of the
citizens, and to the honour of the Jews.

He received congratulations from numerous friends and relatives, which
seemed however to give him but little satisfaction. The following
extract from his diary will show why this was so:--"I shall have the
greatest difficulties to contend with," he writes, "in the execution
of my duty; difficulties which I shall meet with at the very outset.
The day I enter on my office is the commencement of our New Year. I
shall therefore have to walk to Westminster instead of going in my
state carriage, nor, I fear, shall I be able to dine with my friends
at the inauguration dinner which, from time immemorial, is given on
the 30th of September. I shall, however, endeavour to persuade my
colleague to change the day to the 5th of October.

Some of our readers will perhaps smile at his difficulties, but when
his friends observed how differently other persons would act in a
similar position, he used to say: "Very well, I will not deviate from
the injunctions of my religion; let them call me a bigot if they like;
it is immaterial to me what others do or think in this respect. God
has given man the free will to act as he may think proper. He has set
before him life and death, blessing and curse (Deut. ch. xxx, v. 15).
I follow the advice given in Holy Writ, and choose that which is
considered life, which is accounted a blessing."

His first visit in the city was to Messrs T. A. Curtis and Samuel
Gurney, to thank the former for having proposed the resolution for his
election, and the latter for having seconded it. He then received
congratulations from Messrs Pearce, Thornborough, and Wire at the
Alliance Office, and appointed Mr Wire as his under-sheriff. On the
same day he addressed a formal letter of thanks to "The worthy and
independent Livery of London."

The next day Messrs Thornborough, Lucas, and Carrol called, and it was
agreed to have the Sheriffs' inauguration dinner on the 5th October
instead of the 30th September. Sir James Duke, one of the outgoing
Sheriffs, also came, and was most friendly. He offered Mr Montefiore
every assistance, and invited him to dine at the Old Bailey on
Thursday, the 4th July. Two days later he attended with his colleague,
Mr George Carrol, a meeting of the subscribers to the Sheriffs' Fund,
at the City of London Coffee House, Ludgate Hill, where he was
introduced to Mr Sheriff Johnson, who was in the chair. There he also
met Sir James Duke, Mr Wire,