The French Government having so forcibly expressed their disbelief in the accusations brought against the Jews, and having so severely censured the Agent of the French Consulate in Damascus, he thought, in the event of the epitaph in question being still in existence, he might now be able, with the assistance of the French Government and the Cardinal, to get it removed.
Independently of his own feelings on the matter, he was desirous of complying with the urgent prayer of the representatives of the Hebrew community at Damascus, who addressed several letters to him on that subject. "We have reason," they wrote, "to be greatly distressed on account of this epitaph, as by it the feelings of hatred and revenge entertained by Christians towards Jews may be perpetuated through coming generations. Whosoever sees the inscription is filled with hatred and indignation against Israel."
Many important meetings which he, as President of the Board of Deputies of the Congregation of British Jews, had to attend, and various engagements of communal interest, prevented Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore leaving England before May the 16th.
This delay, however, was productive of considerable pleasure to them, inasmuch as they were thereby enabled to receive the congratulations of their friends on the result of the debate in the House of Commons respecting the second reading of the Oaths Bill (May 7). The numbers were--For, 278; against, 185; majority, 93.
Accompanied by Colonel Gawler, a gentleman who took a great interest in the colonisation of the Holy Land, and had published several valuable papers on the subject, and by the Rev. Emanuel Myers, they left Dover for Calais, reaching Marseilles on the 24th of May and Alexandria on the 5th of June.
There Sir Moses sent the Admiral's letter to Captain John Foote of the _Rosamond_, who invited him on board his ship the next day to meet Said Pasha. His Highness received Sir Moses very kindly, and expressed pleasure on meeting him again.
They left Alexandria on June 14th on board the steamer _Le Caire_, arriving at Beyrout on the 16th, where they entered the Lazaretto for twelve days.
Sir Moses presented Lord Palmerston's letter to Mr Niven Moore, Her Britannic Majesty's Consul General, who assured him of his readiness to assist him in the object of his journey to Damascus. Deputations arrived from all parts of the Holy Land, and especially from Damascus, offering their greetings of welcome and their services, but it was found desirable, in order to avoid any unnecessary excitement, to request the representatives of the deputations to return to their respective towns and await the arrival of Sir Moses there.