e petition in favour of the Jews, and Mr N. M. Rothschild
thought it would be better to defer calling on the Duke for his
answer, as, he was much plagued by the unsettled state of parties in
the House of Commons. This determination, however," observes Mr
Montefiore, "is greatly against the wishes of I. L. Goldsmid and those
whom he has consulted on the subject."

_February 12th._--Mr Montefiore went with Messrs N. M. Rothschild, I.
L. Goldsmid, and Lionel Rothschild to the Duke, who told them that he
would not commit the Government on the question of the Jews, and
advised them to defer their application to Parliament, or, if they did
not, he said, it must be at their own risk, and he would make no
promise. Mr Montefiore thought the answer on the whole favourable,
that is, that the Duke had no determined prejudice against the removal
of the civil disabilities of the Jews, but would, nevertheless, take
no active steps in their favour. Should the Commons suffer it to pass
quietly, Mr Montefiore had no doubt the Duke would take no part
against them.

The 19th of the same month Mr Montefiore says: "Robert Grant gave
notice last night in the House of Commons that he would on Monday next
present a petition in favour of the Jews." It was accordingly
presented on February 22nd. It was tolerably well received, W. Ward
and D. O'Connell speaking in its favour, Sir R. Inglis against it.

A few months later Mr Grant desired to be informed whether the Jews
insisted on obtaining the privilege of sitting in Parliament, and if
they would refuse all other privileges if this was not obtained. It
was Mr Montefiore's opinion that they should take what they could get.

_April 14th._--Mr N. M. Rothschild and his son Lionel came to report
that they had seen Mr Herries, who informed them that the Government
had determined to consult Dr Lushington and R. Grant on the following
morning. I. L. Goldsmid, they said, had declared he should prefer
losing all, than to give up Parliament. "I," observed Mr Montefiore in
return, "decidedly differ with him; we should accept all we can get."

Two days later he writes: "I returned from the House of Commons
delighted with the speeches of Robert Grant, Mr Macaulay, Sir James
Mackintosh, Lord Morpeth, and Mr W. Smith, in our favour. Sir Robert
Inglis, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the Solicitor-General
(Sugden) were against us. The numbers were--For, 115; against,
97,--majority, 18. We called to cong