description to a person of distinction on the first Sabbath of his
arrival, many hundreds of bottles of the best wine, with cakes and
sweetmeats from the most skilful confectioners, were sent to us, and
these were several times handed round by Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore
themselves. The amiability with which they received every new comer
induced the visitors to speak without restraint on all subjects.

In the evening a scribe of great ability was summoned before Sir
Moses, to prepare a scroll of parchment, upon which the latter was
desirous to commence writing the first line of the Pentateuch for
Synagogual purposes. The scribe soon made his appearance, and Sir
Moses, in the presence of the Chief Rabbi and the principal lecturer
of the community, performed the task assigned to him.

_Wilna, May 3rd._--Sir Moses paid a visit to the Governor, where he
met most of the nobility of the place, and representatives of various
communities, who came to pay their respects on the occasion of the
birthday of the Czarewitch. Among those present we also noticed the
Ecclesiastical Chief of the Hebrew community.

On our return from the Governor, we proceeded to inspect the various
colleges and schools, where we examined the pupils, and conversed with
the teachers and directors regarding the subjects to which Sir Moses'
attention had been called at St Petersburg. From each of these
establishments full accounts were given to us, of which Sir Moses made
the best use in his report to the Czar.

In the evening, by special invitation from the Governor, Sir Moses
visited the theatre, and subsequently, he, Lady Montefiore, and myself
attended the ball at His Excellency's. We were received by all present
with every possible attention and courtesy, and the appearance of Sir
Moses and Lady Montefiore made a most favourable impression.

On our return from the entertainment we found some beautiful
embroidery, poems, drawings, &c., sent to Lady Montefiore by the
pupils of some of the girls' schools of the place. We had had an
opportunity, in the morning, of inspecting the schools. In some of
them the pupils acquitted themselves satisfactorily in the French,
Russian, German, and Hebrew languages; their handwriting was
beautiful, and in arithmetic they were far advanced.

_Monday, May 4th._--We went to-day to see the printing office of the
Brothers Rom, Rundsinsky, Koenigsberg, and Torkin. Sir Moses was
accompanied by His Excellency the Civil G