1843.
ADDRESS AND TESTIMONIAL FROM THE JEWS--SIR MOSES' SPEECH IN
REPLY--DEATH OF THE DUKE OF SUSSEX--THE DEPORTATION UKASE IN
RUSSIA--OPENING OF THE NEW ROYAL EXCHANGE--SIR MOSES MADE SHERIFF OF
KENT.
_January 26th, 1843._--Sir Moses ordered from the Apothecaries' Hall
drugs, surgical instruments, and fittings for a dispensary in
Jerusalem, and saw them packed and forwarded to the Holy City.
_February 27th._--A large number of his Jewish brethren in the United
Kingdom, Jamaica, Barbadoes, and Gibraltar, presented him with a
testimonial of respect and gratitude in commemoration of the many
personal sacrifices made, and the philanthropy displayed by him and
Lady Montefiore during his Mission to the East, Anno Mundi 5600
(1840).
It was designed by Sir George Hayter, modelled by E. Bailey, R.A., and
executed by Messrs Mortimer & Hunt, and is an exquisite piece of
workmanship, both as regards the design and execution. It is
exclusively ornamental, adapted for no special purpose, and is, as it
were, a kind of miniature monument. It is three and a half feet high,
weighs 1319 ounces of silver, and has a large base. The most prominent
figure, which surmounts the whole work, represents David conquering
the lion and rescuing the lamb (as in First Book of Samuel xvii. 34
and 35), and is emblematical of the victory over oppressive force, and
the delivery of innocence effected by the Mission. This is the _chef
d'oeuvre_ of the work, which is full of fine allegorical details.
Immediately under this figure are four bas-reliefs, representing
respectively, (1) the landing of Sir Moses and his party at
Alexandria; (2) the audience with the Sultan at Constantinople on the
granting of the firman; (3) the liberation of the prisoners at
Damascus; and (4) the public thanksgiving on the return of Sir Moses
and Lady Montefiore to London. On the four corners of the base are
exquisite figures in frosted silver, two representing Moses and Ezra,
the great deliverers of their people in ancient times, and the other
two some of the accused Jews of Damascus, one in chains, bowed down by
grief, the other in an attitude of thanksgiving, with the fetters
lying broken at his feet.
The chairman (Mr H. de Castro), accompanied by the Committee, prefaced
the presentation by reading an address, engrossed on vellum. A vellum
scroll was also added, containing the series of resolutions adopted at
the public meeting in 1840, and the name of every contributor to the
testimonal, copied from the lists furnished to the Committee, and
arranged according to residence.
The following is a copy of the address:--
"Esteemed Sir,--We have long looked forward to the
present as a moment of high and honourable
gratification, when we should come forward on behalf of
the Jewish community to present to you this
manifestation of their gratitude and esteem. The
services which, at a period of excitement, you rendered,
in a foreign clime, to religion and humanity, were such
as are rarely called into requisition. The alacrity,
spirit, and zeal with which you embarked into the cause,
were only equalled by the liberality, judgment, and
decision you evinced in the accomplishment of the end
you had in view. The restoration of the oppressed to
liberty, and a full refutation of the vile calumnies
brought against our faith--both these great objects, by
the aid of Gracious Providence, have been attained. The
grateful thanksgivings of the liberated prisoners
pronounce you their deliverer. The firman of the Sultan,
denies these calumnies, of which they had been the
unfortunate victims.
"It may be truly said of you, Sir, and of your amiable
Lady--the companion of your anxieties and dangers--that
your services were 'the labours of the heart,' works of
all others most deserving of distinction and reward.
"May you ever be the 'harbinger of glad tidings to
Zion,' and long live to continue your watchful care to
all who need your solace and support. How will your
suffering brethren in Jerusalem hail your late acts of
munificence--the founding a dispensary for the poor of
our community, now dwelling in the land of our fathers.
"In the name of the Jewish people we present to you this
testimonial of your great and successful labours, with
the hope that the blessing of our Heavenly Father may
vouchsafe, to you and Lady Montefiore, many, many happy
years to contemplate and enjoy it.--On behalf of the
Committee,
"Hananel de Castro, _Chairman_."
