."

CHAPTER XI.

1831-1833.

LORD BROUGHAM AND THE JEWS--THE JEWISH POOR IN LONDON--MR MONTEFIORE
HANDS HIS BROKER'S MEDAL TO HIS BROTHER--DEDICATION OF THE SYNAGOGUE
AT HERESON--THE LORDS REJECT THE JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL.

On his return to London he called on Mr Wood at the Earl Marshal's
office, and paid him L32, 17s. 6d., the fees on the grant for having
the word Jerusalem in Hebrew characters in his crest.

In October 1831 his friends brought him the account of the Reform Bill
having been thrown out at its second reading by the Lords--majority,
41. Mr Montefiore, on hearing that Lord-Chancellor Brougham had spoken
in a very illiberal spirit of the Jews, observed, "So much for Whig
friends." Still he did not despair, and entertained the belief that
their just cause would ultimately meet with better success.

A month later he attended an important meeting of the Board of
Representatives of the Spanish and Portuguese Community, established
to watch over the general sanitary condition of the poor of the
congregation. He generously contributed to the funds to enable the
Board to purchase warm clothing, blankets, &c., for the poor.

In the same year he completed the purchase, and took possession of, a
cottage and garden near the site on which his Synagogue was being
erected.

The Rev. Dr Hirschel having submitted for his approval a number of
circular letters addressed to the Hebrew communities in America,
wherein he reminds them of their duty to support their indigent
brethren in the Holy Land, Mr Montefiore affixes his name to each
letter as requested by the Chief Rabbi, in token of his appreciation
of the good cause.

Among the entries referring again to financial matters is the
following interesting record:--

"On the 31st of January 1815 I was admitted a sworn broker of the city
of London. This day, 16th May 1831, I signed over my medal to my
brother Horatio, free; it cost me L1625. May heaven prosper his
endeavours with it."

On the 25th of the same month he gave L100 to be handed to the Lord
Mayor for the transfer of the said medal.

Happily in our days it is less difficult for a Jew to become a sworn
broker. A gentle breeze of justice for all human beings alike has
begun to disperse the dark clouds of prejudice and oppression, and the
more the light of wisdom and truth illumines the world, the greater
will be the happiness and loyalty of those who have hitherto been
deprived of the right