THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 121 



"Thus it is made very clear that I have not at- 

 tempted to monopolise for France and Egypt the 

 merits of the subscription which, despite all that may 

 be said or done, will not fail to be universal in its 

 results. 



"My last news from England is to the effect that 

 we shall get no money from there. The utterances of 

 Lord Palmerston and Stephenson, the engineer, have 

 told. But as we shall go forward, despite the policy 

 of our dear allies, I am not sorry to succeed with- 

 out their financial assistance, and notwithstanding 

 their hostility, just to take down a little of their 

 insular presumption, accustomed as they are to regard 

 everything impossible which has not their support. 



"I forward you the summary remarks of the 

 engineers of the International Commission to the 

 declarations of Mr. Stephenson. "With regard to those 

 of Lord Palmerston, totally devoid of reason as they 

 are, his successors will persevere in the same hostile 

 course. I know, through my friends in the foreign 

 corps diplomatique at Paris, that since the success of 

 our subscription the English Cabinet has made re- 

 doubled efforts to create difficulties for us with other 

 Powers. 



"Thus, for instance, the Marquis de Villamarina, 

 Sardinian Minister in Paris, has been asked by the 

 English ambassador to inform Count Cavour that the 

 English Government was still very opposed to the 

 canal, and that, as matters stood between England 



VOL. II. K 



