THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 241 



Said Pasha very angry, and has only served to 

 strengthen his resolve. 



" I am very satisfied with the report of Linant and 

 Mougel, though it is not quite finished. It is so 

 clear and logical that it must carry conviction to 

 every mind." 



To M. Hippolyte Lafosse, Paris. 



"CAIBO, March 22, 1855. 



" I asked you, through Madame Delamalle, to 

 express my sincere thanks to M. Thiers for the way 

 in which he has received the news of the Viceroy 

 having granted the concession for the canal between 

 the two seas. M. Thiers has always possessed in the 

 highest degree the sentiment of patriotism, and one 

 can always tell, when one hears him talk, or when 

 one reads his writings, that his heart has not been 

 desiccated in the wear and tear of business. It was he 

 who twenty years ago entrusted to me the conduct of 

 the French Consulate in Egypt. It was during that 

 period that I made the acquaintance of the young 

 prince, now Viceroy, and formed with him that 

 intimate friendship which has procured for me the 

 honour of being selected to carry out this great work. 

 It would be a work beyond my strength if I could 

 not count upon the sympathy and assistance of the 

 men whose opinions carry universal weight with them. 

 I have been anxious to say to M. Thiers how de- 

 lighted I should be if he would advocate the cause 



VOL. I, R 



