THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 59 



the new route. But the enterprise of which I am the 

 promoter stands so little in need of English capital 

 that if the share allotted to England was not 

 accepted in its entirety by her, it would be at once 

 snapped up by demands coming from all parts of the 

 globe. 



"Such, gentlemen, is the simple and, as I believe, 

 irrefutable answer which I have to make to Lord 

 Palmerston, and which I address to the heart and 

 conscience of all honest men. You will do me the 

 justice of allowing that, in my reply, I have had proper 

 regard to what is due to the age and political standing 

 of the First Lord of the Treasury. I should, more- 

 over, deem it inconsistent with my own dignity, and 

 with the respect which I entertain for you, if I allowed 

 myself to speak of him in such language as he has 

 applied to me. I owe you these explanations because 

 of the kind esteem you have shown me, and for which 

 I feel profoundly grateful." 



Note for the Emperor and Count Walewski. 



"PARIS, July 15, 1857. 



" I have the honour to enclose a letter which I 

 have written to the British Chamber of Commerce, 

 in reply to Lord Palmerston with reference to the 

 Suez Canal. 



" It had been agreed, as a matter of principle, that 

 M. Thouvenel should be free to take action in favour 

 of the canal in case Lord Stratford de Eedcliffe should 



F2 



