right hand to me, which
I kissed. I then rose, and made my bow, and passed on. We passed the
King from left to right, and not as I expected from right to left. We
were only permitted to remain a few minutes in the audience room.

"Colonel French was standing a few paces from his Majesty, on the
right; he spoke with me in a very friendly manner. I was much pleased
with the gracious reception I met with. It was twenty-five minutes
past four when we left the audience room. We then had to get through a
great crowd before we could reach the doors of the palace."

On the following day Mr Montefiore, together with Messrs Rothschild
and Goldsmid, went to Lord Bexley, and gave him their petition to
read. He read it over, and said he would speak to Lord Eldon and the
Bishops, and would see them the next day. He recommended that Mr
Thomas Baring should bring the Bill into the Commons.

In the course of the afternoon he called at New Court, and there heard
the report of the Duke of Wellington's going out of office, also of
the funding of eight millions of Exchequer bills, important topics for
consideration to the financiers of the day. Mr Montefiore, however,
did not allow this news to disturb his peace of mind, for we find him
the same evening accompanying his wife to a grand fancy dress ball
given by Mr Goldsmid on the occasion of the coming of age of his
eldest son.

On returning home after the ball, a little incident occurred as a
consequence of the rumours of a change of Ministry. Their coachman,
considering himself somewhat of a politician, took the opportunity,
while they were at the ball, of entering one of the neighbouring
taverns, where the reported change in the Ministry was being discussed
in a lively manner by a large number of his friends. It appears that
during the excitement of the debate he had indulged too much in "the
cup that cheers," but, unfortunately, does inebriate, although
whether from joy or grief at the anticipated change does not
transpire; anyhow, the result was that on attempting to drive Mr and
Mrs Montefiore back from the ball he was found totally incapable of
guiding the horses, and, notwithstanding the efforts made by the
footman to come to his assistance, they had to leave the carriage
before arriving at their destination, and complete the journey on
foot.

The next morning Mr Montefiore proceeded, in company with Messrs
Goldsmid and Rothschild, to the House of Lords, where they spoke to