Part 34 (1/2)
On the 7th of November, Sir Stratford Canning, previous to leaving for Constantinople, called on Sir Moses, and afterwards sent him a note, appointing to see him on the following day at twelve o'clock. Sir Moses accordingly went to him. The purport of this interview was to solicit protection for the Israelites in the East. Sir Moses informed him of the directions given by Lord Palmerston, and Sir Stratford said he should be happy to do all that his duty permitted, and to hear from Sir Moses whenever he pleased. They had a long and interesting conversation respecting the Jews and the Holy Land, and Sir Moses was exceedingly gratified by Sir Stratford's kindness.
Amongst the numerous letters received by Sir Moses on this matter was one from Messrs Grindlay, Christian & Matthews, East India Agency, containing an extract from a letter from Commodore Brucks, of the Indian navy, which showed that the great esteem in which both Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore were held by the people in the far East sometimes proved detrimental to the interest of their admirers. ”A Jew,” it stated, ”and his wife had been pa.s.sing themselves off for Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore. Under this supposition the Government Agent at Muscat, a Jew of the highest respectability, received them, and did all in his power to make them comfortable. They eventually left, telling him they would pay when they came back, leaving him more than a thousand dollars out of pocket.”
On reading this, Sir Moses at once expressed a desire to ascertain the name of the victim of the fraud, in order that he should not suffer any loss on his account.
CHAPTER x.x.xVII.
1842.
PRESENTATION FROM HAMBURG--SIR MOSES MEETS THE KING OF PRUSSIA--ADDRESS TO PRINCE ALBERT--ATTEMPT ON THE QUEEN'S LIFE--PEt.i.tIONS TO SIR MOSES FROM RUSSIA.
The entries of the next five years in the diaries refer to numerous important events, interspersed with appeals from communities to Sir Moses to plead the cause of their brethren before the Emperor of Russia.
The Hamburg Jews, who were among the first to support their British friends in the mission to Damascus, had a gold medal struck, which was presented to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore by Mr H. de Castro. The complimentary address which accompanied it, in speaking of the Queen, says:--
”G.o.d bless Her Majesty, and prosper her, whose enlightenment knows how to appreciate and reward such exertions as are performed for the benefit of us and ours.”
The obverse of the medal bears a representation of the arms of Sir Moses Montefiore. The margin has a verse in Hebrew, taken from Psalm cxxii. 8: ”[Hebrew] LEMANN AKHAI VEREAI ADABERA NA SHALOM BEKHA”
(”For the sake of my brethren and companions I will declare peace unto thee”); and a chronogram in Hebrew: [Hebrew] ”SHNAT GAON ISREAL LEP'AK” signifying, ”The year of the pride of Israel,” the numerical value of the dotted lines representing the date of the Damascus Mission, viz.: 5601.
The reverse has a German inscription, which, rendered in English, is: ”Dedicated to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, after their return from Egypt, in the year 1841, by their co-religionists of Hamburg.” My esteemed friend, the late Mr M. Haarbleicher, exerted himself greatly in this matter.
Unfortunately, one night burglars got into the drawing-room of Sir Moses' house at Park Lane, and took the medal, together with many other valuable articles. There is only a facsimile of the medal in bronze now left in my cabinet, which the Committee in Hamburg kindly presented to me.
_January 31st._--Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore received an invitation from the Duke of Suss.e.x and the d.u.c.h.ess of Inverness to lunch with them on the first of February, as His Majesty the King of Prussia had intimated to them his intention of honouring them with his company.
Sir Moses went early in the morning of the following day to Somerset House to see the King of Prussia admitted as fellow of the Royal Society, together with Baron Alexander von Humboldt; and before two o'clock he and Lady Montefiore were at Kensington Palace.
