llustration: Hand-written letter]

CHAPTER XIII.

1836-1837.

DEATH OF MR N. M. ROTHSCHILD--MR MONTEFIORE VISITS DUBLIN--BECOMES THE
FIRST JEWISH MEMBER OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY--DEATH OF WILLIAM IV.--MR
MONTEFIORE ELECTED SHERIFF.

In the Diary for 1836, the first entry is on the 17th July, which is
accounted for by its being the second journal for that year, the one
containing his entries for the early months having been lost. On the
date mentioned he records his grief at the death of an aunt to whom he
was much attached, and for whom he entertained a sincere respect.
About this time he was also much affected by the illness of Mr N. M.
Rothschild, and on the 19th we find him busily engaged in making
preparations for a journey to Frankfort-on-the-Main, on purpose to
visit this "kind friend." Only ten months ago they had together signed
the contract for the loan of L15,000,000, and now they were to see
each other for the last time. Mr Montefiore writes: "We arrived there
in time to see him alive, but death was fast approaching. At four
o'clock on the same day (28th July) his brother, Anselm, asked him to
say prayers, which he did, and all present joined him; he then kissed
his wife and said 'good night' quite distinctly. At five he breathed
his last, and passed away without the slightest struggle. I was with
him the whole time, and remained in the room an hour after all the
others had left it. I had thus the melancholy satisfaction of paying
the last respect to his remains. Oh! may this mournful sight remind me
of the nothingness of this world's grandeur, and may I daily become
more prepared for a blessed Eternity! He was a good friend to me and
my dear Judith in our early life. Peace to his memory. Hannah (his
wife) did not leave him for a moment during his illness, and remained
in the room for some time after his death, returning there again the
same evening."

On the day of the funeral, which took place in London, Mr Montefiore
writes: "I remained at the burial ground above an hour after the
mourners had left, and saw the grave of my kind and truly lamented
friend arched over, filled up, and a large slab of Yorkshire stone
placed upon it. Thus have I witnessed all that was mortal of my dear
friend consigned to the earth; his spirit the Almighty, in His great
mercy, has taken to a better world, there to enjoy in glorious
eternity the reward of his charitable actions."

We will now, however, turn to more ch