"Being anxious to extend the scope of their benefits, as far as it may be in my power, I propose once more to revisit the Holy Land, and expect to leave England in a few days, to make a short stay for the restoration of my health in the south of France, _en route_ for Constantinople.
"With a deep sense of the advantage of the aid and support which your Excellency has on all occasions so readily accorded to me on my visits to the East, may I request the favour of your kindly giving me, at your early convenience, letters to His Highness the Grand Vizier, and His Excellency the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the Ottoman Government, to use their good offices in furtherance of my desire to obtain from His Imperial Majesty the Sultan 'Abd-ool-Azeez a confirmation, and a letter to the Governor of Jerusalem, to afford me the necessary assistance and facilities towards the accomplishment of my objects."
The readers of these Memoirs will probably remember the difficulties encountered in Jerusalem in connection with the building of the Juda Touro Almshouses, notwithstanding the special permission for that purpose granted by the late Sultan 'Abd-ool-Medjid, and will perceive for this reason that it was a most judicious step on the part of Sir Moses, to secure the confirmation of the said permission by an edict from the new Sultan.
Musurus Pasha readily and kindly complied with Sir Moses' request, and forwarded to him the letters required.
In the month of May 1863, we find him at Constantinople, where the British Ambassador and the Turkish Ministers received him with marked attention, supporting with their advice in all matters. The Sultan accorded him an audience, whereat he confirmed all the privileges granted to his Israelite subjects, and the concessions which had been given to Sir Moses personally with regard to the purchase of land and the building of houses in Jerusalem. Vizierial letters were ordered to be forwarded to the Governor of the Holy City, and Sir Moses had the satisfaction of seeing the object of his visit to Constantinople fully accomplished.
During his stay at the Ottoman capital he visited the charitable and educational institutions of his community, and distributed generous gifts to the poor of all religious denominations, in memory of Lady Montefiore, as he had done in all places in Italy where he happened to stop on his way to Constantinople. At Rhodes, where the inhabitants suffered severely from an earthquake, he also gave donations in his own and his departed wife's name.