1846.
DEPUTATION FROM KRAKAU--THE POLISH JEWS AND THEIR GARB--SIR MOSES
LEAVES WARSAW--POSEN, BERLIN, AND FRANKFORT--HOME.
"_Sunday, May 17th._--My dear wife, Dr Loewe, and myself paid a visit
to the Princess Paskiewitch, the wife of the Viceroy. She was very
kind in her manner, and spoke for a considerable time with us. We
afterwards accompanied Mr Epstein to the Jewish Hospital, where we
found the directors and most of the governors and their ladies waiting
to receive us."
In order to show how desirous the Jews here are, under the most
unfavourable circumstances, to promote the welfare of their poorer
brethren, Sir Moses gives a long description of the hospital,
containing 355 beds, baths, kitchens, a dispensary, laundry, and
Synagogue; and of Mr Matthias Rosen's Aged Needy Asylum, and speaks in
terms of the highest praise of all the arrangements. He also alludes
to the important fact that the poor children are taught and
apprenticed to various trades.
After inspecting the whole establishment, we were conducted to the
Committee room. Sir Moses was here presented with a beautiful little
statue of Moses, a copy in bronze of the statue by Michael Angelo, the
President delivering a most suitable address. It is now in the Lecture
Hall of Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological College in Ramsgate, and
is an object of great interest to visitors.
They were there met by the governor and directors, with their ladies.
The way was covered with green baize, and about a dozen children
walked before them strewing flowers.
"On our return home," Sir Moses continues in his diary, "I found
Colonel du Plat waiting to accompany me to Monsieur Hilferilling, Head
of the Chancellerie Diplomatique of the Prince. I thanked him for the
paper he sent me yesterday, and also for the Ukase published last
evening, allowing the Jews to retain their present costume for three
months, till after the 1st of July. This will be a great relief to the
poor, though I am happy to find that there will be no difficulty made
by the Jews in complying with the wishes of the Government."
The dress worn by the Jews in Poland is that which was formerly worn
in that country by Christians as well as by Jews. In the course of
time the Jews became so used to it that the change for the European
dress appeared to them almost a transgression of some religious
injunction.
The appearance of Sir Moses, dressed in European costume, while
rigidly observing the injunctions of his religion, contributed greatly
to their conviction that a change of dress need not involve any
serious consequences.
Turning again to the entry of the diary, Sir Moses says: "I then
informed His Excellency that I should be very happy if it were
possible to have an audience of the Emperor, as His Majesty is every
moment expected to arrive; that I did not ask for it, but I should be
glad if it could be made known to His Majesty that I was in the city.
His Excellency said he would speak with Count Orloff to-morrow
morning."
_May 18th._--This morning Sir Moses received a note from Colonel du
Plat, stating that His Majesty was going to the Greek Cathedral, and
recommending him to put on his uniform, and to be there, as it would
most likely obtain for him an earlier intimation of His Majesty's
wishes; but Sir Moses thought it advisable not to avail himself of the
opportunity in a place of public worship.
The stream of visitors continued all day long, some even remaining in
the house as a "guard of honour." Our rooms were comfortable, and the
attentions of our friends unceasing, and yet there was a great
drawback, inasmuch as we could not even converse with friends without
the subject being immediately made known to others.
I remember an instance of this. On one occasion Sir Moses received a
letter in the evening relative to an appointment with a gentleman at
six o'clock the next morning. I entered his room to confer with him on
the subject, and before the appointed hour, a letter arrived from that
gentleman, repeating almost word for word what Sir Moses had said to
me, concerning him and the appointment. We could not explain to
ourselves how it was possible for him thus to have received
information of what we thought no one had heard. But on looking round
in the room, we noticed, not far from the sofa, a large portrait, the
eyes of which had round holes instead of pupils. We at once went into
the corridor, and, to our great surprise, we found we could hear every
word spoken within by Lady Montefiore and others.
_May 19th._--Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore received a deputation from
Praga, who presented them with a very small, beautifully written
scroll of the Pentateuch, with a costly silver crown thereon,
ornamented with precious stones; also with a silver pointer for the
use of the reader, all being deposited in a beautiful little Ark.
The deputation invited them to visit their elementary schools and
Rabbinical colleges.
At the appointed hour Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore proceeded to the
house of Mr Blumberg, where they met a very considerable number of
students.
In compliance with a request from the college and school committees,
and from Sir Moses, I examined the Rabbinical students for nearly
three hours. The result being most satisfactory, Sir Moses consented
to become the patron of the college.
On our return from Praga, a deputation from the Hebrew congregation of
Krakau was introduced. They had important communications to make,
relating to questions in connection with the state of education among
Jews in Poland; and several hours passed in conversation with them.
_May 20th._--Sir Moses being apprehensive that his continued stay in
this city might not be agreeable to the Government, as there were
always hundreds of people near his hotel, and many more following him
about in the streets, he called on the British Consul, Colonel du
Plat, and informed him of his feelings on the subject; adding that he
thought he had better leave on the morrow. The Consul said he would
first see the Minister, and acquaint him with Sir Moses' sentiments,
and he would let him know the Minister's reply.
