1834-1835.
ILLNESS OF MR MONTEFIORE--HIS RECOVERY--SIR DAVID SALOMONS PROPOSED AS
SHERIFF--VISIT OF THE DUCHESS OF KENT AND PRINCESS VICTORIA TO
RAMSGATE--MR MONTEFIORE'S HOSPITALS--NAMING OF THE VESSEL _BRITANNIA_
BY MRS MONTEFIORE--A LOAN OF FIFTEEN MILLIONS.
In the year 1834 much anxiety was felt for Mr Montefiore by his
friends in consequence of a severe illness by which he was attacked.
For several months he was under the treatment of eminent surgeons, and
on his recovery his strength was so low, that a journey to the South
of France was deemed necessary.
He accordingly left England, accompanied by his devoted wife, who had
during his whole illness tended him with loving care. Mr Ashton Rey,
one of his medical advisers, in a letter he once wrote to Mr
Montefiore, observed that Mrs Montefiore was one of the best wives he
had ever seen, never moving from her husband's bedside day or night
except to snatch a few hours' necessary repose.
They remained abroad till August, the change of air having had the
desired effect upon him, and on his arrival at East Cliff he was again
in the enjoyment of his usual health.
They were both much disappointed on their return to hear the result of
the Jewish Disabilities Bill, which, after having been passed in the
Lower House, had been sent to the Upper House, where it was lost by
130 votes against 38. But still they did not lose courage, and hoped
for the ultimate victory of the good cause.
There is only one entry after this referring to political matters. It
is to the effect that Mr N. M. Rothschild had been with the Duke of
Wellington and advised him to form a Liberal Government, and to
consent to some reforms; saying to His Grace that he must go with the
world, for the world would not go with him.
On the last page of the diary he writes: "This night (31st December)
brings me to the end of my book as well as to that of the year 1834.
When I reflect on the situation I was in during a long period of this
year, languishing on a bed of sickness, in severe pain and affliction,
on the eve of undergoing a dangerous operation, how can I be
sufficiently thankful to the Almighty for manifold blessings I now
enjoy, saved by His great mercy from the grave."
Praying for a continuation of former mercies, he concludes with a copy
of the 85th Psalm.
The year 1835 will ever be noted in the history of civilisation as one
in which the dawning light of liberty began to inspire comfort in the
hearts of the unwearied strugglers for equal rights for the Jews.
On May the 7th Mr Montefiore writes: "I called at Downing Street on
the Right Hon. Spring-Rice, Chancellor of the Exchequer. I was
immediately admitted, and received by him in the most friendly manner.
I thanked him for having at my request appointed Jacob Montefiore one
of Her Majesty's Commissioners for the Colonisation of South
Australia. The Chancellor spoke of the many new schemes now afloat of
companies with small capital, and said he would always be glad to see
me."
A month later he went to the Guildhall, and heard David Salomons
proposed to the Livery as one of the Sheriffs for London and
Middlesex. Sir John Campbell having introduced a measure, the Sheriffs
Declaration Bill, which by the repeal of the Test and Corporation Act
in 1828 enabled a Jew to enter into the office without violating his
own religious convictions, Mr David Salomons was elected without
opposition and "made a very good speech," Mr Montefiore observes, "in
returning thanks."
The arrival in Ramsgate of the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria
(Her present Majesty) is described by Mr Montefiore as follows:--
"This (September 29th) is a very busy day. At ten I was at the Town
Hall; at 11 the committee and many of the inhabitants, both on horse
and on foot, went to the extremity of the parish to receive their
Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria. The
Deputy of the Town and myself headed the procession; we walked by the
side of the Royal carriage bareheaded all the way to Albion House.
Thousands of people were in the streets, the houses all gaily
ornamented with flags and boughs of trees. The Duchess, on entering
the house, sent Sir George Conroy to request that the gentlemen of the
committee would come in to receive her thanks for their attention. I
went in among the number, and was introduced. She expressed herself
delighted; the Princess was also much pleased. They had appointed
to-morrow at eleven o'clock to receive the address. About four I again
joined the committee at the head of the pier. Sir William Curtis was
most polite. The Belgian Ambassador, with whom I had dined at N. M.
Rothschild's, was also there, and introduced me to Sir John Conroy.
Soon after five one of the King's steamers entered the harbour with
the King and Queen of the Belgians. Several members of the committee
went on board to welcome them on their arrival, I among the number.
They had had a very rough passage from Calais. The King appeared
greatly altered, looking very old, the Queen is young and pleasant
looking. They proceeded on foot to the Albion Hotel. The town was
handsomely decorated and the principal streets illuminated, but the
wind was so high as to put out most of the lamps."
