There the Rev. B. Abrahams, of the Spanish and Portuguese congregation, delivered another oration, dwelling on the manifold virtues of the departed, and reminding his hearers of the innumerable good deeds of her whom they now deeply deplored.
At the conclusion the body was lowered into the grave, and in commemoration of her devotion to the interest of the Holy Land, Terra Santa was copiously thrown upon the coffin. The orphan children of the Spanish and Portuguese schools of London intoned hymns and psalms to the ancient solemn and mournful melodies, after which the mourners and all present entered the Synagogue, where the afternoon service was performed. During the night workmen were engaged in building a brick vault for the coffin, and all that time several members of the community recited psalms and prayers near the spot and in the house of mourning. After the grave was closed, the nearest relatives and friends returned with Sir Moses to East Cliff, and remained with him during the first seven days, endeavouring to comfort and console him, joining with him in prayers, and assisting him in receiving the numerous visits of condolence.
Although Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore had both decided upon their last resting-place, Sir Moses still appeared earnestly to entertain the idea of having her body taken to Jerusalem. He had a letter written to that effect to the representatives of the Holy City, requesting them to send a number of respectable persons, students of the Holy Law, to England for the purpose of taking charge of it, and interring it in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Upon reconsideration of the matter, however, the idea was abandoned.
Lady Montefiore, Sir Moses said, made, no will, but among her papers was found an unfinished letter to him in her hand writing, in which she most touchingly expressed the wish that a token of her esteem should be handed to relatives whom she named, to friends, and to charitable and educational institutions, when it should please the Almighty to call her away from this world. In compliance with her wishes, Sir Moses sent upwards of 360 very liberal souvenirs and parting gifts to relatives, friends, Synagogues, and charitable and educational institutions in England and abroad. He then invited a number of distinguished Hebrew poets to prepare an epitaph to be engraved on the marble slab which covers the grave of Lady Montefiore. This was followed by the following lines in English:--