Visit of the Viceroy of Egypt.

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poor to buy one. Lady Montefiore, although very weak and ailing, left her bed in the hope of being present whilst Sir Moses was writing; but the doctor, who came soon after, found her too weak to leave her room.

"The absence of my dear Judith," Sir Moses writes, was a severe drawback to the happiness I had in being permitted, by the mercy of God, to write the concluding words of the Pentateuch scroll. May He, in His merciful goodness, allow me to have the happiness to complete the next sacred scroll which is now being written for me at Wilna, in my dear wife's presence. May she be in better health; may she enjoy renewed strength to participate in the joy which this act affords me."

The next day Mr Manser of Dumpton, his nearest neighbour, came to present him and Lady Montefiore with a most friendly address of congratulation, signed by the ministers and inhabitants of St Peter's and Broadstairs. Dr Canham brought them an address from the bench of magistrates, most kind and complimentary; and several other friends, unable to offer their congratulations personally, sent letters.

July 2nd. A telegram arrived, informing him that the Viceroy of Egypt had ordered his son, Toussoun Pasha, to come to England again; and Sir Moses at once wrote to Tulfica Pasha to ask the Viceroy to allow the Prince to be his guest. A few days later he received an invitation to dine with the Viceroy on board His Highness's yacht; but Lady Montefiore and himself being unwell, he was unable to accept it.

July 20th.-Sir Moses went to Woolwich to pay his respects to the Viceroy. The latter was much pleased to see him, thanking him for the invitation he had given to Prince Toussoun Pasha and the offer of the house made to himself. In the course of conversation, referring to the French and English languages, the Pasha said he understood English very well; he had not been in England so long for nothing. His Highness said, Lord Palmerston had held out two of his fingers to him, by way of shaking hands, and Lord John Russell, one.

He appeared to be in excellent spirits, and asked Sir Moses if he had seen his yacht, and told him to go and see the cabins. Sir Moses found them truly magnificent. furniture was almost beyond description. are far too richly furnished for my taste.

The richness of the Sir Moses says, "They On my taking leave

of his Highness," he adds, "I wished him long life, and hoped he might see the prosperity of Egypt increased a thousand fold.' "Of what consequence," said the Pasha, "could that be to me? I do not expect to live more than ten years." "When I left, Sir Moses continues, "he shook me heartily by the hand. I sincerely wish him health, long life, and contentment. I would not sail in the yacht to Egypt for ten thousand pounds."

September 8th.-In accordance with the decision of the doctors, after several consultations, Lady Montefiore was to pass the winter at Nice, and she was strongly advised not to postpone her departure after the 19th October.

Dr Hodgkin still feared that she was too weak to undertake the journey, but he would meet Sir Charles Locock, when they would come to a final decision.

That morning all preparations were completed to leave Ramsgate for London.

Lady Montefiore left her bed with considerable reluctance, although she felt she was unable to travel on that day. Sir Moses sent for her doctor, and as the latter was of opinion that they might venture, Sir Moses did not hesitate to undertake the journey. After a most careful journey in an invalid's carriage, they arrived in town and drove to Park Lane, where Lady Montefiore was with equal care carried from the carriage to the hall, and from there to the back drawing-room. She immediately went to bed, and after taking a cup of tea, felt very comfortable, "and certainly," Sir Moses said, "not more fatigued than one could have expected."

September 10th.-Sir Charles Locork met Dr Hodgkin at Park Lane in conference, and passed more than half-an-hour with Lady Montefiore and Sir Moses. The result was, that Sir Charles found Lady Montefiore better than when he last saw her, and more able to bear the fatigue of their proposed journey, and felt no hesitation in giving his opinion in favour of their going to Mentone. Dr Hodgkin was content not to oppose Sir Charles Locock's opinion, but did so, Sir Moses says, evidently under restraint.

September 16th.-Lady Montefiore accompanied Sir Moses in their brougham to make several calls, he took her to see the new carpets for East Cliff, and went to Ludgate Hill to select a new silk dress for her.

Critical Condition of Lady Montefiore.

137

September 17th-She had a better night, the entry in the Diary states, and in the course of the afternoon took a drive with Sir Moses round the Exhibition.

September 19th.-Lady Montefiore had an undisturbed night, and Sir Moses left Park Lane at half past nine, attended various meetings in the city, and about half-past one he returned with the intention of going with Lady Montefiore to see the National Exhibition. But unfortunately he found her very unwell, and still in bed. The carriage had been ordered to convey them to see the Exhibition, but Sir Moses went instead to Dr Hodgkin, requesting him to call at once. Dr Hodgkin found Lady Montefiore seriously ill, and the next day told Sir Moses he was very uneasy, and would like to have a consultation with Sir Charles Locock, who, unfortunately, had gone to Brighton and could not come. The next day her state was more favourable, but after a restless night became again so serious, that another doctor was called in, who, to Sir Moses' great grief, could give him no better account. Most of the members of the family were there. Mr Sebag (now Mr Sebag Montefiore) remained all night, and together with Sir Moses, read with her the prayers for the sick.

