1838.
DESTRUCTION OF THE ROYAL EXCHANGE--CITY TRADITIONS--"JEWS' WALK"--SIR
MOSES DINES AT LAMBETH PALACE.
The diary of 1838, like that of the preceding year, abounds in
descriptions of Sir Moses' official duties, as well as records of
events.
_January 11th._--Early in the morning, before he was dressed, Sir
Moses was informed that the Royal Exchange had been burnt down in the
night. He at once rode to the Alliance, and found the news true; only
the walls of the Exchange were still standing. "I called at the
Mansion House," he says, "and accompanied a deputation of the Gresham
Company to see the ruins; the loss of books, papers, and securities is
said to be immense. In the evening I repaired again to the Mansion
House to attend a Court of Aldermen, which sat till after ten. It was
a full meeting; the Town Clerk and all the Law Officers of the city
were present. There were long and grave discussions respecting the
making of a new city seal, the old one, as it was thought, having been
destroyed in the fire at the Royal Exchange."
On January 14th he was present at a meeting of the Elders of his
community at Bevis Marks. The resignation of the Deputies was
received, and a resolution passed, that "for the future Deputies be
elected by the Elders and seat-holders, generally known by the
appellation of 'Yehidim,' and out of either body." After the meeting
he called at Newgate, and went over the female wards and the
infirmary.
It may interest some of my readers to hear that the ancient custom of
presenting each of the Sheriffs with three does by the Crown is still
kept up. When Sir Moses was told that those intended for him were at
Richmond, he sent a person (authorised by the Ecclesiastical Board) to
kill the does in accordance with the Jewish custom, and then
distribute them among his friends.
He attended the first dinner given by the new Lord Mayor at the
Mansion House on the 16th. The next day he dined at the London Tavern
with the City Committee for General Purposes, and in the evening was
present at a ball for the benefit of the Watch and Clock Makers'
Institution. On the 19th, Sir Moses, in his turn, gave a dinner to the
Vice-Chancellor, and there were also present, Sir L. Shadwell and Lady
Shadwell, the Common Sergeant and his wife, Sir John Conroy and his
daughters, Mr J. A. Curtis and his daughters, the Baron and Baroness
de Rothschild, Baron Nathaniel and Baroness Louisa de Rothschild, and
many other guests of distinction.
The following extracts from the diaries show the nature of Sir Moses'
multifarious duties at this time:--
"_February 2nd._--Was sworn in as Commissioner of the London
Lieutenancy, consisting mostly of the Court of Aldermen and their
deputies, the Directors of the Bank of England and of the East India
Company.
"_February 5th._--Proceeded with my colleague, the City Remembrancer,
and Alderman Venables to the House of Commons, to present two
petitions; one respecting the night watch, and the other respecting a
new street from Farringdon Street.
"_February 6th._--Attended the meeting of the sub-committees of the
several Synagogues at 7 P.M. It was within a few minutes of twelve
when the meeting broke up.
"_February 14th._--Attended the Queen's levee. Was presented to Her
Majesty by Lord John Russell, and had the honour of kissing hands,
after which I drove to my mother, that she might see the state
carriage and liveries.
"_February 16th._--Present at the Court of Common Council, where they
voted the freedom of the City of London to Mr Stephenson, the American
Minister, to be presented to him in a gold box of the value of 100
guineas. The following evening I went to Kensington Palace to a soiree
given by the Duke of Sussex to the members of the Royal Society. The
rooms were crowded. Spoke with a great many persons I knew, Mr
Spring-Rice, the Dean of Chester, and others."
_February 22nd._--On the occasion of the funeral of a friend which he
attended, Sir Moses observes: "It was a funeral such as I much
approve. I think no funeral should have more than eight mourning
coaches, and the coachmen should wear neither cloaks nor bands; in
fact, in my opinion, the less pomp on such an occasion the better." In
the evening he dined at the London Orphan Society; "took my own cold
beef," he says. The Duke of Cambridge presided. The collection
amounted to L1960.
_February 27th._--After having been occupied all day with the duties
of his office, he went in the evening to a meeting of Conference of
all the Synagogues, to consider the subject of the constitution of the
new Board of Deputies. "There was a full meeting," he says, "and we
remained in debate till after eleven o'clock. The conference was
carried on in the most friendly manner; and, with some alterations,
the resolutions of the Great Synagogue were agreed to."
I give these entries referring to the Board of Deputies in the
interest of those of my readers of the Hebrew community in England who
may wish to trace the development and progress of that institution.
The 13th of March is a day which will be remembered with much
gratification by the promoters of civil and religious liberty. The
occurrence noted in the diary will always remind them of the lesson,
never to neglect an opportunity of serving a good cause when it
presents itself.
