The same day, on his way to Ramsgate, he received at Ashford a telegram announcing that Alderman Salomons had been elected for Greenwich by a majority of 889. "This intelligence," he said, "afforded me the sincerest pleasure, for the Jews owe a deep debt of gratitude to him for his strenuous exertion in the cause of civil liberty, regardless of labour and expense." "I truly hope," he continued, "that both the new members may long live to enjoy their honours."
Prayers having been offered up in all the London Synagogues for the success of his mission to Rome on behalf of Edgar Mortara, Sir Moses gave orders to hasten the preparations for the journey, and proceeded to the Foreign Office to present a copy of the memorial of the Board of Deputies to Lord Malmesbury. His Lordship received him most kindly, read the memorial, and promised to give him letters of introduction to the British Ambassadors and Consuls abroad; "although Sir Moses should bear in mind, from a former conversation on the subject, that he (Lord Malmesbury) entertained doubts as to the result of the mission."
_February 25th._--He received letters of introduction from Lord Malmesbury to the Embassies of Paris, Turin, Florence, Vienna, and to Mr Odo Russell (the late Lord Ampthill) in Rome; and on March 3rd he and Lady Montefiore, accompanied by Dr Hodgkin and Mr Kursheedt, embarked at Dover for Calais.
The journey from London was most trying to Lady Montefiore in consequence of her impaired health, and they did not reach Rome till April 5th.
Sir Moses lost no time in calling upon Mr Russell, and leaving his letters of introduction from the Foreign Office and Lord Russell. Mr Russell remembered having seen Sir Moses when he was with Lord de Redcliffe at Constantinople, and said, "He would do all he could for him, but without any expectation of succeeding in doing more than obtaining for him an interview with His Holiness." "That day," he said, "was a council day, and the ministers did not receive." Sir Moses gave him a copy of the address, also a full statement of the Mortara case. Mr Russell repeated his promise to do all he could, but added, "What can a poor Attaché expect, when the French Ambassador with a French army with him has failed, after making every endeavour?"