1840.
CONSTANTINOPLE--CONDITION OF THE JEWISH RESIDENTS--INTERVIEW WITH
RECHID PASHA--AUDIENCE WITH THE SULTAN--HE GRANTS A FIRMAN.
From Smyrna we went to Constantinople. Of our arrival in that place
Sir Moses gives the following account:--
"_Constantinople, October 5th._--The appearance of the city was most
beautiful from the steamboat; we anchored at half-past eleven. Many
persons came on board to welcome us, including Monsieur Commundo, who
had prepared one of his houses for us. Lady Montefiore and Mr Wire
went there immediately. Dr Loewe and I, accompanied by Mr Nugent, a
Queen's messenger, who had special despatches for Lord Ponsonby,
started for Terapia, and were allowed to leave the vessel at once. It
took two hours to row there, the current being very strong. On
reaching Terapia we went to Lord Ponsonby's, and found that he was
out. Mr Nugent remained, but we returned. There was a strong wind
blowing against the current, which made a heavy sea. I passed two
hours in the utmost anxiety, and would gladly have landed and walked
back, but it was impossible; we should not have found our way. At last
we landed safely, but our troubles were not over. We had the greatest
difficulty in finding Monsieur Commundo's house. We found two Germans
in a little tailor's shop, and they became our guides. I found my dear
Judith in a state of great anxiety on our account. It being between
seven and eight before we arrived, they had sent in every direction
after us; however, we sat down to a good supper, and soon forgot our
troubles."
The day after our arrival the Spiritual Heads of the Hebrew
communities, accompanied by several of their members, came to pay
their respects to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, and to invite them to
attend divine service in one of their Synagogues on the Day of
Atonement, which commenced the same evening, an invitation which was
accepted.
During the whole of the following day (the Day of Atonement) Sir Moses
and Lady Montefiore remained in Synagogue, returning in the evening at
the conclusion of the service, accompanied by many members of the
congregation. They were preceded by two men bearing two large wax
candles, which had been lighted in the Synagogue the evening before.
They received a hearty welcome from their host, Monsieur Commundo,
and, having broken their fast, soon retired to rest.
_October 8th._--Signor Commundo, with his wife, two sons, and a
daughter, paid us a visit in the morning. The little girl, a lovely
child about seven years of age, was already engaged, as well as the
two boys, aged nine and ten respectively, both handsome, intelligent
lads. It reminded Sir Moses of what he had once found fault with when
at Haifa. Certain allowances, however, must be made for the
peculiarities of the East. Turkey would certainly not yield in this
respect to any remonstrances. We called on the British Consul General,
and in the evening Sir Moses received a deputation from the European
Hebrew community; they spoke much of the necessity for an hospital and
schools.
_October 9th._--We set off to the Porte to-day, as soon as our
visitors had left, with the intention of going later on to Terapia to
see Lord Ponsonby. After rowing nearly two hours and a half, we found
that it would take us a full hour longer to reach our destination, and
that, wind and current being both against us, we should not be able to
get back before the Sabbath. Sir Moses, therefore, gave orders to
return home.
_Saturday, October 10th._--We attended divine service in a very large
Synagogue; all the worshippers appeared to be natives of Turkey. At
the conclusion of the service we accompanied the Chief Rabbi to his
house. He was preceded by three soldiers and six attendants; on
passing the guard-house we found the officer with his men in front.
They saluted him with every token of respect, as did all the people in
the densely-crowded streets. His house was full of people. We partook
of some refreshment, and took leave. As we appeared again in the
street we noticed a guard of honour walking before us, and an officer
with two soldiers following in the rear. Sir Moses wished them to
return after going a few paces, but they insisted on accompanying us
to the end of the street, an honour Sir Moses was but little desirous
of receiving.
_Sunday, October 11th._--We afterwards went into three large and
handsome Synagogues in the same quarter; adjoining one of these we
observed three school-rooms, occupied by about 250 boys. We entered
the school, and found the boys divided into three classes, their ages
varying from three to twelve. At the request of Sir Moses I examined
two boys. They read the Talmud and translated it into Spanish very
fluently. Sir Moses was much pleased. The children all appeared to
belong to the poorest classes. We had much difficulty in escaping the
importunities of the people; many seemed to be in very distressed
circumstances. In one room, scarcely six feet square, we saw a mother
and five children.
