154 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



health, was among the crowd of notables who were 

 grouped around the Emperor, who took no notice of 

 him, and did not reply to his bow. He then came up 

 closer and asked the Emperor if his Majesty had any 

 cause of complaint against him or his government. 

 The only answer he got was an expressive gesture 

 accompanying the single word "the firman." 



This firman was in the end granted. The grand 

 inauguration of the canal took place on November 

 17th, 1869, in presence of the Empress Eugenie, the 

 Emperor of Austria, the Prince Imperial of Germany, 

 the Prince of Orange, General Ignatieff, representing 

 the Emperor of Eussia, and the ambassadors of all 

 the Powers from Constantinople. The number of 

 vessels which went through the canal from Port Said 

 to Suez was sixty, and the multitude of guests men 

 of science, men of letters, and artists, from all 

 countries were treated by the Khedive Ismail with 

 a magnificent hospitality unexampled in history. 



This is a homage which I am proud to pay him 

 after the painful occurrences which have afflicted 

 Egypt and removed him from power. 



