1844.
AFFAIRS IN MOROCCO--LETTER TO THE EMPEROR--HIS REPLY--DEPUTATION TO
SIR ROBERT PEEL--DEATH OF LADY MONTEFIORE'S BROTHER ISAAC--SIR MOSES
SETS OUT FOR RUSSIA.
The first few months of the year 1844 appeared, according to a
statement in the _Koenigsberg Gazette_, to give some hope for an
improvement in the condition of Sir Moses' co-religionists in Russia.
The paper says:--
"The famous Ukase against the Jews, of the 20th April
1844 (2nd May), seems to be adjourned. The Emperor
himself has given orders to the Minister of the Interior
to present him with a minute report on the situation and
property of the Jews in the villages and frontier towns,
before the terrible Ukase is put into execution. This
sudden change has produced so much the more joy among
the unfortunate Jews, as rigorous measures had already
been taken for the execution of the Ukase, as well as
the decree of the Senate, dated January 10 (22) 1884. It
is to Sir Moses Montefiore and the interference of many
members _of the nobility_ that thirty thousand Jews
perhaps owe the entire revocation of this law."
As for Morocco, where, during the bombardment of Mogador, the Jews,
together with other inhabitants, had been great sufferers, Sir Moses
wrote a letter to the editor of the _Times_, directing his attention
to the fact, and showing that the committee in London had correctly
estimated the number of the sufferers. Consignments of money, food,
and clothing, had, he observed, already been transmitted to Mogador to
trustworthy agents, for immediate distribution among the sufferers.
The subscriptions to the day he wrote exceeded L2500.
Sir Moses also attended a meeting of the Mogador Committee, at which
they agreed to send a letter to the Emperor of Morocco, and to request
the Earl of Aberdeen to instruct Mr E. W. Drummond Hay, H.B. Majesty's
Consul-General at Tangiers, to forward it to the Emperor.
By desire of Sir Moses I wrote an Arabic letter to the Emperor, which
Sir Moses signed and despatched to his Lordship, for transmission to
His Majesty.
_February 10th._--Sir Moses proceeded to the Judges' Chambers,
Chancery Lane, accompanied by Mr D. W. Wire, and then went before
Baron Parke, and was sworn into office (as Sheriff of the County of
Kent). The Baron very kindly wished him a pleasant year, and hoped to
have the pleasure of coming down and seeing him at the Assizes. Mr
Wire was also sworn as his Under-Sheriff.
_February 18th._--The fees due for his Shrievalty, L2, 6s. 8d., had
already been offered to him, but on seeing Mr Temple, he requested him
to send them to his Under-Sheriff. Notwithstanding the duties his new
office imposed on him, he endeavoured scrupulously to discharge those
of his Presidency of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
Agreeably to a resolution adopted at a previous meeting of that body,
held for the consideration of a petition to Parliament for the removal
of all civil disabilities, he and the other members of the Board
waited the next day on Sir Robert Peel.
The subject being of interest to friends of civil and religious
liberty, I here give the words of Sir Moses, and those of Sir Robert
Peel's reply.
Sir Moses, addressing Sir Robert, said: "We have the honour of waiting
on you as a deputation from the Metropolitan and Provincial
Congregations of British Jews, to ascertain whether Her Majesty's
Government be favourably disposed to meet their wishes for the removal
of the civil disabilities under which they labour, and, from the
advancement of liberal feeling in all classes where religious
questions are concerned, they are led to believe the present moment
most fitting for them to be placed on an equal footing with their
fellow-subjects."
Sir Robert replied that he had been considering some measure on the
subject to propose to his colleagues, when he received a letter from
Sir J. L. Goldsmid, which stated that the Jews would not be satisfied
with any measure less than the whole. Seeing there was some difference
he would not proceed. However, after some consideration, he said he
would see Sir J. L. Goldsmid, and would write to them to come to him
within a fortnight, adding that he was fully aware that they would
feel as well satisfied with a part, and that they should not thereby
be precluded from hereafter getting more.
