The Sun.
London, England, 1840-10-10 00:00:00

THE JEWS AT DAMASCUS.

The following is the copy of a letter from Sir M.
Montcfiore, describing the successful result of his
mission :

" Alexandria, 17th Sept., 1840.
" To the Committee of Correspondence.

" Gentlemen—My last communication will have in-
formed you of the state of the proceedings relative to
the mission, up to the date of the departure of the last
packet. We had then obtained the order for liberation
of the nine unhappy prisoners at Damascus, which we
had dispatched to that city, and yesterday we had the
unspeakable satisfaction of receiving the happy news
that all had been honourably set free, and had returned
rejoic!ng to their wives and families. _

WiT send with this some extracts from letters, dated
Damascus, 6th and 7th September, which have reached
us, describing the joy which had filled the hearts of all,
at their deliverance, and the gratitude of the Jews to
Mehemet Ali for his generosity and mercy."
After adverting to the many and unforeseen difficul-
ties against which the mission had had to contend, Sir
Moses continues
Day by day the reports varied as to our success,
and as to the calumnies uttered against our religion, the
latter became softened down and almost abandoned, un-
til at list it was merely whispered that a murder had
been committed, and that not from religious obligation,
but from a motive of revenge.
" Notwithstanding, however, all reports, we steadily
pursued our object, and endeavoured, as much as pos-
sible, to divest our mission of a political character, and
to place it upon the grounds of humanity and justice
alone.

6' We, therefore, placed in the hands of the Viceroy
our demand for justice—for a new investigation, at
which witnesses should be protected from torture and
bodily fear. We demanded a revision of the judgment
which h id condemned innocent men to torture—four of
whom died under their sufferings, six fled to avoid fur-
ther persecutions, and nine were, at our arrival, in pri-
son, after having undergone sufferings too horrible to
relate. We desired that this proceeding should take
place before an appointed Judge, in open Court, thus
daring the accusers of our brethren to produce wit-
nesses if they could, to prove their wicked accusations.
" We waited from day to day the Pacha's answer ;
until the news arrived of the treaty between the Four
Powers, and of the insurrection in Syria.
" The road to Dam iscus, by these two events, being
effectually closed against us, and a new trial having
been denied either at Damascus, or here, we then
toought it desirable to obtain the unconditional discharge
of the prisoners, rather than let them remain lingerine,
in prison, until political events should favour us in ob-
taining a trial. The discharge of the prisoners was
offered as an act of grace, but refused ; ultimately it
was obtained as a matter of right ; and with it per-
mission for such as had fled, to return to their homes un-
molested, and for all to receive the same protection
which others, whether Christiansor Nlusselmans, enjoy.
" At the time this order was given to us, the Paella
gave a firman to us to proceed to Damascus, but he ad-
vlsed us not to go,
4. This advice saying he could not answer for the
consequences.
iwceliovit confirmed by all official persons,
and by those
:iv therefore
country and the feelings of
the inhabitants. NV
imen
refoad ren t
d et
hteursrn
oi nuerdnnnofot
rtiou
npar pro-
ceed,
e-
ceed, but we sent the
brethren were saved. order,Nine
owe their lives to
your generous sympathy, and h
and co-religionists in the East,ey, with their families,
will ever remember
with gratitude the noble efforts
behalf. you have made in their
" If nothing further had been done than
saving
nine
persons from a lingering and cruel death in
prison, the
a
proceedings of the mission would form bright page
the history of humanity. But the indirect influence in
the mission has been great, in demonstratin of
,r
Governors of the East that enlightened humanityo the
knows no distinction of clime or creed, but that where
there is oppression, there will be found sympathy for the