THE ORIGIN OF THE SUEZ CANAL. 137 



once reassured upon hearing of the nomination of 

 Kuchdi Pasha, whom I lost no time in going to see, 

 and who appeared most friendly. 



To the Dae d'Albufera, Paris. 



" CONSTANTINOPLE, December 28, 1859. 



" The change of Grand Yiziers has not in any way 

 affected the situation as I described it to you in my 

 previous letters. The Sultan gave his full approval 

 to what had been done by the ex-Grand Yizier, so I 

 leave to-morrow for Alexandria, where I shall not 

 remain long, as all I want to do there is to see the 

 Viceroy. 



"M. Thouvenel is anxious that I should get to 

 Paris as quickly as possible." 



To the same. 



"ON THE NILE, BETWEEN MONFALOUT AND SIOUT, 



"January 6, 1860. 



"The Viceroy was waiting for me at Monfalout 

 previous to going up the river to Siout. We had a 

 very interesting conversation, and I can assure you 

 that we are perfectly agreed. He is very anxious 

 that we should, without making any fuss about it, at 

 once proceed to the setting up of our dredging ap- 

 paratus, to the excavating of our service trench 

 (rigole de service) as far as Lake Timsah, and to the 

 preliminary works in the inner fort. 



"He is very satisfied with the result arrived at at 



VOL. II. L 