_March 3rd._--As High Sheriff of the County of Kent, Sir Moses opened
the Court at Canterbury for the election of a member of Parliament in
the room of Sir E. Knatchbull. After delivering an appropriate address
to the electors, the meeting was proceeded with, and eventually Mr
William Deedes was returned.
The meeting was conducted in a most orderly manner. Mr William Deedes
of Sandling Park was elected to represent them in Parliament, and
thanks were voted to the High Sheriff.
_March 5th._--Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore attended the levee, where
Sir Moses was presented to the Queen by Sir James Graham, and had the
honour to kiss hands on his appointment as Sheriff of the County of
Kent.
Sir Robert Peel, who was standing within three or four paces of the
Queen, came out of the circle as Sir Moses came up, and spoke to him.
He said the suggestion made the previous day respecting the removal of
civil disabilities seemed good; and he requested Sir Moses to be so
good as to communicate with Baron Rothschild and Sir David Salomons.
_March 10th._--At Maidstone Sir Moses went in state to meet Lord
Denman. About a mile from town his Lordship got out of his own
carriage and entered that of Sir Moses, the Rev. G. W. Sicklemore
being with the latter. They proceeded to the Sessions House, and
opened the Commission; then went to the Judge's lodgings, where Lord
Denman robed, and received the Mayor and Corporation. They left to go
before the Judge to church. Lord Denman said to him that he was ready
to go, but Sir Moses might do as he pleased. The latter therefore only
conducted him to his carriage, and returned to his lodgings to wait
there for him instead of accompanying him and the Rev. G. W.
Sicklemore to church. They went there in Sir Moses' carriage. Baron
Alderson arrived a few minutes after they had left, and remained with
Sir Moses till Lord Denman returned, when Sir Moses took his leave and
went home. At seven he and Rev. G. W. Sicklemore went to fetch the
Judges, and dined with Lord and Lady Romney.
_March 14th._--At nine Sir Moses went, as usual, to fetch the
Judges--the Lord Denman and Sir Edward Hall Alderson. On their way to
the Court they called for Mr Serjeant Dowling. As they were going
there Sir Moses requested their Lordships' permission to be absent the
next day, as it was his Sabbath, to which they very kindly consented.
Sir Moses sat for some time in each Court. Lord Denman told him he had
received a letter from the Bishop of Durham, expressing his desire to
vote for the Jews' Relief Bill, and sent his proxy for the purpose;
but Lord Denman said there would be no occasion for it, as their
Lordships would not divide. At five, on his asking Baron Alderson's
consent to his leaving, the latter most kindly said to him, "I know;
six o'clock," and shook him warmly and kindly by the hand. Sir Moses
then took leave, and returned to his lodgings.
_Friday 28th._--"I received a letter," the entry in his diary reads,
"from Mr Addington, forwarding another to me by desire of the English
Ambassador in Morocco. Dr Loewe read to me his translation of the
same. It is from Ben Idrees, the Wazeer of the Emperor of Morocco,
written to me by order of His Majesty, in reply to the petition of the
Mogador Committee. It states that the Hebrew nation enjoys throughout
the empire the same privileges as the Mooslimeen, and the Hebrew
nation is highly regarded by him."
_May 19th._--Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore attended Her Majesty's
State Ball at Buckingham Palace. Sir Moses was dressed in his uniform,
and Lady Montefiore wore a dress of superb tissue "d'or et cerise,"
elegantly trimmed with gold lace and ribbons, and a profusion of
diamonds. They left Park Lane at nine, and it was ten when the long
string of carriages allowed them to reach the Palace. "During the
evening," Sir Moses wrote, "1500 persons were there; the rooms were
magnificently decorated; the dancing was in two rooms; supper at two
o'clock. Nothing could have been more splendid. The Queen, God bless
her, looked very beautiful, and in good health and spirits. We left
much delighted and pleased with the honour we had enjoyed."
After witnessing the splendour of the State Ball we find him actively
engaged at Birmingham and Preston, visiting most of the humble
dwelling-houses of the working classes. Being desirous of having three
persons from Jerusalem taught the art of weaving, he went to see a man
in Preston, who had been recommended to him as an intelligent and
clever workman, and made an agreement with him for the above purpose.