"27 Adar 5603--27th February 1843."
[Illustration: Testimonial of respect and gratitude, presented to
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore by their Jewesh Brethen in the
United Kingdom and the Colonies. _See Vol. I., page 314._]
To this address. Sir Moses made the following reply:--
"Mr De Castro and Gentlemen,--I receive with unfeigned
satisfaction, and, I trust, with humility, the address
which you have offered to me. I accepted with fear and
trembling the responsible yet honourable task confided
to me by my brethren, not trusting in my own strength or
wisdom, but relying upon the saving strength of the Lord
our God. I felt that I should be sustained by the
prayers and sympathies of my brethren, and of the
enlightened friends of humanity throughout the world.
Aided by these prayers and sympathies, and supported by
the Government of our country, your Mission was
permitted by Divine providence, while in Egypt, to
become the instruments of giving liberty to the captive,
of opening the prison to them that were bound, of
restoring to their wives and families those who, by
unjust persecution, had been compelled to abandon their
homes. We have everywhere asserted their innocence of
the atrocious crime laid to their charge, and in the
face of all men have vindicated the purity and divinity
of our holy religion.
"At Constantinople our success was complete. There we
had the satisfaction of obtaining from the Sultan a
Haiti Sherif, which asserts the innocence of our
brethren after a full examination of the witnesses
against them, and of their religious writings, and
declares that the accusations against our religion were
based in falsehood, and entertained only by the
prejudiced and the ignorant. That noble writing has also
laid the foundation for improving the civil condition of
our brethren in the Turkish Dominions. To that, as well
as to the documents which have been transmitted to the
committee, I refer with exultation, as proofs that the
rulers of the East have imbibed more liberal notions,
have set themselves against the use of torture, have
secured to our brethren an equality of civil rights, and
thus given them a deeper interest in the prosperity of
the countries in which they reside. That you approve of
these acts, and testify your approbation of the whole
proceedings of the Mission, and believe that I have, to
the best of my ability, fulfilled its objects, will be
to me a source of continual satisfaction through life,
and when I am about to quit this earthly scene will
cheer the last moments of my existence.
"You are pleased to speak of the dangers and perils to
which I have been exposed. I assure you that I count
them as nothing when I consider the noble object of the
Mission, and the entire success with which it has
pleased God to crown our labours. Without, however, your
continual advice and support, I might not have been able
to accomplish that which has been done, because, when
all around appeared gloomy and dark, and I thought that
amidst the contending struggles of nations for power the
rights of humanity would be sacrificed and the liberties
of our brethren utterly destroyed, I was cheered and
sustained by the recollection of your prayers and
support, and, relying upon the God of our fathers, I
persevered until I was satisfied that the objects of the
Mission had been fully accomplished. Nor is it one of
the least consequences attending our labours, that, in
accomplishing such objects, we have been enabled to
dissipate prejudice and to remove ignorance, so that now
our persecutors are compelled to look with respect upon
our nation. May I not, therefore, assert that a new and
brighter era is dawning upon those who have for ages
been the subjects of calumny and oppression.
"In prosecuting the labours of your Mission I received
most valuable assistance from our friends the family de
Rothschild, from each of its members at London, Paris,
Naples, Frankfort, and Vienna, both by introductions to
their extensive connections in the East, as well as by
their unremitted personal exertions in Europe; nor can I
forget my friend Mr George Samuel, who was ever ready to
lend his aid at Constantinople. I should also be doing
great injustice to my own feelings were I to let this
opportunity pass without referring to the valuable
assistance of my friends, Mr Wire and Dr Loewe, who
accompanied me throughout the whole of my long journey,
and whom I shall ever esteem as men devoted to the
interests of humanity.
"I cannot conclude this short and imperfect reply to
your congratulations without referring to the kind
expressions in which you speak of my beloved wife, whom
you truly characterise as the participator in all my
toils and anxieties. She has, indeed, shared my toils
but diminished my anxieties, and aided me in the
prosecution of my labours.
