1828-1829.
ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND--ILLNESS OF MR MONTEFIORE-THE STRUGGLE FOR
JEWISH EMANCIPATION.
_Thursday, February 28th._--They arrived safely in Dover harbour, and
had the pleasure of seeing some of their near relatives who had come
down to welcome them.
They proceeded next day to their home in London, where they
immediately paid a visit to Mr Montefiore's mother.
Having discharged this pleasing duty, they repaired to the Admiralty,
to leave the letters which had been entrusted by Admiral Codrington to
Mr Montefiore for delivery. They reached their home at five o'clock,
again to enjoy their Sabbath, a day of hallowed peace and rest, at
Park Lane.
The following morning they attended Synagogue to offer up prayers for
their safe return, and were received by the ecclesiastical authorities
and representatives of the community with manifestations of pleasure
at their reappearance among them. Later in the day Mr Montefiore
waited on the Duke of Clarence to deliver into his hands the letter
from the Admiral. Mr Montefiore returned much pleased with the
audience he had had with His Royal Highness.
The great object which Mr and Mrs Montefiore had in view, when setting
out for the Holy Land, had so far been accomplished, that they had
made a sojourn of three days in the City of Jerusalem, a
gratification, however, which they had been permitted to enjoy only in
return for unusually great sacrifices.
Mr Montefiore now placed himself under the care of an eminent
physician, who for a long time visited him almost daily. As his doctor
did not, however, forbid Mr Montefiore's leaving the house or
following his usual pursuits, he went regularly, except on the Sabbath
and Festivals, to the city, attending the Boards of the Alliance
Marine and Alliance Life and Fire Offices, the Imperial Continental
Gas Association, the Silk Company, and those of all his various
communal and charitable institutions. His physician would often
accompany him on his way to the city.
In accordance with the injunction in Deut. xxiii. 23, "That which has
gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform," he endeavoured to
fulfil the promises he had made in Egypt, Jaffa, and Malta. He spoke
to Sir Robert Farquhar in favour of Mr Barker's appointment as Consul
General in Egypt in place of the late Mr Salt. He gave Signor
Damiani's letter to Mr George Canning, first Lord of the Treasury and
Chancellor of the Exchequer, soliciting him to appoint young Damiana
British Consul at Jaffa, in succession to his father. Finally, he
called on Dr Lee of Doctors' Commons, leaving the manuscript, "The
Story of Gaiffa," which the author had requested him, when at Malta,
to take there.
He had the satisfaction of hearing afterwards that his friendly
intercession on behalf of the applicants had been partially
successful.
He was now called upon to fulfil a promise of a mournful nature,
which, previously to his setting out for the Holy Land, he had made at
the request of the Ecclesiastical Chief of his community.
_19th Sivan_ 5588 A.M.--"It was Sunday morning, the 1st of June 1828,
when the Rev. Hazan de Sola informed me that it had pleased heaven to
call to eternal glory our most worthy Haham Meldola, this morning
suddenly, and that he had appointed me his executor conjointly with
two other gentlemen.
"Tuesday has been a very fatiguing day. At half-past eight I was at
Mansell Street attending as Lavador. I took care to see that all the
Rev. Haham's requests were strictly complied with. At twelve the
funeral cortege proceeded to Bevis Marks. The Rev. Dr Hirschel
preached an excellent discourse over the coffin at the old burial
ground. The body was carried by all the representatives of the
congregation. I assisted in lowering it into the grave. I subsequently
returned to the house of the mourners, there joining the assembly at
vesper prayers. It was seven o'clock when I left."
Mr Montefiore frequently called at the house of the bereaved
relatives, conveying to them his sympathy and making friendly offers
of his services.
Always feeling an interest in objects connected with the Holy Land, he
went to look at the drawings and sketches made by Mr Thomas Wyse, jun.
(son-in-law of Lucien Bonaparte), during his stay in that part of the
world. Some of them he found beautiful and faithful representations of
views in and about Jerusalem. But what engages his mind most now is
the desirability of procuring the necessary means for the support of
educational institutions in the Holy Land.
The spread of education and the establishment of schools and colleges
have justly been regarded by all enlightened nations as a barometer of
civilisation, a sign of the pulsation of life in the heart of a
people, and the gladdening light and comforting joy for both rich and
poor. But all who are acquainted with the history of the Jews, both
ancient and modern, will readily admit that no other nation or class
of people have ever shown their appreciation of it under more
unfavourable circumstances and at a greater sacrifice. They never
relaxed their exertions to benefit by education, notwithstanding the
numerous and painful checks from which their progress has often
suffered. As the grain of seed under the rough and stony surface,
trodden down by the heavy steps of the wanderer, only after turning
and twisting in many directions, finally sends forth its tender blade
into the pure atmosphere and reviving light of the sun, so the seed of
intellect in the brain of the Jew had to pass through many trials and
troubles before its first shoot was permitted to show itself and to
thrive in the beneficent rays of liberty.
