1863.
THE MISSION TO MOROCCO--TANGIER--LIBERATION OF TWO
PRISONERS--DEPUTATION OF MOORS--SIR MOSES SUCCESSFULLY
INTERCEDES FOR THEM--DEATH OF SIR MOSES'
SISTER, MRS GOLDSMID--OPPRESSIVE REGULATIONS RESPECTING
THE JEWS IN MOROCCO--FAVOURABLE EDICT
OF THE SULTAN.
I shall now give the reader a _resumé_ of the Mission of Morocco, using
for the more important episodes Sir Moses' own words as contained in
his letters to the President of the Board of Deputies.
"You will recollect," he writes to that gentleman, "that we left
Dover on Tuesday morning, the 17th ult., and reached Madrid within
six days of our departure from London. I mention this in order that
the Board may understand that, to the best of our ability, we used
every effort to proceed with all possible celerity towards the
hoped-for accomplishment of the objects of the Mission. Considering
that some important matters calculated to lead to a prosperous issue
might receive attention at Madrid, I deemed it expedient with this
view to make some stay in that city. I waited on his Excellency, Sir
J.F. Crampton, our Ambassador at the Court of Madrid, on Thursday,
the 26th ult., and experienced from him a most kind and friendly
welcome. On the same day, his Excellency introduced me to the
Marquis of Miraflores, the Prime Minister of Spain, who gave me the
encouraging assurance that I need be under no apprehension of any
further steps being taken for the present against the unfortunate
prisoners at Saffi, the proceedings against whom, he stated most
emphatically, had not been influenced by any prejudice or ill-will,
on account of their religious persuasion; and the Marquis consented
to solicit Her Majesty the Queen of Spain to grant me the honour of
a private audience; he also, at my request, promised to give me a
letter of introduction to Don Francisco Merry y Colon, the Spanish
Minister at Tangier.
"On Monday, the 28th ult., in the afternoon, I had the honour (upon
the introduction of his Excellency Sir J.F. Crampton) to be presented
to Her Majesty, and to the King Consort, at a private audience. I
have reported to you, in a former letter, how gracious a reception
was accorded to me, but I may add that I shall never cease to bear in
mind the gratification I experienced on that interesting occasion.
I was received by their Majesties with the utmost courtesy and
kindness, and was joyfully impressed with the assurances of the King
Consort of their respect for all religions.
"During my stay at Madrid, I had the advantage of introductions to
his Grace the Duke of Tetuan, General Prim, several of the foreign
ambassadors, and other distinguished persons, by several of whom I
was favoured with letters of introduction for Tangier.
"Having, under the blessing of God, succeeded in effecting,
at Madrid, the objects contemplated, I left that city with my
companions very early the following morning (Tuesday, Dec. 1), _en
route_ for Seville, as I was desirous of handing to Don Antonio
Merry (the Russian and Prussian Consul at Seville, and the father
of the Spanish Minister at Tangier) a letter of introduction. We
travelled by railway to Santa Cruz de Mudela. On Wednesday, the 2nd
December, we left Santa Cruz, and proceeded by diligence to Andujar,
at which place we arrived the same evening. I was too exhausted
to proceed further that night, although my fellow travellers, Dr
Hodgkin and Mr Guedalla, in their kind anxiety to secure for me
a fitting resting-place at Cordova, continued their journey till
midnight by the same diligence, so that they might make the necessary
arrangements.
"We arrived at Seville on Sunday, the 6th inst. The following day I
delivered to Don Antonio Merry the letter of introduction to him with
which I had been favoured, and he very kindly gave me a letter to his
son, Don Francisco Merry y Colon, the Spanish Minister at Tangier.
"On Tuesday, the 8th inst., we left Seville by railway, and reached
Cadiz late the same night, where, after some delay, I ascertained
that a French steam frigate, the _Gorgone_, under the command of
Captain Celliér de Starnor, was lying off the port, and would proceed
the same night direct to Tangier.
"I lost no time in transmitting a request to Captain Starnor to allow
me and my companions to embark in his beautiful ship. This request
was at once most politely acceded to, and we were gladdened at 5 A.M.
the next morning, Friday, the 11th inst., with the tidings that we
had anchored off Tangier.
