1840.
DISTRESS AMONG THE JEWS AT SALONICA--OPPRESSIVE LAWS WITH REGARD
TO THEM--TEXT OF THE FIRMAN--ITS PROMULGATION.
On the 30th of October all the representatives of the Hebrew
congregations called to express their thanks to Sir Moses for
introducing the study of the Turkish language and its literature in
their schools. The letter on the subject, addressed by the Haham Bashi
to all the congregations, had been printed, and was to be read
publicly on the following day in all the Synagogues in Constantinople.
On Saturday we had the happiness of receiving from Mr Pisani the
answer of His Imperial Majesty, which he had delivered to Sir Moses in
reply to his address on Wednesday evening, which His Majesty promised
should be delivered in writing. Rechid Pasha sent it by Mr Pisani,
saying that he was preparing the firman which Sir Moses had requested
from the Sultan. The same day the letter of the Haham Bashi was read
in all the Synagogues, and caused great satisfaction to all present,
as they considered that the introduction of the Turkish language in
the Jewish schools would raise the Jews in the estimation of both
Moslems and Greeks. We had again many visitors, and received a
deputation from Salonica, where there were 5000 Jewish families. Much
distress, they said, prevailed there, in consequence of a fire which
had destroyed 20,000 houses, of which 2000 belonged to Jews. They had
presented a petition to the Sultan for assistance to rebuild the
houses, as he had sent money for that purpose to the other
inhabitants, but not to the Jews. They also complained that they were
forced to pay the Governor large sums of money before he would allow
them to bury any one. Sir Moses asked them if persons of other
religions were also charged for the privilege of burying their dead;
they replied in the affirmative, but said the sum that others paid was
very trifling as compared to the charges made to the Jews.
Mr Isaac Picciotto, who had just arrived from Damascus, paid us a
visit. He was one of the unfortunate persons accused there, and had
only been saved from torture by the protection of the Austrian Consul,
he being an Austrian subject. He was kept seven months in the Consul's
house, and had only had courage to leave it that week, after the other
persons had returned to their homes. He expressed great gratitude for
our exertions on their behalf, and shed tears on seeing us.
_November 1st._--Mr Alison called, with a request from Rifaat Bey to
Sir Moses to fix a day to dine with him, and he would invite Colonel
Hodges to meet him. Sir Moses accepted the invitation for the
following Wednesday. The intervening days were spent in receiving
deputations and friends, and visiting various charitable institutions,
where he distributed generous gifts.
_November 7th._--Having seen much poverty at Khaskoey, Sir Moses went
there, accompanied by Lady Montefiore and myself, to attend prayers at
the Synagogue "Major."
On leaving the Synagogue, Sir Moses, according to previous
arrangements, commenced distributing among the poor the money he had
brought with him. But he was overpowered by the crowd, and had he not
been rescued by the guard (two officers and six men) who attended him
as a mark of honour, he would not have been able to pass. It required
all their force to keep back the crowd till we had reached our abode.
Sir Moses was obliged to leave the money with the wardens of the
Synagogue to be distributed by them, observing that he had never in
any other place witnessed so much poverty and distress.
Poor, however, as the people of Khaskoey were, they devoted a great
part of their humble earnings to education, and not only to the
education of their children, but also to that of grown-up members of
their community; nor did they neglect to contribute to the support of
their Synagogues.
My attention was here called to a rather amusing notice affixed to the
portals of the Synagogue, containing strict orders and regulations,
issued by the heads of the congregation, regarding the best mode of
effecting economy in the affairs of the community, collectively and
individually. The members and their families were interdicted from
wearing costly furs, dresses and head-dresses embroidered with gold or
silver. Expensive shawls, gold and silver fringes on the costume, and
similar luxuries are likewise prohibited. The women are not to bring
their jewellery to the hamam (public bath), where they were in the
habit of spending hours chatting with their friends and exhibiting
their wealth. Similar restrictions were placed on festivities at
weddings and at the naming of boys. Even at funerals the use of costly
shawls on the biers of females was not permitted.
The poor of Galata were considered the following day, and we repaired
to the Synagogue, there to distribute Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore's
gifts.
In the course of the day Mr Pisani called, informing Sir Moses that he
would receive a decoration from the Sultan.
Subsequently Sir Moses called on Lord Ponsonby, who promised to do
what he could to relieve the distress in Rhodes.
Being pressed for time we soon returned, and proceeded to Rifaat
Bey's. "It was already late," says Sir Moses, "when we came there, and
found waiting there Lords Canning and Louvain, Colonel Hodges, Captain
Gordon, Dr M'Carthy, Mr C. Alison, Rifaat Bey, and several Turkish
gentlemen."
