THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 239 



the Viceroy, but by the Governments of France and 

 Austria, both of which, as he knew, were in thorough 

 sympathy with the enterprise. I added that I had 

 made up my mind to return to Egypt, where the 

 Viceroy was awaiting me to prepare the organisation 

 of his scheme, pending the sovereign's authorisation 

 of it, about which there could be no doubt in the end, 

 and I congratulated myself on having, during my stay 

 in Constantinople, contributed to define the question, 

 while I carried with me the conviction that the Sultan 

 and his advisers were well disposed towards a work 

 the realisation of which seemed to me certain. I pro- 

 mised to convey to the Viceroy the intimation of these 

 friendly dispositions, which would, I hoped, be soon 

 followed by more practical results. 



" In fine, my impressions, and those of the French 

 Embassy, as to the date, more or less immediate, at 

 which we shall obtain our aim are not unfavourable. 

 The expediency of my departure was concurred in by 

 Benedetti, who, I am glad to say, did all that it was 

 possible for one in his position to do." 



To the same. 



" SMYRNA, March 10, 1855. 



" My departure from Constantinople of course led 

 to the dissolution of the Commission, which had not 

 had time to meet. As the Turkish Government 

 naturally does not like to admit that the delay 

 deemed necessary before the Sultan comes to a deci- 