"We found, on our arrival at Tangier, that, owing to the care and
kindness of Mr Moses Pariente, the President, Mr Moses Nahon,
Vice-President, and the other members of the Executive Committee of
the Hebrew Congregation here, an excellent house had been prepared
for our reception; and we were greeted with a most enthusiastic
welcome by these respected gentlemen, and by the whole Jewish
population. And here I may be permitted to say, before reverting to
the more immediate purport of my Report, that I cannot sufficiently
express my grateful appreciation of the demonstrations of regard, and
evidences of goodwill and kind-heartedness we were daily experiencing
during my stay here, nor omit rendering a just tribute of praise
to the intellectual and educational advancement distinguishing the
gentlemen of our faith, and their families, resident at Tangier, with
whom I have had the good fortune to be placed in contact since my
arrival.
"Here also I have had the gratification to receive deputations from
our co-religionists of Gibraltar, Tetuan, Alcassar, Larache, Arzila,
and Mequinez. I have also received addresses from the Jews of Fez,
Azemor, and Mogador.
"On Sunday, the 13th inst., I had the pleasure to wait on Sir John
Hay Drummond Hay, K.C.B., the British Minister, and of conversing
with him, and also Consul-General Reade, on the subject of the
Mission. On the same day (accompanied by Mr Samuel), I placed in
the hands of Don Francisco Merry y Colon, the Spanish Minister, the
letter given to me by his father, also the letter of introduction
entrusted to me at Madrid, by the Marquis of Miraflores, and several
other letters, which I had obtained at Madrid.
"I am happy to say that I was most courteously received by the
Spanish Minister, who gave me his willing consent for the immediate
release of the two men, Shalom Elcaim and Jacob Benharrosh confined
at Tangier; and he also promised to place in my hands a letter to the
Moorish Government, intimating the desire of the Spanish Government
that the proceedings against the two unfortunate prisoners at Saffi,
'Saida and Mouklouf,' should be stopped. Within an hour of this
interview with the Spanish Minister, we had the gratification of
seeing the liberated prisoners, Shalom Elcaim and Jacob Benharrosh,
at our residence.
"Although my interview with the Spanish Minister took place late on
the afternoon of Sunday, yet, early in the forenoon of the following
day (Monday, the 14th instant), I had the gratification to receive
from him a note, expressing his satisfaction in complying with my
request, and containing the promised letter. Immediately on the
receipt of the letter I applied to Sir John H.D. Hay to introduce
me, with Mr Samuel, to Sid Mohammed Bargash, Minister for Foreign
Affairs at Tangier. Sir John accompanied us to the Minister, to whom
I presented the letter from the Spanish Minister, and who expressed
his pleasure at its contents, and promised to forward it instantly by
special courier to his Sovereign at Morocco. He stated, however, that
he feared a month would elapse ere a reply could be received.
"A letter to the Sultan was also transmitted at the same time from
the British Minister, representing the desire of our own Government
to the same effect as that of Spain.
"With the view to obtain the earliest possible release of the
prisoners, I requested that the order for their liberation might be
forwarded direct to Saffi.
"On the 16th instant we paid a visit of respect to the Rev. Mordecai
Bengio, the Chief Rabbi, and also on the same day had the pleasure
of being introduced by the British Minister, at their respective
residences, to the Ministers of the several Powers at Tangier
(France, Spain, United States, Italy, Portugal, &c.), to several of
whom I had letters.
"On my return from visiting the Moorish Minister I found awaiting for
me a deputation of upwards of fifty Moors, with their chiefs, from a
distant part of the country, urging my intercession for the release
from prison of one of their tribe, who had been in confinement for
two years and a half, on suspicion of having murdered two Jews.
As this unfortunate being had endured the horrors of a Moorish
prison for so long a period on mere suspicion, and without having
been brought to trial, I considered that his was a case in which
I might with propriety intercede; and I am happy to say that such
intercession was successful, that within a few hours his chains were
struck off, and he was brought to me by his tribe to return thanks
for his deliverance, and the chiefs gave me their solemn pledge that
they would be answerable for the safety of all Jews travelling by day
in their country.
"I am induced to place great reliance on this pledge, because it is
evident these men were unable to extend it for the safety of those
who should incautiously travel by night.
"I am thankful to say that from the religious authorities here of the
Catholics and the Moors I have also received evidence of respect and
goodwill.
"I know the Sultan is most kindly disposed towards his Jewish
subjects, and we may reasonably hope from this pleasing fact, and the
kind assurances I received from all the Representatives of Foreign
Powers in Tangier, that the Jews of Morocco may look forward to a
brighter future.
"It remains for me only to add that, although in effect the objects
of the Mission have, under God's blessing, been happily attained,
still I do not consider that its work will have been fully done, nor
that I ought to leave this vicinity until the actual liberation of
the prisoners. I feel certain that the Sultan will, immediately on
receipt of the despatches, give directions to that effect.
