464 



THE BRITISH ISLES. 



nearly every port of the world, and successfully competes with foreigners in their 

 own waters.* When the Suez Canal, which now joins the Mediterranean to the 

 Eod Sea, was first projected, it was feared hy some that it would unduly profit 

 Greek, French, and Italian ship-owners; but jNl. de Lesseps was right when he 

 predicted that England, of all maritime nations, would derive the greatest advan- 

 tajres from it. The commercial interests of England in India and the East exceed 



Fiar. 228.— Wreck Chaut. 





^?^r 







„,.-*^^ 



— Foundered. 



° Damaged. 



those of aU other nations, and the capital required for the construction of steamers 

 adapted for navigating this canal was readily forthcoming. f 



English mariners have not only taken possession of the fishing banks around 

 the British Islands, but also frequent the waters of Newfoundland, Iceland, 



* More than two-thirds of the foreign and colonial trade of the United Kingdom is carried on in 

 British bottoms. 



t Bagehot, " Lombard Street." 



