LORD PALMERSTON'S CONTINUED OPPOSITION. 289 to decide. In England I have done everything that man can do; and the results obtained have surpassed all my hopes; but it is useless for the press of the United Kingdom to be almost unanimous, as Lord Palmerston is perfectly resolved not to let himself be influenced by any consideration, and, from his inveterate jealousy towards France, it cannot be supposed that public opinion and judgment can exercise any influence on his mind in this matter. In this position what can I do?-warn the French Government; regret not seeing it come to a decision, but conceal the situation as much as possible from the eyes of the public, and continue to carry on the scheme in Egypt, where I have always found the most firm and, I might add, the only foundation for my operations. During my last journey in Egypt I settled with the Viceroy the important question of employing native workmen on the works of the canal. Since my return to Europe I have been actively engaged on the approaching publication of the general report of the engineers of the international commission, containing an estimate of the cost. This estimate is This estimate is very satisfactory. I shall return to Egypt at the beginning of November, to see the work put in hand. The longer the Porte puts off its ratification, which has been requested rather out of deference than from necessity, the more will it diminish its own position in the transaction and increase that of the Viceroy. As regards the enterprise itself, no intrigue can any longer succeed in frustrating it, supported as it is by the decision of science, by the interest of the whole commercial world, and, what is perhaps still more decisive, by the fact that the funds will exceed the requirements of the undertaking. September 3, 1856. On the suggestion of M. Baruffi, Professor of the Royal University, Turin, the Scientific Congress of France, which met this year at La Rochelle, has unanimously expressed the following resolution : The Scientific Congress,— Considering that the piercing of the Isthmus of Suez, projected by M. de Lesseps, under the auspices of his Highness the Viceroy of Egypt, would be extremely useful to all nations without injuring any one,Considering that this enterprise is one of the most important means of civilisation that Providence could put into the hands of man,Expresses a desire that the Isthmus of Suez may be shortly opened for navigation for all countries. The Bishop of La Rochelle was president of the congress, and, as he has done each year, M. de Caumont prepared the preliminaries of the meeting with a devotion to science worthy of all praise. CXVIII. MEMORANDUM FOR THE EMPEROR. PARIS, October 12, 1856. AT the time of M. Thouvenel's departure for Constantinople in June 1856, it had been agreed that the two Ambassadors of France and England should abstain from intervening with the Porte for or against the question of the Suez Canal. If one of the two agents failed in keeping to this arrangement on his part, his colleague was to be at liberty to act as he saw fit. Up to this time Lord Stratford has never ceased to make use of his influence to inspire the Ministers of the Porte with prejudices against the plan of cutting through the Isthmus of Suez, and to prevent the ratification of the grant regularly and legally made by the Viceroy of Egypt. It is, moreover, certain that the English agent in Egypt has endeavoured to influence the Viceroy with a view to dissuading him from a project which excites the warmest sympathy in France as well as in the rest of Europe. But although the schemes of English policy have been completely foiled in Egypt, the energy and intelligence of Mohammed Said, who, in reality, confides in the support of your Imperial Majesty, the same could not be the LORD STRATFORD'S INTErference. 291 case at Constantinople, where the Turkish Government, weak as it now is, yields only to force. Thus the Turks, placed between the powerful threats of Lord Stratford and the scrupulous silence which our Ambassador has been ordered to maintain, are naturally changing their attitude, and testifying feelings hostile to the Canal, to which they were at first favourable. This state of affairs alone would be detrimental to our dignity in the East; but Lord Stratford has lately complicated it, to the injury of our legitimate influence and our interests. In order plainly to show that he had the power to hinder a measure connected with a very important French interest, and that it would be easy for him at the same time to satisfy English interests even in those matters in which they are most exclusive and domineering, he has obtained the consent of the Porte to the formation of an English Company, which is to