Sir George Hayter) presented to him and Lady Montefiore on their return from Damascus to be also shown.

At this time a Committee was appointed by Parliament to investigate the subject of divorce. Sir Moses, ever watchful, called on the Chairman, Dr Lushington, and requested him to afford the Chief Rabbi an opportunity of expressing an opinion on the subject, in the event of the interests of the Jews being in any way affected by the measure to be brought before Parliament. This Dr Lushington promised to do, adding that if any Bill were introduced he should recommend that the Jews be exempted therefrom. Sir Moses referred to Lord Lyndhurst's Act, but Dr Lushington gave it as his opinion that the Jews were not affected by it; upon which Sir Moses observed that the Registrar-General thought differently, and would not grant a certificate.

March 4th.—A cry for help reached his ears from Suram in Georgia, a province of the Caucasus, the Hebrew community in that place having unfortunately been exposed to great suffering in consequence of an unfounded accusation brought against them. They now appealed to him to intercede in their behalf with the Russian Government. He lost no time in going to Baron Brunnow, who suggested that Sir Moses should write a letter to Prince Woronzow, the Governor-General of Georgia, and undertook to forward the same through Lady Pembroke. Sir Moses accordingly prepared an address to the Prince, which he submitted to the Count for his approval. The latter read it, and promised that he would himself write in support of the good cause. A few months later Sir Moses received a reply from Prince Woronzow (dated Tiflis, May 14), conveying to him the assurance that his request had been complied with, that the persecutions had ceased, and that the Jews had nothing more to complain of.

May 1st.—Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore went to the opening of the Exhibition. The building was already very full on their arrival, but Lady Montefiore secured a good seat. The Queen and the Prince entered at twelve. The procession was a splendid one, and the Palace presented a magnificent scene. The ceremony passed off extremely well, without the slightest hitch, to the great delight of the spectators. Sir Moses' attention was drawn to the Russian Division of the Exhibition, where an apparatus was exhibited for ascertaining the value of gold and silver coins and other metals without the use of fire or chemical analysis, also to a calculating machine for simple and compound addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and extraction of square and cubic roots, both invented by Israel Abraham Staffel of Warsaw. Being most anxious to befriend so clever a young man, he at once invited him to his house, and after impressing upon him the necessity of raising and maintaining the standard of education in Russia and Poland among his co-religionists, made him a handsome present.

During his visit to the Exhibition, representations were made to him regarding the desirability of exempting his co-religionists from signing their names on Saturday when entering the building, writing being prohibited on the Sabbath, and he at once applied to Captain Elderton, who promised to entertain the request.

The same day he went to the House of Commons, where he had the satisfaction of hearing the Emancipation Bill read a second time and passed by a majority, though only a very small one, there being 202 for the Bill and 176 against it.

In June he gives evidence of his generosity by presenting two of his young friends, on being taken into partnership by the head of a business firm, with a sum of £500, accompanied by his best wishes for their prosperity.

In appreciation of the services which Sir Robert Peel had rendered to the country, Sir Moses took a great interest in a proposal for the erection of a statue to him, and gave his vote in favour of the model by Mr Henry Weekes.

Fully justified in his hopes of continued progress in political matters affecting the Jews in England, he now again turned his attention to the Holy Land, and to a scheme which had been occupying his mind some considerable time.

It had long been his ardent desire to establish a hospital in Jerusalem, and as the maintenance of such an institution necessitated considerable capital, he entered into correspondence with his friends on the subject, spent several hundred pounds in having proper plans drawn up by English and foreign architects, and consulted medical authorities in the large hospitals respecting various modern improvements which had been introduced. Count Pizzamano, the Austrian Consul at Jerusalem, also took a lively interest in the scheme, and promised to assist Sir Moses to his utmost.

During July and September he and Lady Montefiore visited Plymouth, Exeter, and Yarmouth, and on October the 15th we find them again in London at the closing of the Exhibition. "We were there," says Sir Moses, "at half-past nine; secured capital seats. The ceremony commenced at twelve, and was concluded before one. Prince Albert, the Bishop of London, and Lord Canning were the only persons who spoke; there was a large orchestra, and many singers; the building was very full."

On November the 11th he records in his Diary the loss he sustained by the death of an old and esteemed friend, Matthias Attwood, who was one of the original founders of the Imperial Continental Gas Association. He was often the subject of Sir Moses' conversation in connection with financial operations; and his portrait, to which he used to call the attention of his visitors, was conspicuously placed near the entrance to the Gothic library at East Cliff. In the course of the same day Mr Gladstone introduced to him Lieutenant Pym, who was going in search of Sir John Franklin, and Sir Moses made him a present of some beautiful furs.

During the year 1852 he devoted much time to important meetings in his own community, and on the 3rd of May accompanied the Chief Rabbi to Manchester for similar communal purposes.

A few days later, Dr Thompson of Beyrout came to inform him that he was on his way to Constantinople to obtain a firman for a railway route by the Euphrates Valley to India, and that he then proposed forming a company for the purpose under Colonel Chesney. Sir Moses understanding that an easy road would then be made from Aleppo to Damascus, thence to Safed and other places in the Holy Land, felt much interested in the scheme, and promised to communicate with his friends on the subject.

May 17th.—He gave a large dinner party in honour of the Lord Mayor, and in the course of the evening took the opportunity of conversing with several gentlemen present on the subject of Colonel Chesney's proposed railway scheme.

CHAPTER IV.
1852.

VISIT OF THE HEREDITARY PRINCE OF EGYPT—BARON LIONEL DE ROTHSCHILD RETURNED FOR THE CITY—THE NORTH AMERICAN RELIEF SOCIETY—SIR MOSES ON THE DISTRESS IN PALESTINE—SERIOUS ILLNESS.

"ON June 21," Sir Moses writes, "at six o'clock in the morning I received a telegraphic note, informing me of the arrival of his Highness Mohammed Said Pasha, Prince héreditaire d'Egypte," who very shortly afterwards became Khedive.

