THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 115 



tion, will inform their respective governments of it, 

 and will if necessary co-operate with the ambassador 

 of France. 

 " Please inform the Viceroy of what I have done." 



To M. Thouvenel, Constantinople. 



" CONSTANTINOPLE, July 80, 1858. 



"The conversation which I had with Aali Pasha on 

 my arrival convinced me that, owing to the con- 

 tinuous action of the English Embassy, as well as to 

 the discussion in the English Parliament on June 1st, 

 the Sublime Porte is so situated that it feels the 

 necessity of having a counterpoise which would 

 enable it, without exposing itself to formidable diffi- 

 culties, to go through the official formality of accord- 

 ing a sanction which it has already given in principle. 

 It undoubtedly exaggerated these difficulties, for had 

 it followed its own inspirations it would not have 

 created for itself more embarrassments than its vassal 

 the Viceroy, whose conduct in this matter has won 

 him universal sympathy, has had to face. 



" But you know better than anyone how Turkey 

 is situated, and will therefore understand her passive 

 attitude in the matter. 



" As the ministers of the Porte had often declared 

 to you that they were favourable to the canal scheme, 

 and that their government did not raise any difficulty 

 in the way of its realisation proprio motu, it seems 

 to me that there were no further negotiations to be 



