r till we left Syra.

_August 2nd._--In sight of Candia, near Cape Soloman. The morning was
fine, with a pleasant breeze. Lady Montefiore was well and in very
good spirits, active and studious as ever.

_Tuesday, August 4th._--Dropped anchor in the harbour of Alexandria at
a quarter to eight in the morning. The harbour was filled with ships
of war, Turkish and Egyptian. We noticed particularly the _Mahmudie_,
130 guns, and two vessels of sixty-eight guns.

We immediately went on shore to see the Ecclesiastical Chief of the
Hebrew community, and ascertain from him the latest news from
Damascus.

Later Sir Moses went to Colonel Hodges, the English Consul General,
who received him most politely. The Colonel said he wished to go over
the whole business with him. It had assumed, he said, a political
character. Sir Moses would find Monsieur Cochelet, the French Consul,
very plausible, but very firm; another Consul, he remarked, had been
charged with taking bribes. Colonel Hodges recommended Sir Moses to
keep clear of all parties, and requested him to call again in two
hours. The Colonel had seen, with much satisfaction, Dr Hirschel's
letter addressed to Sir Moses previous to his departure from England,
which had been translated into the Arabic, Turkish, Armenian, and
modern Greek languages, for distribution in the East. He had shown it
to Mohhammad Ali.

At twelve Colonel Hodges accompanied Sir Moses to the French Consul,
where they met Mons. Cremieux. They afterwards called on Mons. Laurin,
the Austrian Consul, with whom they saw the Prussian Consul. They
finally called on the Russian Consul, who, however, happened to be
asleep.

_August 5th._--It was nearly two o'clock this morning before we could
retire, having read over and arranged various documents. We rose soon
after five, and at eight Colonel Hodges called to accompany us to the
Palace. Sir Moses was dressed in uniform, and the gentlemen who went
with him wore either their court or official costume. Messrs Cremiere
and Munk did not join us, as their appearance before Mohammad Ali on
that day was not considered advisable by Monsieur Cochelet, for
reasons best known to himself.

Sir Moses, who rode in the carriage with Colonel Hodges, read to him
the petition which he had to present to the Pasha. He said he approved
of it and hoped it would be granted, but did not appear from his
manner to think it would. On our arrival we were immediately ushered
into the hal