The next morning at half-past ten Mr Montefiore went to the Town Hall,
and accompanied Sir William Curtis, Mr Warren, Mr Tomson (the Deputy),
Colonel Clarke, and about a dozen more to Albion House, to present to
the Duchess of Kent and Princess Victoria the address from the
inhabitants and visitors of Ramsgate and its vicinity. They were all
introduced, and were most kindly received by the Royal party. The
Duchess honoured the committee with a gracious reply, which she read.
The committee then returned to the Town Hall, and prepared an address
to the King and Queen of the Belgians, and at one o'clock walked to
the Albion Hotel. They were introduced and very graciously received,
the King speaking to Mr Montefiore and several other members of the
committee. The King read a reply to the Address, and after a few
minutes the Committee withdrew, much gratified with their reception.
Subsequently Mr and Mrs Montefiore attended a ball given by the Master
of the Ceremonies at the Albion Hotel, where they met many
acquaintances. Sir John Conroy was particularly polite to them. Mr
Montefiore offered him the use of the key of his grounds for the
Duchess, which he accepted with pleasure. Accordingly both Mr and Mrs
Montefiore called the next day on the Duchess, and left a key there
for the use of Her Royal Highness, Sir John Conroy and his family.
On Wednesday, October 21st. the Duchess, accompanied by one of her
ladies of honour, and attended by a footman, made use of the key, and
walked through their grounds.
Sir John Conroy, meeting Mr Montefiore next day at Burgess' Library,
said that the Duchess regretted that his gardener had suddenly
disappeared yesterday, which had prevented her sending to inform Mrs
Montefiore that she was in the grounds as she had wished to have done.
Her Royal Highness having repeated her visits to his grounds, Mr
Montefiore ordered an opening to be made in the field on the side next
to Broadstairs for the convenience of the Duchess. In recognition of
this attention he received the following note from Sir John Conroy:--
"Sir John Conroy presents his compliments, and in
obedience to a command he has just received from the
Duchess of Kent, hastens to acquaint Mr Montefiore that
Her Royal Highness is exceedingly gratified and obliged
by his attention in making a new access to his charming
grounds from Broadstairs for her convenience, but Her
Royal Highness fears she has given a great deal of
trouble.
"Ramsgate, _24th October 1835_.
There were several incidents which afforded them much gratification
this year.
Mrs Montefiore was invited to name a new steamer. "This morning,"
writes Mr Montefiore on July 9, "we embarked from the Custom House
stairs on board the _Harlequin_, to witness the launch of a new
steamship built by Fletcher & Fearnaly. On reaching the dockyard near
Limehouse, Mr Woolverly Attwood and Judith went on shore; I followed
with Horatio at half-past one. My dear wife named the ship by throwing
a bottle of wine against the side of the vessel at the moment she left
the stocks and plunged into the water. 'May every success,' she said,
'attend the _Britannia_.' We then went on board the _Royal Sovereign_.
There was a large party; about a hundred sat down to dinner. Several
members of Parliament with their ladies were present, G. R. Dawson,
Medley, T. M. Pearce, Pepys, and Col. Lawrence. Many speeches, all
drinking my dear wife's health."
Another entry refers to his having been admitted to the freedom of the
Merchant Taylors Company. Mr Montefiore received a letter from Mr
Matthias Attwood, informing him that he had proposed his name at the
Court of the above Company for admission to the freedom and livery of
the same. The proposition, said Mr Attwood, was carried unanimously,
many of the members expressing the high respect they entertained for
Mr Montefiore's personal character.
On the 4th of November he was accordingly admitted and sworn a freeman
of the said Company. "Matthias Attwood," says Mr Montefiore, "has
acted with the greatest kindness in procuring me this honour, I being
the first Jew admitted to their Company. At the next meeting of the
Court I am to be made one of the livery."
A printed slip of a newspaper is affixed to one of the leaves of the
diary, referring to a loan raised under the authority of the Act 3 and
4 of William IV., cap. 73, for the compensation to owners of slaves;
it reads as follows:--
"The parties to the contract for the L15,000,000 loan are N. M.
Rothschild and Moses Montefiore on the one part, and Lord Melbourne,
Mr F. Spring-Rice, Lord Seymour, and Messrs W. H. Old, R. Steward, and
R. More, on the other; witnesses, Messrs James Pattison, Governor, and
T. A. Curtis, Deputy-Governor of the Bank of England."
There is another slip attached to it, showing the interest on this
loan to have been lower than several preceding ones.
The interest on the loan of 1812 was L3, 5s. 7d., and of 1813, L5,
10s.
Second loan of 1813, L5, 6s. 2d.; 1814, L4, 12s. 1d.; 1815, L5, 12s.
