1862.
THE JAFFA AND JERUSALEM RAILWAY--LORD DUFFERIN--SIR
MOSES AND LADY MONTEFIORE'S GOLDEN WEDDING--DEATH
OF LADY MONTEFIORE.
Twenty-four years having now passed since Sir Moses made the entry
in his diary on the desirability of having a railway between Jaffa
and Jerusalem, without his having witnessed any further attempt to
accomplish so important an undertaking, the reader will find it
interesting to learn his suggestions.
_March 10th._--Sir John M'Neil and General Chesney came to him at the
Alliance. He expressed his feelings regarding the prospectus, in which
his name had been printed as a director. They said it was a mistake. In
the end he promised to meet them at the Athenæum on the morrow. Lord
Dufferin would be there, and Sir Moses promised he would endeavour
to find some city man as a director. He immediately wrote to some of
his friends on the subject, but did not succeed in persuading them to
become directors of the proposed railway.
In the course of the afternoon Sir Moses went to the Athenæum, where
he met Sir John M'Neil, General Chesney, and General Sabine. They
were soon joined by Lord Dufferin. Sir Moses says: "I held that the
concession for the Jaffa railway should be obtained with a guarantee
of five or six per cent. on the outlay; that two or three influential
persons should be selected as directors, and that the Turkish
Ambassador should be an _ex-officio_ director, as his presence at
the board would sanction the contracts, and thereby secure, without
dispute, the guarantee return on the outlay. I mentioned several
persons it would be desirable to get as directors. Lord Dufferin told
the gentlemen present that he wished to speak with Sir Moses alone,
and they then took their leave. His Lordship said that he was happy to
have the opportunity of seeing him, and that at Damascus he had heard
how much he had done for the people there. He said the outbreak was
very near reaching the Jewish quarter. He had received great attention
from the Jews, and had dined with some of them. He expressed his
satisfaction at the course Sir Moses had recommended, but said he could
not act without the addition of some wealthy city people.
"His Lordship," Sir Moses observes, "is a most elegant and agreeable
young man."
"Lord Dufferin," he adds, in a postscript, "said to me he had asked
Lord John Russell to be a patron, but he would not consent. Lord
Dufferin spoke of Lord Stratford de Redcliffe and Lord Clarendon; but
I said I thought it would be quite unnecessary to have any patrons, if
his Lordship was the chairman of the company."
After leaving the Athenæum, Sir Moses called on Sir Culling Eardly and
told him that he had been with Lord Dufferin, and had great hopes that
the scheme would be carried out. Early in May he sent a letter to the
representatives of his ancient congregation, resigning his office as
one of their Deputies, an honour which he had enjoyed for thirty-seven
years. He was urgently requested to withdraw his resignation, but would
not do so, as he felt it out of his power to fulfil the duties to his
own satisfaction.
During the same month he received a letter from the Viceroy of Egypt,
who was then staying at the Palace of the Tuileries at Paris as the
guest of the Emperor. His Highness thanked Sir Moses, who had offered
him his house in Park Lane, and regretted that it reached him too late,
as he had already engaged a house at Richmond. He added, however, that
he was none the less grateful for Sir Moses' offer.
June 28th was the fiftieth anniversary of the wedding of Sir Moses
and Lady Montefiore. Relatives, friends, and many representatives of
congregations hastened to offer them their felicitations, and letters
and addresses from all parts of the world. To mark the solemnity of the
day, Sir Moses attended a special service in his own Synagogue, and on
his return wrote the last verse in a Hebrew scroll of the Pentateuch,
which he presented to a congregation in need of one for their
Synagogue, and too poor to buy one. Lady Montefiore, although very weak
and ailing, left her bed in the hope of being present whilst Sir Moses
was writing; but the doctor, who came soon after, found her too weak to
leave her room.
