1866.
DEPARTURE FROM THE HOLY CITY--RETURN TO ENGLAND--VISIT
TO BARON BRUNNOW AND LORD CLARENDON--FRIGHTFUL
OUTBREAK AGAINST THE JEWS IN PERSIA--FRESH
COMPLAINTS FROM MOLDAVIA.
Continuing the narrative of his travels, Sir Moses says:--
"On Friday, the 13th of April, being desirous of leaving some
pecuniary relief from myself for each of the synagogues, colleges,
schools, and various charitable institutions, with their respective
representatives themselves, I had previously made an arrangement
to see them on that day, but a restless night and a constitution
enfeebled, partly by the incessant work, and partly by the grief I
acutely felt at the loss of my late friend Dr Hodgkin, compelled me
to alter my plan, and instead of personal interviews I had to satisfy
myself with addressing these gentlemen by letters, forty-two of which
were despatched to the authorities and their accredited secretaries,
accompanied by my humble offerings for the benefit of all the
charitable institutions in Jerusalem.
"It was late in the afternoon, and the place was still crowded, but
I considered now the object of my visit to Jerusalem realised, and
retired to my own room to prepare for Sabbath.
"On Saturday, April 14th. after the morning service, I took a walk
round the garden, and was much pleased with the improvement of the
place since my last visit to Jerusalem.
"I regret, however, not being able to report the same of the land
of Jaffa, which has been unfortunately let to persons who, being
unable to resist the threatened attacks of the neighbouring Arabs,
deserted the place altogether. The consequence is that the houses
are completely demolished and the trees destroyed. I am at present,
however, in communication with the Chief Háhám of the Morocco
Congregation in Jerusalem in reference to this matter. If sufficient
funds can be obtained for the purpose, I hope to see four or five
families established at that now deserted place, who will apply
themselves sedulously to the cultivation of the land, which is of
considerable value, and ought to be immediately secured by a fence to
mark its boundaries.
"As soon as the evening prayers were over, I gave orders for our
departure. The whole of Saturday night was spent in communicating
with a number of people who brought letters, or had some verbal
communication to make, but as the morning dawn appeared, I wound my
way towards the Jaffa Road, and took my departure from the Holy City,
more deeply than ever impressed with its sacred reminiscences and its
perennial beauty, and more fervently than ever offering prayers for
its future welfare. 'As a seal I set thee on my heart, as a seal on
my arm, if ever I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget
her cunning.'
"We arrived, after a long day's journey, at Ramlah, where again we
took up our abode in the Russian Hospice. All the way from Jerusalem
to Jaffa we were followed by agriculturists from the Bokea, who were
anxious to lay their case before me in hopes that I would at once
afford them relief. I could, however, do no more than assure them
that all should be done to make their situation known, and to arouse
sympathy in their favour.
"On the following day, Monday, about noon, we left Ramlah for Jaffa,
and on approaching the avenue at the entrance of that city were
again met by the Governor, Judge, and Commander of the troops, with
a numerous retinue. But I would not proceed into Jaffa until I had
first visited the place which enclosed the mortal remains of my dear
friend, Dr Hodgkin. That spot is at present surrounded by a strong
railing, but will, I trust, soon be covered by a granite column, for
which I gave orders on my return to England, as a mark of my respect
and esteem. We embarked the same evening on board the _Rosetta_,
and on Wednesday, the 18th of April, arrived at Alexandria. The
same night we went on board the _Tanjore_, which, by the blessing
of heaven, brought us, after a most pleasant voyage, on Wednesday
evening, the 25th of April, to Marseilles."
Before proceeding to notice the entries in his Diary after his arrival
in England, we have to record two incidents in connection with his
homeward journey, which he in his narrative left unnoticed.
