THE MARITIME CANAL OF SUEZ. 



241 



born scheme, he was guaranteed 15 per cent, upon the annual 

 revenue of the Company, as by the XVIII. Article. 



' ' Toutefois, en raison des concessions de terrains et autres avantages accordes 

 a la Compagnie par les Articles qui precedent, nous reservons, au profit du 

 Gouvernement Egyptien, un prelevement de 15 pour cent, sur les benefices nets 

 de chacjue annee, arretes et r^partis par I'Assemblee Generale des Actionnaires." 



The concessionnaire, Ferdinand de Lesseps, thus strengthened by 

 the support of the Viceroy ftf Egypt, and the adhesion of scientific 

 men, whose inquiries and reports had been published, deter- 

 mined to visit the different countries of Europe, personally 

 to address himself to leading Statesmen, to impress upon 

 them the pacific character of the enterprise ; and, also, to interest 

 capitalists, men of commerce, and of industry in his great 

 Scheme, and to point out to them the advantages to be secured 

 by its realisation. 



During the Spring of 1857 he proceeded to the principal ports and 

 industrial centres of England, Ireland, and Scotland, with most 

 gratifying results, and having visited Egypt and Constantinople, he 

 returned to France to organise definitely the Company, and, all being 

 ready, on the sth November, 1858, the subscription for the capital of 

 200,000,000 francs was opened at Paris, and closed the 30th of the 

 same month ; and it is interesting to notice the various nations who 

 united in the subscription, and of the part belonging to each of 

 them. 



Shares. 



France 207,111 



Egypt 96,517 



Austria 51,246 



Russia 



England 



United States 



Spain 



Holland 



Tunis 



Sardinia 



24,174 



5,°8S 

 S,ooo 



4,046 

 2,615 

 1,714 



1,353 

 398,861 



Shares. 

 Brought torward 398,861 



Switzerland ... 



Belgium 



Tuscany 



Two Sicilies . . . 

 Roman States 



Prussia 



Denmark 



Portugal 



Sweden 



460 



324 

 176 



97 



54 



15 



7 



5 



Total 400,000 



France, where the subscription found a great support, was 

 inscribed for more than one-half of the shares, divided between 



