1837.
THE JEWS' MARRIAGE BILL--MR MONTEFIORE AT THE QUEEN'S
DRAWING-ROOM--HIS INAUGURATION AS SHERIFF.
On July 7th he called on the Chief Rabbi to discuss the marriage laws,
a subject which was causing much uneasiness in the community. He was
detained there so long that it became too late for him to attend the
committee meeting at the Irish Bank. He wrote a letter to the
Archbishop of Dublin on the subject of the Jews' Marriage Bill,
requesting him to take charge of it in the House of Lords. In the
course of the day he received a card of invitation to a dinner of the
Merchant Taylors Company from J. Allison, the new Master, with a most
friendly note, requesting him to name the dishes he would wish to have
placed before him.
On July 9th Mr Montefiore went with a member of the Board of Deputies
to consult T. M. Pearce on the subject of the Jews' Marriage Bill, and
in the evening attended a meeting of the Deputies, at which it was
resolved to petition the House of Lords in favour of the measure. He
writes: "I am most firmly resolved not to give up the smallest part of
our religious forms and privileges to obtain civil rights." One of the
members of the board also gave notice of a motion for "a more popular
election of the Deputies."
On July 10th Mr Montefiore met T. M. Pearce at the House of Lords. Mr
Blake, the legal adviser of the Archbishop of Dublin, made several
important alterations in the Bill, which, in Mr Montefiore's opinion,
greatly improved it. He then called at Downing Street to see Mr
Spring-Rice, but that gentleman had just left town for Cambridge. Mr
Montefiore immediately resolved to go and see him there.
At 5 P.M. he again met Pearce, also Mr Buxton, at the House of Lords.
The Archbishop of Dublin and several other Lords had declined to
propose the second reading of the Marriage Act Bill. Mr Buxton exerted
himself greatly, and spoke to several Peers in his presence without
success. At last he prevailed on Lord Glenelg to promise that he would
speak with Lord Duncannon, and would give notice the next day.
In accordance with his resolution, Mr Montefiore went the same day by
the "Cambridge Mail" to see Mr Spring-Rice. On his return he went to
the House of Lords with Pearce and saw Lord Glenelg. "But," writes Mr
Montefiore, "he would have nothing to do with the Bill, and Pearce
could get no Peer to move the second reading, consequently, the Bill
will be lost, and with it all the expenses, L400."
_Wednesday, July 19._--He attended the Queen's first levee at St
James' Palace; it was very crowded. He was one of the Deputation of
the Livery of London, by whom an address of congratulation was to be
presented to Her Majesty. The Lord Mayor introduced them. Mr
Montefiore was afterwards presented a second time. On his card was
written, "Mr Montefiore, presented by the Duke of Norfolk." "The
Queen," he observes, "looked very pretty and most interesting." "May
she be happy!" is his prayer to heaven. It was after four o'clock when
he left the Palace. He had spoken to a great number of acquaintances
there. The next day he went with Mrs Montefiore to St James' Palace to
attend the Queen's drawing-room. Mrs Montefiore was presented to Her
Majesty by the Countess of Albemarle, and was most graciously
received. "I followed her," writes Mr Montefiore. "The Queen smiled
good-humouredly at me, and the Duchess of Kent said she was pleased to
see us. No reception at a drawing-room could have been more
flattering."
At five o'clock he went to dine at the Merchant Taylors Hall. Mr
Alliston, the Master, was most civil and kind to him, and to Mr George
Carrol. It was a most splendid banquet, about one hundred and twenty
sat down to table. The entertainment was given by the Merchant Taylors
to the Skinners Company, in accordance with an old custom, which owed
its origin to the following occurrence. A difference having arisen
between the two companies, it was referred to the Lord Mayor, who
decided that "they were both wrong and both right," and decreed that
each company should annually entertain the other at a dinner. This has
been kept up, without a single exception, ever since the Lord Mayor
gave his verdict, which was more than three hundred years ago.
"Nothing," says Mr Montefiore, "could have been more magnificent than
the entertainment. I sat next to Mr Charles Culling Smith, the Duke of
Wellington's brother-in-law, and my health and that of Mr George
Carrol was drunk."
Mr Montefiore now wished to go to Ramsgate for a few days' rest, but
before leaving town he sent a letter to the Master, Wardens, and
Assistants of the Worshipful Company of Merchant Taylors, requesting
the use of their hall for the inauguration dinner in October.
In August we find him again in London, attending a dinner of the
Skinners' Company, where he meets Mr Attwood and his colleague Mr
George Carrol, also several friends belonging to the Merchant Taylors'
Company. His health is proposed, and he returns thanks. One of the
party, Dr Knox, the Master of the Skinners' Company's school at
Tonbridge, expressed himself in very flattering terms to Mr Montefiore
after the entertainment, but observed that he ought not to be one of
the Court Assistants, as the latter had to protect their church. Mr
Montefiore, in reply, assured him that he would never ask anything of
the Company that they might not be willing to grant. Dr Knox appeared
fully satisfied with what he heard, and continued the conversation in
a friendly spirit.