An opportunity presented itself to Mr Montefiore to assist the good
cause of education by the arrival of a special messenger from
Jerusalem, sent to draw his attention to an important case referring
to a legacy bequeathed to a theological college in the Holy City.
This messenger, the Rev. A. J., who was a member of the college in
question belonging to the Spanish and Portuguese community in
Jerusalem, said that he was sent by the representatives of that
institution to make their case known to the head of the Spanish and
Portuguese community in London, and to receive L2600 consols from a
certain person. The interest of that stock having been bequeathed to
the said college by two friends of Zion residing in England, the
representatives should have received the same in regular remittances.
The person mentioned, however, being the only surviving trustee, had
sold the stock, and had for some years discontinued the remittance of
dividends. Mr Montefiore gave the messenger a most polite and friendly
reception, and called on two gentlemen who, he knew, would take an
interest in the case, asking them to associate themselves with him in
furtherance of the above object.
A few days later he gave an entertainment at Park Lane, inviting most
of the leading and influential members of the community to meet the
messenger from Jerusalem, who, it was here suggested, should be asked
to deliver a discourse in the Portuguese Synagogue. The Rev. A. J.
consented to do so, and gave an interesting address to the community
in pure Biblical Hebrew.
Mr Montefiore went with his friends to the solicitor to hear the
trustee's answer to the Bill filed in Chancery, and he promised to
give them his opinion on the subject in a few days.
Whilst awaiting the solicitor's opinion, the Rev. A. J. was taken
seriously ill, and was received into the hospital of the Spanish and
Portuguese community, where at Mr Montefiore's expense he was visited
by the most eminent physicians. Eventually he recovered.
Ten days later the Rev. A. J. sent for J. M. B., a particular friend
of the trustee, to whom he made the following proposition:--"That the
trustee should pay him (the Rev. A. J.) his expenses and all law
charges, and also L500 down, the balance to be invested in the names
of trustees, and the present trustee to enjoy the interest during his
lifetime, the capital at his decease reverting to Jerusalem." J. M. B.
promised to communicate the offer to his friend. The solicitor
informed Mr Montefiore that this gentleman's attorney had returned to
England, and would lose no time in giving an answer to the messenger's
Amendment Bill in the Court of Chancery. Some time afterwards Mr
Montefiore met by appointment with two other friends at the house of
the messenger, leaving him the power of attorney, to act for the
recovery of the funds.
Three months later, however, he and two friends had to undertake the
very unpleasant task of informing the rev. gentleman that, in their
opinion, he would not be able to obtain any money from the trustee,
and a sum of money had to be given him to enable him to return to
Jerusalem.
With a sorrowful heart at the result of his mission he left England.
"But never," he writes in a letter addressed to Mr Montefiore from
Jerusalem, "will the recollection of the great kindness, sympathy, and
attention which I have met from yourself and my many friends be
effaced from my memory."
This misappropriation of trust funds intended for poor students in the
Holy City roused the utmost indignation in the community. It was
deemed a sacrilege, and the strongest terms of reprobation were
expressed against the individual who had thus outraged the feelings of
humanity.
"There can be no doubt," said Mr Montefiore many years later, speaking
on the same subject, "that trusts connected with charitable or
strictly religious institutions are more liable than others to be, if
not strictly speaking misappropriated, at least misdirected, though it
may probably be unintentional, more especially when the religious
views of the trustees differ from those of the testator. The trust in
this particular instance being connected with the study of a language
held in esteem by all religious denominations, the act becomes much
aggravated, nay, unpardonable."
The fervent attachment which Mr Montefiore evinced to the Holy Land
did not in any way interfere with his devotion to England.
I have already pointed out to the reader the great zeal which he
manifested for the defence of his country when serving as a volunteer,
and on all occasions he continued to declare that he was ever ready to
fulfil his duties by going on active service.
In common with his brethren in all parts of the world, he felt it most
painfully that, in a country like England, where so many well-meaning
citizens evinced their sympathy with the sufferers from oppression, he
as a Jew should still be debarred from many of those rights and
privileges to which every loyal subject is fully entitled.
The sacrifices which the Jews all over Europe had made during the war
of 1815, by shedding their blood in defence of the country in which
they lived, and by their liberal contributions to the funds for the
relief of the wounded, and the support of the soldiers' widows and
orphans, had been acknowledged and appreciated.
In Holland and France the Jews were fully emancipated, filling high
municipal offices in their respective districts, whereas in England
the Jews who, since the year 1753, when the Ministry was compelled to
withdraw the Naturalisation Act, after it had passed the House of
Lords, had been in vain endeavouring to secure their civil rights,
thought that the time had now arrived when they might hope to be more
successful in the just demands they made upon an enlightened assembly
of legislators in both Houses of Parliament.