"I wish," Sir Moses said, "to help our brethren in the Holy Land in
all their efforts to get bread by their own industry, and pray to
Heaven they may succeed."
_July 1st._--Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore went to welcome the Rev. Dr
N. M. Adler, Chief Rabbi elect of the German Hebrew Congregations in
the British Empire, on his arrival at Dover, and were present the next
day at his installation in the Great Synagogue in London. The
Synagogue was handsomely decorated, and crowded with the _elite_ of
all the Jewish congregations. A most appropriate and solemn service
was performed, and our Gentile brethren showed their interest in the
event, by causing the bells of the neighbouring churches to be rung.
_November 16th._--A special delegate arrived from Poland to entreat
Sir Moses, in the name of many thousands of his brethren, to intercede
in their behalf with the Russian Government, and to proceed at once to
St Petersburg to make known their cause to the Emperor himself.
The subject at that time greatly engrossed his mind; he had no rest,
either by day or by night, on account of his anxiety to hasten to
their succour, and determined to set out on his journey as soon as his
year of Shrievalty expired. Meanwhile he called on Baron Brunnow, who
promised to give him letters of introduction to his friends, and to
several ministers at St Petersburg, if he went there. He thought the
Emperor would ask him to visit his co religionists in his Empire. His
going to St Petersburg could do no harm, or he would not give him
letters. Sir Moses, Baron Brunnow remarked, had received an invitation
from the Minister of Public Instruction, two years previously, to go
there, as he wished to have the benefit of his counsel respecting the
establishment of Hebrew schools, and he thought this constituted a
claim on Sir Moses to go. Baron Brunnow also recommended Sir Moses to
obtain permission to act as he thought best, with reference to the
address of the Board of Deputies of the British Jews to the Emperor;
and advised his going as an English gentleman, his character being so
well known, remarking that the cause would not be benefited by his
acting as representative of the Board of Deputies.
The year 1846 begins with a sad occurrence in the family. Mr Isaac
Cohen, the brother of Lady Montefiore, a man highly esteemed for his
excellent character and benevolent disposition, died suddenly. Though
this was a cause of much grief to both Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore,
they did not consider themselves in any way justified in delaying the
necessary preparations for their self-imposed Mission to Russia.
Sir Moses called again on Baron Brunnow, who said that he could
neither advise him to go or to stay, but said he might be assured that
the Emperor's object was not that of conversion, but rather to render
the Jews more useful subjects. He advised him not to go till Count
Nesselrode returned from Rome to St Petersburg. Soon after this
interview, Sir Moses again saw the Ambassador at which the latter
recommended him not to go to Russia, and held out very little hope of
the object of his journey being accomplished. Nevertheless, Sir Moses
resolved on going, saying that as he had been invited to discuss the
subject of schools, and was then out of office, he should go. Baron
Brunnow then advised its being kept as quiet as possible. He promised
to give him a letter to Count Nesselrode, and suggested that he should
go direct, and as quickly as possible. Subsequently he advised him to
see Lord Aberdeen, and get a letter of introduction to Lord
Bloomfield, the British Ambassador at St Petersburg; also, to see Sir
Roderick Murchison, who could give him useful advice, and to endeavour
to obtain an introduction to Prince Michael.
_February 18th._--Sir Moses called on Lord Aberdeen, who received him
kindly, and promised to give him letters to the British Ministers at
St Petersburg and Berlin.
_February 27th._--A solemn prayer was offered by the united
congregations of the British Empire for the success of his
philanthropic mission to Russia.
_March 1st._--Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore went to Dover, and arrived
safely the same day at Ostend; and on the following Sunday I met them
in Berlin, according to our previous arrangement, to accompany them to
St Petersburg.
