subjects of the Emperor
of Russia, pleaded their cause and vindicated their innocence against
the most serious charges brought against them and their religious
tenets by the Ministers of the Empire. I repeatedly noticed tears
rolling down the cheeks of the venerable elders of the community. Sir
Moses and Lady Montefiore themselves could hardly suppress their
emotion.

Every word contained in the written statements had been translated by
me into English, and the whole was read aloud to the assembly. Sir
Moses addressed questions to the representatives of the various
communities, and elicited numerous replies; but the more voluminous
ones had to be taken away with us, to be read next day by Sir Moses on
the road.

Thus many hours of the night passed; it was two o'clock in the morning
when the conference terminated. Refreshments were handed round. Sir
Moses drank to "better times, and to the health and prosperity of his
brethren in Russia." The Chief Rabbi, the representatives of the
community, and all present shed tears at the contemplation of our
departure.

Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore left many souvenirs to those who had so
kindly attended them during their stay in Wilna, and sent hundreds of
bottles of the best wine, and many kinds of meat, and cakes of every
description to the hospitals. All the charitable institutions and all
deserving cases were remembered by most generous gifts, and nothing
more was left for him to do.

The favourable impression which the people of Wilna made on Sir Moses
prompted him to say to those present, as he stepped into his carriage:
"I leave you, but my heart will ever remain with you. When my brethren
suffer, I feel it painfully; when they have reason to weep, my eyes
shed tears."

At four o'clock in the morning, when no one in the town expected our
departure, we left Wilna for Wilcomir. The recent rains had made the
roads very bad; heavy sand and numerous ruts prevented our proceeding
at the average rate of travelling. In one spot our conveyance stuck
fast in a deep hole, and we were detained for fully half-an-hour. This
unpleasant circumstance was much aggravated by the hundreds of poor
Russian men, women, and children following the carriage for miles on
the road. The more they had given to them, the more they appeared to
want.

After a ride of seventy-six and a half versts we reached Wilcomir,
where a deputation from the Hebrew community brought us wine and cake.
The accoun