Hodges said he was going on the following day for a few days
to Beyrout, but assured Sir Moses he need be under no apprehensions;
there would be no hostilities till the Admiral received orders from
England, which he did not expect for another fortnight; and that if he
(Colonel Hodges) should be obliged to leave, he would give Sir Moses
timely notice, and both he and Lady Montefiore should go with him in
his vessel. From his manner of speaking, we gathered that he expected
an outbreak in Syria, but no direct attack on the part of the English;
Admiral Stopford had told him that we were by no means prepared; the
ministers had been much deceived.

The letter to the Pasha could not be presented that day.

_September 7th._--We met Colonel Hodges; he told us that the Pasha had
seized L6000 in bullion, British property, and if it was not given up
to-morrow morning, he would strike his flag and go on board ship. He
told Sir Moses that he must be prepared to leave at a moment's notice,
and that he had spoken to Captain Fisher of the _Asia_, who had kindly
promised to take us in his ships in the event of our being obliged to
leave.

CHAPTER XXXI.

1840.

INTERVIEW WITH THE PASHA--LIBERATION OF THE JEWS OF DAMASCUS--PUBLIC
REJOICINGS AND THANKSGIVING--DEPARTURE OF SIR MOSES FOR
CONSTANTINOPLE.

We arranged with Monsieur Cremieux to go to-morrow to the Pasha and
present our letter.

_September 8th._--We drove this morning to Mohharem Bey's garden,
where the Pasha is staying. We found him in the garden, with his
Admiral, also Anastasi, the Turkish Consul, and Mr Tibaldi. He desired
us to be seated. Sir Moses then said to him, "We come to offer to your
Highness our thanks," and presented to him the letter, to which we had
added the request to abolish the use of torture. There was a Turkish
translation affixed to the letter. The Pasha gave the letter to one of
his officers, who put it in his pocket; but on Sir Moses expressing a
desire that the Pasha should have it read, he took it himself and
appeared to read several lines, when one of his secretaries came and
read the whole to him. We remained some moments in silence. Mr Tibaldi
then told Sir Moses that the Pasha had been pleased to give him a
granite column from the ancient temple of Serapis in Alexandria. Sir
Moses thanked His Highness in suitable terms.

After waiting some time in silence, the Pasha having twice looked at
his watch, we took our leave without ha