l chief
and representatives of the congregation, I delivered an address in one
of their large Synagogues at Galata, on the last day of the Feast of
Tabernacles, the aim of which was to exhort the audience to give more
attention than hitherto to the acquisition of a liberal education.

_October 22nd._--Mr George Samuel, Mr Pisani, Mr Wire, and myself
accompanied Sir Moses to an interview with Rechid Pasha, who received
us most kindly. Sir Moses informed His Excellency that he had come to
express his thanks, and those of all his co-religionists in Europe,
for the humanity and justice which His Excellency and the Sultan had
shown in respect to the affair at Rhodes. The Pasha said he was sorry
they had not been able to do the same at Damascus. Sir Moses hoped
that His Excellency would do him and the gentlemen who accompanied him
the honour of introducing them to the Sultan, to which he replied that
he thought it might be done. Sir Moses then said that formerly Sultan
Selim had issued a Hatti-Sherif, declaring his conviction of the
innocence of the Jews of the charge brought against them, and it would
be a great satisfaction if the present Sultan would do the same. Sir
Moses had prepared a paper, which he requested His Excellency to hear
read. Mr Pisani read it to him in French; he thought it very good, and
said it might be done. Having had pipes and coffee, we returned home,
being engaged to dine with Lord Ponsonby. We had great difficulty in
procuring a carriage to take us, and at last agreed with a man to take
Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore, and fetch them back, for the sum of L6
sterling. It was a miserable four-horse concern. Mr Wire and I
preferred riding on horseback.

It was a most agreeable party, and we met there several of our
acquaintances. His Lordship spoke with Sir Moses on the subject of a
bank for Constantinople, and said he wished him and another gentleman,
whom he named, to speak with Rechid Pasha about it, and he would be
present at the interview. Sir Moses said he would do so, but could not
say anything before he returned to England. On the following day the
Rev. Dr Samuel Bennet, the Chaplain of the Embassy, lunched with us.
He had just delivered an excellent sermon in favour of the Jews in the
Damascus affair.

_October 26th._--As no appointment had been made, and that evening
was the commencement of the Ramazan, during which month the Turks
attend to no business, Sir Moses determined to call on Mr P