Part 10 (1/2)
At the meeting of the Deputies they at first objected to the pet.i.tion as altered by Lord Bexley, but finally agreed to sign it. Mr Montefiore then went, with Messrs Rothschild and Goldsmid, to Lord Bexley with the pet.i.tion. The latter thought that everything would be granted to the Jews except seats in Parliament. Before he could present it, he said, he must confer once more with the Lord Chancellor and the Duke of Wellington. Lord Bexley further said, that he would have to see Dr Lus.h.i.+ngton the next day, but as that would be Sat.u.r.day, Mr Montefiore declined attending. A few days later Lord Bexley stated distinctly that the Duke of Wellington would decidedly oppose any application the Jews might make this year in Parliament, but would not pledge himself as to next session. Dr Lus.h.i.+ngton and Lords Bexley and Holland strongly advised a delay till next year.
Mr Montefiore, in his diary, gives some account of a dinner at which he and Mrs Montefiore were present, given by Mr N. M. Rothschild to Mr Mahoney, in payment of a wager which he had lost to that gentleman, on the subject of the agitation for the removal of the Jewish disabilities.
He says: ”The party included many important personages. Many of the n.o.bility with whom we conversed on the subject expressed themselves much in favour of the Bill. The Lords Darnley, Lauderdale, and Glenelg, Sir Robert Farquhar, and Messrs Spring-Rice, Jennings, Otway, Cave, and Horace Twiss, whom we met there, were most zealous for the success of the cause. Admiral Sir Ed. Codrington and a Russian Prince, who were among the guests, discussed the subject with great warmth until a late hour.”
It was the month of June, and Mr Montefiore required relief, even if only for a short time, from this incessant mental work, accompanied as it often was by the anxiety which falls to the lot of most prominent men in the financial world. He therefore gladly accepted for Mrs Montefiore and himself an invitation to make a tour in the Isle of Wight with the Baron and Baroness Anselm de Rothschild, and Messrs Nathaniel and Meyer de Rothschild.
The genial atmosphere of the island, and the cheerful conversation of their friends and relatives, coupled with the polite attention he received from Sir John Campbell, the Governor, and his officers, soon made Mr Montefiore forget for a while Banks, Insurance Offices, Stock Exchanges, and Gas a.s.sociations, whether in England, France, or Germany.
The time for resuming his usual business pursuits now arrived, and his own words show how well every hour of his day was employed.
”11 A.M. At St James' Palace to thank Colonel Boten for the General Post book he left for me. 11.15. At Alliance and Marine. 12. Attended Committee of Irish Bank till 2. 2.15. Signed policies at Marine.
Called on Mr Rothschild at New Court; solicited him to speak with Wertheimer the printer to take N. N.'s son as apprentice. 2.30.
Attended Board of Gas till nearly 5. A special meeting of Directors summoned for next Thursday to receive the report of the special committee.”
At the close of the year Mr Montefiore was invited by a friend to go to Paris, to be present at the bidding for a new French loan, but he thought proper to decline, remaining firm in his resolution not to further extend his financial operations.
He deemed it important to enter that year in his diary a kind of census of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews in London--another proof of the great desire he felt to make himself thoroughly acquainted with the affairs of his community. I bring it under the notice of the reader whom it may interest, to enable him to compare it with the census of that community at the present day.
Privileged members and their families, About 750 Unprivileged members and their families, ” 550 Persons receiving relief from the Synagogues, ” 1200 ---- Total, 2500
In consequence of unsuccessful speculations in connection with political changes in England, France, and Spain, there was a general panic in the financial world at the beginning of 1830, but Mr Montefiore, by cautious foresight and firm resolution, had withstood all temptations and remained unaffected by it.
Referring to this panic, he says, on finding several persons very depressed: ”I have a thousand times given them my opinion on that subject, and can only regret that they have not benefited by it. I am most uneasy and unhappy about them; G.o.d only knows what the result of this state of things will be.” After entering into further details, he concludes by observing, ”At all events I stand relieved from reproach, having so repeatedly cautioned them against what appeared to me a desperate situation.”
There are several entries, important as historical records, concerning the steps taken in the Jewish emanc.i.p.ation movement. On the 27th January he consulted M. Mocatta and I. L. Goldsmid respecting the application to Parliament in favour of removing the disabilities of the Jews.
On the 31st January he attended a meeting of the deputies of the Synagogues at the house of Moses Mocatta; there were twelve present, besides Mr I. L. Goldsmid and Mr Thomas M. Pearce. They read the opinions of Dr Lus.h.i.+ngton and Mr Humphries on the present state of the civil disabilities of the Jews. It was resolved to pet.i.tion Parliament for the removal of the said disabilities, and to request Messrs N. M.
Rothschild, I. L. Goldsmid, and Moses Montefiore to see the Duke of Wellington on the subject.
The following day Mr Montefiore received a note from Mr I. L.
Goldsmid, requesting that he would endeavour to see Mr N. M.
Rothschild, and persuade him to go that day at twelve to the Duke of Wellington.
Accordingly he went out in his carriage with the intention of proceeding to Stamford Hill.
Mr Montefiore here introduces a little incident which may perhaps please some of my readers, and I give it in his own words--
”On reaching Newington, I met N. M. Rothschild in his carriage. Lionel and Anthony were with him; the two latter got into my chariot, and I drove with the former to Prince Esterhazy, whither he was proceeding with the intention of conferring with him on the subject of emanc.i.p.ation in Austria.
”On our arrival I remained for some time with Anthony in the prince's dining-room. An elderly gentleman, who had the appearance of a Catholic priest, was taking his lunch there. When he had finished his repast, he moved to one of the windows, and kneeling down, continued in that position for about ten minutes, apparently deeply engaged in his devotions. He then rose, and bowing to us, left the room.” ”I fear,” observes Mr Montefiore, ”that some of my brethren would have hesitated to have even put their hats on to say the blessing after their meal, instead of acting as this good man did.”
CHAPTER X.
1830 1831.
INTERVIEW WITH THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON IN FURTHERANCE OF THE JEWISH CAUSE--THE DUKE'S DILATORY TACTICS--LAYING THE FOUNDATION-STONE OF THE SYNAGOGUE AT HERESON.