THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 153 



historical times, and which, for that very reason, is 

 regarded as impossible of execution. For we read, in 

 fact, in the geographical dictionaries that the project 

 would have been carried out long since if the obstacles 

 to it had not been insurmountable. 



" I send you a memorandum which embodies my 

 ancient and more recent studies, and I have had it 

 translated into Arabic by my friend Duchenoud, who 

 is the best of the Government interpreters. This 

 document is a very confidential one. You will form 

 your own opinion as to whether the present Viceroy, 

 Abbas Pasha, is the man to comprehend the benefit 

 which this scheme would confer upon Egypt, and 

 whether he would be disposed to aid in carrying it 



out." 



To the same. 



" PAKIS, November 15, 1852. 



" When you wrote me that there was no chance of 

 getting Abbas Pasha to accept the idea of the piercing 

 of the Isthmus of Suez I communicated my scheme to 

 a financial friend, M. Benoit Fould, who was con- 

 cerned in a scheme for founding a Credit Mobilier at 

 Constantinople. He was struck by the grandeur of 

 the undertaking, and the advantages there would be 

 in including, among the concessions to be applied for 

 from Turkey, the privilege of executing the Suez 

 Canal. The negotiator sent to Constantinople en- 

 countered difficulties which compelled him 10 abandon 

 the project. One of the arguments used against him 



