Letter from David Meldola to Isaac Leeser;May 09, 1851 · Isaac Leeser Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Letter from David Meldola to Isaac Leeser;May 09, 1851

Author

David Meldola

Contributor

Isaac Leeser

Date Created

9 May 1851

Location(s)

London

Philadelphia

Format

Letter. 4 page(s).

Type

Letter

Language(s)

English

Hebrew

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p34747b9w/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p34747b9w

Physical Characteristics

Unlined Paper

Wax Seal

Manuscript

Is Part Of

The Dropsie College Isaac Leeser Collection at the Penn Libraries

content

London 9th May 7th Iyar 5611
Revd. Isaac Leeser Philadelphia
My Dear Friend Yours 27th veadar and 12th nisan I acknowledge, and did not do so before in consequence of pressure of business (on that I should not have cared) but my dear mother's illness which has been the cause, as well as in some of my past letters to you have been rather in a confused state, she has been ever since 17th veadar (Friday I wrote to you in a dangerous state) your subject and affair was of that importance to me that I could not allow a port to pass over me, I should be telling the greatest falsehood in the presence of God were I to say to the contrary Hebrew; I was not at all disappointed in the case itself, the result and its proceedings. I was sure that such would be the end, and fully convinced that it would so happen as I will explain. The only disappointment came from you to me was, by your knowing better than I do the place and people that you should have said in one of your letters so positively "Mr. M" does not stand the remotest chance," and in the last by your assigning the number of votes &c. this and this only made me have doubts; on the Saturday previous to the arrival of the news I called with Mr. Piza to pay a visit to a Mr. Cohen from Philadelphia (as you may suppose my great anxiety) to learn verbally and personally how matters stood, he was out, but very politely he called on me on the Sunday, I told him most openly and candidly that I did not know you personally, but the "truth & justice"; you did not deserve such treatment after 21 years and with all our noise here, we had not your equal, and as we knew each other as neighbours from young he coincided and I believe spoke the truth that he was sure you would not get it as he knew the number of opponents you had and, as for Revd: Rosenfeld he actually named 6 to 7 and that Morais sure would have it, such was all that passed between us, so that I almost made up my mind fully to such result, when on the Tuesday the news were known by thy Packet; what could be expected from a number who gather and assemble and are determined in all manners and ways to cast down a man, every trick, every effort, manure, will be used, and in opposition any log would save, you are Theologian enough (and indeed more than they ever deserved) to know Hebrew and in a case of opposition Hebrew these sentiments of the Prophet &c. will Hebrew fully corroborate your expressions "after this any one can succeed," what must you say then when you hear this original spare sentiments compiled by himself, and not sent by from elsewhere, or prepared by others, and do so on in every other respect.—Hebrew—I am greatly astonished at Mr. Harts conduct, I wrote to him not only as Parnas but considering him your friend that he should suggest to me some plan or way to bring matters to a conclusion in your favour I considerd I was writing to a Gentleman and that he would have acted as such, had he shewn my first letter to his colleagues which he ought to have done, I flatter myself it was well written argued and really a feeling one, that it would have changed many , as you say "my letter to Mr. Hart was not read," and more by keeping my letter from the generality of the congregation." if so, which I do not doubt you for a moment, It is the act of any thing but justice, and far from a friend, but on the contrary; I must confess I did not like on such important subject the delay of reply, the petty excuse of pressure of business is a poor "got off," and a very miserable and frivolous one, when we ought to exert ourselves for a such a friend as you, and on such a rascally treatment, I call it: Hebrew and so it ought to be, look at my doings I did not neglect replying you in the friday 21st march wherein I wrote I was rather confined as my dear and beloved mother was taken with a Paralytic stroke her speach & right side effected on that morning early, had the house full of Doctors, her life hung and depended on a Hebrew still I followed up my duty towards a friend, & thanks to God she is something better) I believe such ought to be done by all friends I must let you know that I replied on the 19th Adar to Mr. A: Hart's letter and must confess that it was
*when I say rascally I mean on the anonimous pamphlet which is the act of a coward.

