ch as we seldom meet with in a man in the prime of life, at
the age of 30.

In full enjoyment of health, wealth, and every pleasure a man could
possibly desire, he thus writes on the first page:--

"He who builds his hopes in the air of men's fair looks,
Lives like a drunken sailor on the mast,
Ready with every nod to tumble down
Into the fatal bowels of the deep.

"With moderate blessings be content,
Nor idly grasp at every shade,
Peace, competence, a life well spent,
Are blessings that can never fade;
And he that weakly sighs for more
Augments his misery, not his store."

CHAPTER IV.

1820-1826.

DAILY LIFE--DEATH OF HIS BROTHER ABRAHAM--AN EARLY PANAMA CANAL
PROJECT.

Mr Montefiore's occupations may best be described in his own words,
and may furnish a useful hint to those who neglect to keep an account
of the way in which their time is spent. He writes:--

"With God's blessing,--Rise, say prayers at 7 o'clock. Breakfast at 9.
Attend the Stock Exchange, if in London, 10. Dinner, 5. Read, write,
and learn, if possible, Hebrew and French, 6. Read Bible and say
prayers, 10. Then retire.

"Monday and Thursday mornings attend the Synagogue. Tuesday and
Thursday evenings for visiting."

"I attended," he says, "many meetings at the City of London Tavern,
also several charitable meetings at Bevis Marks, in connection with
the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue; sometimes passing the whole day
there from ten in the morning till half-past eleven at night (January
25, 1820), excepting two hours for dinner in the Committee room;
answered in the evening 350 petitions from poor women, and also made
frequent visits to the Villa Real School."

In the course of the year he went to Cambridge and to Norwich,
visiting many of the colleges, the Fitzwilliam Museum, and other
interesting institutions, and on February the 16th he attended the
funeral sermon of his late Majesty George the Third (who died on the
29th of January).

He often went to his farm, near Tinley Lodge, and sometimes for
special recreation to the English Opera, together with his wife and
members of the family, always finding time for work and pleasure
alike.

"Mr N. M. Rothschild," he records in an entry, "being taken ill, I
stayed with him several days at Stamford Hill."

Subsequently Mr Montefiore had some very important business in
connection with a loan, and experienced much uneasiness, owing to a