THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 45 



to take soundings in the Gulf of Pelusium, between 

 the Damietta branch and the ancient Pelusian branch, 

 did his work admirably. His vessel, despite the bad 

 weather, held very well in the bay with only one 

 anchor, and I intend to publish his observations. 



" The course of the sweet- water canal has been 

 carefully considered by Conrad and Linant Bey, and 

 the plans are finished. The Yiceroy is once more full 

 of hope, and no one has attempted to shake this 

 confidence. 



" It appears that he has spoken to his family about 

 my showing him real affection, for the princess his 

 wife has thanked me in a letter written me at her dicta- 

 tion by Madame Stephan Bey, wife of the Minister 

 of Foreign Affairs. Here is my answer : 



" ' To Madame Stephan Bey, Cairo. 



" MIT-BIBE, March 7, 1857. 



" { I told you when passing through Cairo how 

 deeply grateful I felt for the gracious message which 

 you were charged by the Yice-Queen to transmit to 

 me ; but I avail myself of the first moment which I 

 can command to express to you my thanks in writing. 

 Nothing could be more flattering than to receive this 

 mark of high esteem from a princess known not only 

 in Egypt but throughout Europe for her elevated 

 character and intelligence, as well as for her acts of 

 kindness and charity. 



" ' What touched me most was to find that my feel- 



