CHAPTER XXIV.1866.
DEPARTURE FROM THE HOLY CITY—RETURN TO ENGLAND—VISIT TO BARON BRUNNOW AND LORD CLARENDON—FRIGHTFUL OUTBREAK AGAINST THE JEWS IN PERSIA—FRESH COMPLAINTS FROM MOLDAVIA.
CONTINUING the narrative of his travels, Sir Moses says:—
"On Friday, the 13th of April, being desirous of leaving some pecuniary relief from myself for each of the synagogues, colleges, schools, and various charitable institutions, with their respective representatives themselves, I had previously made an arrangement to see them on that day, but a restless night and a constitution enfeebled, partly by the incessant work, and partly by the grief I acutely felt at the loss of my late friend Dr Hodgkin, compelled me to alter my plan, and instead of personal interviews I had to satisfy myself with addressing these gentlemen by letters, forty-two of which were despatched to the authorities and their accredited secretaries, accompanied by my humble offerings for the benefit of all the charitable institutions in Jerusalem."It was late in the afternoon, and the place was still crowded, but I considered now the object of my visit to Jerusalem realised, and retired to my own room to prepare for Sabbath."On Saturday, April 14th. after the morning service, I took a walk round the garden, and was much pleased with the improvement of the place since my last visit to Jerusalem."I regret, however, not being able to report the same of the land of Jaffa, which has been unfortunately let to persons who, being unable to resist the threatened attacks of the neighbouring Arabs, deserted the place altogether. The consequence is that the houses are completely demolished and the trees destroyed. I am at present, however, in communication with the Chief Háhám of the Morocco Congregation in Jerusalem in reference to this matter. If sufficient funds can be obtained for the purpose, I hope to see four or five families established at that now deserted place, who will apply themselves sedulously to the cultivation of the land, which is of considerable value, and ought to be immediately secured by a fence to mark its boundaries."As soon as the evening prayers were over, I gave orders for our departure. The whole of Saturday night was spent in communicating with a number of people who brought letters, or had some verbal communication to make, but as the morning dawn appeared, I wound my way towards the Jaffa Road, and took my departure from the Holy City, more deeply than ever impressed with its sacred reminiscences and its perennial beauty, and more fervently than ever offering prayers for its future welfare. 'As a seal I set thee onmy heart, as a seal on my arm, if ever I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her cunning.'"We arrived, after a long day's journey, at Ramlah, where again we took up our abode in the Russian Hospice. All the way from Jerusalem to Jaffa we were followed by agriculturists from the Bokea, who were anxious to lay their case before me in hopes that I would at once afford them relief. I could, however, do no more than assure them that all should be done to make their situation known, and to arouse sympathy in their favour."On the following day, Monday, about noon, we left Ramlah for Jaffa, and on approaching the avenue at the entrance of that city were again met by the Governor, Judge, and Commander of the troops, with a numerous retinue. But I would not proceed into Jaffa until I had first visited the place which enclosed the mortal remains of my dear friend, Dr Hodgkin. That spot is at present surrounded by a strong railing, but will, I trust, soon be covered by a granite column, for which I gave orders on my return to England, as a mark of my respect and esteem. We embarked the same evening on board theRosetta, and on Wednesday, the 18th of April, arrived at Alexandria. The same night we went on board theTanjore, which, by the blessing of heaven, brought us, after a most pleasant voyage, on Wednesday evening, the 25th of April, to Marseilles."
"On Friday, the 13th of April, being desirous of leaving some pecuniary relief from myself for each of the synagogues, colleges, schools, and various charitable institutions, with their respective representatives themselves, I had previously made an arrangement to see them on that day, but a restless night and a constitution enfeebled, partly by the incessant work, and partly by the grief I acutely felt at the loss of my late friend Dr Hodgkin, compelled me to alter my plan, and instead of personal interviews I had to satisfy myself with addressing these gentlemen by letters, forty-two of which were despatched to the authorities and their accredited secretaries, accompanied by my humble offerings for the benefit of all the charitable institutions in Jerusalem.
"It was late in the afternoon, and the place was still crowded, but I considered now the object of my visit to Jerusalem realised, and retired to my own room to prepare for Sabbath.
