Lord Shaftesbury sent the letter and cheque to Mr Kirk, the Secretary of the Ragged School Union, with the following

note:

"July 12th, 1884.

"DEAR KIRK,-You may keep the letter as a record of a man in his hundredth year, who can feel and write like one of five-and-twenty. Do not suppose that I have omitted to thank him. That grand old Hebrew is better than many Christians.-Yours, "SHAFTESBURY."

Having during the last two months often complained to his medical attendant of being weak and unwell, the latter advised a change of climate. Accordingly, on the 6th of November, accompanied by Mrs Gompertz, his sister, Mrs Helbert, his sister-in-law, and Dr Canham, his physician, he left England on a visit to the south of France and Italy.

CHAPTER XXIX.

1869.

THE PRINCE OF WALES AND SIR MOSES-CONSECRATION OF JUDITH COLLEGE-NAPOLEON III. A PRISONER OF WARSERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST THE JEWS OF DAMASCUS IN THE TIMES NEWSPAPER-SIR MOSES' ANSWER-DEATH OF SIR MOSES' SISTER, MRS GOMPERTZ.

N January 1, 1869, Sir Moses was in Rome, and on March 4th at San Remo. There Sir Moses and Mrs Gompertz were preserved from a serious accident. They had been traversing the sides of very steep mountains, and after entering French territory commenced a long drive down the hills. Sir Moses had cautioned the driver to go " piano, piano," more than once, as he felt very nervous, but when they had nearly reached the level road, not far from the French Custom-house, a great rut in the road broke the hind wheel of their carriage, and they were thrown with a great jerk on the side. At first Sir Moses thought they were in a ditch, but "Heaven did not expose them," he says, “to such a misfortune." The coachman pulled up, and they were soon released from a perilous situation.

A few minutes after the accident a very neat open carriage arrived at the spot. The occupant, a lady, alighted, and most kindly and courteously obliged Sir Moses and his sister to enter her carriage. "She was only taking a drive," she said, “and they must go to Mentone in it; which they did, and were most thankful to her for her kindness to them.

That lady was a Mrs Coste. "I shall never forget her kindness," Sir Moses observes.

It may truly be said that the frequent rescues from perilous positions with which Providence favoured Sir Moses recalls part of a verse in which Solomon says (Prov. xxiv. 16), “A just man falleth seven times, and rises up again."

Sir Moses returned home on March the 10th, the change of

climate appearing to have much improved his health, and he was again able to attend to his occupations.

Having noticed in the daily papers a report of great distress among the peasants in Russia, he called (April 14th) on Baron Brunnow, requesting him to forward a letter from him to Prince Obelesko, the Governor of Kowno, in Russian Poland, with £100 for the sufferers of all religious denominations. His Excellency most cheerfully expressed his willingness to accede to his request to distribute this sum. The Governor of Kowno, in acknowledging the receipt of this donation, conveyed to Sir Moses the special thanks of the Emperor himself in most gracious

terms.

May 31st. This being the day appointed for the annual inspection of St Bartholomew's Hospital by the Governors, the Prince of Wales, as President of the Hospital, and the Princess of Wales, accompanied by the Crown Prince of Denmark, paid a visit to the Institution, and took part in the ceremony. The Governors mustered in unusual number on the occasion.

The Times, giving a full account of the ceremony, and the reception of the Royal party, notices that "during their tour of the wards the Prince recognized the venerable Sir Moses Montefiore among the company, and paused to present him to the Princess."

August 29th.-Three gentlemen, selected from a number of applicants for admission into Judith, Lady Montefiore's Theological College, were this day introduced to him.

Each of them had filled the office of spiritual head of a congregation for several years. Their learning, as well as their unblemished character, was vouched for by high authorities.

Sir Moses received them with much cordiality, assuring them that it would be a cause of much happiness to him if he were to see them happy in the College.

He told them that the College was intended :

(1.) As a memorial of his sincere devotion to the law of God as revealed on Sinai and expounded by the revered sages of the Mishna and the Talmud.

(2.) As a token of his love and pure affection to his departed consort, Judith Lady Montefiore, of blessed memory, whose zeal and ardent attachment to the religion of her forefathers adorned all her actions in life.

Consecration of Judith College.

229

It had for its objects :—

(1.) To promote the study of the Holy Law.

(2.) To provide for the accommodation of ten persons distinguished for their learning in the Holy Law, as well as for their high moral and religious character.

"It is my distinct wish," he continued, "that admission as members of the College should be given to all Israelites, from whatever part of the globe they may happen to come, provided their learning and moral and religious character qualify them for the College.

"Only in case of there being among the candidates Britishborn subjects and foreigners, both alike qualified by their learning and character, should preference be given to the Britishborn subject.

"Students having completed their classical studies in a college or university in England, or in any other country, who desire to qualify for any of the high offices in the Synagogue and the community, are admitted to all the lectures free of charge after having passed an examination in Hebrew and Theological subjects to the satisfaction of the Principal and Director of the College."

Saturday Evening, September 4th.-The new members were invited to witness the completion of a sacred scroll of the Pentateuch, which was effected by Sir Moses, who, in the presence of his relatives and friends, wrote the last verse of the Book of Deuteronomy.

On Monday, September 6th, corresponding to the first day of the year 5630 A.M., the consecration of the College took place, in the presence of all the members of the community, the readers of the Synagogue, and of relatives and friends of Sir Moses specially invited for the occasion.

A procession was formed, headed by Sir Moses bearing the sacred scroll of the Pentateuch. After him came the members of the College and the readers of the Synagogue, carrying books containing the Scriptures and Commentaries thereon, whilst the rear was brought up by the general company, and all proceeded towards the College door. As Sir Moses approached he exclaimed, in the words of the Royal Psalmist, "Open unto me the gates of righteousness, I will go in and praise the Lord," upon which the doors were immediately opened from within,

and all present entered, ascending the staircase leading to the Lecture Hall.

Sir Moses, and those who carried the volumes of the Scriptures, made seven circuits round the hall, chanting impressively seven psalms. At the conclusion of the last Sir Moses ascended the pulpit, and expressed his great happiness to see the day on which his ardent wishes had been realised. He also dwelt on the noble character and exalted virtues of her in whose memory the College had been established.

After him, the Principal of the College addressed the assembly, concluding with a special prayer for the prosperity of the new institution.

Sir Moses then declared the College open, and from that day to the end of his life there was no break in the prescribed order of duties. The members attended regularly, lectures were delivered on every Sabbath, and on special occasions during the week addresses on literary or historical subjects were given to the general public. Often when the state of his health permitted he would himself attend the lectures, his presence always attracting a large number of visitors.

About the end of December he was present at the laying of the first stone of the Orphans' Home at Broadstairs, by Mrs Tait, the esteemed wife of Dr Tait, late Archbishop of Canterbury, on the land given by Mrs Tait for that purpose, adjoining the Archbishop's residence. The weather was most unfavourable; there was, nevertheless, a numerous attendance of nearly all of the most distinguished families in the Isle of Thanet.

The Archbishop had been very ill, and he was for this reason not able to be present at the ceremony. Sir Moses drove to Stone House to enquire, and on hearing from Mrs Tait that his Grace was progressing favourably, left his card and an envelope, enclosing two cheques for the Orphanage,—£50 from himself, and £50 in memory of his beloved wife.

During the month of January 1870 Sir Moses was frequently confined to his room by indisposition, and daily visited by his medical attendant. This, however, did not prevent him from having the daily papers read to him. It was a habit with him to read himself, or to have read to him, two of the leading journals every day whilst at dinner when no special guest happened to be present.