CHAPTER IX.1857.
TOUSSOUN PASHA STAYS ON A VISIT TO SIR MOSES—SIR MOSES RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DEPUTIES—THE INDIAN MUTINY—MONETARY PANIC—THE JEWISH DISABILITIES AT LAST REMOVED—SIR MOSES PRESENTS TOUSSOUN PASHA TO THE QUEEN.
SIR MOSES reported to the Rev. Dr N. M. Adler and the other gentlemen of the Holy Land Committee the result of his observations in Jerusalem on the various institutions established there by the trustees. He also had many interviews with Holman of Canterbury on matters connected with the erection of a windmill in the Holy City, and the preparation of a balance sheet of the Appeal Fund occupied a good deal of his time. But he was not permitted to devote his attentions exclusively to the Holy Land. His Highness the Pasha of Egypt, as a proof of his confidence in the kindness of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, entrusted them with the care of his son, Toussoun Pasha.
This young Prince, although of a most amiable disposition, was rather self-willed, like many other young people in an exalted position, and thereby caused some anxiety to Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, who deeply felt their responsibility for the Prince's well-being during the time he was under their care. Among the suite of the Prince was a physician, against whose advice the Prince often rebelled, and it required all the tact of Lady Montefiore, and sometimes all the firmness of Sir Moses, to make the young Pasha submit.
Sir Moses had for some time to relinquish his favourite pursuits in connection with the Holy Land in order to study the comforts of the Prince.
Thursday, August 20th.—Mr S. A. Hart, the Royal Academician,was commissioned by Sir Moses to paint a full-length portrait of the Prince.
The young Prince was entertained in a variety of ways, in Eastern and European style.
Almost day after day there are entries such as "The young Pasha continues well, which is a great happiness to me," or "The Prince is in high spirits and excellent health; he grows tall and strong," showing his great anxiety of mind during the period of the young Prince's residence with him.
Toussoun Pasha's visit to England was now drawing to a close, and as Monsieur Jules Pastré had arrived to accompany the young Prince on a visit to Monsieur de Lesseps, Sir Moses made arrangements for his departure. Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore accompanied the Pasha to Dover, where they parted from him.
Monday, September 25th, being the Hebrew Day of Atonement, Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore this day attended the services in the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue from before seven o'clock in the morning until nearly the same hour in the evening without intermission. Sir Moses records in his Diary the pleasure he felt in having been called upon during the service to read publicly the chapter referring to the day from an ancient scroll of the law presented by his grandfather to this Synagogue.
Soon afterwards, on the 7th October, Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore again attended a solemn service at the same place. This day had been appointed by special command of Her Majesty to implore the blessings of Heaven upon her arms for the complete and speedy restoration of tranquillity in India. The Jews having proved themselves at all times and in all countries loyal to the Government under whose sway they live, it may readily be imagined that the Jews in England joined heartily in the prayers offered up on that day, and no one could pray more fervently than did Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore for the continuance of God's blessing on Her Majesty, for the success of her armies in the field, and for the speedy restoration of peace. Before long the happy tidings were received that the Mutiny was at an end, the East India Company became extinct as a ruling body, and on the 1st November a public proclamation was read in front of the Government House in Calcutta, declaringthat the Queen of England had assumed the direct control and sovereignty of India.
I now invite the reader to follow me to the Bank of England. There, on our arrival, we are shown a pile of papers, and from them we gather that Sir Moses had absolutely forgotten the existence of £50 Three Per Cent. Annuities standing in his and Lady Montefiore's joint-names and had not claimed the dividends thereon since the year 1847. There is happily no record of such an oversight on the part of Sir Moses in connection with his administration of the property of others.
It was now high time for him to think of the trust he held of the benevolent Juda Touro legacy, and to commence the building of almshouses in Jerusalem. He gave orders to a Ramsgate architect, Mr W. E. Smith, to prepare a plan for a number of such houses at a cost not exceeding £6000.
Mr Smith's son at once proceeded to Jerusalem, to obtain information respecting the cost of labour and materials.