"I went," Sir Moses writes in his Diary, "to the railway station, and at ten minutes to eight his Highness arrived. He immediately got into our carriage, and, as we were driving off, the Turkish Ambassador came to receive him and followed us to Park Lane. The Pasha was attended by Mr Zohrab, Mr Galloway, two physicians—Dr Gaëtani Bey and Dr G. A. Haage, Zoulfikar Effendi, Ali Capitan, his Secretary, and four Mamelukes, his servants. They all came to Park Lane. The Pasha took a pipe and coffee, and then all, together with the Ambassador, went down to breakfast. At twelve His Highness, myself, Mr Zohrab, and Mr Galloway went to Greenwich. The physicians and secretaries followed in our carriage. We went on board His Majesty's yacht, the Hásseid Háïr or Good Omen, Captain Longridge, a screw steamer magnificently fitted up. In about two hours we got under way, and ran down to near Gravesend at the rate of twelve miles an hour. On our way back there was an elegant dinner served on board, and on coming to anchor at Greenwich I went on shore with Mr Galloway, the Pasha and his suite remaining on board.

"June 22nd.—We went in our carriage to Greenwich, met there Mr Galloway and Gaëtani Bey, and went on board His Highness's yacht. After paying our respects to him, he and all the party went on shore. He chose the large carriage. I and Mr Galloway and Gaëtani Bey accompanied him to the Royal Observatory. Professor Airy very kindly showed His Highness and all the party his astronomical instruments and explained their use. We then rode to Park Lane, where my dear wife had prepared a splendid entertainment for His Highness and party; there were ten at table. In the evening the Pasha had many visitors, including the Turkish Ambassador.

"June 23rd.—The Turkish Ambassador called on the Pasha at about twelve; they went to Lord Malmesbury, who introduced him to the Queen and Prince Albert at Buckingham Palace. The Government sent Captain E. Stopford Claremont, of the Royal Canadian Rifles, to attend on His Highness during his stay in England. The Turkish Ambassador called at eleven for the Pasha. They went with Captain Claremont to Mrs Disraeli's grand reception, with which the Pasha was much pleased.

"June 24th.—The Pasha received an invitation from our beloved Sovereign to dinner at the Palace to-morrow, also from the Duke of Northumberland to dinner on Saturday, and for Friday, 2nd of July, from Lord Hardinge. The Prince went to Vauxhall soon after ten o'clock.

"June 25th.—At half-past eight I was in the park with the Pasha to see the Guards drill; they were reviewed by Prince Albert and the Duke of Cambridge, who both rode up and spoke to him. At eleven Captain Claremont and myself, with the Pasha, went to Wormwood Scrubbs to see a review of three cavalry regiments by the Duke of Cambridge, and returned at one o'clock to Park Lane. The Pasha went in the evening to dine with Her Majesty.

"June 26th.—The Pasha went this morning to Woolwich with Captain Claremont. All the foreign Ministers left cards for His Highness to-day, also the Duke of Cambridge, Lord Derby, Lord Palmerston, &c. I called on Baron Brunnow; he spoke much about the Pasha. The Pasha dined with the Duke of Northumberland, and gave his arm to the Princess Mary of Cambridge. He returned soon after, much pleased with his day's amusement. He smoked a pipe, gave me one, and remained chatting with us for some time. He was received at Woolwich with all the honours usually paid to a prince of the blood. The Pasha assured us that our dinners were better than any he had eaten elsewhere. He has ordered the yacht to sail to-morrow, but we do not go with him to Ramsgate, as he must pass the morning with the Duc de Montpensier.

"June 27th.—The Pasha went to Richmond to breakfast with the Duc de Montpensier. They afterwards rode to Claremont to see the Queen of the French and other members of the French Royal family. We did not expect him back to dinner, but he returned to Park Lane at six o'clock, and we fortunately had a very good dinner to offer him. In the evening the Turkish Ambassador came and stayed till ten o'clock.

"June 28th.—The Pasha went with Mr Zohrab to see Maudsley's manufactory of steam-engines. The Ambassador came in the evening to smoke a pipe with the Pasha.

"June 29th.—The Pasha breakfasted in the parlour, and had afterwards a numerously attended levée. He then went to the Duchess of Cambridge with the Turkish Minister.

"Park Lane, July 2nd.—This morning my dear wife and I went to Woolwich to be present at the review given to His Highness Said Pasha. Our carriage was placed in a capital situation, close to the colours, near which the Duke of Cambridge, Lord Hardinge, and General Fox were to review the troops. The Pasha dined with Lord Hardinge.

"Saturday, July 3rd.—The Turkish Ambassador came at 7.30, and the Pasha accompanied him to dine at Lord Palmerston's.

"Park Lane, Sunday, July 4th.—Just returned from seeing His Highness Said Pasha set off for Portsmouth. His Highness expressed his high gratification for our attention to him during his stay in London, and insisted upon Judith's acceptance of a very beautiful and richly embroidered dress as a small souvenir. I hope and believe that not only His Highness but all his officers have been pleased with our desire to make them comfortable, and I trust that, by God's blessing, His Highness will be a friend to our co-religionists in Egypt and the Holy Land when he becomes Viceroy of Egypt.

"His Highness partook of a splendid breakfast with all his party before they left. The Turkish Ambassador and his brother came at nine, and half-an-hour later I went with His Highness and the Turkish Ambassador and Captain Claremont in His Highness's open carriage to the Waterloo Station, my carriage and that of the Ambassador following. There were several persons connected with His Highness at the station to see him off.

"His Highness has been very kind, good tempered, and affable during his sojourn with us, and repeatedly told us that he was more comfortable with us than he had been anywhere else since his arrival in England.

"At one to-day I delivered into the care of Said Agha a parcel which was left by His Highness, to be given to him when he called for it."

July 5th.—Sir Moses received a note from Mr Zohrab, informing him of the Pasha's safe arrival on board his yacht at Portsmouth, and Sir Moses now considered himself free to pursue his usual occupations.

The next day he was present at the Guildhall, when the candidates for the city of London addressed the Livery. The show of hands was declared by the Sheriffs to be in favour of J. Masterman, Lord John Russell, Baron Lionel de Rothschild, and Mr Crawford. On the following morning Sir Moses rode to the city at an early hour, and voted at the Guildhall for Baron Lionel de Rothschild. By five in the evening his return was perfectly secure, but Alderman Solomons was not equally successful, to the great regret of Sir Moses.