"Gentlemen, to you, to your excellent president, but,
above all, to the God of our fathers, I offer thanks
that I have been permitted to fulfil the objects of your
Mission, and with devout gratitude I resign into your
hands the trust committed to my care, praying that
peace, prosperity, truth, and union may ever prevail in
Israel."
The death of the Duke of Sussex took place at this time, and Sir Moses
deeply lamented the loss sustained by his demise.
The Lord Chamberlain sent him a command to attend the funeral on the
4th of May, and Lord Dinorben wrote a letter to inform him that a card
of invitation had been sent, and that he would be permitted to follow
in his own carriage.
Sir Moses, describing the funeral, says:--
"I left home after six in the morning, and was at
Kensington Palace a quarter before seven. The company
began to assemble between seven and eight: I suppose
there were more than one hundred and fifty persons. The
procession commenced at half-past eight; the roads were
lined with people, every window filled, also many
scaffoldings. The chapel at Kensal Green was solemn and
grand, being filled with the grand officers of state,
the Duke of Wellington, Sir Robert Peel, &c., &c. We saw
none of the Tories or Royal Family at the palace, but in
the chapel there were the Duke of Cambridge, chief
mourner; Prince Albert, &c. The ceremony was over at
twelve. I reached home at a quarter to one, and after
breakfast proceeded at once with Lady Montefiore to the
city to attend the funeral service in the Portuguese
Synagogue, where Dr Loewe (who filled the office of
oriental linguist and Hebrew lecturer to his late Royal
Highness) delivered a discourse, at the conclusion of
which we repaired to the great Synagogue of the German
community. There was a funeral service, but no
discourse." "The Jews," Sir Moses says, "have lost an
excellent friend: may he be rewarded with eternal bliss
for his kindness to suffering humanity."
On May 30th the Earl of Thanet informed Sir Moses that Lord Lyndhurst
had given directions for the insertion of his name in the commission
of the peace for the County of Kent.
On July 13th the first step was made for the repeal of the Deportation
Ukase in Russia.
"I called at Baron Brunnow's," he writes. "He was just
stepping into his carriage, dressed in full uniform,
going to celebrate a mass on some public occasion; but
he very kindly insisted on my going into his library,
and returned with me. I gave him the letter I had
received from Koenigsberg, which he read, also the Ukase.
He said he believed the Minister of Justice thought it
was an act of mercy to remove the Jews from the
temptation of smuggling, of which crime many had been
guilty, and, no doubt, the Emperor was of that opinion,
which was the cause of the order. 'It was possible,' he
continued, 'if I were to be at St Petersburg, by
speaking with one and another, my influence might cause
its revocation;' but he advised me to write to Count
Ouvaroff, and, if I showed him the letter, he would
suggest such alterations as he thought would be
advisable. He recommended that no public steps should be
taken in the way of petition to the Emperor, as there
were two years still before the Ukase would take effect;
he thought it a bad measure."
This statement corroborated what some of the letters from Russia
previously addressed to him on the subject had already stated.
A few days later Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore were present at an
entertainment given by Mrs Rothschild to the King of Hanover, and met
the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Gloucester, and most of the
nobility, besides all the Ambassadors. They were introduced to the
Marchioness of Ely at her own request, and she complimented them on
the result of the Damascus Mission. Several of the Ambassadors spoke
to him on the recent reports respecting the state of the Jews in
Russia.
_June 1st, 1844._--The Emperor of Russia arrived in London.
_June 6th._--The entry states:--"I have been looking with deep anxiety
from morning till evening for a letter from Baron Brunnow. I wrote
this week to Lord Aberdeen, soliciting an interview to-morrow. I will
do everything I possibly can to approach the Emperor, and pray for our
brethren in his dominions. I also wrote to Mr Dawson on the same
subject; it engrosses all my thoughts."
