t would not
pledge himself as to next session. Dr Lushington and Lords Bexley and
Holland strongly advised a delay till next year.

Mr Montefiore, in his diary, gives some account of a dinner at which
he and Mrs Montefiore were present, given by Mr N. M. Rothschild to Mr
Mahoney, in payment of a wager which he had lost to that gentleman, on
the subject of the agitation for the removal of the Jewish
disabilities.

He says: "The party included many important personages. Many of the
nobility with whom we conversed on the subject expressed themselves
much in favour of the Bill. The Lords Darnley, Lauderdale, and
Glenelg, Sir Robert Farquhar, and Messrs Spring-Rice, Jennings, Otway,
Cave, and Horace Twiss, whom we met there, were most zealous for the
success of the cause. Admiral Sir Ed. Codrington and a Russian Prince,
who were among the guests, discussed the subject with great warmth
until a late hour."

It was the month of June, and Mr Montefiore required relief, even if
only for a short time, from this incessant mental work, accompanied as
it often was by the anxiety which falls to the lot of most prominent
men in the financial world. He therefore gladly accepted for Mrs
Montefiore and himself an invitation to make a tour in the Isle of
Wight with the Baron and Baroness Anselm de Rothschild, and Messrs
Nathaniel and Meyer de Rothschild.

The genial atmosphere of the island, and the cheerful conversation of
their friends and relatives, coupled with the polite attention he
received from Sir John Campbell, the Governor, and his officers, soon
made Mr Montefiore forget for a while Banks, Insurance Offices, Stock
Exchanges, and Gas Associations, whether in England, France, or
Germany.

The time for resuming his usual business pursuits now arrived, and his
own words show how well every hour of his day was employed.

"11 A.M. At St James' Palace to thank Colonel Boten for the General
Post book he left for me. 11.15. At Alliance and Marine. 12. Attended
Committee of Irish Bank till 2. 2.15. Signed policies at Marine.
Called on Mr Rothschild at New Court; solicited him to speak with
Wertheimer the printer to take N. N.'s son as apprentice. 2.30.
Attended Board of Gas till nearly 5. A special meeting of Directors
summoned for next Thursday to receive the report of the special
committee."

At the close of the year Mr Montefiore was invited by a friend to go
to Paris, to be present at the bidding for a new French loan, but