July 9th.—Captain Hopford Claremont having written to say that His Highness the Pasha requested Sir Moses to lend him his travelling carriage, and to send it to Dover, Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore determined to pass the Sabbath at Dover, and to see His Highness again before he left England. They directed their coachman to take the carriage by train to Dover, and taking with them six pounds of the finest hothouse grapes as a present for the Pasha, they proceeded to Dover. On their arrival they went to the Ship Hotel, where rooms had been taken for the Pasha, and dinner ordered.

His Highness soon sent for Sir Moses to come and dine with him. He was very chatty, and said he should leave to-morrow for Ostend, but Captain Claremont told Sir Moses that the Pasha had changed his plans twenty times, and might do so again. Sir Moses told the Pasha that his travelling carriage was already at Dover at His Highness's service, and that he had taken care that it was in good order. His Highness was in good spirits, "and would, I have no doubt," Sir Moses says, "have gone back with me to Park Lane or to East Cliff, if I had invited him."

July 10th.—"The Pasha has," Sir Moses observes, "at length left the English shore, and probably for ever. I hope he will remember the kindness and attention shown to him by the British Government as well as by individuals, and that he may, whenever in his power, serve the British interest, and befriend my brethren in the East."

"The Pasha is," Sir Moses writes, "a young man with a good heart, but somewhat of a spoiled child: he is extremely sharp, quick, and discerning, positive in his manner, but at the same time, most courteous. For his great size he is very active, and enjoys excellent health. May good fortune and happiness attend him, and may the Almighty shield him from the temptations of ambition."

During the latter part of this year, Sir Moses attended various meetings of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, convened for the purpose of preparing a draft deed for making parliamentary grants to educational institutions. Whilst engaged in making preparations for another journey he received the news of the death of one of his aunts, which caused him much grief, but in consequence of his public character, he was not allowed long to brood over private misfortunes. On this occasion it was the oppressions suffered by his brethren at Tunis which roused him to intercede with the authorities on their behalf; and he addressed a petition to the Bey accordingly. Before the close of the year he and Lady Montefiore had the gratification of receiving a very kind letter from Said Pasha, thanking them for their hospitality, and offering Sir Moses his services in the East.

His attention in the years 1853 and 1854 was principally directed to communal matters in his own congregation, and to an extensive correspondence with Hebrew communities in foreign countries.

He received a communication from the Rev. S. M. Isaacs, a minister of one of the Hebrew communities in New York, referring to the "North American Relief Society," an institution founded by Mr Sampson Simon and himself (the Rev. S. M. Isaacs) for the purpose of creating a capital, the interest of which was to be annually appropriated to the support of the poor Israelites in the Holy Land.

He made the first remittance of the amount to Sir Moses, and requested that he would forward the same to Jerusalem. Sir Moses acceded to his wishes with pleasure, and continued to forward the remittances of that society, amounting to £145 every year, until his death.

The Rev. S. M. Isaacs also informed him of the death of a great philanthropist, Juda Touro of New Orleans, who had left the North American Relief Society $10,000, and a further sum of $50,000 for the benefit of the poor Israelities in Palestine; the latter sum subject to Sir Moses' control, conjointly with the executors.

Knowing the interest Sir Moses took in Jewish communal affairs, Mr Isaacs gave him all the particulars respecting his wealthy friend, who desired to benefit the poor, without distinction of creed or nationality. "Mr Touro," he wrote, "has left princely legacies of $20,000 for the hospital recently established at New York, $40,000 for educational purposes, and $80,000 to various synagogues. He has also left munificent gifts (more than $200,000) to Christian charities.

His remains are to be interred at Newport, Rhode Island, where his family are buried. He has left $10,000 for the endowment of the office of minister there, has given a synagogue worth $50,000 to the Hebrew community at New Orleans, and endowed it richly; he has also given a hospital, munificently endowed, to his co-religionists in New Orleans.

Sir Moses immediately expressed his willingness to forward the remittance of the North American Relief Society to the Holy Land, and to accept the trust of the Touro legacy, respecting the application of which I shall give the reader full particulars as I proceed further.

At the same time he received a communication from the Holy Land which gave him great pain. It conveyed the intelligence that there was great suffering in Palestine, and Sir Moses at once addressed the Chief Rabbi on the subject.

"For the sake of Zion," he writes to him, "I cannot remain silent, and for the sake of Jerusalem I cannot rest, until the whole house of Israel have been made acquainted with the lamentable condition of those of our brethren who devotedly cling to the soil sacred to the memory of our patriarchs, prophets, and kings.

"Thrice having visited the Holy Land, it was my earnest desire fully to inform myself as to the condition of our brethren there, for whom my deepest feelings of commiseration were excited, in regard to the amount of misery endured by them.

"Poverty in the East differs vastly from the like calamity experienced in Western Europe, inasmuch as the capability to relieve is in the East confined within the narrowest bounds, and restricted to a very limited number. Such being the general outline of the condition of our brethren in Judea, my feelings were most naturally aroused in their behalf.

"But, reverend sir, judge to what extent my sympathies are now awakened, when—as I informed you, from the harrowing intelligence it has been my painful lot to receive, both from direct and indirect sources—I learn that 'fathers in Israel'—men profoundly learned in the law, who, so that they may die near the graves of their forefathers, submit to live in the most abject poverty—are now impelled by the very love they bear towards their children to sell them to the stranger, 'so,' to use their own words, 'that their offspring may be spared death from starvation.'

"Reverend and respected sir, I am loudly called upon by our brethren in the Holy Land, as the annexed letters will show, and farther prompted by the voice within me, to urge their claims on the notice of the congregations of Israel, and to request their immediate and liberal assistance.

"Aware, however, reverend sir, of your great anxiety for the physical amelioration of our suffering brethren, and how watchfully you note their spiritual welfare, I am induced to put you in possession of the documents and appeals which I have received from the Holy Land, with the assurance that your powerful co-operation, in the shape of a pastoral letter addressed to the Jews of Great Britain and America, or the exercise of the same in any other mode your wisdom may dictate, will, with God's blessing, not only tend to remove the present appalling misery of our starving brethren in Zion, but spare us the humiliation of its recurrence."