_June 8th._--"Baron Lionel de Rothschild accompanied me to see Lord
Aberdeen. He said Baron Brunnow had intimated to him the impossibility
of His Imperial Majesty receiving any deputation. I showed his
Lordship the Address from the London Committee of Deputies of the
British Jews, and asked his advice about sending it to Baron Brunnow,
for him to present it on our behalf, and whether he thought there was
anything in it that could do harm. His Lordship thought there was not:
the Emperor, he said, was very firm when he had once made up his mind
on a subject.
"Lionel and I then walked to Sir Robert Peel's. He was just going to
mount his horse, on his way to the Queen. He heard all we had to say
respecting the address, and said he had heard it whispered that the
Emperor would see Sir Moses Montefiore, but the Emperor's stay was so
short that he could not tell whether he would be able to do so."
The address was subsequently given by Sir Moses to Baron Brunnow, who
promised to send it to St Petersburg. In the following month, on July
29th, an entry states that the Emperor received the address
graciously, but his visit to this country would be so short that it
was impossible for him to receive the deputation.
On August 9th Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore proceeded to Birmingham,
in company with several of their relatives and friends, Sir Moses
having been invited by the Hebrew congregation of that town to lay the
first stone of a Hebrew National School, a task which he performed
amid the cheers of many hundreds of persons of various religious
denominations.
_September 1st._--The cause of two poor Poles who had been imprisoned
for hawking without a licence attracted Sir Moses' attention. The men
having excellent characters, he determined on going to Chelmsford, to
see them there in the Springfield Gaol, where they were then confined
under sentence for three months, and to endeavour, if possible, to
obtain their release. They had only been six or seven weeks in
England, and could speak but a few words of English.
Next morning he went to Springfield Gaol and saw the Governor, who had
the two men brought to him. One had been a dyer, and the other had
kept a hardware shop near Warsaw. Both men lived whilst in prison on
bread and water, refusing to eat either the soup or meat allowed to
the prisoners. The Governor recommended him a man to draw up a
petition for them. Sir Moses immediately sent for him, and instructed
him as to the matter of the petition. The Governor kindly sent a man
to wait till it was written, and Sir Moses then forwarded the petition
to the prison, where the Governor had it signed by the two prisoners,
and returned to Sir Moses, who was just able to take the last train
back.
_September 3rd._--He called at Somerset House, and left the petition
from Springfield Gaol, and three days later had the gratification of
receiving a letter from the Secretary of Stamps and Taxes to say that
the Board had been pleased to remit the Crown's share of the penalties
against the two prisoners.
_October 24th._--Sir Moses is present at the opening of the New Royal
Exchange by the Queen; he had a seat in the subscribers' room, where
the Royal banquet was given. The Queen, Prince Albert, the Duke of
Cambridge, &c., presided at the head table: about two hundred persons
dined there.
_October 28th._--The Baroness Brunnow invited him to meet the Grand
Duke of Russia; and Sir Moses, entertaining the hope of finding there
the opportunity to serve the cause of his brethren, gladly accepted
the invitation.
_November 12th._--He was nominated Sheriff of Kent, and on the 17th
inst. his friends and most of his neighbours congratulated him on
being elected to that high office. His mind, however, was not joyfully
attuned to the occasion. His thoughts at one moment were wandering
away from happy England to the burning sands of the African deserts,
and at another, to the frozen rivers and the snow-covered forests of
the north of Russia. This was owing to a visit which he had received
from Mr Erith, a Mogador merchant, who gave him a very cheering
prospect of the success which might be expected if he were to appeal
to the Emperor of Morocco for a firman, to place the Jews in the same
position as his other subjects; and to some letters he received from
several trustworthy sources, giving disheartening accounts of the
state of the Jews in Russia, to the following effect:--
"The Ukase ordering the Jews to remove from the frontier provinces to
the interior is now being carried into effect. This measure affects
nearly one hundred thousand persons. The families receive passports,
delivered by the Magistrates, indicating the place to which they are
to go, and only a few days after they have received the passport, they
must sell all their property and convert it into money."