ses and recommended
his not presenting it to the Pasha, as it would do no good unless
signed by Monsieur Cochelet. It is impossible to describe the distress
of Sir Moses as he became more and more convinced that, with a few
exceptions, every one in the place, great and small, was opposed to
the object of his Mission. Dr Madden and Mr Wire returned from Cairo,
and Admiral Stopford arrived with part of the fleet. Sir Moses thought
we should be obliged to leave very shortly.

_August 25th._--Lady Montefiore continued to mend, but was not
sufficiently recovered to venture out. Sir Moses went at an early hour
to Monsieur Cremieux, and requested him not to part with the petition
bearing both their signatures. The rest of the day we were engaged in
preparing letters and reports for the London Committee. Mr Charles
Allison called and reported that the aspect of affairs was less
warlike, but there appeared no doubt of the Pasha's refusal. We were
only to have a military blockade of the Port and the Coast of Syria,
and all merchants would be allowed to pass freely. This sort of
blockade would cause but little annoyance, and the Pasha would no
doubt laugh at the English and their allies. At eight o'clock the
following morning the Consuls of the four Powers were to wait on
Mohhammad Ali for his answer.

_August 26th._--Lady Montefiore was much better and able to leave her
room. While we were at breakfast, Mr Briggs called and took leave of
us. He expressed great regret that his endeavours with the Pasha on
behalf of the Damascus prisoners had failed. Afterwards Sir Moses
visited the slave-market, accompanied by Dr Madden, as he was desirous
of learning how far the present state of the market corresponded to
the humane act of the Pasha in abolishing slavery. During the first
interview which Sir Moses had had with Mohhammad Ali, the latter had
spoken for a considerable time on the subject, and appeared much
pleased with the address of thanks presented to him by Dr Madden from
the London Society for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. The
conversation led Sir Moses to hope that a heart which could be thus
moved by humane sentiments, would surely not sanction such tortures
and sufferings as the Damascus prisoners had been made to endure.

At the slave-market, Sir Moses found about one hundred slaves, mostly
girls and boys; he noticed a few women among them, but no men. The
price of the girls was 1000 piastres (L10), and of the boys, 6