Sir Moses' state of health, during the last few days of his sojourn in
Jerusalem, manifested symptoms of great weakness, and it appeared most
desirable to his travelling companions that he should leave the place
as soon as possible. There were, however, none of the large steamers
in the Jaffa harbour, and it was only with some difficulty that a
few berths could be secured on board a small one. Unfortunately, the
accommodation there was far from being comfortable. We had on board
1500 sheep, a dozen horses, and many oxen. There was no railing round
the deck, where we had our places, except a rope or chain passing
through iron stancheons. The sea was very rough and boisterous; the
ship rolled terribly; and every now and then the towering waves,
as they rushed on deck, swept some of the sheep, horses, and oxen
overboard. Sir Moses could not go down into his cabin, and remained the
whole night sitting on deck. The old man of eighty-one did not utter a
single murmur; he bore the exposure to the raging elements, and endured
the anxiety, which was felt by every one on board, with calmness and
resignation. By the mercy of heaven we arrived safely at Alexandria,
and we at once went on board the _Tanjore_, Captain Brooks. There Sir
Moses found comfort and rest after the dangers he had braved. The sea
was calm, the company agreeable. Theatrical performances, dances,
and concerts beguiled the otherwise long and tedious hours on board
ship, and it was on occasion of one of these concerts that Sir Moses
experienced a most agreeable surprise. One of the band, handing round
the programmes of the concert to the passengers, brought one to Sir
Moses, which contained, amongst others, the following pieces:--
Hymn, -- "Yigdál Elokim Kháy," -- _Unknown._
Hymn, -- "Adón Olám," -- _Unknown._
These are two hymns in the Jewish Prayer-book. Sir Moses hardly
expected to find them in a programme of music on board the P. and O.
Company's steamship _Tanjore_. He therefore thought that possibly some
Hebrew scholar among the passengers might have written the words in
Hebrew for the amusement of the travellers, some of whom were Oriental
scholars from India. But, when after a valse the ancient Hebrew hymn
was intoned to a well-known melody, which may be heard on Sabbath and
festivals in the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in London, he was
much affected, and softly sang the words to himself.
He considered it a mark of great attention on the part of those who had
arranged the programme, and expressed himself in grateful terms for the
pleasant surprise.
_May 9th._--Sir Moses arrived at Ramsgate. Next day he proceeded to
Brighton, thence to Lewes to pay a visit of condolence to Dr Hodgkin's
brother. On the 14th he was again at the Alliance, and on the 17th he
called on Baron Brunnow.
"He received me," Sir Moses says, "most kindly. Though much engaged,
he heard my report of the Russian Hospice, and expressed a desire that
I would write him and he would send my letter to the Emperor, who, he
said, was always pleased to hear that his efforts for the happiness
of others had been successful. I then called at the Foreign Office,
and was received by Lord Clarendon; thanked him for his letters of
introduction to the British Consul at Syria, and for the letters he had
procured for me from the Turkish Government through Lord Lyons. I gave
him an account of my visit to Jerusalem, the kindness I had received
from Mr Moore, the distinguished manner in which I had been received
by the Governor of Jerusalem, and the anxiety his Excellency has
evinced for the improvement of the condition of the Jews in Jerusalem.
I informed his Lordship that great improvements had already been made
there, and on my arrival at Jerusalem I found that the land was much
better cultivated, and that there were many more buildings than on the
occasion of my last visit. Lord Clarendon said that if I sent him in
writing all that I had said, he would take the opportunity of thanking
the Turkish authorities, in the name of the English Government, for
their reception of me. I then spoke of the great kindness and attention
I had received from Mr Moore, of the friendship he evinced during my
trouble (the loss of my friend, Dr Hodgkin), of the esteem in which Mr
Moore was held by persons of all classes without distinction of faith.
Lord Clarendon asked me to write this to him also, and said, 'It is
seed that shall produce fruit.' Nothing could have been more kind than
his Lordship's reception of me."
_June 3rd_.--He went to his favourite retreat, Smithembottom, for a
few hours' reflection on the past and the future, but not until he
considered he had discharged all the duties in connection with his last
mission.
_July 24th_.--A granite pillar was bought by him for the tomb of his
lamented friend, Dr Hodgkin, and sent to Jaffa at his expense.
_August 13th_.--On calling at the Foreign Office he had the
satisfaction of being permitted to peruse two despatches, dated
Teheran, 10th and 11th of June, from Mr Alison. The latter had been
most active in his powerful appeal to the Persian Government in favour
of the Jews, but a few months later dispatches were again given to
him to read which caused him acute sorrow. "I called at the Foreign
Office," he says, in his entry of the 1st of November, "and gave Mr
(now Lord) Hammond a copy of my report. He said he had written to me
yesterday, but I had not yet received his letter."
