CH. VII.]

Rhodes.

93

missing boy, and transmitted it to the Chief Rabbi at Constantinople. No confession being forthcoming, they were also tortured and imprisoned. Then the gates of the Ghetto were ordered to be closed, and no food was allowed to enter for three days. Still no discovery was made; and it was finally attempted to manufacture a case by smuggling a dead body into the Jewish quarter at night. The vigilance of the Jews defeated this infamous plan.

The news soon spread that another Jewish ritual sacrifice had been detected, and popular risings against the Israelites took place in several towns of Syria. What Ratti-Menton had been powerless to effect by his transparent intrigues, was brought about by the consternation caused by the new discovery at Rhodes. At Djabar, near Damascus, the mob rose and sacked the synagogue. At Beyrout and Smyrna serious riots broke out. For a moment it seemed as if the whole of Eastern Judaism was about to be engulfed in a wave of fanaticism.

This was the terrible story that startled the Jews of Western Europe about the middle of April, 1840.

CHAPTER VIII.

THE MISSION TO MEHEMET ALI.

Significance of the new Blood Accusation to the Jews of EnglandAppeals for help-Meeting convened by Sir Moses MontefioreInterview with Lord Palmerston-M. Crémieux has an audience of Louis Philippe-Action of Prince Metternich-Mehemet Ali takes alarm, and appoints a Consular Commission of Enquiry— French intrigues-M. Thiers protests against the Enquiry-Resolve to send a Mission to Mehemet Ali, headed by Sir Moses Montefiore-Debate in Parliament-Indignation Meeting at the Mansion House-Acquittal of the Jews of Rhodes-Sir Moses Montefiore arrives at Alexandria, and interviews the ViceroyHesitation of Mehemet Ali-Intrigues of the French Consul— Sir Moses Montefiore's diplomacy-Its happy results-Release of the Damascus prisoners-The Eastern Question-Egypt and the Quadruple Alliance-Mehemet Ali loses Syria-Sir Moses Montefiore proceeds to Constantinople, and obtains an important Firman from the Sultan-The journey home-Sir Moses Montefiore and Louis Philippe-Rejoicings of the Jews-Royal recognition of Sir Moses' efforts.

To the Jews of England the new Blood Accusation was a source of the deepest anxiety. Under any circumstances the revival of so sinister an appeal to vulgar fears and prejudices would have been of serious moment, but occurring in the midst of a critical struggle for their emancipation, and in connection with political complication, which rendered an adverse decision by no means improbable, its aspect in 1840

CH. VIII.]

Action in England.

95

was of an exceedingly grave character. The Roman Catholic Church had irrevocably committed itself to the guilt of the Damascus Israelites, and France, masking her designs on Syria by a Pharisaical championship of the Eastern Christians, had bound herself to a similar conclusion. In the diplomatic conflict between Louis Philippe and the Quadruple Alliance, a French success meant certain conviction of the imprisoned Jews at Damascus; and, in presence of M. Thiers' warlike attitude, such a success was by no means unlikely. To the Powers it was probably a small matter, in the aggregate of interests at stake in Egypt, whether a few Jews were or were not found guilty of murder; but, to the Jews as a body, and particularly those of England, no more serious question had occurred for many years. The alleged murder was, it must be remembered, a ritual murder, and for a civilised European Power like France to give its countenance, however incidentally, to the theory of the possibility of such a murder, was to arm the enemies of the Jews-and they were by no means few-with the most powerful weapon they had possessed for ages. Far-seeing Jews in England felt this. They saw, too, its practical bearing on their own struggle for freedom, and their action was consequently prompt,

On the 21st April Sir Moses Montefiore convened a meeting at his residence in Park Lane to consider the news from the East. Many Jews eminent in the community attended, in addition to the members of the Board of Deputies; Mr. Isaac Lyon Goldsmid, Mr.

David Salomons, Mr. A. A. Goldsmid, Dr. Loewe, and Dr. Barnard Van Oven were among those present. M. Crémieux, then Vice-President of the Consistoire Central, and a busy advocate at the French bar, attended on behalf of the Jews of France. The story of the sufferings of the Eastern Israelites was placed before the meeting in the shape of letters from Damascus, Beyrout, Alexandria, and Constantinople, and a communication was also read from the Rev. S. Hirschel, the then Chief Rabbi of Great Britain, solemnly repudiating the charge of shedding human blood for ritual purposes. After a spirited discussion, a series of resolutions was adopted, expressing the concern, disgust, and horror of the meeting at such unfounded and cruel accusations against their Eastern brethren, and at the barbarous tortures inflicted upon them; entreating the Governments of England, France, and Austria to take up the cause of the unhappy Jews, and appointing a deputation to wait on Lord Palmerston (who was at the time Her Majesty's Secretary for Foreign Affairs), with Sir Moses Montefiore at its head.

The reception accorded to Sir Moses and his colleagues at Downing Street was extremely gratifying. Lord Palmerston expressed abhorrence of the persecution at Damascus; assured the deputation that the influence of the British Government should be exerted on behalf of the Jews, and promised that instructions should immediately be sent to Colonel Hodges, at Alexandria, and Lord Ponsonby, at Constantinople,

CH. VIII.] Prince Metternich's Remonstrance. 97

directing them to use every effort to prevent a continuance of the outrages. On the same day M. Crémieux had an audience of the French King, but with not quite so satisfactory a result. "I know nothing of all you have told me," coldly replied Louis Philippe, "but if, in any part of the world, there are Jews who appeal to my protection, and it is in the power of my Government to afford that protection, you may depend upon it that it will be granted." In Austria, on the other hand, very efficient action was taken. Prince Metternich, pleased to find that his diplomatic agents in the East had already declared themselves on what he was shrewd enough to perceive would prove the side of justice and right, addressed a personal remonstrance to Mehemet Ali, and instructed the Austrian Consul Laurier to insist upon the fullest reparation to the Damascus Israelites.

The result of these vigorous movements on the part of the Western Jews was to cause great uneasiness in the mind of the Egyptian Viceroy. M. Cochelet, the French Consul at Alexandria, did his best to laugh away Mehemet's anxieties, and for a time the latter yielded himself up entirely to the Frenchman's advice and consolations; but at last a joint representation by the foreign Consuls convinced him that the Powers were in earnest, and he hurriedly sent orders to Sheriff Pasha to stop the outrages, and directed that an armed force should proceed to Damascus to quell disturbances and maintain order. He also appointed a Commission of Enquiry, consisting of the English, Austrian,

H