194 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



leagues. In the higher regions on both banks of the 

 Nile there are immense forests full of elephants, lions, 

 and animals of all kinds. His troops had sometimes 

 fired into herds of hundreds of elephants, which went 

 tranquilly on their way without looking round, and 

 took no more notice of the firing than if they had been 

 pelted with sweatmeats. Upon one occasion an ele- 

 phant was surrounded, whereupon he rushed at one 

 of the men, seized him with his trunk, and hurled him 

 into the air ; at last, by dint of firing at him at close 

 quarters, the animal was killed. 



To Mr. Bruce, Agent and Consul- General of Her 

 Britannic Majesty in Egypt. 



"November 27, 1854. 



" I have already had the honour of speaking to you 

 about the Viceroy of Egypt's project for piercing the 

 Isthmus of Suez. His Highness, who intends to 

 make over to me his powers for the constitution of a 

 Universal Company, to which would be conceded the 

 making and working of the new route, has requested 

 me to communicate to you a copy of the memorandum 

 which he has asked me to draw up on this subject, in 

 which he wishes to meet the wishes of England as 

 well as of other nations. Anything which contributes 

 to the extension of trade, industry, and navigation 

 must be specially advantageous to England, consider- 

 ing that she takes rank before all other powers in the 

 importance of her navy, her manufacturing products, 



