THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 261 



is interested in the establishment of new and easy 

 communications between the two hemispheres ; and, 

 finally, we appeal to capitalists, because, while sharing 

 in a glorious enterprise, they have the certainty of 

 deriving great pecuniary advantages.' 



" I am about to decide in the course of a few days 

 with the Viceroy about my return to France." 



Confidential Note to the Viceroy. 



"ALEXANDRIA, April 28, 1855. 



"As a guide to our conduct with regard to the 

 canal, I send your Highness confidentially the private 

 information which has reached me from Paris and 

 Constantinople. 



"Let me begin with Paris. The first intimation 

 of your Highness' s project was conveyed to M. Drouyn 

 de Lhuys, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a telegram 

 from Marseilles on December 13th. M. Thouvenel, 

 the Political Director of the Ministry, sent word of 

 this to my brother, the Director of Commercial Affairs 

 in the Ministry. The next day M. Drouyn de Lhuys 

 received a visit from Lord Cowley, the English 

 Ambassador, who came in a great state of mind to 

 ask for explanations as to what was being done in 

 Egypt, and to inquire whether there was any previous 

 understanding between the French Government and 

 myself. M. Drouyn de Lhuys told him the simple 

 truth, when he said that he was entirely ignorant of 

 what was being done in Egypt, that he did not see 