4d.; 1819, L4, 5s. 9d.; 1820, L4, 3s. 3d.; and on the present loan,
L3, 7s. 6d.
The particulars of that loan are given in the _Money Market and City
Intelligence_, dated Monday evening, 3rd August 1835:
"The bidding for the West Indian loan took place this morning. Mr
Rothschild and his friends waited upon Lord Melbourne and the
Chancellor at ten o'clock. Mr Rothschild's tender, the only one
prepared, the other lists having been withdrawn, was then opened, when
that gentleman's bidding was found to be 14s. 11d. in long annuities.
The offer having been declined, the sealed minimum of ministers, as
previously arranged, was opened, and it appeared they were not willing
to give more than 13s. 7d. of annuities in addition to L75 consols and
L25 redeemed 3 per cents, for every L100 in money subscribed. It was
for Mr Rothschild, therefore, either to agree to those terms or to
abandon the contract. That gentleman and his friends retired for a
short time to consult on the subject, and finally agreed to accept
them. An important concession was, however, obtained in regard to the
discount for paying up the instalments, which is to be at the rate of
4 per cent. on the payment, as in all former contracts for loans, and
gives a bonus of L1, 19s. 10d. in favour of the contractors. The
subscribers to the loan have now an inducement which did not exist
under the arrangement at first proposed, for completing the
instalments and turning their omnium into stock. Though it is an
advantage, therefore, to them, it is considered somewhat against the
present price of consols, as a large supply may at any time be thrown
upon the market. The Chancellor of the Exchequer assured the gentlemen
who attended the bidding, that all means would be taken on his part to
bring back into circulation the money that might come into his hands
beyond the amount called for to meet the West Indian claims. On the
subject of debentures (they are not named in the contract specially)
against which, as a security not yet created, there were many
objections, it is agreed that they shall be at all times made
receivable to the instalments of the loan. When the terms were first
made known, the scrip bore a premium of 2-3/4 to 3 per cent., but they
produced a decline in consols, which went back to 89, a fall of nearly
1 per cent. at the highest price of the morning. A large amount of
business was done both in the stock and in the scrip; the fluctuations
in them were not, however, very considerable afterwards. The following
are the concluding quotations:--
"Consols for the account, 89-3/4 to ----; omnium 2-3/4, 3 premium;
Exchequer bills, 18s. to 20s. premium."
On the same day he makes the following entry in his journal: "I
accompanied N. M. R. Pattison and J. A. Curtis to the City; called at
the Alliance, Irish Bank, &c.; at six we dined, and took our fast,
&c., this being the anniversary of the destruction of the Temple in
Jerusalem."
Few financiers, perhaps would feel inclined, after all the excitement
incidental to the successful contracting of a loan for L15,000,000, to
comply with so exacting a religious observance as a fast of
twenty-four hours duration. With a mind pre-occupied with business
details, the rise and fall of the public funds, and other matters,
such an observance must be more than ordinarily trying. Nevertheless
Mr Montefiore would not, on this occasion any more than any other,
allow worldly interests to prevail over religious duties.
The loan for the abolition of slavery reminded him of the words of the
Prophet Isaiah (ch. lii., v. 3) to Israel: "Ye have sold yourselves
for nought, and ye shall be redeemed without money," and attuned his
mind to reflection on the former glory of Zion and its present state
of sorrow.
On the 2nd of November we find a record of his having paid L400 to the
Blue Coat School to constitute him one of the governors. The manner in
which he was led to take this step is noteworthy. A young man who was
a complete stranger to them, wrote and implored Mr and Mrs Montefiore
to take his wife and child under their protection. He acknowledged
that, as a stranger and one professing a different religion, he had no
claim whatever to make such a request, but he had heard so much of
their kind-heartedness that he felt sure they would not refuse to
accede to the dying prayer of one who was driven by unmerited
misfortunes to despair and suicide. Sir Moses enquired into the case,
and finding that the poor man had really deserved a better fate, he
assisted the widow in her distressing position, and bought the
governorship, as recorded, for the express purpose of being able to
provide for the boy.
There is another entry of his having attended a meeting of the
Committee of the Cock Court Alm's Houses, which he had erected and
presented to the Spanish and Portuguese community. His object in
attending was to remind the Elders to rebuild some of the houses on
one side of the court, at an expense not exceeding L900, the funds in
hand being L1400.
Turning to politics, he mentions a dinner party at Sir Robert
Campbell's, where Mr and Mrs Montefiore met the Duke and Duchess of
Cleveland, Lord and Lady Darlington, Lady Augusta Powlett, Colonel
Lushington, and other friends of emancipation.
The reader having seen Mr and Mrs Montefiore in the circle of royalty
and high nobility, I will ask him to accompany me into the circle of
their own family and friends.