"I intimated in my telegram of the 15th instant that I contemplated
a visit to the Sultan at Morocco. This will be with the object of
thanking His Sheriffian Majesty for his gracious compliance with the
request of the British and Spanish Governments, for his favourable
disposition towards his Jewish subjects, and to entreat that His
Sheriffian Majesty will extend to them his favour and protection,
and direct the removal of the degrading grievances under which the
Jews of the interior are still suffering. With objects so important,
I shall not hesitate, before my return home, to encounter this long,
fatiguing, and hazardous journey."
Sir Moses had no doubt of the innocence of the two unfortunate men who
had been executed. "True," he says, "alas! we cannot recall the dead to
life, but it is consolatory to reflect that, out of the unhappy events
which gave rise to the Mission, good will follow; and it will indeed
be a subject of rejoicing to us all to learn of the future welfare and
prosperity of the vast Jewish population (nearly half a million of
souls) in the Moorish Empire."
_Tangier, December 21st._--Sir Moses sent to the President _pro tem._ a
copy of a draft of the instructions which Don Francisco Merry y Colon,
the Spanish Consul at Tangier, had directed to the Consuls, to the
effect that Her Majesty the Queen of Spain had been greatly pained to
hear that the Spanish Consuls in Morocco were accused of ill-treating
the Jews; that it was her wish the Consuls should aid and protect the
Jews, and avail themselves of every opportunity to prevent acts of
cruelty on the part of the Moorish authorities, and the infliction of
the lash or tortures to extract confessions.
From Tangier Sir Moses went to Gibraltar, and it was during his stay
there that the sad intelligence reached him of the death, at Nice, of
his sister, Mrs Goldsmid. He would have at once returned to England had
he not felt it a duty to continue his journey in the sacred cause of
suffering humanity; but the party lost the valuable co-operation of Mr
Guedella, the son-in-law of Mrs Goldsmid, as he had to start at once
for Nice. In a further report to the Board of Deputies Sir Moses says:
"Through the kindness of Earl Russell and the Naval Authorities here
and at Malta, H.M. ship the _Magicienne_, Captain Armytage, R.N., has
been sent from Malta to convey me to Saffi. She is now in port, and
her departure is fixed for to-morrow evening.
"We embarked on board the _Magicienne_, Captain Armytage, on Tuesday
evening, the 5th instant, and left the Port of Gibraltar early the
following morning. We arrived off Saffi the following Saturday,
the 9th instant, but it was not safe to land; we learned, however,
that the Saffi prisoners had been set at liberty on the preceding
Wednesday, the 6th instant.
"Not being able to land at Saffi, we proceeded onwards to Mogador,
and arrived here the following morning, the 10th instant.
"The Sultan's escort was awaiting us at Saffi, but had to follow us
here. The preparations for the journey to the City of Morocco are,
however, as yet very incomplete, and probably we may have to wait
here till Monday or Tuesday next, if not later. This, I can assure
you, is a great trial of patience.
"On Friday night, the 8th instant, while at sea, part of the rudder
of the ship broke, and on the following night we had a very heavy
gale.
"The whole of our party, consisting, in addition to myself, of Dr
Hodgkin, Mr Samuel, Captain Armytage, two of his officers, and
Mr Consul Reade, with servants, &c., are being most hospitably
entertained by Mr Abraham Corcos, one of the most opulent of the
Jewish merchants at this port. The whole of his house is placed at
our disposal."
On Tuesday, January 26th, Sir Moses wrote to the Board of Deputies:
"My last letter, dated the 14th instant, was addressed to you from
Mogador. We experienced considerable difficulty in effecting the
preliminary arrangements for our departure from Mogador, as a journey
through a desert country, for so large a party, needed great care and
foresight.
"At length we were enabled to fix on Sunday, the 17th instant, for
the day of our departure. The bustle of preparation lasted from an
early hour in the morning till between one and two in the afternoon.
The Governor and his officers accompanied us to the gates of the city
and for about an hour on our way; and our hospitable host, Mr Abraham
Corcos, the Chief Rabbi, the Second Rabbi, and several other members
of the Mogador Jewish Community, travelled with us the first day's
journey, and stayed with us during our first night's encampment.