_October 4th._--An Austrian steamer arrived in the afternoon from
Smyrna, with an English messenger from Syria. It was reported that
Commodore Napier had concluded a treaty with the Emir Besheer, by
which the latter had engaged to join his forces to the Sultan's.
Napier had landed with his marines, and, assisted by the Turks and the
troops of the Emir, was in pursuit of Ibrahim Pasha. Many of the
Pasha's soldiers had joined the Sultan's party.
_October 15th._--Sir Moses went to Lord Ponsonby. Having thanked him
for his great assistance in the affair of the Jews at Rhodes and
Damascus, he informed him that he wished to have an audience with the
Sultan, to thank him for his justice to the Jews, to claim his special
protection for them in all his dominions, and to obtain from him a
declaration similar to that made by Selim the Second.
Lord Ponsonby said he would give Sir Moses a letter of introduction to
Rechid Pasha, who would perhaps be able to forward his wishes. Lord
and Lady Ponsonby then begged him to fix a day to dine with them, and
Sir Moses returned, much pleased with the interview.
The next five days were spent by Sir Moses in making himself
acquainted with the communal affairs of various congregations. Being
very anxious to assist them in their endeavours to introduce
improvements in their method of education, he had frequent
communications with their teachers and school committees. In support
of his exertions, at the special request of the ecclesiastical chief
and representatives of the congregation, I delivered an address in one
of their large Synagogues at Galata, on the last day of the Feast of
Tabernacles, the aim of which was to exhort the audience to give more
attention than hitherto to the acquisition of a liberal education.
_October 22nd._--Mr George Samuel, Mr Pisani, Mr Wire, and myself
accompanied Sir Moses to an interview with Rechid Pasha, who received
us most kindly. Sir Moses informed His Excellency that he had come to
express his thanks, and those of all his co-religionists in Europe,
for the humanity and justice which His Excellency and the Sultan had
shown in respect to the affair at Rhodes. The Pasha said he was sorry
they had not been able to do the same at Damascus. Sir Moses hoped
that His Excellency would do him and the gentlemen who accompanied him
the honour of introducing them to the Sultan, to which he replied that
he thought it might be done. Sir Moses then said that formerly Sultan
Selim had issued a Hatti-Sherif, declaring his conviction of the
innocence of the Jews of the charge brought against them, and it would
be a great satisfaction if the present Sultan would do the same. Sir
Moses had prepared a paper, which he requested His Excellency to hear
read. Mr Pisani read it to him in French; he thought it very good, and
said it might be done. Having had pipes and coffee, we returned home,
being engaged to dine with Lord Ponsonby. We had great difficulty in
procuring a carriage to take us, and at last agreed with a man to take
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, and fetch them back, for the sum of L6
sterling. It was a miserable four-horse concern. Mr Wire and I
preferred riding on horseback.
It was a most agreeable party, and we met there several of our
acquaintances. His Lordship spoke with Sir Moses on the subject of a
bank for Constantinople, and said he wished him and another gentleman,
whom he named, to speak with Rechid Pasha about it, and he would be
present at the interview. Sir Moses said he would do so, but could not
say anything before he returned to England. On the following day the
Rev. Dr Samuel Bennet, the Chaplain of the Embassy, lunched with us.
He had just delivered an excellent sermon in favour of the Jews in the
Damascus affair.
_October 26th._--As no appointment had been made, and that evening
was the commencement of the Ramazan, during which month the Turks
attend to no business, Sir Moses determined to call on Mr Pisani to
inquire if he had heard from Rechid Pasha. We went accordingly, and Mr
Pisani informed him that he had just received a letter from the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, acquainting him that the Sublime Porte
would receive a deputation headed by Sir Moses Montefiore on Wednesday
evening, three hours after sunset, at the Palace of Beshik Tash. "How
great and good," exclaimed Sir Moses, "is the Almighty! At the moment
when I most despaired of success, He has granted our petition." Mr
Pisani said he had no doubt he should get the Hatti Sherif, but he
could not say when. Before we reached home it was six o'clock, and we
found by the brilliant illumination of the minarets and mosques that
the Ramazan had been declared.
