Montefiore, nothing
daunted by the news, determined not to relinquish their plans.

They were frequently visited by the Abbate Farrari and Monsignor
Bruti, two ecclesiastics of liberal ideas and agreeable manners, who
kept them _au fait_ of all interesting ceremonies and festivals in the
church, presenting them with tickets for the best places on all
important occasions.

Signor Pietro Rittig, of Coblenz, having called their attention to one
of his pictures in the museum of modern painters, entitled "Students
in the Academy of Painting," they bought it, together with several
others, namely, "A Greek Girl," by Isidore; "A Buffalo," by Linden; "A
Mandolino," by Cavalleri; "Two Peasants," by Pelletti, and others.

Signor Salvadore Taglicozzo recommended an eminent scribe, to whom Sir
Moses gave the order to write a Pentateuch scroll for him, also to
procure a richly embroidered mantle for it.

During the Passover festival they attended Synagogue, which was very
crowded and splendidly decorated. They were much struck by the
presence of several gendarmes and soldiers. Two, with fixed bayonets,
were placed opposite the Ark containing the sacred scrolls of law;
each time one of the latter was removed or returned, they presented
arms as a mark of respect. Sir Moses remembered having seen something
similar in the Great Synagogue of Leghorn, yet it had always appeared
strange to him that in a building bearing the appellation, "Temple of
Peace," the representatives of war should be on duty, carrying with
them implements of destruction: the Altar of the Lord being considered
according to an injunction of Holy Writ, as desecrated by the mere
touch of a sword.

_Friday, April 12th._--We left Rome, embarking on the following Sunday
in the _Sesostris_ for Malta, where we arrived on the 17th.

Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, requiring some rest after the voyage,
resolved to remain there a few days. He called on the Governor, Sir
Henry Bouverie, to present to him his letter of introduction from Mr
Spring-Rice, also on Admiral Sir Robert Stopford, and on many friends
whose acquaintance they had made on a former visit to Malta. He had
not long returned to the hotel when an invitation came from the
Governor for Sir Moses, Lady Montefiore, and myself to dine at the
Palace on the following Saturday.

To spend her time usefully and agreeably, Lady Montefiore applied
herself with much diligence to the study of Arabic, and both she and