THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 1 1 1 



kind Turkey ought to have displayed more initiative 

 and vitality, instead of attempting, as she seems to have 

 done, to create a political question between France and 

 England. For upon what ground does the Porte con- 

 sider itself bound to consult England about the Suez 

 Canal, when she did not consult France with regard 

 to the concession of the Euphrates Eailway? One 

 may, without being unduly susceptible, resent this 

 conduct of having two weights and measures. 



u I have received the following letter from London, 

 under date of June 22nd : 



" l You are strongly advised not to delay commenc- 

 ing the execution of your work. Your course will be 

 watched with the keenest interest by the members 

 who wish you every success, and even by some of those 

 who voted against Mr. Roebuck's motion. It is the 

 universal opinion that the political question will be 

 settled by the common sense of the English people, 

 and you may be sure that as soon as it is seen that you 

 are about to begin making the canal there will be a 

 very great change.' ' 



To M. Barthelemy St. Hilaire, Paris. 



" ALEXANDRIA, July 9, 1858. 



" I was with the Viceroy when the news of the 

 terrible massacre at Jeddah arrived. Upon my ex- 

 pressing my indignation, he quietly observed : ' What ! 

 you, who have known the East so much longer than 

 I, are surprised. But your experience ought to have 



