THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 127 



will succeed. I know of no more national or useful 

 work than yours.' 



" This will give an idea of what our diplomatists 

 think of the Suez Canal. It may be added that the 

 Due de Gramont, in writing thus, is the mouthpiece 

 of the Koman Court, and the whole of the Catholic 

 clergy is deeply interested in the execution of the 

 work. Only the other day, the Bishop of Orleans, in 

 a pastoral letter, expressed his most ardent wishes for 

 its success. 



" The army has, with its usual spirit, taken up our 

 enterprise, and many officers of all ranks are among 

 our shareholders. 



"The intervention of the Emperor, which now 

 becomes a question of life and death for us, will cer- 

 tainly increase his popularity at home and his influ- 

 ence abroad. All the governments are ready to 

 support him against the isolated opposition of the 

 antiquated policy of England. This homage rendered 

 to the Emperor's political ascendency reminds one of 

 that paid to Charles VIII. when a battle was about to 

 be fought. The nobility opened their ranks, and, 

 leaving him the foremost place, said : i To your 

 .Majesty be left the honour of making the first thrust 

 with your lance.' 



" I said at the last meeting of our board that the 

 Empress had been our guardian angel, and that she 

 would be for the union of the two seas what Isabella, 

 the Catholic, was for the discovery of America. We 



