86 the president's address. 



and thenceforward the trade of Europe with India was carried on 

 by sea, though other regions still obtained supplies of Eastern pro- 

 ducts by land carriage. Of late years the overland route to India by 

 way of Alexandria has been again commonly used by travellers, but 

 it has not been resorted to, at least to anjr considerable extent, for 

 the conveyance of goods. Now, in addition to this route, two lines 

 for railway communication have been suggested ; one by the valley 

 of the Euphrates, which is said to present no physical obstacles that 

 may not readily be surmounted ; the other commencing at Acre and 

 passing by Basra, to continue along the southerly side of the Per- 

 sian Grulph, and then crossing the spur of the Arabian Peninsula 

 to Mascal, a port accessible by a short sea voyage from Bombay. 

 This is represented as being much more direct than either of the 

 other routes. Whether any of them will be found practicable, in a 

 financial and commercial point of view, or in the existing state 

 of things, and considering the character of the people through 

 whose countries the transit is proposed, has yet to be ascertained and 

 determined. Mahommedan antipathies to nations professing Chris- 

 tianity, at least to the Western powers of Europe, have doubtless 

 greatly diminished, and when the " Infidel Soldan " disdains not to 

 wear as a badge of honor, the emblem of the Christian Knight slaugh- 

 tering the dragon, any enterprise which has no greater obstacles to 

 contend against than religious prejudices, or the antipathies of an 

 uncivilized against a civilized people, and which is backed by the 

 prospect of bringing wealth in its train, need not be despaired of. 



Another subject, however, more immediately interesting to us as 

 inhabitants of the Western hemisphere, as well as subjects of the 

 British Empire, claims attention- I allude to the projected Atlantic 

 telegraph. Wonderful as is the application of voltaic electricity 

 to land communication, its capability of adaptation to transmit 

 submarine messages, which is no longer a mere matter of theory, is 

 calculated still more to excite our admiration The nautical and 

 engineering difficulties attending this mode of telegraphic communi- 

 cation have been proved to be surmountable, and the experience 

 gained in establishing shorter lines has led to the determination to 

 undertake this. It is gratifying to observe the unity of thought and 

 action in reference to this great work that prevails on both sides of 

 the Atlantic. A survey was made last summer in a steamer belonging 

 to the United States, and soundings at intervals of about thirty 

 miles were taken, from which it was ascertained that the greatest 

 depth was rather less than 2| miles. Lieutenant Maury, the su- 



