The Wealth of the Indies. 9 



for all ages it has Leen the storehouse from which treasures were 

 derived. Portugal held India from about 1500 to 1600. Ships 

 brought the silks and precious stones of India to Lisbon, Avhere 

 they were sold to the Dutch and distributed by them through 

 Europe. Spain conquered Portugal, and to avenge herself 

 on Holland excluded her merchants from lisbon. They then 

 sailed directly for India, dispossessed the Portuguese, and the 

 commerce of India Avas for the next hundred years controlled 

 by Holland. 



Then for a short time India was divided between France and 

 England, but u»der Lord Clive and Warren Llastings the pos- 

 sessions of France passed to the East India company, and when 

 their charter expired it was made a province of the crown and 

 the Queen of England became Empress of India. 



Unlike Rome and Spain in their dealings with conquered 

 nations, England gives a fair exchange for all she takes, and 

 rules in India for India, giving a more stable and equitable gov- 

 ernment than India ever before enjoyed. 



Today Tyre, Siclon, and Carthage are known only by their 

 ruins ; the glory of Greece and Rome, of Venice and Genoa, has 

 passed ; the power of SjDain and Portugal has waned, while India 

 is developing a social, moral, and political prosperity, with Avealth 

 and commerce unknoAvn in any former period of her history. 



Suez Canal. 



Much of the trade of India in ancient times passed through a 

 canal connecting the Red sea Avith the Mediterranean, the remains 

 of Avliich still exist, and efforts to reopen it .haA'e been made at 

 different times by EgA^pt Avithout success. In 1856 de Lesseps 

 obtained concessions from the khedive for the Suez canal, and 

 commenced the Avork under the direction of the best engineers of 

 Europe. De Lesseps applied to English capitalists for help, but 

 they Avere deterred by Lord Palmerston, Avho said he " Would 

 ojjpose the Avork to the very end." Mr Stevenson, the engineer, 

 supported Lord Palmerston, declaring that " The scheme Avas 

 impracticable, except at an expense too great to Avarrant any 

 expectation of returns." The emperor of France lent his name 

 to the company, and large sums of money were raised in France ; 

 but the canal Avas constructed mainly by the money and laborers 

 of Egypt. It Avas opened in 1869, and immediately English 



2— Nat. GF.nn. Mag , vor.. I^^ lSO-2. ' 



