THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 197 



placed than herself, just as if the geographical situa- 

 tion was everything, and as if, taking everything into 

 account, England had not more to gain from this work 

 than all the Powers put together. Then, again, we 

 are told that England apprehends that the diminution 

 by more than a third in the voyage to India would 

 lead to a reduction in the number of merchantmen. 

 The experience of railways has surely proved to an 

 extent exceeding the boldest estimates that a shorten- 

 ing in the distance and an abbreviation in the length of 

 a journey increases to an extent exceeding all calcula- 

 tion the business relations and traffic. It is wonderful 

 that those who raise this objection do not advise the 

 English Government to send ships to India by way of 

 Cape Horn, as that would entail a still further increase 

 in the number of ships, the distance being so much 

 longer. If by any possible chance the difficulties 

 with which we already are threatened should arise, I 

 hope that the public spirit which is so powerful in 

 England will soon override interested opposition and 

 antiquated objections. 



" Let me hope also that, should the occasion require 

 it, I may count upon your support." 



"December 17, 1854. 



"I pay a visit to Father Leonardo, superior of the 

 Franciscan Monastery, who receives me in the room 

 occupied by Murat during the French expedition. 

 While making a cruise on the Nile Koenig Bey shows 



