232 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



was expected in a few days, would doubtless bring 

 special instructions, lie should not hesitate in the 

 meanwhile to act on his own judgment and counter- 

 balance the influence of Lord Stratford de Kedcliffe." 



While the French Embassy was asking the Grand 

 Yizier to obtain me an audience of the Sultan, I drew 

 up the following note for the members of the Imperial 

 Council. 



" CONSTANTINOPLE, February 19, 1855. 

 " It would be superfluous to dwell in detail upon 

 the immense advantages of the piercing of the Isth- 

 mus of Suez. The only obstacles which seem to stand 

 in the way are the personal objections raised by a 

 foreign representative, objections which, if they were 

 allowed to prevail, would inflict a moral blow upon the 

 highest authority in the land. I feel confident that 

 this obstacle will not be allowed to prevail against the 

 wishes which I have been charged to express, with all 

 respect, upon behalf of an enlightened Prince who, 

 as is his duty, does an act of deference to his sovereign, 

 whose faithful and devoted vassal it is his pleasure to 

 prove himself." 



The Sultan granted me an audience and received 

 me very graciously, and I was about to embark upon 

 my return to Egypt, when I learnt that the influence 

 of Lord Stratford de Bedclifie had been strong enough 

 to deter the Sultan from sanctioning the project out- 



