CHAPTEE IV. 



THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 



To M. S. W. RuyssenaerS) Consul- General of Holland 



in Egypt. 



"PAKis, July 8, 1852. 

 " TT is now three years since I asked and obtained 



J- permission to be placed upon the retired list 

 as j Minister Plenipotentiary in consequence of what 

 occurred in reference to my mission to Eome. 



" Since that time I have been studying in all its 

 different bearings a question which I had already been 

 considering when we made acquaintance with each 

 other in Egypt twenty years ago. 



" I confess that my scheme is still in the clouds, 

 and I do not conceal from myself that, as long as I 

 am the only person who believes it to be possible, 

 that is tantamount to saying it is impossible. What 

 is wanting to make it acceptable to the public is a 

 basis of some kind, and it is in order to obtain this 

 basis that I seek your co-operation. 



"I am referring to the piercing of the Isthmus of 

 Suez, which has been talked of from the earliest 