An opportunity was then afforded to him to read several dispatches from
Mr Alison at Teheran, giving an account of another frightful outbreak
against the Jews at Benfarouch. Many of them were killed and had their
houses plundered and destroyed. In fact, the whole of the Jewish
population of that place were homeless and starving, and crying aloud
for mercy. The Shah's officer was beaten, and the head of the Moslem
population declared that he was king there, and that not a Jew should
remain alive in the place. The authority of the Shah had disappeared,
and the ministers of England, France, Russia, and Turkey had declined
to make any further remonstrances to his government. "Heaven protect
the poor Jews." I begged Mr Hammond to advise me what I could do for
them. He said, "Nothing; that I must wait with patience, and he would
let me know when they had further dispatches." I offered to go to
Persia, but he said, "It was not possible, I could do no good."
In a letter Sir Moses addressed to me in reference to the outbreak
against the Jews at Balfaroosh, he writes: "Lord Clarendon has sent Mr
Alison a telegram to express to the Shah the full assurance felt by Her
Majesty's Government that the persons who have committed the outrage
in question will be severely punished, and that the Jews at Balfaroosh
and elsewhere throughout Persia will be protected from ill-treatment
and persecution." "Alas," he continues, "I am not yet finished with one
effort in favour of our brethren when a new misfortune occurs."
_November 5th._ He went to the Isle of Thanet Union at Ramsgate;
visited all the rooms, and the infirmary, &c.; distributed parcels
containing tea and sugar, in addition to gifts in money among 340
persons present. The inmates were always pleased to see him, as he made
it a rule to speak a few kind words to them.
He was in the habit of visiting the Union and other charitable
institutions in Ramsgate regularly every year, when his health
permitted him to do so, and always remembered the inmates on the
Queen's Birthday and on other festive occasions.
_December 4th._--Sir Moses went to Dover to meet the Rev. Dr Artom,
the spiritual head of the Spanish and Portuguese congregation, on
his arrival after election. A few days later he had the pleasure
of receiving a kind note with an offer of £100 from Miss Burdett
Coutts towards the fund to be raised for the supply of water and
the improvement of the dwellings of the Israelites in Jerusalem.
Subsequently he devoted much time to making arrangements regarding his
land at Jaffa.
When Sir Moses, a few months earlier, in a moment of weariness, almost
overwhelmed by the frequent appeals to his sympathizing heart from
his oppressed and suffering brethren in foreign lands, said, "Alas,
I am not yet finished with one effort when a new misfortune occurs,"
he little thought that he would so soon have again to set out on a
mission, and so give up the comforts of home. But the unexpected often
happens, and Sir Moses did not think that he would be exempted from the
usual lot of mankind; especially as so many thousands of his fellow
beings placed their confidence in him, knowing that he would hasten
to their help, as long as one spark of hope was left to remove their
grievances.
In the first few months of this year he pursued his occupations in
their usual order in the city, and when at Ramsgate, where he generally
enjoyed the company of relatives and friends, his favourite theme was
the improvement of the college buildings by the enlargement of the
lecture hall. But even this pleasure soon became clouded by the news of
the death of his brother-in-law, Mr Benjamin Cohen, the father of Mr
Arthur Cohen, Q.C. Both he and Lady Montefiore were greatly attached to
him. He was a man of exceptional goodness of heart, most agreeable in
manners; endearing himself to all who associated with him.
Soon after this mournful event he received by the kindness of Lord
Stanley, from the Foreign Office, various extracts from reports
referring to Hamadan, dated February 22, 1867. "The Jews," Mr Alison's
agent writes, "are this year much more ill-treated than last year. Many
of the Jews have run away from this province."