"The absence of my dear Judith," Sir Moses writes, "was a severe
drawback to the happiness I had in being permitted, by the mercy of
God, to write the concluding words of the Pentateuch scroll. May He,
in His merciful goodness, allow me to have the happiness to complete
the next sacred scroll which is now being written for me at Wilna, in
my dear wife's presence. May she be in better health; may she enjoy
renewed strength to participate in the joy which this act affords me."
The next day Mr Manser of Dumpton, his nearest neighbour, came to
present him and Lady Montefiore with a most friendly address of
congratulation, signed by the ministers and inhabitants of St Peter's
and Broadstairs. Dr Canham brought them an address from the bench of
magistrates, most kind and complimentary; and several other friends,
unable to offer their congratulations personally, sent letters.
_July 2nd._--A telegram arrived, informing him that the Viceroy of
Egypt had ordered his son, Toussoun Pasha, to come to England again;
and Sir Moses at once wrote to Tulfica Pasha to ask the Viceroy to
allow the Prince to be his guest. A few days later he received an
invitation to dine with the Viceroy on board His Highness's yacht; but
Lady Montefiore and himself being unwell, he was unable to accept it.
_July 20th._--Sir Moses went to Woolwich to pay his respects to the
Viceroy. The latter was much pleased to see him, thanking him for the
invitation he had given to Prince Toussoun Pasha and the offer of the
house made to himself. In the course of conversation, referring to the
French and English languages, the Pasha said he understood English very
well; he had not been in England so long for nothing. His Highness
said, Lord Palmerston had held out two of his fingers to him, by way of
shaking hands, and Lord John Russell, one.
He appeared to be in excellent spirits, and asked Sir Moses if he had
seen his yacht, and told him to go and see the cabins. Sir Moses found
them truly magnificent. The richness of the furniture was almost beyond
description. Sir Moses says, "They are far too richly furnished for
my taste. On my taking leave of his Highness," he adds, "I wished him
long life, and hoped he might see the prosperity of Egypt increased a
thousand fold." "Of what consequence," said the Pasha, "could that be to
me? I do not expect to live more than ten years." "When I left," Sir
Moses continues, "he shook me heartily by the hand. I sincerely wish
him health, long life, and contentment. I would not sail in the yacht
to Egypt for ten thousand pounds."
_September 8th._--In accordance with the decision of the doctors, after
several consultations, Lady Montefiore was to pass the winter at Nice,
and she was strongly advised not to postpone her departure after the
19th October.
Dr Hodgkin still feared that she was too weak to undertake the journey,
but he would meet Sir Charles Locock, when they would come to a final
decision.
That morning all preparations were completed to leave Ramsgate for
London.
Lady Montefiore left her bed with considerable reluctance, although
she felt she was unable to travel on that day. Sir Moses sent for her
doctor, and as the latter was of opinion that they might venture, Sir
Moses did not hesitate to undertake the journey. After a most careful
journey in an invalid's carriage, they arrived in town and drove to
Park Lane, where Lady Montefiore was with equal care carried from the
carriage to the hall, and from there to the back drawing-room. She
immediately went to bed, and after taking a cup of tea, felt very
comfortable, "and certainly," Sir Moses said, "not more fatigued than
one could have expected."
_September 10th._--Sir Charles Locock met Dr Hodgkin at Park Lane in
conference, and passed more than half-an-hour with Lady Montefiore
and Sir Moses. The result was, that Sir Charles found Lady Montefiore
better than when he last saw her, and more able to bear the fatigue of
their proposed journey, and felt no hesitation in giving his opinion in
favour of their going to Mentone. Dr Hodgkin was content not to oppose
Sir Charles Locock's opinion, but did so, Sir Moses says, evidently
under restraint.
_September 16th._--Lady Montefiore accompanied Sir Moses in their
brougham to make several calls, he took her to see the new carpets for
East Cliff, and went to Ludgate Hill to select a new silk dress for her.
_September 17th._--She had a better night, the entry in the Diary
states, and in the course of the afternoon took a drive with Sir Moses
round the Exhibition.
