142 Route to India. 



Interest on two millions capital at 5 per cent., . L.100,OOO 



Management, and keeping works in repair, . 10,000 



Toll to the Ruler of Egypt, . . . ; 10,000 



L.120,000 



Duty on one million tons, at 2s. 4|d., . L120,000 



So that, whatever greater traffic might arise, or whatever higher rate- of 

 duty it might be deemed prudent to exact, would operate as a bonus on 

 the interest of 6 per cent. 



Agaiuj the official vakie of the exports and imports from and to Great 

 Britain, with places eastward of the Cape, in the year 1828, amounted 

 to sixteen millions sterling ; and if we assume this as a third part of the 

 amount of the imports and exports of all nations passing annually through 

 the canal of Suez, we obtain forty-eight millions value on the amount : 

 and taking the points into consideration stated in respect to the tonnage, 

 we may estimate the annual value in round numbers at fifty millions 

 sterling, the duty on which at ^ per cent, would yield a revenue of 

 L.125,000 per annum. 



A good deal is alleged by those trading from Britain to the East In- 

 dies against the policy of any part of the British nation lending patron- 

 age to such an undertaking, which, it is presumed, would benefit the 

 countries bordering the Mediterranean more than our own ; though, if 

 the canal in question would be the means of most materially shortening 

 the distance between the two most important portions of the British 

 Empire, little doubt can be entertained of the benefit conferred on the 

 extensive commerce of the two countries, even though some other nations 

 would receive a greater proportional advantage in the accomplishment 

 of the measure ; and though the commerce of other nations might in- 

 crease in a greater ratio than the British, still all would participate in 

 facilities to be obtained ; and in the case of war arising, it is but too ob- 

 vious, that the power possessing a naval superiority has the means of 

 closing such a channel of comm'erce to its enemies, by stationing cruisers 

 at each extremity. So much may be urged with a view of removing the 

 prejudice of British interests against the measure ; but it will readily be 

 believed, that if the British fail to patronize the undertaking, other na- 

 tions and powers will do so shortly : and it is therefore manifest, if 

 British subjects were chiefly concerned in advancing the capital, and in 

 executing and managing this great work, it would be vastly more for 

 the benefit of Britain, than if any other nation or government lent their 

 resources. But, undertake it who may, it is most probable that both 

 the funds and the energies of execution will come from this country ; 

 and it is too probable, that if the measure is executed by any other par- 

 ties than British, the work will be upon a cheaper and less effective plan 

 of navigation, permitting only small craft to navigate, unfit for British 

 commerce in the East, though sufficient for small traders in the Medi- 