On the 20th of August there is a very affectionate entry, dated from
Tonbridge, and referring to his brother, Horatio Montefiore.
"Horatio," he writes, "joined us this morning at breakfast; he left
Ramsgate and his family last evening, and travelled all night. At
eleven o'clock my dear Judith, Horatio, Mr Ridge, and myself went in
the britzka to Tinley Lodge, Upper French Farm. The houses, barns,
stables, and outhouses had all been put in the most substantial and
complete repair, and looked extremely well, as did the land. With the
full and willing consent of my dear wife, I informed Horatio that I
made him a present of the estate, and after him to his children,
strictly entailing it on the eldest son from generation to generation,
and recommended him to grant Shetfield, the present tenant, a lease
at a moderate rent for fourteen years, say at L70. Horatio appeared
well pleased with the gift."
This entry is followed by another equally pleasing. He dined with his
sister-in-law, Mrs Hannah Rothschild, and met there, among others, the
Count and Countess Ludolf. In the course of conversation, the Count
said that several English physicians had offered to go to Naples,
where the cholera was then raging, and assist in relieving the
sufferers, but, unfortunately, they had no funds. Mr Montefiore, upon
hearing this, immediately promised L200 for the purpose, and of course
kept his word.
In the following record of a visit paid by Mr and Mrs Montefiore to
H.R.H. the Princess Sophia Matilda during her stay at Ramsgate, we
find one of the many gratifying instances of the esteem in which they
were both held by the highest in the land.
On September the 12th he writes:--"At three we went in our britzka
with post horses, through a torrent of rain, to West Cliff House, by
appointment, to visit H.R.H. the Princess Sophia Matilda. She received
us most kindly, and was very chatty. She spoke on many different
subjects, including the slave trade and the prevailing epidemics; also
of her proposed visit to Brighton, which she hoped would agree with
her. We then spoke of the Queen and the Duchess of Kent. Judith said
she hoped the Queen would build a palace at Ramsgate. Her Royal
Highness replied, she could not recommend the expense, as it would be
talked of a hundred years after; it was all very well just at first.
We remained more than half-an-hour, and on our taking leave, Her Royal
Highness shook hands with Judith most kindly, and said she was happy
in having made her acquaintance. During our visit she also spoke of
her brother, the late King, and on each occasion the tears came into
her eyes. She appeared in very good health, and fond of retirement."
On the 24th of September Mr Montefiore writes:--"Her Royal Highness
the Princess Sophia Matilda paid Judith a visit yesterday, and
remained with her an hour and a half. She had first appointed to come
on Friday if I had been at home, then on Monday or Tuesday, but Judith
wrote that we were going to London in the middle of the week, and
would be happy to see Her Royal Highness on Saturday. She was most
gracious and agreeable."
_Wednesday, September 27th._--Mr Montefiore called at the Mansion
House and saw the Lord Mayor and Mr Croft, who accepted the new
Sheriffs' invitation for Wednesday, the 11th October. According to an
ancient custom Mr Montefiore, as Sheriff, should have dined with the
Lord Mayor on Friday, the 29th, but he apologized for his inability to
do so on account of the Sabbath commencing in the evening.
_Thursday, the 28th._--"I cannot," he says, "but reflect with
gratitude on the Almighty's goodness to me: may He bless my endeavours
to be useful." He then gives the following account of the day's
proceedings:--"At ten I entered our state carriage, Mr Wire having
come for me in his, and we drove to Cavendish Square, where Mr George
Carrol in his state carriage took the lead, he being the senior
Sheriff, on account of his having been proposed to the Livery by the
Lord Mayor. We proceeded to the Merchant Taylors' Hall, where we found
sixteen of their members, and sixteen of the Spectacle makers, besides
some few friends of Mr George Carrol. The following gentlemen were
also present:--Barons Lionel, Nathaniel, and Anthony de Rothschild,
Messrs T. A. Curtis, Benjamin Cohen, Isaac Cohen, Solomon Cohen, S. M.
Samuel, John Helbert, and M. Davidson, the six last named being the
brothers and brothers-in-law of my dear wife. At one o'clock we went
in grand procession to the Guildhall, accompanied by a band of music.
At two we were sworn into office, and about three I returned to Park
Lane. I changed my official costume for plain clothes, and went at
half-past five to Cavendish Square. Mr George Carrol then accompanied
me to the London Tavern, and we dined with Sir James Duke and Mr
Sheriff Johnson."