have a grant for the construction of a railway, 350 leagues in length, from the Mediteranean to the Persian Gulf. In the contract the Sultan will guarantee an interest of six per cent. on the money invested in the undertaking. This railway, the surveys for which are not yet commenced, is to-day quoted at a premium in the London money market. It will cost from four to five millions sterling, and it will expose Turkey to an annual charge of thirty million francs for the sole profit of English capitalists and British influence; for it is impossible not to see that, hereafter, the British Euphrates Valley Railway will, as it were, take possession of the centre of Syria and of the countries bordering on the Valley of the Euphrates. However this may be, it is probable that should the enterprise succeed, which I doubt, it would decidedly advance civilisation and human progress. It would not, therefore, be right for us to oppose it; but should not what has lately taken place serve in some sort as an example to us, and make us feel that it is time to send instructions to our Ambassador, so that the Suez Canal scheme may no longer be impeded at Constantinople, and that the formal ratification may be granted? In concluding this memorandum it is only right to add that the Suez Canal enterprise has demanded no guarantee of support, that it does not aid the exclusive policy of any Power, and that, fær from imposing a burden upon Turkey, it yields Egypt a privilege of 15 per cent. upon its revenue. In writing this memorandum for your Majesty, who alone can judge of what ought to be done at Constantinople, I have limited myself to an exact account of the state of affairs. I shall still endeavour to assist the progress of affairs in Egypt, persevering in that line of conduct which I am happy to find has procured me the approbation of your Majesty. CXIX. To M. S. W. RUYSSENAERS, ALEXANDRIA. PARIS, November 5, 1856. I LEARN that the Viceroy is much annoyed by all the intrigues which are carried on against him on account of the Canal scheme. All my correspondents agree on this point, and those at Constantinople mention particularly the efforts made by the English Embassy to establish a state of mistrust and bad feeling with regard to Egypt. As the general report of the international commission is already in the press, and M. Barthélemy Saint Hilaire undertakes the corrections and the publication, I see that it will be well for me to go to Egypt as quickly as possible, to assist in reassuring our prince. I shall be able to embark at Marseilles on the 12th of this month. The report of the commissioners will have a very good effect it will be an historical document. Herewith is a summary of its contents: FIRST PART. Sec. 1. Preliminary considerations. Sec. 2.-Description of Egypt and the Isthmus of Suez. Sec. 3.-Indirect routes. Sec. 4.-The direct route. RESUME OF THE COMMISSIONERS' REport. 293 Sec. 5. Of the level of the two seas. Sec. 6.—Of the cutting and the geology of the Canal through the Isthmus of Suez. Sec. 7.-The Canal at the summit-level. Sec. 8. The question respecting locks at the ends of the Canal. Sec. 10. On the opening of the Canal into the Red Sea and the Sec. 11. Interior port of Timsah. Sec. 12.-Light-houses on the shores of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Sec. 13.-As to boats on the Canal. Sec. 14. Electric telegraph. Sec. 15.-Fresh-water canal for junction and for irrigation. SECOND PART. Sec. 16.-Details of the route. Sec. 17.-Preliminary measurements. Sec. 19.-Estimate of expenses. Sec. 20.—Means of constructing harbours. Sec. 21. Calculation of the cost of keeping up the maritime canal. Sec. 22. Conclusion. You must read this remarkable report in all its details, in the third volume of the documents published since the grant was made; and in the meantime I will communicate to you the parts which will be most interesting to the public, namely, the first, second, and sixth paragraphs. FIRST PART. SECTION I. Preliminary Conditions. We have been requested by his Highness Mohammed Said, Viceroy of Egypt, to give our opinion on the preliminary plan for the junction of the Red Sea and the Mediterranean presented to him by his engineers, MM. Linant Bey and Mougel Bey, in accordance with his orders, and on the proposal of M. Ferdinand de Lesseps. When his Highness the Viceroy confided to us the special examination of this preparatory work, and desired us to elaborate a definite project, he would not in any way limit our researches into this great question, which will affect the commerce of the whole world. On the contrary, he has declared to us several times, through M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, the concessionaire of the enterprise, "that he |