188 PIM ON THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ. [April 11, 1859. 



below the Mediterranean, and thence across the Isthmus of Suez 

 to the Red Sea. M. Lesseps, however, was naturally anxious to 

 insure unanimity at Alexandria, and himself suggested that every 

 word relating to the mode of construction and supplying with 

 water should be omitted in the report and reserved for discus- 

 sion in Europe. At the discussion the majority of the commission 

 voted in favour of the open cut without locks ; the minority proposed 

 another plan, which might be considered feasible, while they re- 

 garded the open cut as impracticable : their project is to construct 

 a ship canal in nearly a direct line between Suez and Port Said, the 

 level of top water throughout the whole length (93 miles) to be 23 

 feet above the low water of the Mediterranean Sea ; the embankment 

 to be carried into the deep water of the sea at each extremity, so as 

 to avoid the necessity of dredging, and the locks to be constructed 

 similar to the sea lock of the Caledonian Canal. The canal to be 

 supplied with water from the Nile, at a point below the Barrage 

 suitable for that purpose. 



This, then, is the present condition of the scheme ; opinions are 

 divided as to its practicability, and M. Lesseps now only waits the 

 formal permission of the Sultan and the Pasha of Egypt to commence 

 operations. I shall now endeavour, as briefly as possible, divesting 

 the question of all technicalities, to show cause why the cutting a 

 canal across the Isthmus of Suez is a hopeless undertaking. 



Commencing with the Mediterranean outlet of the proposed canal, 

 vi^. Port Said, we find that a harbour has to be built which is in 

 itself a colossal work ; the piers composing which would aggregate 

 at the very least seven miles in total length, of an uniform depth, 

 certainly not under thirty feet, with parapets and lighthouses of 

 considerable height. 



The material for the rubble-work alone can only be obtained at a 

 distance of a hundred miles, while the stone for the finishing-work 

 is much farther off, in the islands of the Mediterranean ; thus, then, 

 the building operations would assume gigantic proportions. To 

 bring a case in point familiar to all, this part of the undertaking 

 would demand twice the labour and material required for the con- 

 struction of the Breakwater at Plymouth. But when, in addition 

 to this, it is known that the site of the proposed harbour is on an 

 exposed and shallow coast, subject to violent gales, a lee-shore a 

 great part of the year, and with the bottom of the sea uncertain as 

 a foundation for the piers ; and, lastly, when it is borne in mind 

 that the well-known prevailing mud-carrying current must soon silt 

 up the entrance and channel, and that dredging can only be re- 

 sorted to under favourable circumstances, the most unthinking must 



