Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore : comprising their life and work as recorded in their diaries from 1812 to 1883

Front matter

FROM THE

BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY

COLLECTED BY

Chapter I

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 ......

Chapter II

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 th^ Holy Land— Absurd Charge brought against them— Their Return to England ....

Chapter III

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 . . 1 8

Chapter IV

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 ... 26

Chapter V

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 . . 35

Chapter IX

Toussoun Pasha stays on a visit to Sir Moses— Sir Moses re-elected President of the Board of Deputies — The Indian Mutiny — Monetary Panic — The Jewish Disabilities at last removed — Sir Moses presents Toussoun Pasha to the Queen ....... 72

Chapter X

The Case of the Abduction of Edgar Mortara — Strange Theory about Baptism — Sir Moses interests himself in the Matter — Action of the Evangelical Society — Discouraging Opinions .... 82

Chapter XI

Cardinal Antonelli declares the Abduction of the Child Mortara " A Closed Question " — The Delusion about the Passover Cakes spreads to Rome— Uneasy Feeling among the Jews in that City — Shameful Attempts to get up Testimony against them — Intei-view with Cardinal Antonelli— Sir Moses leaves Rome . , . . . 90

The Jaffa and Jerusalem Railway— Lord Dufferin— Sir Moses and Lady

Montefiore's Golden Wedding— Death of Lady Montefiore . . 133

Chapter XVII

Burial of Lady Montefiore — Sir Moses sets out for Jerusalem — Interview with Sultan Abd-Ool-Azeez — Abandonment of the Journey to the Holy Land — More Persecutions in Morocco — Sir Moses proceeds there on a Mission . . . . . . -139

Chapter XVIII

The Mission to Morocco — Tangier — Liberation of two Prisoners — Deputation of Moors — Sir Moses successfully Intercedes for thera — Death of Sir Moses' Sister, Mrs Goldsmid — Oppressive Regulations respecting the Jews in Jlorocco — Favourable Edict of the Sultan .

Giurgevo — Rustschuk—Sistova—Nicopolis—Buda-Pesth— Return to England — Addresses of Thanks from Bucharest — Local Honours at Ramsgate ........

Chapter XXVIII

Serious Outbreak against the Jews at Berlad— Sir Moses appeals to the Moldavian Government — The Reply — Repressive Bill affecting the Jews— The Galatz Incident— Lord Shaftesbury and Sir Moses— Visit to the South of France . . . . . .219

Chapter XXIX

The Prince of Wales and Sir Moses — Consecration of Judith College — Napoleon III. a Prisoner of War — Serious Charges against the Jews of Damascus in the Times Newspaper — Sir Moses' Answer — Death of Sir Moses' Sister, Mrs Gompertz ..... 227

Continuation of Sir Moses' Narrative — Satisfactory Report with regard to the Condition of the Roumanian Jews — Arrival in Berlin— Return to England — Visit of the Shah to England . . . .251

Chapter XXXIII

Address to the Czar on the occasion of the Marriage of the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh — The Czar's Reply — Death of Sir Moses' Sister, Mrs Cohen — Sir Moses reads his own Obituary — He resigns his office as President of the Board of Deputies ..... 25S

Persecution in Russia — Lord Granville's Speech — Project of Emigration to

America — Death of Dean Stanley and of President Garfield . . 297

Contents.

Chapter XL

The Reign of Tenor in Russia — Indignation Meeting in London — The Lord Mayor's Fund— The Ti?za-Eszlar Trial— Anti-Jewish Congress at Dresden— A pretended Speech of Sir Moses — Death of Archbishop Tait 303

CHAPTER XLL

Sir Moses congratulates the Czar Alexander \\\. on his Coronation — He appeals to the Hungarian Parliament — Acquittal of the Accused at Tisza-Eszlar — Rejoicings on Sir Moses completing his Ninety-nintli Year . . . . . . , . .311

CHAPTER XLIL

Presentation of an Address from the City of London — The Chovavey Zion

Society — Progress of the Agricultural Movement . . . 322

CHAPTER XLHL

A grand old Centenarian — Public Gatherings in his honour — Ramsgate

illuminated — Sir Moses' Health ..... 328

CHAPTER XLIV.

Sir Moses' Reply to the Board of Deputies — His failing Strength — First

published Bulletin — Sir Moses' Death .... 336

CHAPTER XLV.

Funeral of Sir Moses— A Town in Mourning— Deputations from all parts —

The Funeral Service — Conclusion ..... 345 diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore.

Chapter I

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 loth 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-Kdmir. 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 —

" SlE, — 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-Kamdr, near Beyrout, of a Christian child ; that, after the lapse of three days, the corpse had been discovered in a field,

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2 Diaries oj Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore.

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 Sth 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, nth 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

The Affair of Deir-el-Kdmdr. 3

on their behalf with the French Government, the Christians in S3^ia 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 Gerant 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 Baalbeck), 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 ^rd. — Sir Moses ^x-alked to the Foreign Office, having an appointment for that day A^ith Lord Palmerston. He acquainted the ^tlinister with the contents of the letters he had received from the East respecting the late charges brought against tlie 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 I\Ir (now Sir Richard) \^"ood. 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 IMoses' 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.

Jidy 7^/^.— 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 lytk. — 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, Jidy 2Qtk. — 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

The Affair of Deir-el-Kdmdr> 5

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,* 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 liad 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 ^th. — 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 gtk. — 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 Aoiit 1847.

" MON CHER MiNiSTRE, — Je recevrai Sir Moses Montefiore demain aux Tuileries pendant que vous serez occupe a faire la Cldture, c'est-a-dire a une heure precise. Veuillez done Ten faire prevenir. 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 * Refer to Appendix for Monsieur Guizot's letter.

6 Diaj'ies of Sir Moses and Lady Monte fiore.

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 Itave 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-Kamar, 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 loth. — 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 2%th. — 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

Satisfactory Measures of the French Governme^it . 7

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 "ifith. — 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 i%th. — 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.

Chapter II. 1848

THE POLISH AND RUSSIAN JE^YS AND THE QUESTION OF AGRICULTURE— THE JEWISH DISABILITIES IN PARLIA- MENT AGAIN — THE CHARTIST RIOTS — SIR MOSES AND LADY MONTEFIORE DEPART FOR THE HOLY LAND — ABSURD CHARGE BROUGHT AGAINST THEIM — THEIR RE- TURN 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 nth 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 gtk. — 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 lOtJi. — 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 lo Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore.

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 nth. — Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore attended the first Drawing-Room of the season.

May 2^th. — 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 soiree 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

Epitaph in the Church of the Capuchins, 1 1

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-Kdmar 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 i6th.

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

Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore.

Oaths Bill (May 7). The numbers were— For, 278; against, 18s ; 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 Sth of June.