The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-03 00:00:00

Sir Moses Montefiore's Mission to Morocco

_
The following interesting details of this success
of enterprise are extracted from the Gibraltar
Chronicle of the 19th inst.:—
" We are today enabled to lay before our readers
the firman or edict from the Sultan to oil the Go-
vernors of his dominions, the fruit of the exertions
of Sir Moses to better the condition of the Jews in
Nlorocco. At the advanced age of this venerable
gentleman a land journey at this season of the year
over the roadless plains of Morocco has been in it-
self a work of some toil and pain, and it is a matter
of congratulation not only that his labours have been
crowned with success but that his health has not
suffered from the fatigues of land travelling. The
party, on their journey up to Morocco, left Moga-
dor on the 17th, and with their Moorish escort of
cavalry and infantry, their 21 camels, 25 baggage
mules, and a numerous retinue of attendants, formed
a somewhat numerous caravan. On their second
day's journey they came in sight of the snow-capped
chain of Atlas, which remained a conspicuous object
bounding their landscape till they reached Morocco.
The journey was performed in easy stages of about
15 miles. Sir Moses Montefiore was accommodated
in a kind of palanquin or horse litter, but notwith-
standing this attempt to mitigate the fatigue of
travel the worthy baronet received many a rude
shock from stump, bush, and stone, which made his
conveyance anything but a pleasant one. At the
close of each day's journey the Governor of the dis-
trict in which the party halted furnished them with
an abundant supply of provisicns by the Sultan's
order. This entertainment of the Sultan's guests
is called by the Moors moms.' Sheep, poultry,
eggs, milk, tea, su gar, &c., are supplied by the
people of the district, and the value of these sup-
plies is deducted from their contribution to the Sul-
tan's Exchequer. On reaching Morocco the travel-
lers were lodged in the Sultan's palace, called Sidi
Ben Dris, situated in the midst of an orange garden.
The Sultan practises the rites of hospitality in the
manner sanctioned by high antiquity. The travel-
worn guest is not expected to disclose the object of
his visit till he has had time to recruit his strength
and to repose after the fatigue of his journey. Sir
Moses Montefiore and his party, therefore, passed
six days iu their garden abode before being hon-
oured with the first audience of the Sultan. As
most of our readers know, the Sultan, like a true
cavalier, gives audience on horseback, the colour of
his charger being an index to the temper of the
Sherriffian mind. When this is bright and serene
the Sultan bestrides a white charger; light sha-
dows that cloud its cheerfulness are not unaptly
represented by gray ; while a black charger de-
notes that gloom and discontent have settled on the
royal spirit. Sir Moses Montefiore and his party
were assembled in a spacious courtyard, lined with
some thousands of the Sultan's troops, watching
with interest the portal at its extremity from which
the white, gray, or black spirit was to issue, and
were soon gratified by the Sultan's appearance on a
superb charger of spotless white. He rode forward
to welcome his guests; in a few courteous phrases
he expressed his happiness at seeing them in his
dominions, and addressed a few words specially to
the character and quality of each. He said that the
exertions of Sir Moses Montefiore on behalf of his
race in different parts of the world were not un-
known to him, that he was aware of the universal
character of the gentleman's beneficence, which was
not confined to any sect or creed, but embraced all
classes, and he expressed his satisfaction in Seeing
him in Morocco. He expressed his pleasure also at
meeting Mr. Reade, the British Consul, who had
long been known to him. After Mr: Reade had
presented the different members of the party to the
Sultan, the latter concluded some phrases convey-
ing his appreciation of the friendship of England
by turning to Captain Armytage and the naval of
who accompanied him, and saying that no sight
gave him greater pleasure than that of a British
uniform. Before the close of the interview' Sir
Moses klontefiore handed to the Sultan the peti-
tion which he had prepared, praying for a removal
of the grievances under which the Jews were suffer-
ing.. The Sultan graciously received the petition
and delivered it to the Chamberlain, promising that
its contents should have his best consideration.
Four days afterwards, on the sth of February, the
following firman or edict was sent to Sir Moses
Montefiore as the Sultan's formal assent to the
Prayer for equal and impartial justice to the Jewish
portion of his subjects :
In the
name of God, the Merciful and Gra-
cious. the
is no
and Mighty, (1, S.)
• lie -power hut in God, the High
it known b: this our Royal Klict—may
Clod ext.lt and LIVE, Its purport anti elevate the
same to the high }leavens,
which withinthe Almightyo u our dominions,
o o d
, moon !—that it is our command that all Jews
resid-
(l9 Ito does the sun and
hasing
bevlatheeed ctohnedmitiwonhaitn.
ever it may, shall be treated by our Gi overnors,
• administrators, and all other subjects
conformable with the evenly balanced Eiscnialaensneerf
justice, and that in the administration of the c rts
• of law the Jews shall occupy a position
ofperfect
equality with all other people, so that not pevenfe ca