September 23rd.-Lady Montefiore had a very restless night. Sir Moses attended Divine Service in the Portuguese Synagogue early in the morning, and had a special prayer offered up for her recovery. He distributed generous gifts among the poor, and subsequently returned to Park Lane.

Dr Hamilton Rowe came and had a long consultation with Dr Hodgkin; they found Lady Montefiore in the same state as last night, and ordered some strong remedies. Dr Rowe told Sir Moses that he was not entirely without hopes. In the afternoon Sir Moses attended again Divine Service in the German Synagogue. He distributed more charitable gifts among the poor, and joined the community in offering up special prayers for his wife. In the evening on his return to Park Lane, he wrote the last verse in a Pentateuch scroll written for him and Lady Montefiore at Wilna, in Russia, by a distinguished scribe. The ceremony was performed in a room (their private oratory) adjo ning their chamber, with the door open, so that Lady Montefiore might hear the prayers offered up on the occasion. Several of his relatives and friends were present and joined in supplications to the Almighty to alleviate her sufferings and to

restore her to health.

"She was as patient as an angel," Sir Moses says, "under her sufferings. Ail our friends have shewn their sympathy for my dear wife." Innumerable calls and enquiries have been made during the day.

September 24th-Dr Rowe and Dr Hodgkin declared that a very favourable change had taken place, but still the utmost quietness must be observed. They cautioned him against being too sanguine, as Lady Montefiore was very weak and no longer young.

The time was now fast approaching for one of the best daughters of Israel to return home to her Heavenly Father.

On the day when the doctors still left a spark of hope for her recovery, Lady Monteñore remained silent, apparently preparing her spirit for flight. Many a sigh of deep sorrow might have been heard around her couch, many eyes were dimmed by tears of grief, but no sigh, no tear was to be noticed on the countenance of the dying lady; with a heavenly smile she greeted those who came to see her, endeavouring at the same time to incline her head towards them. Relatives and friends were anxious to remain with her, but she motioned to them to leave her and to go to prayers, as it was the eve of the Hebrew New Year, one of the most solemn festivals. The Sabbath lamp was lighted, shedding its subdued light around, and in the adjoining oratory the hymns for the festival were softly and solemnly chanted to the ancient melodies.

At the conclusion of the service Sir Moses came back, laid his hands affectionately on the head of Lady Montefiore, and invoked Heaven's blessing upon her, which she reciprocated by placing her hand upon his head, in token of blessing. Sir Moses then descended to the dining-room, where the relatives were assembled, to pronounce the grace before meals, but he had scarcely pronounced the blessing when he was called up by Dr Hodgkin, who had been watching by the bed of the invalid, and who informed him that the end was very near. All present immediately followed Sir Moses, the solemn prayers for the dying were recited, and the pure spirit of Judith, the noble, the good, and the truly pious, took flight Heavenwards.

CHAPTER XVII.

1862.

BURIAL OF LADY MONTEFIORE-SIR MOSES SETS OUT FOR JERUSALEM-INTERVIEW WITH SULTAN ABD-OOL-AZEEZ— ABANDONMENT OF THE JOURNEY TO THE HOLY LAND— MORE PERSECUTIONS IN MOROCCO-SIR MOSES PROCEEDS THERE ON A MISSION.

N the following Saturday night her mortal remains were

near relatives, the officers of the Synagogue, and Dr Hodgkin, her physician. In the morning the Chief Rabbi of the German congregation, and the Rev. B. Abraham of the Spanish and Portuguese congregation, the ministers of all the Synagogues in London and in the country, together with a considerable number of gentlemen, representatives of schools and charitable institutions, assembled in the house of mourning, and at two o'clock in the afternoon the mournful cortege left East Cliff Lodge. Hundreds of the inhabitants of Ramsgate and the neighbouring places assembled near the Synagogue, where the place of burial is situated, to manifest their feelings of sorrow and regret ; nearly all the vessels in the harbour had their flags half-mast high; in most of the churches the ministers in their sermons feelingly dwelt on the great loss which the poor had sustained by the death of Lady Montefiore.

The body having been taken into the Synagogue, the Chief Rabbi addressed outside a large assembly of various denominations, describing to them the noble qualities of the deceased, the services she had rendered to humanity by the encouragement she had given to the promotion of every good cause, and by the manner in which she had associated hersel. with her husband in all his philanthropic missions. Subsequently the coffin was carried to the spot selected by both Sir Moses and