On November 27th I was invited to a dinner party given by one of his
relatives in London, the late Mr Louis Cohen. It was here that I met
Mr and Mrs Montefiore for the first time. During the course of the
evening I had many opportunities of conversing with them, and before
parting, they invited me to spend a week with them at East Cliff
Lodge, Ramsgate.
A few days later I was informed that a place had been taken for me to
Ramsgate, at the Spread Eagle, Gracechurch Street, in the name of Mr
Montefiore.
There is a special entry of this little journey, which I copy.
_Thursday, 3rd December 1835._--"Walked with Judith to Gracechurch
Street. We met Louis and Florette (the late Mr Louis Cohen, of 5 South
Street, Finsbury, their nephew, and his wife) and Dr Loewe. We all
went with the Tally-Ho at three o'clock; they having the whole inside,
and I riding outside on the box seat. We took tea at Sittingbourne,
and proceeded from Canterbury about ten o'clock by the night stage
coach with post horses to East Cliff.
"I found it extremely cold; it was near one when we arrived at East
Cliff, thanks to Heaven, in safety, and found all well. Our library
looked delightfully comfortable, with a good fire and lamps. I was
almost perishing with cold. We took tea, &c., and when our visitors
retired to their chambers it was near two o'clock."
The inconvenient mode of travelling at that time did not prevent his
making such journeys whenever required, and however much he may have
suffered by taking his seat outside the coach (which he evidently
always did from politeness to his visitors), his comfortable home soon
made him forget the unpleasantness of a long cold ride.
During my stay in East Cliff, the time of the party was generally
devoted either to little excursions in the neighbourhood, or to
conversations on literary subjects. Sometimes Mr and Mrs Montefiore
entertained us by giving their reminiscences of travels in Italy,
France, and Egypt.
There was a kind of charm which the visitor felt in their company; a
very short time after his arrival a delightful sensation of comfort
overcame him, and soon made him feel at home. The amiability of both
the hostess and host made the days pass agreeably and rapidly, and
they were always loth to retire when the midnight hour was announced.
Mrs Montefiore showed us all the curiosities she brought with her from
Egypt, and told us how much she had been entertained in that country
by the number of languages spoken around her. There was an amusing
incident that day, which particularly induced her to speak on the
study of languages. Mr Montefiore had laid a wager with her to the
effect that if, at a stated time, she would be able to pass an
examination by him in Italian grammar, he would give her a cheque for
L100. She was fortunate enough to acquit herself most creditably in
our presence, and received the amount in question.
Mr Montefiore was delighted at the perseverance and ability displayed
by his wife, and she was truly happy to have again succeeded (as she
always did) in obtaining the approbation of her husband.
The conversation of the visitors being frequently in French and
German, many an hour was spent in reading letters and poems addressed
to Mr and Mrs Montefiore in these languages. Mrs Montefiore, however,
was not content with the study of modern languages, and expressed a
wish to acquire also a knowledge of Eastern languages, especially of
Turkish and Arabic.
To give her an idea of the grammatical construction of the latter, I
used to write out lessons for her, and she at once commenced to learn
them. The following morning she surprised the whole party by saying by
heart every Turkish and Arabic word that I had written out.
It was amusing to all of us, and to Mr Montefiore a cause of great
delight, to notice the zeal with which she took up the subject.
One day she produced from her cabinet a scarabaeus and a little
Egyptian clay figure, which had been given to her by Mr Salt, the
English Consul in Egypt.
Both the scarabaeus and the little figure had hieroglyphical
inscriptions, and she requested me to give her a translation of the
same.
In compliance with her request I explained the inscriptions, and gave
her a short account of the Rosetta stone and the works of Young and
Champollion and other Egyptologists.
I concluded my visit to East Cliff Lodge on the 13th of December. Mr
Montefiore requested me to draw up a plan for some future travels in
the Holy Land; I promised to comply with his wish, and then took
leave. There is an entry of this date in the diary, in which he says:
"If my dear Judith consents to our again visiting the Holy Land, I
should be glad to obtain the company of the Doctor on our pilgrimage."
A few days later I sent him the plan for the journey, also a second
copy of the translation which I had made of the hieroglyphical
inscription on the Osiris or sepulchral figure. He acknowledged the
receipt of the same in two letters, one written in Mrs Montefiore's
handwriting, the other in his own. Mr Montefiore subsequently told me
that his wife now commenced to take a special interest in antiquities,
enriching her cabinet with curiosities whenever an opportunity
presented itself. The year 1835 is also noted for the particular
interest which Mr Montefiore took in the affairs of his own community.
He was elected President of the London Committee of Deputies of
British Jews, his predecessor, Mr Moses Mocatta, having resigned the
office.
[Illustration: Hand-written letter]