"On Saturday, April 14th. after the morning service, I took a walk round the garden, and was much pleased with the improvement of the place since my last visit to Jerusalem.
"I regret, however, not being able to report the same of the land of Jaffa, which has been unfortunately let to persons who, being unable to resist the threatened attacks of the neighbouring Arabs, deserted the place altogether. The consequence is that the houses are completely demolished and the trees destroyed. I am at present, however, in communication with the Chief Háhám of the Morocco Congregation in Jerusalem in reference to this matter. If sufficient funds can be obtained for the purpose, I hope to see four or five families established at that now deserted place, who will apply themselves sedulously to the cultivation of the land, which is of considerable value, and ought to be immediately secured by a fence to mark its boundaries.
"As soon as the evening prayers were over, I gave orders for our departure. The whole of Saturday night was spent in communicating with a number of people who brought letters, or had some verbal communication to make, but as the morning dawn appeared, I wound my way towards the Jaffa Road, and took my departure from the Holy City, more deeply than ever impressed with its sacred reminiscences and its perennial beauty, and more fervently than ever offering prayers for its future welfare. 'As a seal I set thee onmy heart, as a seal on my arm, if ever I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her cunning.'
"We arrived, after a long day's journey, at Ramlah, where again we took up our abode in the Russian Hospice. All the way from Jerusalem to Jaffa we were followed by agriculturists from the Bokea, who were anxious to lay their case before me in hopes that I would at once afford them relief. I could, however, do no more than assure them that all should be done to make their situation known, and to arouse sympathy in their favour.
"On the following day, Monday, about noon, we left Ramlah for Jaffa, and on approaching the avenue at the entrance of that city were again met by the Governor, Judge, and Commander of the troops, with a numerous retinue. But I would not proceed into Jaffa until I had first visited the place which enclosed the mortal remains of my dear friend, Dr Hodgkin. That spot is at present surrounded by a strong railing, but will, I trust, soon be covered by a granite column, for which I gave orders on my return to England, as a mark of my respect and esteem. We embarked the same evening on board theRosetta, and on Wednesday, the 18th of April, arrived at Alexandria. The same night we went on board theTanjore, which, by the blessing of heaven, brought us, after a most pleasant voyage, on Wednesday evening, the 25th of April, to Marseilles."
Before proceeding to notice the entries in his Diary after his arrival in England, we have to record two incidents in connection with his homeward journey, which he in his narrative left unnoticed.
Sir Moses' state of health, during the last few days of his sojourn in Jerusalem, manifested symptoms of great weakness, and it appeared most desirable to his travelling companions that he should leave the place as soon as possible. There were, however, none of the large steamers in the Jaffa harbour, and it was only with some difficulty that a few berths could be secured on board a small one. Unfortunately, the accommodation there was far from being comfortable. We had on board 1500 sheep, a dozen horses, and many oxen. There was no railing round the deck, where we had our places, except a rope or chain passing through iron stancheons. The sea was very rough and boisterous; the ship rolled terribly; and every now and then the towering waves, as they rushed on deck, swept some of the sheep, horses, and oxen overboard. Sir Moses could not go down into his cabin, and remained the whole night sitting on deck. The old man of eighty-one did not utter a single murmur; he bore the exposure to the raging elements, and endured the anxiety, which was felt by every one on board, with calmness and resignation. By the mercy of heaven we arrived safely at Alexandria, and we at once went on board theTanjore, Captain Brooks. There Sir Moses found comfort and rest after thedangers he had braved. The sea was calm, the company agreeable. Theatrical performances, dances, and concerts beguiled the otherwise long and tedious hours on board ship, and it was on occasion of one of these concerts that Sir Moses experienced a most agreeable surprise. One of the band, handing round the programmes of the concert to the passengers, brought one to Sir Moses, which contained, amongst others, the following pieces:—
These are two hymns in the Jewish Prayer-book. Sir Moses hardly expected to find them in a programme of music on board the P. and O. Company's steamshipTanjore. He therefore thought that possibly some Hebrew scholar among the passengers might have written the words in Hebrew for the amusement of the travellers, some of whom were Oriental scholars from India. But, when after a valse the ancient Hebrew hymn was intoned to a well-known melody, which may be heard on Sabbath and festivals in the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in London, he was much affected, and softly sang the words to himself.