The Chief Rabbi, the Rev. Dr N. M. Adler, expressed great sympathy in his reply to Sir Moses, and addressed a pastoral letter to the wardens and members of the United Congregations of Great Britain, the result of which was that an appeal was made on behalf of the starving Jews in the Holy Land, which realised £19,887.

The Chief Rabbi and Sir Moses were appointed trustees of the Appeal Fund, and a committee was nominated, consisting of the following gentlemen: Mr Henry Louis Cohen, Mr S. L. de Symons, jun., Mr Philip Lucas, jun., Mr A. J. Montefiore, and myself, the Rev. A. L. Green acting as honorary secretary.

In the month of February, at Scarborough, Sir Moses was attacked by a most dangerous illness, which confined him to his bed for forty-three days. He was attended by a physician and a surgeon, both very eminent men, who visited him regularly three or four times a day.

On the 5th of March Lady Montefiore wrote in reply to my inquiry: "In compliance with your request I snatch a moment from the sick couch of Sir Moses to give you the pleasing information that our medical attendants pronounce our dear invalid to be improving since yesterday. He has suffered severely, and been in danger; but now I trust, with the Almighty's blessing, that he will progress towards recovery."

In his Diary he makes an entry on the 27th in the following words:—

"Though I am still extremely weak and nervous, yet Scarborough, being bleak and cold at this season, and exposed to the prevalent north-east winds, I was advised to return home as soon as possible, and to-day is the first time I am able to write."

At the end of March Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore returned to London, and found the town in great excitement on account of war having been declared with Russia. Sir Moses, although still weak, had to receive a great number of friends, who called to congratulate him on his recovery, and took the opportunity to ask his opinion as to the effect the war would have on the financial world, as serious consequences were feared. He gave them his opinion, which afterwards proved entirely correct. He also attended an important meeting of the Alliance Assurance Company, but was advised by his physicians that so much exertion was not good for him in his weak state, and induced to go to East Cliff for rest. Some months later he had occasion to call at Belvedere House, Erith, the seat of Sir Culling-Eardley, the great-grandson of Gideon Sampson, a Jewish capitalist of the eighteenth century. Sir Culling showed to Sir Moses the tombstone of Gideon Sampson, which he had caused to be removed from the cemetery of the Portuguese Jewish congregation in London, and to be placed close to a new church which he had built in that locality. Many members of the Hebrew community disapproved greatly of the removal of the stone, as it had a Hebrew inscription expressing the grief felt by the deceased at having left the community.

Sir Moses brought the subject of the distress in the Holy Land and the appeal that was being made to the notice of Sir Culling, who gave a very handsome contribution towards the fund, and promised to interest himself as much as possible in securing donations from friends and acquaintances. Among the numerous contributors there was one known to Sir Moses and myself by the signature of "Anonymous," who always greatly encouraged the study of Hebrew literature and the sacred writings in Tiberias. For many years he used to remit his donation to Sir Moses, with a request to forward it to the Holy City, though his position in society and the tenor of his conversation would generally have led his friends to think that he was unfavourably disposed towards the tenets of the Mosaic code. Among Sir Moses' correspondents there were many who, on subjects of religion, expressed sentiments differing considerably from those which they expressed in their usual intercourse, showing that there are, unfortunately, a good many persons in society who have not the moral courage to express openly what they feel in their hearts, from fear of incurring the displeasure of those whose opinions, from motives of interest, they are impelled to court.

CHAPTER V.
1854-1855.

A HOSPITAL FOR JERUSALEM—DISTRIBUTION OF RELIEF IN PALESTINE—BATTLE OF THE ALMA—SIR MOSES AGAIN SETS OUT FOR THE EAST—HE RECEIVES THE ORDER OF THE MEDJIDJEH—HIS SECOND INTERVIEW WITH THE SULTAN.

JULY 25th.—The Times published the news of Abbas Pasha's death and Said Pasha's succession. Sir Moses immediately addressed letters of congratulation to the new ruler, expressing at the same time the hope that under his benign sway a new era of prosperity would begin in the Holy Land.

August 5th.—Mr Gershon Kursheedt, one of the executors of the late Juda Touro, of New Orleans, arrived to arrange with Sir Moses about the legacy of fifty thousand dollars left at his disposal for the purpose of relieving the poor Israelites in the Holy Land in such manner as Sir Moses should advise.

Sir Moses, at the first interview he had with this gentleman, suggested that the money should be employed in building a hospital in Jerusalem. Mr Kursheedt immediately assented, and Sir Moses gave him the plan and drawing made about a year before, and he said the thing was done. He was most happy, as it settled the principal business he had in England; the co-executors had given him full power to agree to any plan Sir Moses should propose. A letter was prepared by a solicitor to that effect, which Mr Kursheedt signed.

A remittance of £1200 from the Appeal Fund was now forwarded to the Holy Land, and instructions were given to the representatives of the various communities to have Loan Societies in each of the four Holy Cities. Letters were addressed to the Baroness James de Rothschild in Paris and Baron Amschel de Rothschild at Frankfort, to apprise them of the legacy of the late Juda Touro, and of the manner in which it had been decided to employ it.

Sir Moses, however, had soon to learn that Mr Kursheedt had been induced to alter his mind, and had withdrawn the consent he had given to the building of a hospital. The 15th of August, it appears, had been fixed by Sir Moses for communicating the consent of Mr Kursheedt to the American Consul in London, but at the appointed hour, when Sir Moses met Mr Kursheedt at the Alliance, the latter, to Sir Moses' great surprise, said that he must decline going with him to the American Consul, and could not sign the proposed memorandum.