Within a month after the departure of the Egyptian Prince, Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore received letters of thanks from the Princess, the wife of the Viceroy; from the mother of the young Prince, and from the Viceroy himself, who officially acknowledged the kindness shown towards his son, the letters having been forwarded through the Foreign Office in London. They were at the same time informed that the marble bust of the young Prince, executed by Miss Susan Durant, had been submitted to Her Majesty. The year, however, did not end without causing Sir Moses some uneasiness, occasioned by the unsatisfactory state of Lady Montefiore's health and by financial matters. There was a great monetary crisis which threatened to affect many banks. A deputation from the bankers and discount houses of Lombard Street had been to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to endeavour to induce him to authorise the Bank of England to make an issue of notes regardless of the Act of Parliament. As one of the directors of the Provincial Bank of Ireland, Sir Moses had some anxious days, the run for gold having alarmingly increased at Dublin, Limerick, and Cork, until the Bank of England announced the receipt of a letter from the Government, authorising them to extend the issue of bank notes on undoubted securities, not under the rate of 10 per cent. This notice stopped the panic in England, and it was hoped would have the same effect in Scotland and Ireland.
Sir Moses says: "We have made every arrangement to send 50 mille gold to-night; if needful, 100 mille to-morrow, and 50 mille on Thursday. This is, I think, all that caution and prudence can require for the week, and hope all demand for gold will cease before that time; if not, we have plenty of Consols, new Three Per Cent. Bank Stock, and India Bonds, besides an immense amount of bills we have discounted. I wish every bank was as well prepared for a severe run as, thank God, we are." Still the anxiety must have been very great.
The panic in England was followed by a monetary crisis at Hamburg, and there was great apprehension of many failures in London and other commercial places. During this time Lady Montefiore had been suffering from illness, and was still very poorly. She was frequently attended by eminent physicians, who recommended her a change of climate.
At the beginning of 1858, just as they had arranged to return to East Cliff to allow Lady Montefiore the benefit of rest, Mr Arthur Cohen (the present Queen's Counsel and Member of Parliament) and his brother called on them with a message from his parents, to the effect that they were desirous of passing a couple of months with them in a warmer climate. Both Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, ever delighted to have an opportunity of evincing their affection towards their brother and sister, at once changed their plans, and made arrangements to take a trip to Italy, and thus avoid the inclemency of an English winter.
Lady Montefiore, recording the day of their departure in her Diary, invokes the blessing from Heaven. "May every evil," she prays, "be averted from us, and may joy and thankfulness fill our mind throughout our projected journey."
Sir Moses, wishing good acts to accompany them, as it were, like guardian angels, handed on that day a cheque for £100 to the treasurer, as his donation to the Lord Mayor's Commemoration Scholarship for the Jews' College, and bestowed various gifts on charitable institutions and deserving individuals.
They then left London for Dover.
On March 20th the travellers reached Florence, where, unfortunately, Lady Montefiore was taken seriously ill. Two eminent physicians, Dr G. Levy and Professor Pietro Ciprani, held frequent consultations. Dr Canham, the physician whoattended her at Ramsgate, was also sent for, and it was not until the 13th of May that the doctors considered her sufficiently recovered to continue the journey. That was an anxious time for Sir Moses, the more so as he himself was ill and obliged to keep his bed for seventeen days.
May 15th.—We find them with their relatives at Pisa. Lady Montefiore continued to make satisfactory progress towards recovery, and Sir Moses was again able to enjoy the fine scenery of the country.
Saturday, he attended Divine worship, and the day following he gave a description in the Diary of the Synagogue, which, on account of the allusions therein made to his parents and godfather, appeared to me of sufficient historical importance to interest the reader.
"The Synagogue," he wrote, "was very well attended, both by males and females, and it is one of the handsomest little Synagogues I have ever seen. I wish I had seen it before I built one at Ramsgate. I would have gladly adopted the plan. It will accommodate three hundred persons, and has a splendid ark, containing the sacred scrolls of the Pentateuch. My godfather, Moses Haim Racah, of blessed memory, attended this Synagogue when residing at his country house at Pisa. He was a very liberal contributor to the Synagogue and charities at Pisa. I have often heard my dear mother, blessed be her soul, say that she and my honoured father had passed many happy days when staying on frequent visits with the best of friends, Moses Haim Racah and his amiable wife, my godmother. My mother frequently spoke of the kindness she ever experienced from them, being more the affection of parents both towards herself and my father. They were both young at the time, having been married only about a twelvemonth. I consider myself most fortunate in having been blessed on my coming into the world with such excellent friends as my godfather and godmother. My godfather continued a sincere friend to my dear parents to the end of his life. Peace to his soul!"