On June 26th Mr Montefiore went with Mr I. L. Goldsmid to the Duke of
Norfolk to meet various committees of Dissenters and Catholics, for
the purpose of consulting as to the best mode of obtaining privileges
for the Jews. They there met Messrs Blount, C. Butler (Catholics),
Foa, Bowany, and Aspenhill (Dissenters), and interchanged views on the
subject of obtaining relief from all religious disabilities. Similar
meetings were held in other localities which were attended by several
members of the community, the result being, as is well known, the
repeal of the Test and Corporation Act.
Greatly encouraged by the result of these meetings, Mr Montefiore,
conjointly with Mr N. M. Rothschild, Mr I. L. Goldsmid, and others,
pursued with great energy the object in view.
In the month of August, Mr and Mrs Montefiore set out for a little
excursion to Exeter, Bath, and other places, for the purpose of giving
Mr Montefiore a short respite from the fatigue entailed upon him by
his onerous duties.
We find them again at Park Lane about the end of that month.
The diary of 1829 continues to record the great exertions made by Mr
Montefiore and other members of his community to attain their civil
rights. He attends besides to all his various duties, and has headed
the volume by the three following lessons for his own guidance:--
"Be content with what God has allotted you, and you are rich." "To
learn, listen. To be safe, be silent." "No man can be happy who does
not devote at least five or six hours daily to some useful
employment."
On Sunday, 22nd February, he writes: "Mr Isaac L. Goldsmid paid me a
long visit, consulting as to the best mode of procuring general
toleration for the Jews. Judith and self took a ride to see Hannah
Rothschild and her husband. We had a long conversation on the subject
of liberty for the Jews. He said he would shortly go to the Lord
Chancellor and consult him on the matter. Hannah said if he did not,
she would.
"The spirit manifested here by Mrs Rothschild, and the brief but
impressive language she used, reminded me most strikingly of her
sister, Mrs Montefiore."
Mr Montefiore called the next day on Mr I. L. Goldsmid and Mr Moses
Mocatta, and conversed with them on the present state of the Jews.
Subsequently he went with Mr N. M. Rothschild to Sir James Mackintosh,
to request him to bring a Bill into Parliament to allow aliens (Jews)
to hold freehold land and to vote for members of Parliament.
In the cause of emancipation friendly dinners and entertainments were
occasionally given for the purpose of affording friends of religious
and civil liberty an opportunity of exchanging their views on the
subject. To many of these, given by N. M. Rothschild at Piccadilly, Mr
and Mrs Montefiore were invited. At one of them they met the Duke and
Duchess of St Albans, Lady Louisa Beauclerk, the Hon. Shaw Stewart,
Lord and Lady Kinnwell, Sir William and Lady Rowly, the Spanish
Ambassador and his wife, the Brazilian Ambassador, Sir Charles
Beresford, Sir William Abdy, Mr George Harrison, Mr Kelly Addenston.
"Twenty-three," says Mr Montefiore, "sat down to table. Moschelles
came in the evening, played on the piano, and accompanied Miss
Rothschild. It was near twelve before the party broke up." Mr
Montefiore was highly gratified with the result of the conversations
he had with several influential noblemen on the subject he had so much
at heart.
On a similar occasion at the house of Mr John Pearce, St Swithin's
Lane, he met a number of gentlemen interested in the emancipation of
the Jews. He there spoke to Daniel O'Connell and his son, to the
O'Gorman Mahon, I. L. Goldsmid, young Attwood, Samuel Gurney and his
son, Fowell Buxton, Charles Pearce, Pearce Mahony, and Dr Hume.
O'Connell and the O'Gorman were very chatty.
On the 17th of March, Mr and Mrs Montefiore called on Mr N. M.
Rothschild. They read there the petition of the Jews to both Houses of
Parliament prepared by Mr Tooke, and "both Hannah and Rothschild," he
observes, "approve of it."
On the evening of the same day he attended a meeting of deputies from
the several London Synagogues held at the Mocattas', in Russell
Square. Mr Mocatta was elected Chairman, and Joseph Cohen Honorary
Secretary. There were also present Dr Joshua Van Oven, Lyon Samuel,
Levy Solomon, Hart Micholls, David Brandon, Moses Montefiore, jun. Mr
Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, who had written a letter to the Chairman, was
sent for. He came in shortly afterwards, and laid before the meeting a
statement of the favourable prospect of obtaining the removal of the
Jewish disabilities. "It was half-past ten," says Mr Montefiore,
"before we separated, first passing a vote of thanks to Mr I. L.
Goldsmid and to our Chairman."
A few days later Mr I. L. Goldsmid informed him of what had passed
between Mr N. M. Rothschild and the Lord Chancellor on Tuesday, 17th
March. He went to the House of Lords with Mr Rothschild. The
Chancellor was very polite, and regretted that he had not time that
day to go into the business, but requested him to come the following
Wednesday at half-past four.