August 22nd.—Sir Moses went to Lord Clarendon to acquaint him with his desire to obtain a firman from the Sultan, giving power to purchase land for agricultural purposes, buildings, &c.; as also to build a hospital in Jerusalem with a Synagogue attached to it. His Lordship said he had written to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, but there were great difficulties regarding the land; as to the hospital, he had heard that one for the Jews had been opened only a month since. This was the hospital known by the name of the "Rothschilds Hospital." Sir Moses informed his Lordship of the Juda Touro bequest, and received a promise that he should be assisted in his good work whenever necessary.

September 19th.—He called on Mr B. Osborn at the Admiralty, to request that he would give him a letter enabling him to see the Russian Jewish prisoners of war at Sheerness.

That gentleman acceded to his request, and gave him a letter to the superintendent of the dockyard, Captain Tucker. An opportunity of seeing them was thus afforded him, and by the permission of the Captain he left many tokens of his benevolence to be distributed, according to the judgment of the superintendents, among the men, women, and children.

September 20th was the day on which the great battle on the left bank of the Alma was fought. In commemoration of the victory of the English, Her Majesty graciously appointed a "Royal Commission of the Patriotic Fund" for the collection and distribution of the money pouring in for the widows and orphans of our soldiers, sailors, and marines who had died in the war, to which Sir Moses at once contributed £200.

At the Board meetings of the Alliance Marine and Alliance Fire Assurance Companies, and at the Imperial Continental Gas Association, Sir Moses, being in the chair, successfully pleaded in favour of the fund, and obtained donations to the amount of £600 from the three offices.

The Central Jewish Consistory of France having petitioned the Emperor to extend the privileges about to be obtained for the Christians in Turkey to Jews who might be subjects of the Sultan, he was most anxious that an application of a like import should be made to our Government without delay. He communicated with the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews, and an address to that effect was sent to Lord Clarendon.

As President of the Board of the same committee, accompanied by the solicitor and secretary of the same, he called on the Lord Advocate of Scotland on the subject of the Scotch Birth Register Bill, and it was intimated to him that the wishes of his co-religionists would be complied with.

As one of the trustees of the appeal fund, he forwarded remittances for the relief of the poor in the Holy Land, a duty which frequently necessitated his attendance at the committee for whole days together.

He consulted an eminent physician regarding his health. The latter examined his heart and lungs, and informed him that his heart was feeble, there was poison in his blood, and his digestive organs were not perfect. The disheartening statement of the doctor, however, did not prevent him from continuing his labours, nor stop his preparations for another journey to the East.

The trustees of the appeal fund on behalf of the suffering Jews in the Holy Land published their first report, in which they enumerated the several appropriations of money they had made up to date, giving at the same time the detailed particulars of the grants awarded for immediate relief, those made in augmentation of the funds of existing charities, and the sums set apart for the establishment of institutions designed to relieve distress, and to encourage and promote industry.

"With reference to the future," the report stated, "it was the intention of Sir Moses to proceed shortly, accompanied by Lady Montefiore, to the Holy Land, to ascertain, by personal inspection and examination of the several charities the extent to which the temporary and provisional relief, already mentioned, had proved effective, and to organise the best means which might be devised for the appropriation of the remainder of the funds, with the view to the utmost benefit of the supplicants, and, at the same time, to the effectual accomplishment of the intentions of the benevolent contributors."

Before they set out on that mission, there was still a great deal of communal work in connection with the London Committee of Deputies of British Jews to be done. There was the new Marriage Act, in which a clause had to be inserted to exempt the Jews from Lord Lyndhurst's Act regarding affinity and consanguinity, and it was the duty of Sir Moses, as president, to take the necessary steps in the matter. He also attended various meetings of the "Assyrian Excavation Fund," and was present at the meeting of the City Lieutenancy at the Guildhall, where he took the oath of qualification.

March 25th.—Sir Moses called on Lord Palmerston, and informed him of his intention of going to the East with the object of erecting a hospital at Jerusalem and encouraging the cultivation of land in Palestine, which would be greatly promoted by the security afforded by the presence of Turkish troops, officered by Englishmen, and by the Sultan allowing Jews to purchase land. He also wished to secure the removal of the inscription from the tombstone in the Church of the Capuchins at Damascus. His Lordship said that the hospital was a desirable institution. The superstition of the Turks, he believed, created obstacles which prevented Englishmen from buying land in Syria, but it might be obtained on long leases. As for the troops, they wanted all the men they could get now for the war. He however wrote a letter to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, and another to Lord Cowley, which he handed to Sir Moses, wishing him every success. Lord Clarendon, he said, would give him letters to the Consuls.

On the 17th April Sir Moses proceeded to Windsor for the purpose of assisting at the presentation of an address to the Emperor of the French on behalf of the Commission of Lieutenancy. The Lord Mayor had already preceded him, and they at once went to the Castle. "There," the entry in the Diary records, "we were soon admitted to the presence of the Emperor. The Lord Mayor read the address, to which His Majesty made a very kind reply. The Lord Mayor then presented Colonel Wilson, as the mover of the address, and Mr Moon, as the seconder, with myself. The Emperor most graciously said to me, 'I remember having already had the pleasure of seeing you in Paris.'"

April 19th.—Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore went to the Guildhall to witness the presentation of the city address to the Emperor and Empress of the French. "It was impossible," Sir Moses said, "to have been present at a more gratifying sight." "The Emperor's reply was most distinctly heard in every part of the hall."

April 25th.—With the concurrence of Lady Montefiore, Sir Moses, accompanied by the author, started for Paris, where he at once called on Lord Cowley, the British Ambassador, and informed him of his earnest desire to place a petition into the hands of the Emperor, in which he begged for a letter to the French Consul at Damascus, to enable him to secure the removal of the infamous inscription from the Church of the Capuchins. A few days later Sir Moses received a letter from Lord Cowley to the effect that he had placed the petition into the hands of the Emperor Napoleon.

April 30th.—Sir Moses called on his Lordship to thank him for his courtesy, and then rode to the Tuileries to put his name in the Emperor's book. We then left Paris.

Preparations for the fourth journey to Jerusalem were now made with great expedition, and Tuesday, the 15th of May, was fixed for our departure.

Before leaving England Sir Moses had the satisfaction of receiving a further sum of about £3000 in addition to the £5028 of the Juda Touro legacy already remitted to him on the 24th of February, and Mr Kursheedt was now, it appeared, in possession of full powers regarding the building of the hospital in Jerusalem.