The United Committee of the Elementary Schools and the New Synagogue
presented to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore a beautifully written
scroll of the Pentateuch, somewhat larger than that they had
previously received, with a silver crown, accompanied by an Ark for
its reception. Like other souvenirs, it is now preserved in the
Lecture Hall of the College in Ramsgate.
Colonel du Plat paid us a long visit, and discussed the object of Sir
Moses' Mission to Russia, and subsequently we went to the garden of
the "Little Palace," in which the Emperor resided. We saw His Majesty
there, in an open carriage, and met the Viceroy, all the Cabinet
Ministers, their ladies, and the _elite_ of the city.
The Princess Paskiewitch and the Ministers spoke to Sir Moses and Lady
Montefiore, and appeared most friendly in their conversation.
_May 22nd._--"I received to-day," the entry in the diary records, "two
or three deputations from congregations, distant from thirty to three
hundred miles, with addresses, and called at one o'clock on Colonel du
Plat. He had just returned from a review, where Count Orloff told him
'he had received my card; that he was much pleased with the whole of
my conduct; it had given general satisfaction; that I was a man _comme
il faut_, and that my visit would be very useful.'
"Dr Loewe and I rode to the Prince Marshal to take leave, unless His
Highness had any commands for me. Dr Loewe got out of the carriage to
enquire if he was at home, and, at the instant, His Highness was
leaving the house to attend the Council. He regretted he could not
stop to speak with me, but requested I would come to him to-morrow at
six. As I could not walk as far as the Palace (the sanctity of the
Sabbath not permitting me to ride in a carriage), I requested Dr Loewe
to call on the Minister of Diplomacy, and to beg of him to arrange
with the Prince for paying my respects on Sunday instead of to-morrow,
which he promised to do, and to acquaint me with the result."
The same day a deputation of that pre-eminently conservative class of
the Hebrew community, known by the appellation of "Khasseedim," paid
us a visit. They wore hats, according to European fashion, instead of
the Polish "czapka," or the "mycka," which is similar to that of the
Circassian's. They were headed by Mr Posener, a gentleman who had done
much for the promotion of industry in Poland, and his son; and he
informed Sir Moses that he would, though an old man, comply with the
desire of the Government, and change the Polish for the German
costume. Being a man held in high esteem by the Jews, and well spoken
of by the Prince, his example would have a most favourable effect upon
others.
_Warsaw, Saturday Evening, May 23rd._--Divine service was held in our
apartments in the morning, afternoon, and evening. We had intended
going to the New Synagogue, but were deterred from doing so by the
great difficulties which we had encountered last evening in going to
and returning from the Great Synagogue. Thousands of persons had
followed us nearly the whole way, and the gallery of the Synagogue was
so dreadfully crowded with ladies, that serious apprehensions were
entertained lest it might fall, when hundreds must have been killed. A
strong body of police had secured our retreat.
At least five hundred ladies, the wives and daughters of our
co-religionists, called on Lady Montefiore.
A girl twelve years old sang several Hebrew melodies; she had a fine
voice. In the evening we had with us, for the second time, a little
boy, eight years old, who played exquisitely on the violin. He also
recited the portion of the Pentateuch selected for the Sabbath reading
in the Synagogue, with several of the commentaries on the same, by
heart; a very handsome child. By his extraordinary talent he supports
his parents and family--in all ten persons. Sir Moses made him a
present of a sum of money to enable him to pay for a master.
We again noticed that the walls of our room were admirably arranged,
so that every word we speak could be distinctly overheard outside in a
dark passage.
_Warsaw, Sunday, May 24th._--Colonel du Plat called, having been
requested by Sir Moses to accompany him to the Palace. Going there, we
met the Prince as he was descending from his carriage; he was most
polite, and begged us to come into the Palace. He was very sorry he
could not see Sir Moses on Friday. Sir Moses told His Highness that he
had come to take leave of him, and to inquire if he had any commands
for him. The Prince said he was very sorry that he had been prevented
from showing him more attention, but since the arrival of the Emperor
his presence was required every quarter of an hour. Sir Moses spoke of
the great desire of the Jews to be allowed to purchase land, and to
cultivate it themselves; he also told the Prince that Mr Posener had
promised to change his dress, which pleased him greatly, and his
example would, he said, have great effect, and he had no doubt that
Sir Moses' visit would produce much good.
They then had some conversation respecting the repeal of the Corn Laws
in England, the Bill having passed by a majority of ninety-three. They
also spoke of the death of an English Admiral, and our victories in
India. Their parting was most friendly.
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore then left cards on the Princess, all the
Ministers, the Spiritual Head of the Hebrew community, and the
representatives of the several institutions they had visited; and
orders were given for their departure at three o'clock in the morning.
In the course of the day, Colonel du Plat called to bid us farewell. A
great number of persons came in the evening for a similar purpose, and
remained till one o'clock in the morning. Sir Moses then entrusted
some of the gentlemen with his generous donations for the poor of all
denominations, also for schools, hospitals, and charitable
institutions; and, with the most favourable impressions of the good
intentions of his brethren in Poland, we left Warsaw at the appointed
hour.
