THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 245 



interestedness very consolatory to those who believe, 

 as I do, that in this world there is, as a rule, more 

 good than evil. You are aware that I have got 

 together a certain number of friends, each of whom 

 has paid in a sum of <200 to a common fund in- 

 tended to defray the preliminary expenses. It was 

 the privilege of myself and my family to lead the 

 way. But for the royal hospitality of 'my prince/ 

 you would be right in supposing that my expenses 

 would be pretty heavy. 



"I am obliged to you for having delivered my 

 message to Barthelemy St. Hilaire ; I hope that his 

 beloved Aristotle will not carry the day, especially 

 as he would not need to give him up if he lent me 

 his aid. 57 * 



To H.R.H. the Due de Brabant (now King of the 

 Belgians). 



" CAIBO, March 23, 1855. 



u I have the honour to submit to your Eoyal High- 

 ness the documents relating to the Suez Canal, which 

 you expressed a desire to see, and I venture to hope 

 that you will call the attention of His Majesty the 

 King of the Belgians to the importance of the scheme, 

 and to the interest which the enlightened prince who 

 governs Egypt attaches to it. At a time when we 



* Note of the Translator. M. Barthelemy St. Hilaire, whom 

 M. de Lesseps induced to come out to Egypt with him, was busy 

 upon his famous translation of Aristotle, which is a work of great 

 erudition and value. 



