2 HE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 79 



"'Thus the English Government admits that the 

 Suez route is the best for communication with India, 

 and after stubborn resistance, broken down by neces- 

 sity, resolves to send by this route some of the troops 

 which are being despatched to the relief of our 

 gallant soldiers in India. Nothing could be a more 

 complete avowal of the utility of M. de Lesseps's 

 scheme ; and this action of the Government is the 

 implicit condemnation of Lord Palmerston and Lord 

 Stratford de Kedcliffe, who have hitherto opposed the 

 scheme. It would seem as if Providence had set itself 

 to inflict upon them the chastisement which they de- 

 serve, by making them, so to speak, responsible before 

 public opinion for the difficulties which their country 

 is experiencing in putting an end to the calamities 

 which are so preying upon its interests, its affections, 

 and its power. . . . Lord Palmerston and Lord Strat- 

 ford de Redcliffe have not seen or foreseen anything 

 of this. . . . Lulled by a false sense of security, they 

 have yielded to their inclination for making them- 

 elves disagreeable to others.' J 



Note for the Emperor Napoleon. 



" PARIS, October 20, 1857. 



" The facility with which the Suez Canal can be 

 made has been proved beyond all cavil by the Inter- 

 national Commission of Engineers. The hearty and 

 unflinching concurrence of the Viceroy and the free 

 offer of capital ensure the success of the financial 



