APPEAL FROM THE JEWS OF DAMASCUS----LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S ACTION----THE MORTARA CASE AGAIN----SERIOUS ILLNESS OF LADY MONTEFIORE.
Having given the reader a copy of the letter Sir Moses wrote to the _Times_, pleading the cause of his Christian brethren when persecuted by the Druses and Mohammedans, he will probably read with equal interest a copy of the letter he addressed to Lord John Russell, pleading the cause of his Jewish brethren, accompanied by a translation of the original Hebrew letter from the representatives of the Jewish community.
"EAST CLIFF LODGE, RAMSGATE, _October 16th_.
"MY LORD,--With painful reluctance I submit to your Lordship the accompanying translation of a letter from the heads of the Jewish community at Damascus.
"There can be no doubt whatever that the Jewish body of that city is guiltless of any participation in the recent outbreak, and I venture to believe that your Lordship requires no argument to satisfy your mind on this point.
"May I entreat your Lordship, as heretofore, to exercise the powerful influence of Her Majesty's Government to protect and save the Jews of Damascus from the perils to which they are so imminently exposed? As the affair is urgent, I venture personally to attend your Lordship with this letter and its enclosure.--I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship's faithful and obedient servant,
"_To_ The Right Hon. LORD JOHN RUSSELL, &c."
"_To_ Sir MOSES MONTEFIORE, Bt., our Benefactor and Deliverer, whom may God long preserve, &c.
"We had the honour to address you a letter in the course of last month, in which we spoke of the enmity of the Christians towards the Jews here in Damascus, which has risen up in addition to all former hatred.
"Now a great, bitter, and intense jealousy fills their hearts, by reason that they have been murdered, plundered, and maltreated, whereas against all the children of Israel not a dog moved his tongue. Our hearts were then moved as the sea, least, by reason of this bitter hatred and jealousy, false accusations should be brought against us. We therefore besought you to aid us by obtaining instructions from the English Government to the Consuls, Generals, and Commanders who come to Syria; also from the Turkish Government to His Highness Fuad Pasha that he should stand by us, and not be ready to receive malicious reports against the Jews, for His Highness is a just and upright man.