The Duke and d.u.c.h.ess received them very kindly, and the Duke promised to introduce them to his Royal visitor. He said he was anxious that his invitation should be forwarded in time, as he was desirous of introducing Sir Moses to the King of Prussia, which he did almost as soon as the King entered; informing His Majesty, at the same time, of the journey of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore to the East. The King, Sir Moses says, was very gracious; but remarked (speaking of Padre Tommaso), ”but the poor man is dead;” upon which Sir Moses ventured to point out to His Majesty, that it was by no means certain that the man was dead. ”It was a truly Royal banquet,” Sir Moses writes, ”about sixty persons being present. The Duke made a liberal and excellent speech about religions in general, but the King did not notice it in his reply.” They were delighted with the kindness of their Royal Highnesses, and of those they knew. Lord Lansdowne hoped they had not forgotten him. Lord Palmerston enquired what reports he had from the East, and whether the English Consuls were behaving better.
On the following day, Mr Attwood, one of the Directors of the Imperial Continental Gas a.s.sociation, expressed a wish that Sir Moses should accompany him to see the King of Prussia, who had consented to receive a deputation from the a.s.sociation; and in compliance with this wish he went with them. He met Sir J. L. Goldsmid at the office, and they proceeded to Buckingham Palace. ”There were,” Sir Moses observes, ”many persons waiting.” He saw there Lord Roxley, Sir Robert Inglis, Sir Robert Adair, and many n.o.blemen and clergymen.
They were soon admitted to the King's presence, and were very graciously received. Mr Attwood read the address, and the King spoke a few words to each of them. He recognised Sir Moses, observing that he had spoken to him on the previous day, and enquired whether he was settled in England; the King thought he lived in Italy. He spoke to Mr Attwood about Parliament and the new buildings, and laughingly said, he supposed that the a.s.sociation would light them.
_February 5th._--About this time Sir Moses pointed out the spot at Ramsgate where it was his wish, when it should please the Almighty to call him, that his earthly remains might repose, with those of his beloved wife. The spot was marked out by four hurdles, which he a.s.sisted in placing there. Possibly the illness of his brother's wife, which, a few days after, terminated in her death, cast a gloom over his mind, which made him consider it advisable to prepare himself for such an event.
He was much grieved by this family affliction, and remained in the house for several days; owing to which he was unable to present an address of congratulation to the Queen on the birth of the Prince of Wales. Mr De Castro and two other Deputies of the London Committee of the Board had to present it instead; as also an address to Prince Albert, and later on, one to the d.u.c.h.ess of Kent. They were most graciously received, and Her Royal Highness desired them to express her great regret at Sir Moses' absence, and at the cause of it.
Colonel Cooper, the next day, by desire of the d.u.c.h.ess, wrote him a letter, to a.s.sure him of her sympathy on this melancholy occasion.
In the same month he made a donation of 200 for the repair of the ancient Synagogue of the Spanish and Portuguese community, as it was greatly needed, and thereby induced others to follow his example. He also took steps to have the Synagogue included in the clause of exemption from property tax, in which he succeeded, by the kindness of Mr John Masterman, who wrote a letter to Mr Goulbourn on the subject.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer promised that he would so alter the wording of the Income-Tax Bill as to meet Sir Moses' wishes. Sir Robert Peel also wrote to him a letter to the same effect.
_May 31st._--There is an entry referring to an attempt on the Queen's life. ”Last evening,” he writes, ”an attempt was made on the life of our gracious Sovereign, which, through the protection of Almighty G.o.d, was happily preserved. It is most difficult to believe that any mortal in his senses could attempt such a thing. May the G.o.d of Israel s.h.i.+eld the Queen from all harm, and bless her with every happiness and long life. I convened a meeting of Deputies to forward letters of congratulation to the Queen, Prince Albert, and the d.u.c.h.ess of Kent, on the providential escape of the Queen, and went with Lady Montefiore and Dr Loewe to Kensington Palace to enter our names in the visitors'
books of the Duke of Suss.e.x and the d.u.c.h.ess of Inverness; afterwards to Buckingham Palace, in Prince Albert's book; and Clarence House, to the d.u.c.h.ess of Kent.”
_July 2nd._--Attended a meeting at the Thatched House Tavern, St James Street, for the purpose of selecting an artist to carry out the resolution agreed to at a previous meeting for the erection of a statue to Sir David Wilkie.