On the same day, May 25th, we arrived at Posen. Wherever we had
stopped on the road, even at the post-houses, where we could only
remain for a few minutes to change horses, deputations with addresses
awaited our arrival.
Early in the morning of Tuesday, a deputation from the Old Synagogue
came to conduct Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore to divine service. The
venerable edifice, which is very ancient, large, and of handsome
proportions, was lighted up, and the paths leading to the seats strewn
with flowers.
At eleven o'clock the Rev. S. Eger, Chief Rabbi of the community; the
Rev. S. Plessner, Chief Lecturer; the officers, of the Synagogue, and
the representatives of all the Hebrew charities, in all about sixty
gentlemen, waited upon them with an address.
The streets were crowded, and on reaching the Synagogue, all the
passages were filled with ladies and gentlemen, with lighted wax
candles in their hands, a number of young and beautiful girls strewing
roses and other fragrant flowers before us.
The Synagogue was one blaze of light, from hundreds of wax candles,
ornamented with flowers. Sir Moses was placed in the body of the
Synagogue, and Lady Montefiore in the ladies' gallery, under beautiful
canopies with rich drapery and flowers.
The Rev. S. Plessner presented a beautiful poem, in which he expressed
a hearty welcome and the deep gratitude of his community; others,
equally zealous in conveying their appreciation of Sir Moses' and Lady
Montefiore's services, presented addresses in German or French; and we
found it necessary to have special cases made to contain them.
We left Posen in the evening, travelled the whole night, and reached
Berlin next day at ten o'clock in the evening, taking up our quarters
at the Hotel de St Petersbourg.
_Berlin, Friday, May 29th._--Called at the British Embassy, but
learned that Lord and Lady Westmoreland were in England. Sir Moses saw
Sir George B. Hamilton (who was acting for him), and expressed his
desire to be presented to His Majesty, the King of Prussia; but His
Majesty, Sir George said, was at Torgau, and would not return before
the 6th of June. Sir Moses then left his card on Monsieur Fonton, at
the Russian Embassy.
Mr Bleichroder, father of the present Consul General for England,
called, also the Chief Rabbi, and three gentlemen from Krakau, to
present an address to Sir Moses, requesting him to speak to the King
of Prussia in favour of the Jews of that place.
The following three days, being the Sabbath and Pentecost festival,
most of the time was taken up by attending divine service and
receiving visitors.
_June 2nd._--We went to take leave of Sir George Hamilton. Sir Moses
expressed regret at not being able to have the honour of being
presented to His Majesty, as he had hoped to have the opportunity of
praying for his gracious efforts to cause the Jews of Cracow to be
placed in the same position as their brethren in His Majesty's other
dominions. Sir George said that if Sir Moses wrote him a letter to
that effect, he would place it in the King's hands.
In the course of conversation, Sir George told Sir Moses that he had
received an express from Lord Aberdeen, desiring him to repair to
Florence, as things were in so uncertain a state in London (alluding
to the Corn Bill); he could not tell how soon a change might take
place; but Lord Brougham and Lady Westmoreland, he said, had written,
that they thought Sir Robert Peel would weather the storm.
_Berlin, June 3rd._--Soon after six, an elegant carriage sent by the
deputies of the Hebrew community of the city, stopped at our door to
convey Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore to the railway station. There
were also thirty other carriages with a deputation, and the ladies of
their families, to accompany us; but as Sir Moses had not yet received
the memorial from the Cracow deputation, which Sir George Hamilton so
kindly promised to put into His Majesty's hands for him, we could not
leave until half-past twelve. At eleven o'clock, when the memorial was
brought, we at once proceeded to Sir George, and gave it to him. Sir
Moses stated all the particulars of the degraded and oppressed state
of the Jews, and Sir George repeated the promise he had made, adding
that he should be most happy to render every service in his power for
their relief; and he would call upon Sir Moses at Park Lane when in
London. On our arrival at the station, we found all the principal
Jewish families waiting to bid us farewell.
_June 8th._--At Frankfort-on-the-Main a brilliant reception awaited
them. The Rothschild family and all the principal Jewish inhabitants
of the city, together with the Spiritual Heads of the community, vied
with each other in evincing their appreciation of the noble work that
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore had done in the cause of humanity.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock in the night they were serenaded by
a band of Jewish musicians (permission having been previously obtained
from the Governor). The streets were crowded, and numbers of coloured
lamps gave animation to the scene. When Sir Moses appeared on the
balcony, bowing his warm acknowledgments, hearty cheers re-echoed from
all sides.
Among the numerous persons who called was Professor Oppenheim, of
whose works of art there are three fine specimens in Lady Montefiore's
Theological College.
_June 16th._--They left Calais and arrived safely at Dover, on their
way to Ramsgate; but on hearing a report that an epidemic of scarlet
fever had broken out near East Cliff, they altered their route and
proceeded direct to London.