The conversation on the events in Syria was very interesting.
About nine o'clock we left the party, much pleased with the novelty of
the scene.
_November 6th._--We went first to the Austrian Ambassador and then to
Rechid Pasha. The latter, who received us in a very friendly manner,
said that the Hatti-Sherif was ready, but had not yet been signed by
the Sultan. Sir Moses expressed his anxiety to have it as soon as
possible, as he was desirous of leaving the next day. The Pasha said
that if Mr Pisani came at ten o'clock the same evening to the Porte,
he should have it, as he himself would go to Riza Pasha about it, and
appointed twelve o'clock the next day to see Sir Moses.
_Saturday evening, November 7th._--Sir Moses writes in his diary: "I
sat up last night till after twelve, awaiting with great anxiety the
return of Mr Wire, who had gone to Mr Pisani's house to fetch the
firman for me as soon as Mr Pisani should return from the Porte, where
Rechid Pasha had appointed him to be at ten o'clock. I had just
fallen asleep when Mr Wire knocked at my door, and showed me the
firman which the Sultan had signed. It was beautifully written on
thick parchment, and was enclosed in a coloured satin bag. I sent it
to Dr Loewe, who had also retired, begging of him to read it and let
me know if it was all we could desire for the satisfaction of our
brethren. In a little while Mr Wire returned it to me, saying that Dr
Loewe had read it, and had assured him it was written in the strongest
possible terms as to the innocence of the Jews, as well as for their
future protection.
"I then blessed the Lord God for His great goodness, placed the firman
under my pillow, and fell asleep."
The next day I walked with Dr Loewe to Rechid Pasha's residence. I
took the firman with me, as it had to be deposited in the Archives of
the Ottoman Empire, and the Pasha had only sent it to me that I might
be convinced of its authenticity. An official copy was, by order of
the Sultan, forwarded to the Haham Bashi. His Excellency, Rechid
Pasha, received us immediately, and said he hoped I was satisfied with
what the Sultan had done for us. Mr Pisani then handed me an official
copy of the firman, and I gave the original to the Pasha. I had first
begged to be allowed to keep it, but His Excellency said it was
impossible, and my copy of it was in every respect accurate.
The following is an exact translation of the firman Hatti-Sherif
(addressed to the Chief Judge at Constantinople), at the head of which
His Imperial Majesty the Sultan Abd-ool-medjid wrote with his own hand
the following words: "Let that be executed which is prescribed in this
Firman:"--
"An ancient prejudice prevailed against the Jews. The ignorant
believed that the Jews were accustomed to sacrifice a human being to
make use of his blood at their feast of Passover.
"In consequence of this opinion, the Jews of Damascus and Rhodes (who
are subjects of our Empire) have been persecuted by other nations. The
calumnies which have been uttered against the Jews, and the vexations
to which they have been subjected, have at last reached our Imperial
Throne.
"But a short time has elapsed since some Jews dwelling in the Island
of Rhodes have been brought from thence to Constantinople, where they
have been tried and judged according to the new regulations, and
their innocence of the accusations made against them fully proved.
That, therefore, which justice and equity required has been done on
their behalf.
"Besides which the religious books of the Hebrews have been examined
by learned men, well versed in their theological literature, the
result of which examination is, that it is found that the Jews are
strongly prohibited, not only from using human blood, but even that of
animals. It therefore follows that the charges made against them and
their religion are nothing but pure calumny.
"For this reason, and for the love we bear to our subjects, we cannot
permit the Jewish nation (whose innocence of the crime alleged against
them is evident) to be vexed and tormented upon accusations which have
not the least foundation in truth, but in conformity to the
Hatti-Sherif which has been proclaimed at Gulhani, the Jewish nation
shall possess the same advantages and enjoy the same privileges as are
granted to the numerous other nations who submit to our authority.
"The Jewish nation shall be protected and defended.
"To accomplish this object, we have given the most positive orders
that the Jewish nation, dwelling in all parts of our empire, shall be
perfectly protected, as well as all other subjects of the sublime
Porte, and that no person shall molest them in any manner whatever
(except for a just cause), neither in the free exercise of their
religion, nor in that which concerns their safety and tranquillity. In
consequence, the present firman, which is ornamented at the head with
our 'Hoomaioon' (sign-manual), and emanates from our Imperial
Chancellerie, has been delivered to the Israelitish nation.
"Thus you, the above-mentioned judge, when you know the contents of
this firman, will endeavour to act with great care in the manner
therein prescribed. And in order that nothing may be done in
opposition to this firman, at any time hereafter, you will register it
in the Archives of the Tribunal; you will afterwards deliver it to the
Israelitish nation, and you will take great care to execute our
orders, and this our sovereign will.