He considered it a mark of great attention on the part of those who had arranged the programme, and expressed himself in grateful terms for the pleasant surprise.
May 9th.—Sir Moses arrived at Ramsgate. Next day he proceeded to Brighton, thence to Lewes to pay a visit of condolence to Dr Hodgkin's brother. On the 14th he was again at the Alliance, and on the 17th he called on Baron Brunnow.
"He received me," Sir Moses says, "most kindly. Though much engaged, he heard my report of the Russian Hospice, and expressed a desire that I would write him and he would send my letter to the Emperor, who, he said, was always pleased to hear that his efforts for the happiness of others had been successful. I then called at the Foreign Office, and was received by Lord Clarendon; thanked him for his letters of introduction to the British Consul at Syria, and for the letters he had procured for me from the Turkish Government through Lord Lyons. I gave him an account of my visit to Jerusalem, the kindness I had received from Mr Moore, the distinguished manner in which I had been received by the Governor of Jerusalem, and the anxiety his Excellency has evinced for theimprovement of the condition of the Jews in Jerusalem. I informed his Lordship that great improvements had already been made there, and on my arrival at Jerusalem I found that the land was much better cultivated, and that there were many more buildings than on the occasion of my last visit. Lord Clarendon said that if I sent him in writing all that I had said, he would take the opportunity of thanking the Turkish authorities, in the name of the English Government, for their reception of me. I then spoke of the great kindness and attention I had received from Mr Moore, of the friendship he evinced during my trouble (the loss of my friend, Dr Hodgkin), of the esteem in which Mr Moore was held by persons of all classes without distinction of faith. Lord Clarendon asked me to write this to him also, and said, 'It is seed that shall produce fruit.' Nothing could have been more kind than his Lordship's reception of me."
June 3rd.—He went to his favourite retreat, Smithembottom, for a few hours' reflection on the past and the future, but not until he considered he had discharged all the duties in connection with his last mission.
July 24th.—A granite pillar was bought by him for the tomb of his lamented friend, Dr Hodgkin, and sent to Jaffa at his expense.
August 13th.—On calling at the Foreign Office he had the satisfaction of being permitted to peruse two despatches, dated Teheran, 10th and 11th of June, from Mr Alison. The latter had been most active in his powerful appeal to the Persian Government in favour of the Jews, but a few months later dispatches were again given to him to read which caused him acute sorrow. "I called at the Foreign Office," he says, in his entry of the 1st of November, "and gave Mr (now Lord) Hammond a copy of my report. He said he had written to me yesterday, but I had not yet received his letter."
An opportunity was then afforded to him to read several dispatches from Mr Alison at Teheran, giving an account of another frightful outbreak against the Jews at Benfarouch. Many of them were killed and had their houses plundered and destroyed. In fact, the whole of the Jewish population of that place were homeless and starving, and crying aloud for mercy. The Shah's officer was beaten, and the head of the Moslem population declared that he was king there, and that not a Jewshould remain alive in the place. The authority of the Shah had disappeared, and the ministers of England, France, Russia, and Turkey had declined to make any further remonstrances to his government. "Heaven protect the poor Jews." I begged Mr Hammond to advise me what I could do for them. He said, "Nothing; that I must wait with patience, and he would let me know when they had further dispatches." I offered to go to Persia, but he said, "It was not possible, I could do no good."
In a letter Sir Moses addressed to me in reference to the outbreak against the Jews at Balfaroosh, he writes: "Lord Clarendon has sent Mr Alison a telegram to express to the Shah the full assurance felt by Her Majesty's Government that the persons who have committed the outrage in question will be severely punished, and that the Jews at Balfaroosh and elsewhere throughout Persia will be protected from ill-treatment and persecution." "Alas," he continues, "I am not yet finished with one effort in favour of our brethren when a new misfortune occurs."
November 5th.He went to the Isle of Thanet Union at Ramsgate; visited all the rooms, and the infirmary, &c.; distributed parcels containing tea and sugar, in addition to gifts in money among 340 persons present. The inmates were always pleased to see him, as he made it a rule to speak a few kind words to them.