_Tuesday, October 27th._--In the course of the day the Haham Bashi,
Signor M. H. Fresco, came to Sir Moses by appointment, together with
several leading members of the community and the secretary of the
congregation. Sir Moses recommended him to issue an order that every
school should have a well-qualified master, to teach the children to
read and write the Turkish language. Sir Moses offered to pay the
first expenses they would have to incur. The Haham readily consented.
An order to that effect had been drawn up in the Turkish, Spanish, and
Hebrew languages, and promulgated all over the country.
The Haham Bashi is the head of all the Jews in the Turkish Empire, and
his decrees are law. Sir Moses promised him to speak on the subject to
Rechid Pasha before leaving Constantinople.
The following is the account, as given in Sir Moses' diary, of his
audience with the Sultan:--
"_Wednesday, October 28th._--Sir David Wilkie, Mr Pisani, and George
Samuel dined with us, and at seven afterwards we set out. Our
cavalcade consisted of one carriage with four horses, and one with two
horses, six kavasses or police officers, eight men carrying large wax
torches, two horsemen with each coach, a sedan chair with each coach,
and three men to close the procession. As the carriages could not
drive up to our door I was carried in a sedan chair to the foot of the
hill, the other gentlemen walked, and I went in the first carriage
with Mr Pisani, the British Dragoman; George Samuel, Mr Wire, and Dr
Loewe in the second. I wore my full uniform. The streets were crowded;
many of the Jews had illuminated their houses. We reached the Palace
in rather less than an hour. On descending from the carriages we found
in the courtyard a large guard of honour, who presented arms. We were
shown into a handsome drawing-room, furnished in the European style.
Two magnificent silver candlesticks with large wax candles stood on
the ground in the centre of a richly embroidered velvet carpet. We had
not been seated two minutes when Rechid Pasha entered; he was most
friendly in his manner. We were soon joined by Riza Pasha, and all
were served with coffee and pipes, the mouthpieces and bowls of the
latter being richly embellished with diamonds.
"Rechid Pasha asked me how long I remained at Alexandria, how often I
had seen Mohhammad Ali, and how he looked? In a few moments it was
announced that the Sultan was ready to receive us. The two Pashas
walked first, I next, and the rest of our party followed, a large
throng of officers bringing up the rear.
"We crossed a garden about sixty yards in length, and entered a
handsome marble hall; having descended a grand staircase, likewise of
marble, we entered into the presence chamber.
"The Sultan was seated on a sofa, clad in his cloak of state, which
was fastened at the neck with two large clasps of the finest diamonds.
The cloak itself was of a violet colour, similar in cut to our own. He
was a good-looking young man, and appeared about twenty-six years of
age, though in reality but nineteen. The two Pashas took their station
on his left, I and my party on his right. After having received some
courteous signs of welcome from him, I delivered the speech I had
intended to have read to him, but instead of reading it, I spoke it,
as I knew it well by heart, and there was not sufficient light to read
it without spectacles. I said as follows:--
"'May it please your Imperial Majesty,--In the name of my brethren,
who have deputed me, I come to lay at the foot of your Imperial Throne
the grateful homage of their respect.
"'England, my country, and other enlightened nations of the earth,
heard the cries of the suffering and persecuted Jews at Damascus and
at Rhodes, and they hastened to offer to the sufferers their sympathy
and affection. But the Lord God, who ruleth over all, prevented the
necessity of their aid at Rhodes, and inspired your Imperial Majesty
with wisdom, justice, and the love of truth. Under your righteous
direction the oppressor was laid low, the designs of the wicked made
known, and the innocent delivered. I therefore crave permission to
offer to your Imperial Majesty the profound gratitude of the hearts of
our people, and to utter our prayers that the merciful God may bless
your Imperial Majesty with length of days, with wisdom, honour, and
riches, and so direct all your actions, that your name may be
inscribed in golden characters for ever, and the memory of your deeds
smell as sweet as a garden of roses.
