IV NOTES BY THE EDITOR. 



ceremonies ; the reports are somewhat contradictory in regard to 

 the work. 



Shallow iron steam-ships are being built on the Tyne, for the 

 navigation of the canal. Mr. Ashbiiry, who sailed through the 

 canal in his yacht, Cambria, writes that after taking careful sound- 

 ings, he is of the opinion that no vessel drawing over nineteen feet 

 of water can pass through the canal. 



The "New York Tribune" states: "Two of the steamers of 

 the Messageries Imj)eriales (French Company), of 2,400 tons 

 burden, have safely passed through the Suez Canal. Steamers 

 drawing fifteen feet can navigate the canal from Tort Said to 

 Suez, with ease, in fifteen hours. The water does not wash away 

 the banks as much as apprehended. The complete success of the 

 gi'eat work exceeds all expectations." 



The Suez Canal Company has issued regulations for the navi- 

 gation of the canal. Article I. states that the navigation of the 

 Suez Maritime Canal will be open to all ships without distinction 

 of nationality, provided their draught of water does not exceed 

 7i metres, the depth of the canal being 8 metres, equal to 26 

 English feet. 



To-day we witrwess a return to old routes of commerce. In 

 early times, the track of commerce between the West and the 

 East was by the way of Egypt and the Red Sea ; from this com- 

 merce Alexandria rose to opulence, and Venice became a first- 

 rate power. Afterwards, by the discovery of the Cai)e route, 

 trade was diverted into new channels, and Venice and Alexandria 

 sank in wealth and importance. The opening of the Suez Canal 

 brings commerce back into its old channel. 



We are called upon to chronicle the successful laying of the 

 French Atlantic Cable. 



A project to extend telegraphic communication from Cuba (al- 

 ready in connection with Florida) by Porto Rico, through the West 

 India Island, is favorably entertained. Prussia, too, we hear, is 

 beginning to think of securing more direct communication with 

 America. It has been suggested that if a cable were laid from a 

 point on her seaboard round by the north of Scotland, and by the 

 western shore of Ireland, to join the Anglo-American cables at 

 Valentia, Prussia would send all the North of Europe messages 

 by this route. 



It is understood that the Pinissian Government have had tlie 

 subject recently before them, and that a concession has been 

 granted to carry out an Atlantic cable, having North Germany 