He was in the habit of visiting the Union and other charitable institutions in Ramsgate regularly every year, when his health permitted him to do so, and always remembered the inmates on the Queen's Birthday and on other festive occasions.
December 4th.—Sir Moses went to Dover to meet the Rev. Dr Artom, the spiritual head of the Spanish and Portuguese congregation, on his arrival after election. A few days later he had the pleasure of receiving a kind note with an offer of £100 from Miss Burdett Coutts towards the fund to be raised for the supply of water and the improvement of the dwellings of the Israelites in Jerusalem. Subsequently he devoted much time to making arrangements regarding his land at Jaffa.
When Sir Moses, a few months earlier, in a moment of weariness, almost overwhelmed by the frequent appeals to his sympathizing heart from his oppressed and suffering brethren inforeign lands, said, "Alas, I am not yet finished with one effort when a new misfortune occurs," he little thought that he would so soon have again to set out on a mission, and so give up the comforts of home. But the unexpected often happens, and Sir Moses did not think that he would be exempted from the usual lot of mankind; especially as so many thousands of his fellow beings placed their confidence in him, knowing that he would hasten to their help, as long as one spark of hope was left to remove their grievances.
In the first few months of this year he pursued his occupations in their usual order in the city, and when at Ramsgate, where he generally enjoyed the company of relatives and friends, his favourite theme was the improvement of the college buildings by the enlargement of the lecture hall. But even this pleasure soon became clouded by the news of the death of his brother-in-law, Mr Benjamin Cohen, the father of Mr Arthur Cohen, Q.C. Both he and Lady Montefiore were greatly attached to him. He was a man of exceptional goodness of heart, most agreeable in manners; endearing himself to all who associated with him.
Soon after this mournful event he received by the kindness of Lord Stanley, from the Foreign Office, various extracts from reports referring to Hamadan, dated February 22, 1867. "The Jews," Mr Alison's agent writes, "are this year much more ill-treated than last year. Many of the Jews have run away from this province."
Mr R. T. Thomson in his notes on "The Jews of Oroomiah," writes, on February 1, 1867, "There are two hundred families of Jews residing in the town of Oroomiah. The revenue which they pay to the Persian Government annually is fixed at four hundred tomans, but their master Rejjeb Ali Khan, son of Fazzan Agha, takes six hundred tomans besides sundry fines and other small exactions. It was agreed about twenty years ago that they should pay ten tomans annually, in lieu of forced labour. This sum is regularly exacted, and the forced labour likewise, which consists of clearing snow from the houses of the Master and his friends, removing rubbish, and clearing their courtyards.
If a Jew dies, and has no son to succeed to his property, the will of the deceased is set aside, and the Master takes possession of his property.
"Rejjeb Ali Khan, who returned from Tabreez to Oroomiah last summer, demanded, while I was at the latter town, 120 tomans, the greater part of which he had then collected, and he absolutely refused to reckon this sum as part of the regular taxes. A deputation from the Jews left for Tabreez last summer to petition the authorities there, but the son of the Master heard of their departure, and they had been seized and brought back to Oroomiah.
"As an example of the unfair manner in which these taxes are imposed, the case of one Jew may be cited, who during last year paid twelve tomans as his share, though there are only four persons living in his house, and also that of his brother, who lives by himself and has no shop, and yet had to pay six tomans."
Lord Stanley approved of Mr Alison's exertions in favour of the Jews and Nestorians, and desired him to take every suitable opportunity of strongly pressing upon the Shah and his Ministers the interest felt by Her Majesty's Government in both these classes of his subjects, and their earnest hope that the Shah would extend to them his protection, redress any wrongs which they may suffer, and make his Moslem subjects clearly understand that any act of violence and wrong on Jews or Christians would not only entail upon them personal punishment, but the payment of pecuniary compensation to the sufferers.
Notwithstanding the representations of the British Government, however, complaints of oppression continued to arrive from various places in Persia, appealing for help, and the anxiety of Sir Moses became considerably increased by the cry of anguish which reached him from Moldavia.