_Monday, 2nd October._--Mr Montefiore and his colleague went to
Newgate. In the afternoon they proceeded to Windsor, and inscribed
their names in the Duchess of Kent's visitors' book. The next day Mr
Montefiore called on the Lord Mayor, who introduced him to Alderman
Cowan, the Lord Mayor elect; he also attended the Hustings at the
Guildhall in his violet gown, the Lord Mayor and Mr George Carrol
being present. He afterwards settled, with Messrs Maynard, Carrol, and
Wire, the toasts and the grace before dinner, and proceeded with
these gentlemen to the Lord Mayor to submit them for his approval.
This having been obtained, he went to the Merchant Taylors' Hall to
see that the arrangement of the tables was satisfactory.
The inauguration dinner of the new Sheriffs took place at the Merchant
Taylors' Hall in Threadneedle Street. The number of guests who sat
down to dinner was not less than four hundred; and the Lord Mayor
presided. After the cloth was removed, the usual toasts were proposed
by the Lord Mayor, and the two Sheriffs returned thanks, each in a
separate speech.
Mr Sheriff Montefiore said: "My Lord Mayor, my Lords and gentlemen, if
I consulted my own feelings of diffidence on this occasion, I confess
I should have remained silent, and have allowed my friend and
colleague to return our united thanks for the honour conferred on us
by the distinguished company. But as custom demands that I should say
a few words, I rise to express briefly, and I fear imperfectly, my
feelings of gratitude for the flattering manner in which my health has
been proposed, and the warm and affectionate greeting with which it
has been received. New to the high and important office I have been
called upon by the kind wishes of my fellow-citizens to fill, it will
readily be conceived that I cannot be acquainted with all its various
duties. But I can assure you it shall be my study to understand their
nature, and my earnest endeavour to fulfil them in such a manner as to
justify my fellow-citizens in the choice they have made. Although I
cannot pretend to say that I will do what your late Sheriffs have
done, still less to surpass them in their efforts to be useful, yet I
hope, so far, to imitate their example as to show my anxiety to
transmit to my successors the functions of my office unimpaired in
their usefulness, and its privileges undiminished in their value.
Believing that it is not a political office, and yet that it has
duties both to the Queen and to the public, I hope, in the execution
of those duties, to swerve neither to the right nor the left, but on
the one hand to uphold the rightful prerogatives of the Crown, and on
the other to support the just liberties of the people. Called upon by
the free, intelligent, and wealthy citizens of this great city to fill
so important an office, I trust that I shall never be found wanting in
any efforts to prove that the great privilege of electing their own
Sheriffs may be safely entrusted to the people. May I add that in
choosing the humble individual before you to fill so important an
office, they have shown that private character, when based on
integrity, will secure public honour and respect? Nor is it less
gratifying to find that, though professing a different faith from the
major it of my fellow-citizens, yet this has presented no barrier to
my desire of being useful to them in a situation to which my
forefathers would in vain have aspired; and I hail this as a proof
that those prejudices are passing away, and will pass away, which
prevent our feelings from being as widely social, as just, as
comprehensive in their effect as the most amiable and best-instructed
mind can desire. Nor can I forget, while alluding to kindly feelings,
how much I am indebted to those friends who, unasked and unsolicited,
proposed and elected me to the office which now gives me the
opportunity of addressing you. To them, to you, to the Livery at
large, I again tender my thanks, and I beg to assure you that,
whatever may be necessary to enhance the high, respectability of my
office, to support its splendour, to maintain its rights, to add to
its honour, and to make it more useful to my fellow-citizens--if it
can be made more useful--I will attempt, and with your countenance and
support, I trust, accomplish. Thus acting, I shall hope to receive the
only reward I seek--the thanks of my fellow-citizens, and the
approbation of my own conscience."
The Attorney-General in replying to the toast, "The health of Her
Majesty's Ministers," given by the Lord Mayor, alluded to Mr
Montefiore in the following words:--"There could be no more honourable
or important office than that of Sheriff, and although Mr Montefiore
differed in faith from the established religion, there could be no
doubt that he would discharge the duties which devolved on him with
equal credit to himself and advantage to the city. He (the
Attorney-General) was one of those who thought that the only
qualification which should exist for such offices was that the holder
should be a good citizen; and he recollected with no small degree of
satisfaction, that it was he who had brought in the Bill, a measure
that passed through the Legislature by, he might say, the unanimous
vote of both Houses of Parliament, which entitled Mr Montefiore to
occupy the position he then held. He was happy to say that the ancient
prejudices, founded on difference of religious belief, were fast
wearing away, and he only hoped the time was at hand when objections
on such grounds would altogether cease to operate. It was the desire
of Her Majesty's Government to promote such a state of things by all
the means in their power; and for his own part, his opinion was that,
so far from injuring the Constitution, it would tend materially to
uphold and strengthen it."
Mr and Mrs Montefiore returned to Park Lane at two o'clock from the
inauguration dinner, much pleased with the reception they had met with
from their fellow-citizens.