Part 33 (1/2)
_Friday, February 19th._--Sir Moses called on Lord Granville, and told his lords.h.i.+p that he was anxious to present to His Majesty the King a copy of the firman Hatti-Sherif granted by the Sultan to the Israelites in his dominions. His Lords.h.i.+p said, as Monsieur Thiers had taken a prominent part in the affair of Damascus, it was probable the King might not wish to receive the firman. Sir Moses replied that he thought His Majesty too great a lover of justice to refuse his request. His Lords.h.i.+p then asked him whether he would publish the refusal, in case the King's reply should be unfavourable. Sir Moses immediately replied in the negative; that his object was to promote peace, and not to create animosity. Upon which his Lords.h.i.+p said he would consult Monsieur Guizot, and let him know the result. The next day Sir Moses received a note from Lord Granville, informing him that His Majesty had notified his willingness to receive him at the Tuileries the same evening.
_Sat.u.r.day, February 20th._--At half-past eight his Lords.h.i.+p also informed him in a second note that he would be at the Palace to present him.
The following is an account of the interview with the King in Sir Moses' own words:--
”I was so fatigued that I could eat no dinner, but dressed myself in my uniform, and at half-past eight I went to the Palace, accompanied by Dr Loewe. A minute or two afterwards Lord Granville came in, and we were immediately conducted into the presence of the King and the Royal family. There were a number of officers in the room. His Majesty came up the moment we entered. Lord Granville presented me. I then offered to the King the translation of the Hatti-Sherif; he accepted it of me in a most gracious manner, said he was happy to receive it, and enquired if I had been at Damascus. I informed him that the disturbed state of the country had prevented me, but His Majesty would perceive by the firman I had the honour of placing in his hands, that there was no longer any occasion for my going, as the Sultan had expressed his entire conviction that the accusations against the Jews at Damascus were calumnies. His Majesty said he was happy it was so. He said he feared he had put me to some inconvenience by the very short notification he had given me, but as to-morrow was Sunday, he was fearful it would be detaining me longer at Paris than I wished. He then turned to Lord Granville, and said he also feared he had occasioned him some inconvenience. Dr Loewe was then presented, and Lord Granville took me to the Queen, and afterwards to the King's sister; both were very gracious, and spoke to us in French for a long time.
”There was a Member of the Chamber who appeared to know me, and spoke to me about the Damascus affair. He began to rail against Monsieur Thiers, but I stopped him, saying that the result of my Mission had been so completely successful, I was desirous of having everything of an unpleasant nature forgotten.”
Sir Moses expressed himself to all his friends as being greatly pleased with his reception by the King.
Numerous visitors called and left cards. Some of them came expressly from England, so as to be able to offer their hearty welcome to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore a few days sooner than they could have done by awaiting their arrival at home.
_February 22nd._--Sir Moses went to Monsieur Guizot, who was very civil, and spoke much on the Mission. He requested Sir Moses to give him copies of the letters he had received from the Rev. Joseph Marshall, Lieutenant Shadwell, and the Rev. E. Schlientz.
On his return to the hotel the members of the Consistoire Israelite, the spiritual chiefs of the community, and deputations from all the charitable inst.i.tutions called, and presented to him and Lady Montefiore addresses of congratulation.
_February 24th._--We left Paris, and reached Dover on Friday, where we rested over the Sabbath.
CHAPTER x.x.xVI.
1841.
HOME AGAIN--SIR MOSES PRESENTS A FACSIMILE OF THE FIRMAN TO THE QUEEN--HER MAJESTY'S SPECIAL MARK OF FAVOUR--REFORM MOVEMENT AMONG THE LONDON JEWS--APPEAL FOR ENGLISH PROTECTION FROM THE JEWS IN THE EAST.
_February 28th._--In the evening we arrived at Park Lane, London, where Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore received a hearty welcome from their relatives and friends.
The next morning, and for many days afterwards, visitors called in great numbers. Deputations from various communal inst.i.tutions, literary societies, and financial companies arrived and presented addresses.
In most of the Synagogues special services were held, and the exertions of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore in the cause of suffering humanity, and in the vindication of the purity of the religious tenets of Israel, were warmly acknowledged by all present.
The Hebrew communities of Paris, Hamburg, Frankfort-on-the-Main, and Magdeburg, together with those established in Italy, the United States of America, the Barbary States, Egypt, and Turkey, all sent testimonials, which are now preserved in Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological College at Ramsgate.
_March 3rd._--Sir Moses went to Lord Palmerston to thank him for his great kindness and a.s.sistance in his Mission, and to give him an account of all that had occurred at Alexandria and Constantinople. He also spoke to him of the Emir Bes.h.i.+r, having promised the latter when at Malta to intercede in his behalf with the British Government. Sir Moses asked his Lords.h.i.+p whether he might present the Queen with a copy of the firman Hatti-Sherif, to which Lord Palmerston replied that he had no doubt Her Majesty would be happy to receive it.
In accordance with his Lords.h.i.+p's permission, Sir Moses presented the copy of the firman to the Queen on Wednesday, the 24th of March.
The following is a copy of his entry in the diary referring to the subject:--”Attended the Marine Board at 11.30; the Alliance Board at 12; at 12.45 returned home and dressed in my uniform. Mr H. de Castro, Mr Waley, Mr H. H. Cohen, Mr Wire, and Dr Loewe came, and we proceeded to St James' Palace to attend the levee. I had the honour to present the Queen with the firman. The following is the copy of the card that was read to Her Majesty:--'Sir Moses Montefiore, F.R.S., presented by the Right Honourable Viscount Palmerston on his return from the East, to present a facsimile and translation of the firman granted by the Sultan to His Imperial Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish religion.' Mr Wire and Dr Loewe were presented by me to the Queen. I had a most gracious reception, and kissed hands.”
As a token of royal approbation, Sir Moses had the satisfaction of being informed, three months later, that Lord Normanby would have great satisfaction in recommending the grant of supporters to his armorial bearings. ”The supporters I wish for,” Sir Moses writes in his diary, ”are to exalt our holy religion by displaying 'Jerusalem'
in a more distinguished manner than I could otherwise have done.”
My readers may perhaps care to have the opportunity of perusing the material portions of this doc.u.ment, which are as follows:--
”Victoria R.
”Victoria, by the grace of G.o.d, &c.--Whereas it has been represented unto us, that our trusty and well-beloved Sir Moses Montefiore, &c., &c., in consequence of information having been received from the East, that a number of Jews had been imprisoned and tortured at Damascus and at Rhodes, and that he had, in conformity to a voluntary offer, made at a General Meeting of the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews and others, held on the 15th of June last, proceeded (accompanied by Lady Montefiore) to Alexandria, with the view of proving the falsity of the accusation, and of advocating the cause of his unfortunate and persecuted brethren.”