"'In ancient times the Lord God brought our people out of Egypt, and
for ages they dwelt in Palestine; to them were committed the oracles
of God, and though now dispersed among the nations of the earth, they
are numbered with the most peaceful and loyal subjects, and by their
industry they have augmented the riches and prosperity of the
countries in which they live.
"'They look with love and veneration upon that land where their
forefathers dwelt; they pray that all who live therein may enjoy the
shadow of your sublime protection, and in peace be permitted to
worship the God of their fathers.
"'Their prayers ascend to Him whose wisdom is absolute, whose decrees
are fixed and immutable, whom none can withstand, imploring that he
will make your enemies eat the dust, that they may vanish as the
morning dew, and flee away as chaff before the wind; that your throne
may endure for ever, and that all who live under your sceptre may have
peace, sitting under their own vine and their own fig-tree, none
daring or wishing to make them afraid.'
"The Sultan listened with great attention, and as soon as I had
finished, Mr Pisani repeated it in Turkish. The Sultan smiled whilst
he was reading, and showed that he well understood the address and was
pleased with it. As soon as Mr Pisani had concluded, the Sultan fixed
his eyes on me, and spoke in a mild and pleasing voice. 'I am
perfectly satisfied,' he said, 'with the communication made and the
sentiments expressed by the deputation.
"'I have been affected by the events which have taken place in
Damascus, but I have endeavoured to offer some satisfaction to the
Israelitish nation, by giving orders that justice should be done in
the affair of Rhodes.
"'The Israelitish nation shall always have, from me, the same
protection and enjoy the same advantages as all other subjects of my
Empire.
"'I will grant the deputation the firman they have asked.
"'I know, gentlemen, how to appreciate the pure philanthropy which has
led you to this capital.'
"Having given his reply, the Sultan requested me to come nearer.
Rechid Pasha again presented me by name. The Sultan smiled most
graciously, and said, 'Present your friends to me.' I first presented
George Samuels, my relative, then Mr Wire of the City of London, and
Dr Loewe. When Mr Pisani repeated the last name and the Doctor made a
bow, Mr Pisani informed the Sultan that the Doctor had presented to
the late Sultan a translation of the hieroglyphical inscription on the
Obelisk in the Hippodrome. The Sultan spoke with Rechid Pasha to
explain it, and then said he remembered seeing it, and seemed much
pleased, and said the Doctor must be a learned man.
"The Sultan could not have given us a more flattering reception; it
was at the same time most dignified. The room in which he received us
was well proportioned, and neatly furnished in European style. The
curtains were of rich yellow satin and embroidered damask and velvet,
most probably of French manufacture; the carpet was English; there
were two large wax torches standing in elegantly carved candelabras.
We descended a flight of marble stairs, and were shown into a large
and handsome room, splendidly furnished, and more brilliantly
illuminated than the other room. We chatted with Rechid and Riza
Pashas, expressed our thanks to them for their great kindness in
procuring for us at so unusual a time an audience with His Imperial
Majesty, and our gratitude to His Majesty for his gracious reception
and reply. I asked Rechid Pasha when I might hope to receive the
firman which the Sultan had promised me, as I was most desirous of
returning to England the moment I got it. He replied that he supposed
I should not go before the next steamer left (on the 7th of November),
and that I should have it by that time; but as it was the Ramazan,
there was some difficulty in preparing it. We returned in state as we
came, the guard of honour saluting us as we passed them in the court
of the palace. We were again served, after the audience, in the lower
room of the palace with sherbet in elegant glasses, and we had
splendidly embroidered table napkins. A military band played during
the greater part of the time we were at the Palace. We found the
streets still more crowded than when we went; not a window in the
whole street through which we passed but was filled with female faces.
As we approached the Jewish street we experienced even more difficulty
in passing. At the end of the same street Signor Commundo, with the
ecclesiastical chief of Galata and about twenty of our acquaintances,
insisted on walking with us to our house. I was delighted to see my
dear Judith, and to acquaint her with our happy reception and the
complete success of our Mission, for which we return our grateful
thanks to Heaven."