_March 10th._--Sir Moses called on the Earl of Westmoreland to present
to him his letter of introduction from the Earl of Aberdeen. Having
acquainted him with the object of his journey to St Petersburg, and
mentioned Baron Brunnow's suggestion to facilitate our journey, his
Lordship replied that the Russian Ambassador was absent, but that he
would give him a letter to Monsieur Fonton, his representative. His
Lordship hoped to see him on his return. We then went to the Russian
Embassy, and delivered to Monsieur Fonton his Lordship's letter. That
gentleman said he would give Sir Moses a letter to the officer at the
frontier, but he had chosen a very unfavourable time for his journey,
and had better remain five or six days longer at Berlin. The waters
were out, it would be impossible to pass, and he would be detained on
the road. There was a gentleman present in the office who told us he
had arrived on the previous night from St Petersburg, but had
experienced the greatest difficulty, and was the only person who had
succeeded in getting through, as it was quite out of the question for
a carriage to pass, and we should be compelled to remain on the road.
This information was very distressing, but Sir Moses was determined to
go on, and only stop when we should find it too dangerous to go
forward.
The same day we left Berlin, and proceeded _via_ Koenigsberg and Tilsid
to Mitau.
_Friday, the 20th March._--A deputation of the Hebrew community came
to welcome Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore at the Post House, at St
Olia, the last stage before Mitau, to express their gratitude to them
for what they had effected in the Damascus Mission, and to beg they
would accept their hospitality during their sojourn at Mitau. Sir
Moses thanked them for their kindness in coming so many miles to meet
us, but declined accepting their offer, as he wished to travel as
privately as possible. As we entered the town, hundreds of persons ran
by the side of the carriage to the hotel. We had splendid apartments
there, and were grateful for our safety, as we had suffered very much
from cold, heavy snows, and horrible roads, and had frequently been
obliged to travel all night.
Not wishing to attract any notice (in compliance with the suggestion
of Baron Brunnow), we refrained from leaving the house for the whole
day, and from attending Synagogue, which was a painful deprivation to
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore. Many persons called, but Sir Moses was
under the necessity of refusing to see anyone. We had excellent
dinners--a dozen dishes, served on silver; but when, in the evening,
we sent for the bill, wishing to pay for our dinners of that and the
previous day, we found that they had been prepared at the house of
Madame Johanna Davidoff, a lady of this town, and she would not allow
us to pay for anything.
Sir Moses wanted to give her a costly present, but she declined
accepting it. "I am," she said, "amply repaid by the great happiness
afforded me to prepare a humble meal for those who come from a distant
land, and brave the inclemency of a Russian winter, to serve the cause
of humanity. May all the Heavenly blessings alight on them!"
We left Mitau in the evening. In front of the hotel hundreds of
persons were waiting to see us set off. When we reached Obay, on the
south side of the Dwina, opposite Riga, at 10.35, we found the river
still covered with ice, but in a weak and dangerous condition. Our
carriages were deemed too heavy to be passed over; but after
considerable hesitation, they were allowed to be conveyed across,
though at a great expense and at our own risk. The wheels were taken
off, as well as all the luggage, and they were then placed on sledges
and drawn by men to the opposite side of the river. Sir Moses and Lady
Montefiore and their attendants were waiting at the inn till 1.30
P.M., when we all walked across. We had great difficulty in walking;
the ice was wet and slippery, with numerous dangerous holes. Not two
minutes before we passed, a man fell into one of these holes, and was
drowned. A similar accident nearly awaited one of our party: the ice
broke under him, and one leg went through, but his body falling across
the ice, he was soon extricated from his perilous position. It was
impossible, Sir Moses said, "to express the alarm we felt in
crossing." It took us twenty minutes to accomplish.
We walked to the hotel, and were followed by hundreds of people.
Shortly afterwards a deputation of the Hebrew community, and many
others, came to welcome us, but Sir Moses declined seeing them, for
the reasons already stated. He requested me to see them, and explain
to them his object in depriving himself of the pleasure of expressing
personally to them his thanks for their civilities and attention.
We only remained at Riga a short time, to recover a little, and to dry
our clothes, and then proceeded on our journey.
_March 26th._--We arrived at Narva, where we remained over Sabbath.
The weather was most dismal.