Sunday, May 13th.—Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore started for Dover, where they were soon joined by their relatives, Mr and Mrs H. Guedalla, by Mr Kursheedt, and myself.

After calling on the Wardens of the Synagogue to give them instructions regarding the distribution of some of his offerings, he took leave of the numerous friends who had come expressly to Dover to see us off. We reached Calais at one. In spite of the recent gales the sea was tolerably smooth.

Sir Moses' carriage having been very much injured by the rolling of the ship, it was found dangerous to use it, and to his great vexation no coach-maker in Calais could repair it; he was therefore obliged to send it back to London.

All our luggage—an immense number of packages—had to be taken out, and marked with our names. "The railway charges," Sir Moses says, "will be immense, but I must submit to the disappointments and vexations I am doomed to meet."

His servants made everything comfortable, but in order to be ready to start at two in the morning, Sir Moses did not go to bed at all. This was a peculiar habit of his which I noticed on all his journeys. However tired others around him may have been, he would sit up and write or arrange his numerous memoranda.

We left Calais on May the 17th, and proceeded viâ Cologne and Dresden to Prague, where we remained during the Pentecost festival, visiting the celebrated ancient Synagogue, known by the name of "Alt-Neu-Schul," the restoration of which, after a great fire, dates from soon after the year 1142, and the ancient burial ground, in which there is a tombstone bearing the Hebrew date of 4366 A.M., corresponding to 1280 of the Christian era.

The short stay of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore in that city was made particularly gratifying to them by the great number of deputations they received from communal, educational, and literary institutions.

The Rev. S. L. Rapoport, the spiritual head of the community, spoke to them on several occasions on the subject of the Holy Land, and the necessity of securing protection to its Hebrew inhabitants.

May 25th.—We left Prague for Kolin, where we attended the examination of the pupils of the Hebrew Communal School under the direction of the eminent Chief Rabbi Frank; and Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, as a token of their satisfaction with the teachers and pupils, left a sum of money with the school committee for the purpose of having a medal struck, with their Chief Rabbi's name on it, to be given as a prize to the best scholar.

We left Kolin early in the morning, and reached Vienna the next day.

Monday, 28th.—Baron Anselm de Rothschild called. He conversed with Sir Moses on the subject of the journey, and offered his services. Lord Westmoreland invited Sir Moses to dinner. The representatives of the Hebrew community and most of their members came to pay their respects, and expressed their wishes for a happy and successful journey.

We remained in the Austrian Metropolis three days, and then proceeded viâ Laibach to Adelsberg, making a halt in the latter town for two days, for the purpose of visiting the famous grotto, which, in honour of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, was illuminated by one thousand candles.

The formations produced here by the union of the stalactites and stalagmites are of the most picturesque beauty and effect, and the guides have a variety of names for them. One they call "the throne," another "the altar," and a third they call "the Synagogue."

One might almost be justified in assuming that they introduced the latter appellation on the very day of our arrival for the special purpose of paying Sir Moses a compliment. Sir Moses at all events appeared to regard it as such. He accepted from the guide a beautiful piece of stalactite as a souvenir of his visit to the grotto, for which he gave him in return a very handsome present. It was preserved in his library to the day of his death.

June 3rd.—We continued our journey to Trieste, where we remained five days. As in Prague and Vienna, solemn services were held in the Synagogues, both German and Portuguese, which were brilliantly lighted for the occasion, and addresses were delivered by the ministers and spiritual heads of the Hebrew community.

On Sunday, June 17th, we arrived at Constantinople, and took up our quarters with Mr Abraham Camundo at Galata. During the first days of his arrival, Sir Moses delivered his letters, and called on Lord Stratford de Redcliffe, Ali Pasha, the Grand Vizier, Rechid Pasha, and Rifaat Pasha, being most anxious to hear from Mr Pisani what arrangements had been made by the Turkish Minister regarding his audience with the Sultan.

"June 25th.—Received a note from Mr Pisani, stating that the Secretary of the Turkish Government had informed him that the Sultan would receive me at a private audience on Thursday next.

"June 27th.—Dr Loewe brought me a note from Mr Pisani, informing me that the Turkish Ministers, being desirous of showing me some mark of the high esteem they entertain for me, expressed the desire of conferring upon me the honour of the Medjidjeh.

"June 28th.—Soon after two o'clock Mr Et Pisani came, and he accompanied me and Dr Loewe to the Palace. We were shown into a large handsome room, and served with pipes and coffee; the mouthpiece of the one I had was worth at least £200, and the cup-stand was ornamented with diamonds. Having sat some time, an aide-de-camp of the Sultan informed us that the Sultan had gone to the New Palace, and wished to see me there. About ten minutes afterwards we were met by an officer at the first gate, and I had to walk round the Palace; at least it took us twenty minutes before we reached the door. Here we entered by a private gate, and walked up to the Sultan in a splendid room, though but partially furnished. His Majesty was standing, and, on Mr Pisani presenting me to him, he graciously said he remembered me very well, and was happy to see me again. I then informed His Majesty of the purport of my visit in nearly the same words that I had addressed to his Ministers, and prayed His Majesty to grant me his countenance and support and his compliance with my petition to the Porte. His Majesty replied that it was his happiness and duty to do all in his power to promote the welfare of his subjects; that he would grant my request, and was happy to do so for my philanthropy and humanity.

"I expressed my gratitude, and then introduced Dr Loewe as having accompanied me on my former visit to His Majesty, and as having made a translation of a hieroglyphical inscription on the obelisk in the Atmedan (Hyppodrome). Mr Pisani was here my interpreter. We then bowed, and backed out of His Majesty's presence. We were conducted out of the Palace through a magnificent marble arch to the carriage.

"I feel deeply indebted to Lord de Redcliffe, who has by his great kindness aided my endeavours to assist my co-religionists in Palestine. May God reward him. Amen.

"I entreated Mr Pisani to obtain the firman for me by Monday next, and he promised to do his best. He rode with Dr Loewe and me as far as the Arsenal, where he took leave of us. We returned to Mr Camundo's, much delighted with the success of our mission, but excessively fatigued.

