His object in following Sir Moses, he said, was to find an opportunity, in a convenient, secluded place, to request him to intercede in his behalf with his Serene Highness Prince Charles, that he would grant him the continuance of the privilege to light the town with oil-lamps!
It was late when we returned to the hotel, where we found a woman of ladylike appearance and manner of address waiting to see Sir Moses. She would not give her name for political reasons, and was very pressing in her request to have an interview with Sir Moses on a political subject. A military officer also came to have some private conversation with him, likewise on a political subject. He was unknown to the persons in the hotel, nor could his name be ascertained. Sir Moses would not see either of them, and it was with great difficulty they could be persuaded to leave the hotel.
_Friday, August 30th._--"I am," Sir Moses says, "most anxious, weak, out of health, and vexed to the heart. No one can imagine the extreme pain of my situation. Political factions strive to create confusion by my presence in this place."
In the evening, however, he had the satisfaction of receiving from the Prince a reply to his petition, which cheered him up again. His Highness thus addressed him:
"MONSIEUR LE BARONNET,--J'ai reçu votre lettre du 27 Août dernier et j'en ai pris connaissance avec un vif intérét. Comme j'ai eu l'occasion de vous le dire de vive voix, les vœux que vous formez pour vos co-religionnaires sont déjà accomplis. Les Israélites sont l'objet de toute ma sollicitude et de toute celle de mon gouvernement et je suis bien aise que vous soyez venu en Roumanie pour vous convaincre que la persécution religieuse dont la malveillance a fait tant de bruit n'existe point. S'il est arrivé que des Israélites fussent inquiétés, ce sont là des faits isolés, dont mon gouvernement n'entend pas assumer la responsabilité. Je tiendrai toujours à l'honneur de faire respecter la liberté religieuse et je veillerai sans cesse à l'exécution des lois qui protégent les Israélites comme tous les autres Roumains dans leur personne et dans leurs biens.--Veuillez recevoir, Monsieur le Baronnet, l'assurance de ma considération très distinguée,