THE MARITIME CANAL OF SUEZ. 247 



European Powers, assembled on the shores of the Mediterranean 

 Sea to take part in the auspicious proceedings. 



Port Said presented an animated appearance on this eventful 

 day. On the Quai Eugenie, in front of the numerous villas over- 

 looking the Mediterranean, whose waves have for ages ceaselessly 

 rolled against the sandy ramparts of Pdluse, a carpeted platform was 

 erected to a height of fifteen feet, covered with a canopy and 

 decorated with the ensigns of all nations, and nearer the shore 

 were two more platforms, tastefully decorated with flags; prominent 

 amongst which were the banner of the Moslem, of the Crescent and 

 Star, and that of the banner of the Cross, surmounted by the flags 

 of Christendom. 



Assembled in the centre of the larger platform were the most dis- 

 tinguished visitors, the Khedive, Ismail Pasha, attired in a military 

 blue uniform, resplendent with gold lace, wearing the riband of 

 green, and his sword, the hilt set with dazzling jewels ; the Emperor 

 of Austria, in his snow-white uniform and scarlet pantaloons, 

 wearing on his cocked hat the Imperial plume of green ; the 

 Crown Prince of Prussia, in his military attire, a worthy scion 

 of the House of Hohenzollern ; the Crown Prince of Holland, and 

 Prince William of Hesse; and, of the gentler sex, Eugenie, the 

 Empress of the French, dressed in lavender silk fringed with white, 

 wearing a black feather on her hat, and, with her, the Princess of 

 Holland. Behind this galaxy of royalty and beauty stood the 

 celebrated African warrior, Abd-el-Kader, attired in his native 

 costume; and, near him, the British Ambassador to the Porte, 

 and Colonel Stanton, the British Minister to the Khedive, and 

 other distinguished members of the Diplomatic Body. There were 

 present also, Lord Houghton, Lord Carysfort, Lord Alfred Paget, 

 Sir Stafford Northcote, Bart, M.P., George Elliot, M.P., Henry 

 Edwardes, M.P., E. T. Gourley, M.P., W. H. Gregory, M.P., 

 C. Lyttelton, M.P., the Mayor of Manchester, (Mr. Greaves), the 

 Hon. Spencer Ponsonby, W. H. Russell, LL.D., Sir Samuel Parker, 

 Sir John Hawkshaw, F.R.S., John Pender, J. S. Wright, and 

 Thomas Lloyd of Birmingham, &c. ; also, several Naval and Military 

 Officers in the British Service. 



The first to break silence amongst this brilliant assemblage was 

 the venerable Sheik of the Moslem faith, who, stepping to the edge 

 of the platform from which waved the Crescent of Mahomet, 