"On the 4th of May last," the supplicants say in their letter to him, "a decree was issued by the Minister to expel all the Jews from the villages of Moldavia as coming under the category of vagabonds. Scarcely was the edict made known, when the Minister himself arrived here; in another moment the enemies of Israel filled the streets and public places, seized every Jew, without distinction, that came in their way, crying out, 'He is a vagabond;' bound him hand and foot with chains, beat him unmercifully; drove out alike old and young, chased them out of the city, and delivered them over to the mercy of the soldiery to drive them beyond the frontier."A cry of anguish from the women, and like lamentations from the men, went up to Heaven. Old men and children, women with children at the breast, cry aloud, but there are none to pity, none to look with compassion. They have been driven from all the villages, made to leave their possessions, their goods and chattels, in the hands of their enemies, and have escaped only with their lives."The heads of the congregation here have entreated the Minister towithdraw the decree, but in vain have they supplicated. Non-Israelites have also sought justice for the Jews, but they have pleaded to a deaf ear. He seeks only their expulsion."In three days the prisons were overcrowded with our brethren. Their persecutions for a while abated, still we were in fear and trembling lest every moment they should be renewed with fresh vigour, for the decree has not yet been recalled."A great evil threatens us, the hatred increases every day and every hour—there is none to stay the hand. We therefore make known to you these our troubles and distresses, beseeching you with burning tears to aid us all in your power, and to defend the cause of the oppressed Israelites who are driven from the land of Moldavia."May the Creator of heaven and earth, the God of Israel, help us."Trouble upon trouble! During the last three days soldiers have been going about the streets molesting the Jews, and with their swords they injured a woman with child. Her cries brought persons to her rescue, and those who endeavoured to take the weapons from the soldiers were seized, thrown into prison, and charged with attempting to murder the soldiery. We have no one to look to for help except our Father in Heaven and His servant Moses. The chief matters we dare not venture to write, out of dread and apprehension, for we are as sheep in the hands of the slaughterers."
"On the 4th of May last," the supplicants say in their letter to him, "a decree was issued by the Minister to expel all the Jews from the villages of Moldavia as coming under the category of vagabonds. Scarcely was the edict made known, when the Minister himself arrived here; in another moment the enemies of Israel filled the streets and public places, seized every Jew, without distinction, that came in their way, crying out, 'He is a vagabond;' bound him hand and foot with chains, beat him unmercifully; drove out alike old and young, chased them out of the city, and delivered them over to the mercy of the soldiery to drive them beyond the frontier.
"A cry of anguish from the women, and like lamentations from the men, went up to Heaven. Old men and children, women with children at the breast, cry aloud, but there are none to pity, none to look with compassion. They have been driven from all the villages, made to leave their possessions, their goods and chattels, in the hands of their enemies, and have escaped only with their lives.
"The heads of the congregation here have entreated the Minister towithdraw the decree, but in vain have they supplicated. Non-Israelites have also sought justice for the Jews, but they have pleaded to a deaf ear. He seeks only their expulsion.
"In three days the prisons were overcrowded with our brethren. Their persecutions for a while abated, still we were in fear and trembling lest every moment they should be renewed with fresh vigour, for the decree has not yet been recalled.
"A great evil threatens us, the hatred increases every day and every hour—there is none to stay the hand. We therefore make known to you these our troubles and distresses, beseeching you with burning tears to aid us all in your power, and to defend the cause of the oppressed Israelites who are driven from the land of Moldavia.
"May the Creator of heaven and earth, the God of Israel, help us.
"Trouble upon trouble! During the last three days soldiers have been going about the streets molesting the Jews, and with their swords they injured a woman with child. Her cries brought persons to her rescue, and those who endeavoured to take the weapons from the soldiers were seized, thrown into prison, and charged with attempting to murder the soldiery. We have no one to look to for help except our Father in Heaven and His servant Moses. The chief matters we dare not venture to write, out of dread and apprehension, for we are as sheep in the hands of the slaughterers."
Sir Moses received numerous petitions to the same effect from Galatz and Berlad, which he forwarded to the London Committee of Deputies of the British Jews. The British Government took every opportunity to help them, yet no redress could be obtained, and the cries of the sufferers continued.