"Given at Constantinople, 12th Ramazan, 1256 (November 6th, 1840)."
I gave Rechid Pasha the order issued by the Haham Bashi respecting the
instruction henceforth to be given in all the Hebrew public schools in
the Turkish language. He read the paper carefully, and said he was
much pleased; he also made the following remark: "If you had done
nothing else in Constantinople than that, you ought to consider
yourself amply compensated for the trouble and fatigue you have
undergone, by the consciousness of having been instrumental in
affording your brethren the opportunity of raising their position, by
a knowledge of the Turkish language." He then told me of his having
written to the Pasha of Rhodes to take special care that the Jews were
always under proper protection, so that, if they wished to leave the
town, they might do so without fear of molestation.
On our return home we found a great many visitors who had come to bid
us farewell. Towards evening the representatives of all the
congregations called, and prayers were recited at the conclusion of
the Sabbath. Soon after dark, Monsieur Le Goff, who had promised to
call for us when it would be time to embark, came, and we all went on
board. Hundreds of people pressed round us as we embarked, offering
prayers and good wishes for our safe return to England.
On the 9th November we landed at Smyrna, where Sir Moses left Greek
translations of the firman, as well as many charitable gifts for
distribution. Six days later we arrived at Malta, where we learned
that St Jean d'Acre had been taken, after three hours' fight, but with
very little loss.
This, Sir Moses thought, would settle the affair of Syria, and he had
some hope that Egypt itself would soon return to the Sultan. The
officer of the Lazaretto came, and advised us to remain on board that
day and the next. He told us we should have excellent apartments in
Fort Manoel, as the Emir Besheer and his attendants, about 120
persons, would then leave the Lazaretto. Sir Moses agreed to this, and
the next day the commandant, Monsieur Le Goff, took us in his boat to
Fort-Manoel. The Emir Besheer and his suite only left at nine o'clock.
We saw them going in two boats on their way to St Antonio. The Emir
Besheer was in the Governor's boat with some of the attendants; the
ladies, about twelve of them, were in another boat. The Emir was a
noble-looking old man, with a long white beard; the ladies were all
dressed in white, and had their faces veiled. I once had the
opportunity of seeing the Emir in his mountains at Ebtedeen. His
proper name was Emir Sa'ad ed-deen Esh-shehabi. His political
movements, as well as his general course of life, from a religious
point of view, could not stand the test of a strict investigation. He
spoke on one occasion, in the presence of French officers,
disrespectfully of the Queen, and also of the Sultan. The British
Consul at Damascus, now Sir Richard Wood, escorted him to
Constantinople, where he received a serious reprimand from the English
Ambassador and the Turkish authorities.
We found that our apartments were not ready for immediate occupation,
and we therefore had to remain a long time in the open air, until they
had undergone a process of fumigation and ventilation.
_November 19th._--A French war steamer arrived in the morning from
Alexandria, reporting the recall of Ibrahim Pasha from Syria, and the
countermanding of troops under orders for Syria, and of the levy of
Bedawees. We also learned that the Pasha had given up the Turkish
fleet, and contented himself, with the vice-regal power in Egypt; and
that all this had been approved by a council. Sir Moses remarked,
"that all this might be true, but if the Sultan allowed Mohhammad Ali
to retain Egypt, he would not suffer Syria to remain quiet for twelve
months, but would excite insurrections. The English government," he
said, "had the game in their own hands, and he hoped they would not
throw it away; Syria would never be safe while Mohhammad Ali ruled in
Egypt."
_September 23rd._--Sir Hector Grey sent the welcome tidings that our
imprisonment would be reduced to fifteen days instead of twenty. A few
days later, Captain H. M. Austin, of Her Majesty's steam frigate
_Cyclops_, arrived from Beyrout, and gave us a most interesting
account of all that had been passing in Syria. He expected that
Ibrahim Pasha would be taken, and that Mohhammad Ali would retain
Egypt, as our ministers, he said, wished it.
_Friday, September 27th._--We had many visitors at Fort Manoel
Lazaretto (Malta) this day: Lady Stopford and her daughter, Captain
and Mrs Copeland, and the Greek Consul; also Captain Le Goff of the
_Minos_. All of them gave accounts of the state of politics. The
French steamer brought us letters from Signor Communda, in which he
informed Sir Moses, that Rechid Pasha had sent his chief secretary,
accompanied by many officers, to the Jews with the Hatti-Sherif. It
was publicly read amidst the universal joy of the people, and prayers
were offered up for the Sultan, also for Sir Moses.