u6 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



pursued with them. I then discussed the state of affairs 

 with Sir Henry Bulwer, whom I had formerly known 

 personally well enough to admit of my explaining my 

 views to him with regard to the false and equivocal 

 position in which his government in my eyes placed 

 itself. The English Embassy, I said, had hitherto shown 

 itself very hostile to my enterprise, and yet had not 

 taken any official or ostensible step to justify its oppo- 

 sition upon the ground of English interests being 

 imperilled. Mr. Disraeli's utterances in the debate of 

 June 1st are a proof that what I say is true. 



" I have informed you of my conversation with Sir 

 Henry Bulwer, and I now send you a copy of the letter 

 which, at his request, I wrote to him on the 28th inst., 

 and in acknowledging its receipt he tells me that he 

 is about to transmit it, together with the documents I 

 sent him, to his government, and will await their in- 

 structions. It will therefore be for the Imperial Govern- 

 ment to protect my rights and those of the company. 



" I shall continue, for my part, to do all that lies 

 in my power to secure the aid, if we shall require it, 

 of the other governments from which I have received 

 the most favourable assurances of good will." 



To M. Barthelemy St. Hilaire, Paris. 



" CONSTANTINOPLE, August 18, 1858. 



" I have just made arrangements at Odessa for 

 appointing agents of the canal company in Eussia. I 

 have advised all the foreign embassies of my depar- 