When returning, in company with the Lord Mayor and Sir George Carrol,
from the Court of Hustings to the place where the words "Jews' Walk"
were written up, Sir Moses mentioned to the Lord Mayor that many
persons had complained that, in these enlightened times, the walls of
the Guildhall should be disgraced by such a mark of intolerance as the
tablet bearing the above inscription. The Lord Mayor very kindly
ordered it to be taken down immediately. The same tablet was
subsequently given to Sir Moses by the Lord Mayor, and is now
preserved in Lady Montefiore's Theological College in Ramsgate as a
souvenir of bygone times.
March 16th records an instance of the danger to which, as Sheriff, he
was sometimes exposed in the discharge of his official duties, as also
his sympathy with others who equally endangered their lives in the
service of the Livery. Sir Moses attended on that day a Committee of
Criminal Justice, and accompanied them all over the gaol; later he and
his colleague had to be present at the inquest on a prisoner who had
died of fever. "I am sorry to say," he remarks, "that something like
typhoid fever is prevailing in the prison; the matrons and turnkeys
are greatly alarmed." On his return home he sent a dozen of port to
the keeper of Newgate and a dozen to the matron.
Wishing for a day's repose, he and Lady Montefiore repaired to their
favourite spot, Smithambottom. "The appearance of the Red Lion" (the
inn in which they usually took up their abode), he says, "we found
much altered for the worse. The house, its inmates, and furniture, all
wear a decayed look; they have very little custom there. Caroline
Paget, daughter of Pearce the landlord, having heard of our arrival,
came immediately to see us. She is also much altered; time, poverty,
and care have made sad havoc with her appearance. Fourteen years have
passed since we were last in Pearce's house, and we viewed the place
with mingled feelings of pleasure and pain. In spite of the gloom of
the house, I dearly like the place, and shall be most grateful to
Providence to be permitted the enjoyment of frequent walks over the
Downs. But we must see what we can do for the Pearces."
He assisted both father and daughter by providing for their immediate
wants, and, on his return to town, procured, not without great
personal exertion, a presentation to the Blue Coat School for Caroline
Paget's daughter.
As President of the Jews' Free School, Sir Moses took the chair at a
dinner given at the London Tavern in aid of that Institution.
He was supported on his right and left by Sir George Carrol, Mr T. A.
Curtis, the Governor of the Bank; Mr M. Attwood, M. P.; Mr David
Salamons, Mr Jno. Alteston, Mr Edward Fletcher, Mr T. M. Pearce, Mr
Aston Key, Mr Nugent Daniel, Mr F. H. Goldsmid, Mr B. Cohen, Mr Isaac
Cohen, Mr Under-Sheriff Wire, and a large company of friends. Some
excellent addresses were delivered by Sir Moses and others of the
gentlemen present. In the entry he made of the proceedings, he
observes, "I did my best, and had the pleasure to find the company was
satisfied, for L841 was collected."
It was nearly twelve when he left the London Tavern in company with
Sir George Carrol, and went to Hanover Square Rooms, where they met
their ladies at the Polish ball.
On the 3rd of April he was summoned to the Guildhall to a Court of
Lieutenancy to take the oath and subscribe to the Declaration; but he
could not do so, and therefore did not attend.
In the evening he was present at the Conference of the Deputies from
all the Synagogues, who, he says, would not agree to reconsider their
former resolution.
On April 4th Lady Montefiore had a narrow escape from what might have
proved a most serious accident. She had promised to dine with her
sister, Mrs Hannah de Rothschild (Sir Moses, owing to his official
duties, was unable to accompany her). While driving to Piccadilly the
horses took fright, broke the pole and harness, and much injured the
carriage. Fortunately no one was hurt.
The next day Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore attended the Queen's
Drawing-Room, accompanied by Sir George and Lady Carrol, Mr and Mrs
Maynard, and Mr and Mrs Wire, all in their state carriages. The ladies
of the party were presented by the Marchioness of Lansdowne. The Queen
and the Duchess of Kent were most gracious to Sir Moses and Lady
Montefiore.
On April 9th he writes: "I was at the Old Bailey at 8.30, and
breakfasted at nine; attended the Common-Sergeant into the New Court;
at ten I attended the Chief-Justice Tindall to the Old Court. The
Common-Sergeant having left the New Court, I accompanied Baron Parke
into it. Being the eve of Passover, I had to my regret to leave the
Old Bailey at five o'clock. It caused great inconvenience, there being
a judge in each Court, and most important trials being on, not likely
to be finished before to-morrow evening."