_September 19th._--Lady Montefiore had an undisturbed night, and Sir
Moses left Park Lane at half past nine, attended various meetings
in the city, and about half-past one he returned with the intention
of going with Lady Montefiore to see the National Exhibition. But
unfortunately he found her very unwell, and still in bed. The carriage
had been ordered to convey them to see the Exhibition, but Sir Moses
went instead to Dr Hodgkin, requesting him to call at once. Dr Hodgkin
found Lady Montefiore seriously ill, and the next day told Sir Moses he
was very uneasy, and would like to have a consultation with Sir Charles
Locock, who, unfortunately, had gone to Brighton and could not come.
The next day her state was more favourable, but after a restless night
became again so serious, that another doctor was called in, who, to
Sir Moses' great grief, could give him no better account. Most of the
members of the family were there. Mr Sebag (now Mr Sebag Montefiore)
remained all night, and together with Sir Moses, read with her the
prayers for the sick.
_September 23rd._--Lady Montefiore had a very restless night. Sir
Moses attended Divine Service in the Portuguese Synagogue early in
the morning, and had a special prayer offered up for her recovery. He
distributed generous gifts among the poor, and subsequently returned to
Park Lane.
Dr Hamilton Rowe came and had a long consultation with Dr Hodgkin; they
found Lady Montefiore in the same state as last night, and ordered
some strong remedies. Dr Rowe told Sir Moses that he was not entirely
without hopes. In the afternoon Sir Moses attended again Divine Service
in the German Synagogue. He distributed more charitable gifts among
the poor, and joined the community in offering up special prayers for
his wife. In the evening on his return to Park Lane, he wrote the last
verse in a Pentateuch scroll written for him and Lady Montefiore at
Wilna, in Russia, by a distinguished scribe. The ceremony was performed
in a room (their private oratory) adjoining their chamber, with the
door open, so that Lady Montefiore might hear the prayers offered up
on the occasion. Several of his relatives and friends were present and
joined in supplications to the Almighty to alleviate her sufferings and
to restore her to health. "She was as patient as an angel," Sir Moses
says, "under her sufferings. All our friends have shewn their sympathy
for my dear wife." Innumerable calls and enquiries have been made
during the day.
_September 24th._--Dr Rowe and Dr Hodgkin declared that a very
favourable change had taken place, but still the utmost quietness must
be observed. They cautioned him against being too sanguine, as Lady
Montefiore was very weak and no longer young.
The time was now fast approaching for one of the best daughters of
Israel to return home to her Heavenly Father.
On the day when the doctors still left a spark of hope for her
recovery, Lady Montefiore remained silent, apparently preparing her
spirit for flight. Many a sigh of deep sorrow might have been heard
around her couch, many eyes were dimmed by tears of grief, but no sigh,
no tear was to be noticed on the countenance of the dying lady; with a
heavenly smile she greeted those who came to see her, endeavouring at
the same time to incline her head towards them. Relatives and friends
were anxious to remain with her, but she motioned to them to leave her
and to go to prayers, as it was the eve of the Hebrew New Year, one of
the most solemn festivals. The Sabbath lamp was lighted, shedding its
subdued light around, and in the adjoining oratory the hymns for the
festival were softly and solemnly chanted to the ancient melodies.
At the conclusion of the service Sir Moses came back, laid his hands
affectionately on the head of Lady Montefiore, and invoked Heaven's
blessing upon her, which she reciprocated by placing her hand upon
his head, in token of blessing. Sir Moses then descended to the
dining-room, where the relatives were assembled, to pronounce the grace
before meals, but he had scarcely pronounced the blessing when he
was called up by Dr Hodgkin, who had been watching by the bed of the
invalid, and who informed him that the end was very near. All present
immediately followed Sir Moses, the solemn prayers for the dying were
recited, and the pure spirit of Judith, the noble, the good, and the
truly pious, took flight Heavenwards.