THE FRENCH ACADEMY. 309 



to me of his inmost sentiments, which may be summed 

 up in unbounded admiration for you. You had your 

 faithful disciples I was almost going to say your 

 fanatics in the camp of those who might be regarded 

 as your enemies. At Isma'ilia we met an English 

 lady who was watching very intently the progress of 

 your workmen to see whether the prophecies of the 

 Bible were not being confirmed. She took us to see 

 some tufts of grass and flowers which the infiltrations 

 <f the sweet-water canal had caused to spring up on 

 the sand. This seemed conclusive to her, for was it 

 not written in the o5th chapter of Isaiah that, before 

 the coming of the Messiah, ' the desert shall rejoice 

 and blossom as the rose ' ! You had some fancy ready 

 to suit every one's taste, and supplied them all with a 

 dream after their own heart. 



" The word religion is not too strong to express the 

 enthusiasm which you excited. Your work was for 

 several years a sort of gospel of redemption, an era of 

 grace and pardon. The idea of rehabilitation and 

 moral amnesty always occupy a large place in the 

 origin of religions. The brigand is grateful to whom- 

 soever comes to preach a jubilee which has the effect 

 of creating a new departure. You were kind to those 

 who came and offered their services. You made them 

 feel that their past would be wiped out, that their 

 offences would be absolved, and that they would begin 

 their moral life anew if they were in earnest to help 

 you pierce the Isthmus. There are so many people 