It was the duty of the Sheriffs to attend on the following day, first
at the Old Bailey, then on the Lord Mayor in state at the Court of
Aldermen, to witness the swearing in of the new Alderman (Magnay),
then to accompany him in state to the Mansion House to dine with his
Lordship and a large party.
On the following Monday and Tuesday he had again to attend the Lord
Mayor and Lady Mayoress in state to receive the Blue Coat boys at the
Mansion House, then to be present at a sermon at the Hospital, and to
return and dine with the Lord Mayor, the Aldermen, &c., it being
Easter Monday, a public day. They were also expected on the following
morning again to breakfast at the Mansion House. Sir Moses, however,
observes, "My duty to God, and my respect for our holy religion, are
above all other duties, and I must give up my official occupations for
these days," a resolve which he acted upon.
After having attended the levee of the Queen, which was held on
Wednesday, 2nd May, Sir Moses proceeded to the London Tavern to be
present at the anniversary festival of the City of London School for
the benefit of the children of the indigent, under the presidency of
the Duke of Wellington. There was a very large and representative
gathering, and the amount collected and handed to His Grace, including
the steward's fines, was L1320.
_Thursday, May 3rd._--Sir Moses attended a state dinner, which the
Lord Mayor gave the judges, at the Mansion House.
The entries continue as follows:--
_Monday, May 7th._--Presided at the dinner of the Spanish and
Portuguese Hebrew Schools; 120 persons were present, and Mr Samuel
Gurney addressed the assembly before the children left.
_May 9th._--Attended a meeting at the City of London Tavern for the
abolition of slavery, and in the evening joined Sir George Carrol at a
dinner of the City Dispensary, given at the same place. The same
evening he also went to Lady Cottenham's party.
_May 10th._--Dined with the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy. It
was a very large assembly, and Sir Moses' donations amounted to L44.
Mr Justice Parke introduced him to the Archbishop of Canterbury, who
most politely invited him for Tuesday, the 22nd inst.
_May 14th._--Gave a grand dinner at Park Lane to the Lord Mayor and
the Lady Mayoress, Sir George and Lady Carrol, and the Aldermen.
Several friends and relatives were also present at this dinner.
_May 15th._--Attended the Court of Hustings, and at Sir Moses' request
the Lord Mayor consented to adjourn it over the 29th inst., to enable
him to go to Ramsgate for the holy days. He went to the Old Bailey,
and in the evening was present at the anniversary dinner in aid of the
Magdalen Hospital, Mr Justice Parke being in the chair. He was
informed that the Sheriffs had received the "entree" from the Duke of
Argyll during their Shrievalty.
_Thursday, May 17th._--Sir George and Lady Carrol came in their state
carriage to Park Lane, in order to go with Sir Moses and Lady
Montefiore to the Queen's Drawing-Room. This being the Queen's
birthday, the Drawing-Room was very crowded, and the ladies had some
difficulty in reaching the palace. It was five o'clock when they
returned to Park Lane. Sir Moses then called at Buckingham Palace,
where he placed his and Lady Montefiore's name in the Duchess of
Kent's visitors' book. In the evening he dined with Lord John Russell,
and there met the Lord Chancellor, the Judges, the Master of the
Rolls, Lord Morpeth, the City members, the Lord Mayor, and his
colleague as Sheriff. Afterwards he attended, with Lady Montefiore,
the Marchioness of Lansdowne's party. "Nothing," he observes, "could
have been more splendid."
_Friday, May 18th._--At five o'clock he went to a dinner at the
Mansion House, given by the Lord Mayor to the Bishops. There were
sixteen bishops present, besides several aldermen, the sheriffs, and
about half-a-dozen ladies. The Bishop of Exeter asked for an
introduction to Sir Moses, and was extremely civil to him. After six
the company adjourned to the dining-room, but Sir Moses withdrew and
returned to Park Lane, it being near the time for the commencement of
Sabbath.
_Monday, May 21st._--He went in full court dress, in his state
carriage, with his servants in full state liveries, to dine at Lambeth
Palace with the Archbishop of Canterbury. On his way he called for the
Recorder, who went with him. "It is impossible," says Sir Moses, "to
describe the magnificence and splendour of the palace, and equally so
the great kindness and urbanity shown to me by the Primate. About
forty sat down to table, including the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of
Cambridge, Prince George, several Bishops, the Lord Mayor, John Capel,
Jno. Alteston, and many Aldermen. The Duke of Sussex told me he would
send me an invitation for the 30th inst. After dinner I requested of
his Royal Highness a card for my dear wife and Lady Carrol, which he
kindly promised me. The Recorder returned home with me, appearing much
pleased at the reception he had met with."