i 4 2 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



be in the confidence of the Viceroy are credited, 

 nothing will be done either against his Highness or 

 yourself. It is always well, however, to keep one's 

 weather eye open. 



"M. de Lavalette seems very easy in his mind, and 

 I am bound to believe that he has his reasons for this. 

 One thing certain is that he is determined, if neces- 

 sary, to display great zeal in an affair in which so 

 many legitimate interests are involved." 



To Count Th. de Lesseps, Paris. 



" ALEXANDRIA, December 28, 1860. 



u It may interest the Minister of Foreign Affairs 

 to hear something about our relations with Abyssinia, 

 a country which, now so far off, will, when the Suez 

 Canal is open, be the nearest to Europe of all those 

 on the east coast of Africa. Our consul at Massowah 

 transmitted me a letter from the King of Abyssinia, 

 which has already been published;* but I enclose 

 you the translation of a second letter from him, in 

 reply to what I wrote in answer to his first letter : 



Second Letter from King Nikas Negoussie to 

 M. Ferd. de Lesseps. 



" i Peace be with you ! 



" ' Your letter duly reached me, and I thank you 



* Note of the Translator. This letter is included in the chapter 

 on "Abyssinia." See Chap. XI. 