May 23rd.—They left Pisa for La Spezia, where they remained eight or nine days, Lady Montefiore being again in ill health.
May 31st.—They started for Genoa. On their arrival in that place their travelling companions became most anxious toreturn without delay to England, and wishing to go by sea to Marseilles to avoid a fatiguing journey across the Alps, took an affectionate farewell of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, who, in the hope of deriving some improvement by a longer stay, resolved to remain in Genoa for some time.
In this, however, they were disappointed. Dr Canham told Sir Moses that he was anxious for their return to England, not on his own account, but on that of Lady Montefiore, as he feared her health would not get better until she was back in England. Nevertheless he strongly advised very short journeys, not to exceed, if possible, four hours a day.
June 24th.—They arrived at Paris. Lady Montefiore continued very poorly and weak. Sir Moses himself was under great apprehension regarding his own health, feeling the symptoms of a very dangerous malady, from which he had suffered before. Their stay in the French capital was very brief. They left four days after their arrival. They arrived safely at Ramsgate on July 2nd. A few days later they were at Park Lane, after an absence of five months.
Here Sir Charles Locock and Dr Canham met in consultation respecting Lady Montefiore's illness, and Sir Moses had the happiness of hearing from Sir Charles that he saw no reason to despair of her ultimate recovery.
The entries referring to the month of July show that, notwithstanding the anxieties both of them had on their minds during their last journey, which would have made it desirable for them to have a few weeks' rest, they were immediately called upon to exercise their wonted activity in the performance of duties partly self-imposed, and, to a certain degree, obligatory, owing to the position they held in their own community, as well as in society in general.
The reception they had given in the preceding year to Toussoun Pasha, and the benefit which he derived from his stay in England, induced his father, the Viceroy of Egypt, to send him again to this country, and a telegram to this effect having reached them from Corfu, the necessary arrangements had at once to be made for his reception.
July 22nd.—They were much pained to hear that the Committee of the Holy Land Appeal Fund were obliged to come to a decision to discontinue the weaving establishment and thegirls' school, each requiring at least £300 a year to keep them up.
To counterbalance, as it were, their disappointment in the success of two institutions in the Holy Land, for which they had so much exerted themselves, they had the satisfaction of witnessing in England the successful issue of their struggles for civil and religious liberty.
Baron Lionel de Rothschild took his seat (July 26) in the House of Commons, and Sir Moses, as President of the London Committee of Deputies of British Jews, signed the following resolutions, which had been unanimously adopted at a meeting held on that day at the Spanish and Portuguese Vestry Chambers:
"That this Board hails with the sincerest gratification the passing of the Bill affording to Her Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish religion the means of enjoying seats in the Legislature."That this Board offers its warmest thanks to those members of the Houses of Lords and Commons whose votes and influence have produced this great result."That the grateful acknowledgments of this Board are especially due to the electors of the city of London, whose noble, untiring, and enlightened labours have achieved a crowning victory in the cause of civil and religious liberty."To Baron Rothschild, M.P., and to all those valued friends whose efforts have for years been unceasingly devoted to the removal of Jewish disabilities, this Board is also desirous to testify its respect and gratitude."This Board assures its fellow-countrymen that it prizes most highly this act of right and justice; and that the heart of every British Jew yearns as warmly and beats as vividly for the glory and prosperity of his native land as that of every other British subject."That the foregoing resolutions be advertised in the daily papers and in the Jewish press."Moses Montefiore,President."
"That this Board hails with the sincerest gratification the passing of the Bill affording to Her Majesty's subjects professing the Jewish religion the means of enjoying seats in the Legislature.
"That this Board offers its warmest thanks to those members of the Houses of Lords and Commons whose votes and influence have produced this great result.
"That the grateful acknowledgments of this Board are especially due to the electors of the city of London, whose noble, untiring, and enlightened labours have achieved a crowning victory in the cause of civil and religious liberty.
