THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 63 



of the Egyptian isthmus might be so operated on as 

 to effect nearly the same object. Cut a ship canal 

 between the Mediterranean and Suez at the head of 

 the westernmost of the two arms or gulfs in which 

 the Bed Sea terminates, and by a short water 

 route of 92 miles across the isthmus about 5,000 

 miles would be saved in the voyage between this 

 country and India, China, and Australia. Now, 

 could such a saving be effectually accomplished, the 

 advantages which it would confer on commerce would 

 be enormous; and shipowners and commercial men 

 generally should lend the project every aid of which 

 it is found to be deserving. It is probable that few 

 engineering difficulties would be experienced in cut- 

 ting a canal through the isthmus, for the material to 

 be excavated consists generally of sandstone lying in 

 horizontal strata, or of sand, the consequence of dis- 

 integration of the sandstone. The main difficulty 

 would probably be found in the Eed Sea, with regard 

 to its capability of allowing the passage of " the 

 largest ships " throughout its entire length of about 

 1,400 miles. We observe that at the meeting on the 

 subject held last week in Bristol, Mr. D. A. Lange 

 said u experiments had been made which showed that 

 the bed of the sea was singularly adapted for dredging," 

 which countenances the apprehension that the waters 

 of " this sea " are in parts comparatively shallow, 

 however deep generally; and it will be only com- 

 mon prudence to ascertain all about the necessity of 