Mr R. T. Thomson in his notes on "The Jews of Oroomiah," writes, on
February 1, 1867, "There are two hundred families of Jews residing
in the town of Oroomiah. The revenue which they pay to the Persian
Government annually is fixed at four hundred tomans, but their master
Rejjeb Ali Khan, son of Fazzan Agha, takes six hundred tomans besides
sundry fines and other small exactions. It was agreed about twenty
years ago that they should pay ten tomans annually, in lieu of forced
labour. This sum is regularly exacted, and the forced labour likewise,
which consists of clearing snow from the houses of the Master and his
friends, removing rubbish, and clearing their courtyards.
If a Jew dies, and has no son to succeed to his property, the will
of the deceased is set aside, and the Master takes possession of his
property.
"Rejjeb Ali Khan, who returned from Tabreez to Oroomiah last summer,
demanded, while I was at the latter town, 120 tomans, the greater part
of which he had then collected, and he absolutely refused to reckon
this sum as part of the regular taxes. A deputation from the Jews left
for Tabreez last summer to petition the authorities there, but the son
of the Master heard of their departure, and they had been seized and
brought back to Oroomiah.
"As an example of the unfair manner in which these taxes are imposed,
the case of one Jew may be cited, who during last year paid twelve
tomans as his share, though there are only four persons living in his
house, and also that of his brother, who lives by himself and has no
shop, and yet had to pay six tomans."
Lord Stanley approved of Mr Alison's exertions in favour of the Jews
and Nestorians, and desired him to take every suitable opportunity of
strongly pressing upon the Shah and his Ministers the interest felt by
Her Majesty's Government in both these classes of his subjects, and
their earnest hope that the Shah would extend to them his protection,
redress any wrongs which they may suffer, and make his Moslem subjects
clearly understand that any act of violence and wrong on Jews or
Christians would not only entail upon them personal punishment, but the
payment of pecuniary compensation to the sufferers.
Notwithstanding the representations of the British Government, however,
complaints of oppression continued to arrive from various places
in Persia, appealing for help, and the anxiety of Sir Moses became
considerably increased by the cry of anguish which reached him from
Moldavia.
"On the 4th of May last," the supplicants say in their letter to
him, "a decree was issued by the Minister to expel all the Jews from
the villages of Moldavia as coming under the category of vagabonds.
Scarcely was the edict made known, when the Minister himself arrived
here; in another moment the enemies of Israel filled the streets and
public places, seized every Jew, without distinction, that came in
their way, crying out, 'He is a vagabond;' bound him hand and foot
with chains, beat him unmercifully; drove out alike old and young,
chased them out of the city, and delivered them over to the mercy of
the soldiery to drive them beyond the frontier.
"A cry of anguish from the women, and like lamentations from the
men, went up to Heaven. Old men and children, women with children
at the breast, cry aloud, but there are none to pity, none to look
with compassion. They have been driven from all the villages, made to
leave their possessions, their goods and chattels, in the hands of
their enemies, and have escaped only with their lives.
"The heads of the congregation here have entreated the Minister
to withdraw the decree, but in vain have they supplicated.
Non-Israelites have also sought justice for the Jews, but they have
pleaded to a deaf ear. He seeks only their expulsion.
"In three days the prisons were overcrowded with our brethren. Their
persecutions for a while abated, still we were in fear and trembling
lest every moment they should be renewed with fresh vigour, for the
decree has not yet been recalled.
"A great evil threatens us, the hatred increases every day and every
hour--there is none to stay the hand. We therefore make known to you
these our troubles and distresses, beseeching you with burning tears
to aid us all in your power, and to defend the cause of the oppressed
Israelites who are driven from the land of Moldavia.
"May the Creator of heaven and earth, the God of Israel, help us.
"Trouble upon trouble! During the last three days soldiers have been
going about the streets molesting the Jews, and with their swords
they injured a woman with child. Her cries brought persons to her
rescue, and those who endeavoured to take the weapons from the
soldiers were seized, thrown into prison, and charged with attempting
to murder the soldiery. We have no one to look to for help except our
Father in Heaven and His servant Moses. The chief matters we dare not
venture to write, out of dread and apprehension, for we are as sheep
in the hands of the slaughterers."
Sir Moses received numerous petitions to the same effect from Galatz
and Berlad, which he forwarded to the London Committee of Deputies of
the British Jews. The British Government took every opportunity to help
them, yet no redress could be obtained, and the cries of the sufferers
continued.