well written and conducive leaving me no doubt that if he was a friend it all must have finished to an amicable re-instatement of yourself to office and on that and that only did all my hopes depend; moreso, that I had no reply from him, I made it sure he was at work in favor of the cause, at last I had the pleasure of receiving an answer nearly 11 weeks after—when all the Dance and Farce was over, shall please God Hebrew reply to him for had he in due time wrote to me his suggestions, I might have written them to you, perhaps you might have taken my advice and things might have alter'd; you shall have at foot extracts of that it relates you, and you will be a better judge. the letter reached me last monday & the tuesday before the news of the election reached here. I have no direct news of the young man Morais neither of his arrival nor of his election, it is no more than I fully expected, unfortunately all my lifetime I devoted to lender services & favors in which places I have ever been correspondent with ungratefulness, he dined with me on the Tuesday tetetete a true friendly dinner, on the Thursday morning among all his friends none accompanied him to the terminus but myself & the person with whom he lodged, I was also the first who opend his arms when he came from Leghorn (though my repl? was on the field) and found him, he having brought me a letter from his Rabbi or teacher with whom he was more of a messenger in the house; his master Piperno being almost the last of that class with whom from our childhood we corresponded & when at Leghorn we were more than brothers always together, I appreciated his reccomendation and corresponded it, but I found him on several occasions not open or sincere. this I can only attribute to it either as he know very well for I told him wen on the day of the dinner openly, I wished him success in any other way, but wished to hear Leeser re-instated as it was but just. I also hinted to him a little of my opinion (for I was born at Leghorn & my forefathers who were all at service of the Synagogue Hebrew ever since the first stone was laid down to that City knowing his weight in full to a grain of his genuine value) he would be nothing after you. I do not take away any of his merits as a fit Hazan religious principles, and well understanding his prayers, further as a good Hebrew of the first rudiments of the Hebrew & Bible, he may yet write when he gets a little more used to money: with respect to your Bible there is no doubt it will be something great coming from you, but am sorry to say you are ignorant of the state of the present Sephardim congregation—the true flower, gentry by birth, right, men of talent, gentlemen promoters of literature have left us in the affair of the Sehim?—all the mocattas, Henriques, H Montofire, all of them my friends and supporters, four DeCastro (Hanand) who was like them I remain with us died in prime of life: this day in candour with the exception of Sir Moses we have not a second person a few new ones, boys who cares for nothing and doubt the Bible much more the translation of it Judaism to them is a farce, it is all left in the hands of a few barbarian from Canbury Gibraltar &c who are bigotted to the greatest extreme carried with the deepest ignorance and any thing in that way of opening eyes enlightment or expending one farthing would be Hebrew they are in themselves Hebrew—and really Hebrew. My advice would be send me some copies of a well made up Prospectus of the work I will send them among my friends & Christians and will personally call and forward it to obtain subscriptions, I care no trouble to serve you and depend on this to be agreeable to the curtin of the place, the best & sure plan to succeed, my name is great (to our shame) more among the learned Christians with respect to the synagogue still there is a talk I am little acquainted with matters or I have abandoned frequenting Jews houses after my avocations I devote it at home to study in my next I shall give you precise particulars. Wishing you most heartily every success Hebrew from yours sincerely David Melodola
When you have nothing better to do write to me for I am ever glad to hear from you, I beg to remind you confidence of the above particularly about Morais let it be secret—Hebrew as he might write here and
as I said there are always many to look out and place me in disturbance which I must ?. —Hebrew

"The following is the whole of Mr. A. H. letter which refers your affair dated April 8th nisan 6th with a P. S. outside "This letter having been detained in consequence of being too late for the last steamer. I have to announce the election of Mr. S: Morais for 3 years A: H: it reached me Monday last 5th May-3rd Izar—
"I have noted the contents of your letter very faithfully and thank you for your acknowledgments therein contained, and I fear there will be very little chance for Mr. Leesers re-election (whom I highly esteem for his talents and the good he has done for our people) as he has not abated as yet a single one of the several stipulations he demanded care of his again being elected Hazan of our congregation, and the congregation have refused by a decided vote to alter their rules or regulations—and the election is to take place next Sunday 11th Nisan.) There are two candidates who appear to give great satisfaction to the "members in their reading of the Hebrew, viz Revd Jacob Rosenfeld of Charleston S. Carolina "and Mr. Morais from London (the testimonials of the latter being highly satisfactory) and "the content will be between them and Mr. Leeser's friends who will vote for him I understand "if even he is not a candidate. I can assure you that I regret exceedingly the loss of "Mr. Leeser to our congregation but under the circumstances I do not see how our "congregation could have submitted to Mr. Leeser's demands that they should alter their "By laws, and rules, under which he has served for 21 years without any oppression "towards himself, besides having been told before he made the demands, that it would "result as it has but he would not be advised—unless he comes forward with some "modifications of his terms on the day of election, I think that either of the strangers "aforenamed will be elected. I trust that ere long he will learn that however "hard he may think of me for not resigning the office of Parnass at "the time that this congregation refused to elect him for an indefinite "period and without signing the contract &c. that I acted according to "Principle ? altho' I wished his election at that time I could not condemn the "congregation over which I presided for adhering to the terms &c. which had previously existed between them and Mr. Leeser. (had he asked the alterations "courteously instead of demanding them at the time. I think the congregation would "have acceeded, but they were not willing to be driven, when they could have been "led gently.)" He expresses very politely at the beginning of his letter" a heavy press of business is my only excuse for not earlier acknowledging the same."
I must apologize for the state of my letters to you in the writing ?. I am very short sighted and must stop more than I ought, and in no way whatever could use myself to glasses. I have this moment learnt that the great Dr. Frankel of Dresden is here.

Paid
Revd Isaac Leeser
Philadelphia
America

Identifier

LSDCBx1FF8_42

Date

1851-05-09