“Palmerston told me that he has already written to Lord Ponsonby¹ (1780?‒1855) to direct him to open an intercourse with Reschid _Pasha_ (1802‒1858) at ♦Constantinople respecting protection and encouragement to the Jews. This is a prelude to the Antitype of the decree of Cyrus, but, humanly speaking, we must pray for more caution. Those gentlemen who have now got access to the columns of the _Times_ will, by over-zeal, bring a charge of fanaticism on the whole question. O God, from whom _alone_ cometh all counsel, wisdom, and understanding, be Thou our Guide, our Instructor, and our Friend” (_Ibid._, _p._ 311). ¹ John Viscount Ponsonby. ♦ “Constaninople” replaced with “Constantinople” On August 29th, 1840, he writes:―― “The newspapers teem with documents about the Jews. Many assail, and many defend them. I have as yet read nothing (except [the Rev. Alexander] M’Caul’s (1799‒1863) treatise) which exhibits any statement either new or clever. The motion of the _Times_ in this matter has stirred up an immense variety of projects and opinions; everyone has a thought, and everyone has an interpretation. What a chaos of schemes and disputes is on the horizon, for the time when the affairs of the Jews shall be really and fully before the world! What violence, what hatred, what combination, what discussion. What a stir of every passion, every feeling in men’s hearts!...” (_Ibid._, _p._ 311). On September 25th, 1840, he writes:―― “Yesterday began my paper for Palmerston, containing in full the propositions for the recall of the Jews to their ancient land. ‘Recall’ is too strong; it is simply a ‘permission,’ should they think fit to avail themselves of it. I wish to prepare a short document, which may refresh his memory, and exist as a record both of the suggestion and the character of it” (_Ibid._, _p._ 312). We may confess that at times we find Lord Shaftesbury’s ideas somewhat too largely influenced by his religious zeal; yet he did succeed in mastering his emotions and dealing with the problem in a sound and statesmanlike manner. In this document of his we find not only generous ideas but also excellent arguments, simply and convincingly stated (Appendix liii). On November 4th, 1840, he writes:―― “I hope I have done right in this: I have suppressed all party considerations, and have used every effort to persuade the _Times_ to take just views of the Syrian question. I have been successful. Lord Palmerston told me this evening that the concurrence of the Tory papers had smoothed ten thousand difficulties....” (_Ibid._, _p._ 315). The articles in _The Times_, to which Lord Shaftesbury refers, appeared in that newspaper at various periods. On the 9th March, 1840 (_p._ 3), _The Times_ published the following notice:――