"Were I to attempt even an outline of each day's events, I should
greatly exceed the limits of an official letter. Suffice it therefore
to say, that we happily accomplished our journey from Mogador to this
city in eight days, resting on the Sabbath. During this period we
were subjected to a broiling sun by day, and cold and occasionally
heavy dews and high winds by night. Nevertheless we have borne our
fatigues well. Fortunately we escaped rain; otherwise, apart from
every other inconvenience, we might have been detained for days
in staying to pass rivers; as it was, happily no such impediment
arose. We were met at a short distance from Morocco (at which place
we arrived yesterday at about 1 P.M.) by a guard of honour, and
we were all located in a palace of the Sultan, in the midst of a
garden; and I can assure you that the change, after sleeping under
canvas for so many nights, is most acceptable. The Jews here are not
allowed to walk the streets except bare-footed. It will be, indeed,
a happy event for them, if I can induce the Sultan to do away with
these degradingly distinctive marks, and also to place all his
subjects, irrespective of faith, on an equal footing. Whether there
is the remotest possibility of success in this, I am at present
utterly unable to say. I am assured by every one, that the moral
effect of my visit to Morocco will prove of advantage to my Moroquin
co-religionists."
On the 17th February, Sir Moses informed the President _pro tem._
of the Board of Deputies, by telegram from Gibraltar, that he had
succeeded in obtaining an Imperial Edict from His Sheriffian Majesty,
and forwarded a translation by post to London. I therefore invite
the reader's attention to the following translation of the address
presented on that occasion to the Sultan, as well as of the latter's
reply.
[Illustration: EDICT OF THE EMPEROR MOROCCO. _Vol. II., page
153._]
_The Address to the Sultan._
_To His Sheriffian Majesty_ THE SULTAN OF MOROCCO.
MAY IT PLEASE YOUR MAJESTY,--I come supported by the sanction and
approval of the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain,
and on behalf of my co-religionists in England, my native country, as
well as on the part of those in every part of the world, to entreat
Your Majesty to continue the manifestation of Your Majesty's grace
and favour to my brethren in your Majesty's Empire.
That it may please Your Majesty to give the most positive orders
that the Jews and Christians dwelling in all parts of Your Majesty's
dominions shall be perfectly protected, and that no person shall
molest them in any manner whatsoever in anything which concerns their
safety and tranquillity; and that they may be placed in the enjoyment
of the same advantages as all other subjects of Your Majesty, as
well as those enjoyed by the Christians living at the ports of your
Majesty's Empire: such rights were granted, through me, by His
Imperial Majesty Abd-ool-Medjid, the late Sultan of Turkey, by his
Firman, given to me at Constantinople, and dated 12th Ramazan, 1256,
and, in the month of May last, confirmed by His Imperial Majesty
Abdul Aziz, the present Sultan of Turkey.
Permit me to express to Your Majesty my grateful appreciation of the
hospitable welcome with which Your Majesty has honoured me, and to
offer to Your Majesty my heartfelt wishes for Your Majesty's health
and happiness, and for the prosperity of Your Majesty's dominions.
_Translation of the Imperial Edict._
In the Name of God, the Merciful and Gracious There is no power but
in God, the High and Mighty.
(L. S.)
Be it known by this our Royal Edict--may God exalt and bless its
purport and elevate the same to the high heavens, as he does the
sun and moon!--that it is our command, that all Jews residing
within our dominions, be the condition in which the Almighty God
has placed them whatever it may, shall be treated by our Governors,
Administrators, and all other subjects, in manner conformable with
the evenly-balanced scales of Justice, and that in the administration
of the Courts of Law they (the Jews) shall occupy a position of
perfect equality with all other people; so that not even a fractional
portion of the smallest imaginable particle of injustice shall
reach any of them, nor shall they be subjected to anything of an
objectionable nature. Neither they (the Authorities) nor any one
else shall do them (the Jews) wrong, whether to their persons or to
their property. Nor shall any tradesman among them, or artizan, be
compelled to work against his will. The work of every one shall be
duly recompensed, for injustice here is injustice in Heaven, and we
cannot countenance it in any matter affecting either their (the Jews)
rights or the rights of others, our own dignity being itself opposed
to such a course. All persons in our regard have an equal claim to
justice; and if any person should wrong or injure one of them (the
Jews), we will, with the help of God, punish him.
The commands hereinbefore set forth had been given and made known
before now; but we repeat them, and add force to them, in order
that they may be more clearly understood, and more strictly carried
into effect, as well as serve for a warning to such as may be
evilly-disposed towards them (the Jews), and that the Jews shall thus
enjoy for the future more security than heretofore, whilst the fear
to injure them shall be greatly increased.
This Decree, blessed by God, is promulgated on the 26th of Shaban,
1280 (15 February 1864). Peace!