"Friday, 29th.—My dear Judith and I walked to the British Embassy, and were most kindly received by Lord and Lady Stratford de Redcliffe; we were there nearly two hours. His Lordship had been informed of all that had passed at my audience with the Sultan, and was pleased with the result. He will give me a letter to Mr Wood (now Sir Richard Wood) at Damascus, respecting the inscription in the Capuchin Church, and will endeavour to obtain my firman on Monday next. He spoke for some time to me respecting the Holy Land, and the purchase of land there. A few years since three Englishmen bought an estate of 40,000 acres, with much good timber, within two miles of the Sea of Mormora, within a mile of a town, and with good roads, for £15,000 sterling.

"Lady Stratford was most courteous, and walked with Judith and me through her garden; it is quite a paradise. They wanted us to stop and dine with them, but on account of the Sabbath in the evening, we could not accept.

"July 1st.—Mr William Doria of the British Embassy came with his Káwáss, and accompanied me to the Porte, and to Ali Pasha, the Grand Vizier. Dr Loewe went with me. His Excellency claimed acquaintance with me, and confirmed in the most flattering manner all that His Majesty the Sultan had promised me. He said the firman should be ready in two or three days. Ali Pasha is a mild and agreeable man, and expressed much pleasure in assisting my philanthropic efforts.

"July 2nd.—Dr Loewe accompanied me to Rechid Pasha. We smoked a pipe, and had coffee with him. He will send me to-morrow letters of introduction to the Governors of Beyrout and Jerusalem. On my taking leave, he said I should write to him from England, if I should at any time desire anything for my co-religionists. I gave him a copy of Dr Loewe's Circassian and Turkish Dictionary; he conversed with the Doctor about it."

CHAPTER VI.
1855.

ARRIVAL AT JERUSALEM—MISS ROGER'S DESCRIPTION OF THE JEWISH GIRLS' SCHOOL THERE—SIR MOSES PURCHASES A PIECE OF LAND—ORIENTAL METHODS OF BARGAINING.

ON July 3rd Sir Moses writes: "Mr Pisani informed me he had received the firman for the building of an hospital, and also that for myself, which, according to the usual practice, he had forwarded to the Ambassador for transmission to me; adding in his note, 'I also have the satisfaction to announce to you that the Sultan has been pleased to confer upon you the Medjidjeh of the second class.'

"This distinction will, I hope, convince the people in the East that His Imperial Majesty the Sultan and his Government approve of my efforts for my co-religionists.

"July 4th.—I went with Dr Loewe over the two hospitals at Therapia. They were in perfect order, and most of the inmates were convalescent. We saw some cholera and fever patients, and a number of soldiers, some of them most severely wounded. Later on we walked to Lord Stratford de Redcliffe's. He said my firmans were all ready, and they should be sent to the British Consul at Pera for me, as was usual; I should get them to-morrow morning. At the same time he presented me with the order the Sultan had conferred upon me. He would, he said, inform the British Government of it in his despatches, and would add his wish that Her Majesty the Queen would allow me to wear it, as he knew it would afford the Sultan much pleasure. I presented Dr Loewe to Lord Stratford. On taking leave he wished me again every success."

July 5th.—Sir Moses had now received all the letters and important papers promised to him; and not wishing to lose a day unnecessarily, gave orders for our departure, having previously expressed his warmest thanks to Mr Abraham Camundo for the hospitality he had received at his hands.

We left Constantinople on board the Impératrice, much pleased with the result of our mission, and directed our course towards the Holy Island.

Wherever practicable Sir Moses went on shore to acquaint himself with the state of the Jews in the locality, but where this was impossible, deputations came on board and presented addresses. He thus had ample opportunities to ascertain the exact condition of his brethren in Smyrna, Rhodes, Messina, Scandroon (Alexandretta), Latakia, Cyprus, and Beyrout, and at the proper time Sir Moses availed himself of his information to the advantage of those who stood in need of his intercession with their respective governments.

On July 18th we arrived at Jerusalem. On nearing the spot from which the Holy City is first seen by the traveller, we dismounted as usual for a short prayer, and were met by thousands of people who came to greet Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore. His Excellency Kiamil Pasha, the Governor of Jerusalem, sent an escort of horsemen. The Háhám Báshi, at the head of the members of his ecclesiastical court, the representatives of the congregations, deputations from schools, and the most influential citizens, came to meet the travellers and welcome them to the Holy City. A guard of honour was drawn up by order of the Pasha, and the people generally evinced their pleasure by continually firing off guns and pistols as a sort of feu de joie.

Tents were then pitched outside the city, at the corner of the Máïdân, nearest the walls.

Information having already been given to the authorities in Jerusalem that Sir Moses would be the bearer of important official documents, many persons called to ascertain their nature. To the British Consul, to whom Sir Moses had special letters of introduction from the British Government, he showed the firman he had obtained, by the intercession of Lord Napier, for the rebuilding of an ancient synagogue belonging to the German Hebrew congregation, and also a Vizierial letter, enjoining the Governor of the Holy City to give him every assistance to enable him to carry out his benevolent intentions.

Mr James Finn, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul, presented Sir Moses officially to the Pasha, who received him with great kindness.

In the presence of the Council of the City Effendis the firman was read out. The Pasha and the members of the Council remained standing whilst it was being read.

Many complimentary speeches then followed.

Sir Moses afterwards went to the barracks to see the Mosque of Omar and the adjacent courts and buildings from the roof; and paid a visit to the commandant to thank him for the attentions he had shown to him. On leaving the house a guard of honour was turned out, presenting arms as he passed, the commandant himself walking with him along the street as far as the spot where the sedan chair was waiting for him.

The day following being the anniversary of the destruction of the two temples, was kept by all of us in solemn devotion, attending Divine service, and abstaining from food and drink during four-and-twenty hours, which in the hot weather in Jerusalem requires some resolution.

Neither Sir Moses nor Lady Montefiore showed any sign of faintness or exhaustion, and whilst others hastened to take a glass of water as soon as stars appeared in the sky, they proceeded, but slowly, to prepare for the breaking of the long fast.

