ommunity at Damascus.

At ten in the evening we went, by invitation from Colonel Winchester
and officers of the 92nd Highlanders, to a splendid ball. All the
_elite_ of the island were present, the Governor, the Admiral, &c. Sir
Moses was introduced to General Mitchel and all the officers then
going to Syra. They offered him every assistance he might desire, and
promised to protect the Jews.

Lady Lewis called to invite Lady Montefiore to go with her to see the
Emir Besheer's lady, Baheeyat Eddoonya (the beauty of the world), and
Sir Moses and party to accompany them, and call on the Emir. The
invitation was gladly accepted. We were detained there a long time,
the Emir having a great deal to say to Sir Moses respecting his own
affairs, as he wished him to intercede on his behalf with the English
government.

_Saturday, December 5th._--Attended divine service early in the
morning, and received in the course of the day the representatives of
the Hebrew community. They came to thank Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore
for what they had done for them, and wished us a safe voyage home.

The Emir Besheer sent his Bishop to Sir Moses, and begged he would
speak with Lord Palmerston. He had written himself to the Queen,
praying Her Majesty for his return to the mountains. He wished him to
say that his family had ruled there two hundred years, and himself
fifty.

Sir Moses promised the Emir to comply with his request, and Lady
Montefiore returned compliments and good wishes to the Princess
Baheeyat Eddoonya.

_December 6th._--Early in the morning we went on board the French
steamer _Dante_ at Malta, and after a two days' pleasant sea voyage,
dropped anchor in the Bay of Naples.

_December 8th._--Sir Moses was very anxious to prepare here for the
important work he would have to do at Rome regarding the removal of a
scandal that might, at some future period, become a source of great
vexation and misery to thousands of innocent Jews.

I allude to the libellous epitaph which the Capuchins at Damascus had
inscribed on the stone erected over an opening in which some bones of
animals had been put.

The inscription, which had been copied by two monks, was in the
Italian and Arabic language, as follows:--

"D. O. M.

"Qui riposano le ossa del P^re Tomaso da Sardegna Miss^o
Cappuccino assassinato dagli Ebrei il giorno 5 de
Febraro l'anno 1840."

_Translation of Italian Inscription._

"Here rest the bones of Father