"To Baron Rothschild, M.P., and to all those valued friends whose efforts have for years been unceasingly devoted to the removal of Jewish disabilities, this Board is also desirous to testify its respect and gratitude.
"This Board assures its fellow-countrymen that it prizes most highly this act of right and justice; and that the heart of every British Jew yearns as warmly and beats as vividly for the glory and prosperity of his native land as that of every other British subject.
"That the foregoing resolutions be advertised in the daily papers and in the Jewish press.
"Moses Montefiore,President."
Two days later he went to meet the young Prince, Toussoun Pasha, on his arrival from Folkestone, and took him and his suite to Park Lane. Amusements of every description were provided for him—excursions, dinners, and soirees, similar to those given in his honour on the occasion of the former visit of His Highness to England.
Sir Moses had now been associated with the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews for nearly half a century, and for more than twenty years, with a few interruptions, had presided over its affairs. Alderman Philips (now Sir Benjamin Philips), in the early part of the year 1857, at the first meeting of the Board, after Sir Moses had formally resigned the presidential seat, moved: "That an address should be presented tohim, expressing the thanks of the Board for the faithful, zealous, and impartial manner in which he had fulfilled his duties." All parties unanimously assented to it, but a variety of circumstances had tended to prevent the presentation till now.
Monday, October 11th.—When, at the meeting of the Board of Deputies, Alderman Philips presented the address, he said, "that, in doing so, he deemed it a great honour to be the medium of communicating the sentiments of the Board to one whose uniform kindness and courtesy, and whose veneration for the religion of his forefathers, has won for him the esteem, the admiration, and, he might almost say, the love, not alone of the Jews of this happy land, but of those of the civilised world."In reply to the address, Sir Moses said: "However inadequately I may express my deep sense of this valued evidence of your esteem and regard, I desire most earnestly to assure you of my sincere and cordial thanks for the tribute of appreciation conveyed to me in the very flattering address with which you have been pleased to honour me. I desire further to assure you that Lady Montefiore most heartily unites with me in grateful thanks for your congratulations on our safe return to England, and for the expression of your hope that the God of Israel may vouchsafe to us, in happy union for many years, His gracious protection and blessing."You remind me that for nearly half a century I have been associated with this body, and that for more than twenty years of that period I have, with few interruptions, presided over its affairs. It is true that advanced age and impaired health might, some time since, have reasonably resulted in the severance of our connection in this latter relation, the continuance of which I must attribute, not to any merit of my own, but to your kind personal feeling towards me. But sensible as I have been that the high and honourable office of your president might well have been entrusted to younger and abler hands, I feel that no one could have experienced from you more friendly support or more flattering indulgence than you have extended to me."With respect to the efforts which I have been privileged to make in foreign countries to advance the position of our co-religionists in the social and moral scale—and to which you have so gracefully and complimentarily alluded in referring to the temporary interruptions of my presidentship—they are, independently of the gratification I derive from your approval of them, a source of enduring, welcome remembrance, both to myself and to Lady Montefiore, who, accompanying me on all occasions, has most cheerfully encountered no inconsiderable amount of fatigue and hardship. I rejoice greatly that, by the blessing of the Almighty, these efforts have not been fruitless."Grateful for all your acts of kindness, and particularly for this valued token of your commendation, I heartily pray God—and in this prayer Lady Montefiore sincerely joins—to bless you all with continued health and prosperity."
Monday, October 11th.—When, at the meeting of the Board of Deputies, Alderman Philips presented the address, he said, "that, in doing so, he deemed it a great honour to be the medium of communicating the sentiments of the Board to one whose uniform kindness and courtesy, and whose veneration for the religion of his forefathers, has won for him the esteem, the admiration, and, he might almost say, the love, not alone of the Jews of this happy land, but of those of the civilised world."
In reply to the address, Sir Moses said: "However inadequately I may express my deep sense of this valued evidence of your esteem and regard, I desire most earnestly to assure you of my sincere and cordial thanks for the tribute of appreciation conveyed to me in the very flattering address with which you have been pleased to honour me. I desire further to assure you that Lady Montefiore most heartily unites with me in grateful thanks for your congratulations on our safe return to England, and for the expression of your hope that the God of Israel may vouchsafe to us, in happy union for many years, His gracious protection and blessing.