July 26th.—They received an invitation from the Pasha to see all the places held in veneration by Moslem, Christian, and Jew.

The Patriarchs of the Greek, Armenian, and Latin convents also invited them to visit their convents. Sir Moses, however, was not able to accept them all; he had but one object in view in coming to Jerusalem, which was to help the poor and destitute, and his attention was entirely directed to that, no time being at his disposal even for subjects which, on other occasions, would have greatly interested him.

"Sir Moses, on his arrival at Jerusalem," as stated by him, subsequently, in the trustees' report to the committee, "had the pain of witnessing the deep distress prevailing in the several communities; and it was an aggravation of his sorrow to find that his presence had long been looked forward to as a panacea for all future suffering, many having supposed that Sir Moses would have had the power to relieve from every ill and to provide for every want.

"The mode of proceeding, however, having been previously determined upon, the greatest energy was devoted to carrying out the settled plans.

"Representatives from the Holy Cities were invited to meet in Jerusalem, each of them to be provided with statistics relating to the general affairs and necessities of their respective congregations, and to be furnished with the number, nature, working, and condition of their various institutions, especially of those recently established by trustees of the Appeal Fund in London.

"The attendance of skilled practical agriculturists was also requested, that they might be consulted as to the practicability of setting on foot an agricultural scheme.

"On the 27th July the first meeting was held with the representatives of Safed.

"The accounts connected with the Free Loan Society, the Lying-in Charity, and the Institution for the Encouragement of Needlewomen and Laundresses,[2] produced by their respective representatives, were minutely examined and found correct; and it was shown that the several committees had faithfully discharged their duties. As there was every reason to be satisfied with the results presented in the working of these institutions, Sir Moses deemed it desirable that the funds should be augmented, to enable the committees to continue their benevolent work.

"The desirability of cultivating land was patiently discussed at this sitting, and the mention of numerous well-authenticated facts raised great hopes of success.

"The views entertained by Sir Moses having been confirmed by the best evidence, a committee of practical agriculturists—men distinguished by their probity, and of acknowledged skill—was, without further delay, appointed, to aid in the selection of land, and to advise as to the fitness of the persons to be employed in its cultivation.

"Assisted by this committee he selected thirty-five families from the Holy City of Safed, provided them with means to commence agricultural pursuits, and also secured for them the protection of the local governors.

"Some orphan lads were also provided for, by being placed under the care of the committee to be trained as agriculturists.

"A district in the vicinity of Safed, called Bokea, having been pointed out as a most desirable spot for agricultural purposes, sufficient means were granted to give employment to fifteen families to be engaged in the cultivation of that fruitful region, the whole of them being placed under the supervision of the agricultural committee at Safed.

"The claims of Tiberias were next considered, and the reports of the working of the several institutions in this Holy City being most satisfactory, the funds of these institutions were also augmented. The claims of all those who petitioned for assistance to enable them to engage in agricultural pursuits were then considered, and means were afforded to thirty families to enable them to realise their wishes.

"It was found necessary here to make some changes in the establishment for weaving, owing to the difficulties experienced by the English instructor, in consequence of his inability to communicate with the young artisans in their own tongue, and, to remedy this defect, Sir Moses made arrangements to engage an intelligent person, qualified in all respects to superintend the establishment.

"He continued, however, to place his entire confidence in the committee for supervising the weaving establishment at Jerusalem, as they had hitherto, in all their proceedings, strictly conformed to the written instructions of the trustees."

With the concurrence of the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore succeeded in founding a girls' school in that city, in which, in addition to other subjects necessary to be taught to the daughters of Israel, instruction in dressmaking, embroidery, and domestic occupations forms a prominent feature of the plan of education. Sir Moses was fortunately enabled to secure for this establishment one of the best houses in the Jewish quarter. The fitting up of the school was entrusted to thirty-five Jewish mechanics, who completed their several contracts in the most satisfactory manner.

They also succeeded in finding adequate instructors for the school among the ladies of the community, and they had the gratification to find that, on the very next day after the establishment of the school had become known in the city, 144 girls attended, and the names of 400 girls, many of them belonging to the best and most pious families, were registered in the school books.

Miss Mary Eliza Roger, in her "Domestic Life in Palestine," gives a full description of that school, from which I here subjoin some portions, to give the reader an idea of its efficient working at the time.

"On Thursday, May 28, 1856," that lady writes, "I was invited to visit the new schools for young Jewesses, established by Sir Moses Montefiore....

"While we waited for admittance, I looked up at the windows. Two were square, unsheltered openings. A third jutted far out from the wall, and through its quaint and fanciful wooden lattice we could see bright and rare flowers. The fourth was a large square oriel window, supported by a stone bracket, and protected by an iron balcony. A crowd of happy-looking children were peeping from it. One dark eyed little creature had a red-cloth tarbush on the back of her head, and a rose in her black hair. The others wore soft muslin kerchiefs of various colours tied tastefully on their heads.

"We entered the door, crossed a small court, and were led up an open staircase on to a terrace, the low, broad walls of which were converted into a garden....

"We were politely received in this court by a Spanish Jewess, who conducted us into a light, cheerful room, containing animated groups of girls, varying in age from seven to fourteen, perhaps. I counted thirty-one children, but the full number usually assembled there was thirty-five.

"Eight forms and a double row of desks gave quite a European character to the room, and the raised pulpit-like seat of the teacher indicated order and authority.

"The girls were nearly all engaged at needlework, and our guide exhibited to us, with evident pride and pleasure, a considerable stock of wearing apparel, the result of one week's work in that room. The simple garments were very nicely made, considering that most of the little workers did not know how to sew six or seven months before. The mistress could not tell us what was done with the work when finished, as it passed from her hands at the end of each week. The children looked busy and bright. Some of them were singularly beautiful. One tall and stately girl, of about fourteen, was acting the part of monitor, and she answered our questions in Arabic with the utmost modesty and self-possession, and glided among her little pupils with native grace and dignity. All these children were natives of Palestine; they spoke Arabic, and wore the Arab costume....