Lord Bexley. He had not yet had an opportunity of conversing with Lord
Eldon or the Bishops on the subject of the Jews' petition, but said he
would endeavour to do so before Tuesday, on which day he agreed to
meet them again. He had conferred with the Chancellor, who said the
Duke would not make it a government measure, but expressed himself in
favour of it.

The arrival of the Baroness Anselm de Rothschild and her brother
Lionel from Paris took Mr and Mrs Montefiore to Piccadilly. But Mr
Montefiore allowed himself no relaxation in the furtherance of the
great cause he had at heart. On Sunday, 13th of May, he attended in
the morning a meeting of the Elders, which lasted from eleven o'clock
till a quarter to five. In the evening he was present at a meeting of
the Deputies of several Synagogues at Mr Mocatta's residence in
Russell Square, where after considerable discussion the petition was
finally agreed to, and was to be signed the next day.

Mr Montefiore, in his diary, gives a further account of the matter. "I
accompanied Mr Rothschild," he says, "to the House of Lords. Lord
Bexley had already left, so we proceeded to his own house. He said he
had spoken with Lord Eldon and several of the Bishops, and ascertained
that they had no objection to a Bill to omit the words, 'On the true
faith of a Christian,' introduced into the Dissenters' Act last
session. What would be its effect in law he could not state; he would,
however, confer with Lord Brougham and Dr Lushington. He suggested
some slight alteration in the wording of the petition. We are to bring
it back to him signed on Thursday, and he has promised to present it.
He again recommended that Sir Thos. Baring should present it the
Commons."

At the meeting of the Deputies they at first objected to the petition
as altered by Lord Bexley, but finally agreed to sign it. Mr
Montefiore then went, with Messrs Rothschild and Goldsmid, to Lord
Bexley with the petition. The latter thought that everything would be
granted to the Jews except seats in Parliament. Before he could
present it, he said, he must confer once more with the Lord Chancellor
and the Duke of Wellington. Lord Bexley further said, that he would
have to see Dr Lushington the next day, but as that would be Saturday,
Mr Montefiore declined attending. A few days later Lord Bexley stated
distinctly that the Duke of Wellington would decidedly oppose any
application the Jews might make this year in Parliament, bu