"You remind me that for nearly half a century I have been associated with this body, and that for more than twenty years of that period I have, with few interruptions, presided over its affairs. It is true that advanced age and impaired health might, some time since, have reasonably resulted in the severance of our connection in this latter relation, the continuance of which I must attribute, not to any merit of my own, but to your kind personal feeling towards me. But sensible as I have been that the high and honourable office of your president might well have been entrusted to younger and abler hands, I feel that no one could have experienced from you more friendly support or more flattering indulgence than you have extended to me.
"With respect to the efforts which I have been privileged to make in foreign countries to advance the position of our co-religionists in the social and moral scale—and to which you have so gracefully and complimentarily alluded in referring to the temporary interruptions of my presidentship—they are, independently of the gratification I derive from your approval of them, a source of enduring, welcome remembrance, both to myself and to Lady Montefiore, who, accompanying me on all occasions, has most cheerfully encountered no inconsiderable amount of fatigue and hardship. I rejoice greatly that, by the blessing of the Almighty, these efforts have not been fruitless.
"Grateful for all your acts of kindness, and particularly for this valued token of your commendation, I heartily pray God—and in this prayer Lady Montefiore sincerely joins—to bless you all with continued health and prosperity."
November 10th.— Sir Moses received a letter from the Honourable C. B. Phipps, stating that the Queen had commanded him to inform Sir Moses that Her Majesty would receive the son of the Viceroy of Egypt on the following Monday, at three o'clock, at Windsor Castle.
Accordingly, on the 15th November, Sir Moses proceeded with the Prince to the Castle. On their arrival, they were askedif they had lunched, as Her Majesty had given orders for lunch to be prepared for them. Sir Moses replied that he was thankful for Her Majesty's hospitality, but they had lunched already. They were then conducted into a beautiful drawing-room commanding a view of Windsor Park, and, after waiting there a few minutes, Colonel Biddulph entered, and led them along a gallery into a beautiful room, where they found assembled the Queen, the Prince Consort, and several children of the Royal family. Sir Moses introduced Toussoun Pasha to Her Majesty. They were most graciously received by the Queen and the Prince. Her Majesty thought the Pasha had grown tall and stout, and was looking well. Her Majesty then brought forward the children to shake hands with the Pasha. A little girl, apparently not above two or three years old, came forward and held out her little hand in the most elegant and graceful manner possible. "The dear little angel," Sir Moses says, "looked pleased, and smiled when the young Prince stepped forward and took the little hand." Her Majesty then introduced the other children to him, and all shook hands, the Queen remarking that one of the Princes was of his own age. After some few inquiries of Sir Moses whether the Pasha had been long in England, and when he would leave, the Queen came and shook hands with the Pasha, and said to Sir Moses: "I wish him to tell his father everything that is kind on my part." Sir Moses assured Her Majesty that her wish should be complied with. He then thanked Her Majesty and the Prince, for the Pasha, for their kindness and condescension, and took leave, Colonel Biddulph conducting them to their carriage.
Sir Moses remarked in the entry he made that day in his Diary: "I never in my life witnessed a more lovely picture than the Queen, the Prince Consort, and the Royal children, beauty and goodness combined, a perfect picture of a noble family. May the God of our forefathers bestow on them all good, grant them length of days, continued content and happiness, and may His blessings ever be with them. Long and happy live the Queen."
Believing that a visit to St George's Chapel would be entertaining to Dr Etienne and the Pasha, they stopped there, and went over it. On going out of the chapel Colonel Biddulph came to Sir Moses to enquire if a sight of the apartments in theCastle would be agreeable, supposing they were not too much fatigued. Sir Moses did not hesitate to accept the offer, and Colonel Biddulph accompanied them back to the Castle, and shewed them some of the splendid rooms. Then having sent for Mr Richards to accompany them round the galleries, St George's Hall, and the beautiful armoury, he took his leave.
"I much regret," Sir Moses says, "my dear Judith was not with me. She could not have failed to have been pleased."
It was five o'clock when they took leave of Mr Richards.
November 18th.—His Highness, accompanied by Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, arrived at Dover. After remaining the night at the Ship Hotel, the young Prince took an affectionate leave of them, and embarked in the morning for Calais, the Prince intending to reach Paris before midnight.