APPENDIX. No. VI. REPORT FROM M. DE LESSEPS TO THE VICEROY OF EGYPT. AND HIS HIGHNESS’ INSTRUCTIONS.

REPORT TO HIS HIGHNESS MOHAMMED SAID PACHA, VICEROY OF EGYPT.

The Camp, Marea, 30th April, 1855.

I had the honour of submitting to your Highness the memorial of your Engineers MM. Linant Bey, and Mougel Bey, for the construction of the Canal of the Isthmus of Suez.

This is intended as a precursory scheme for the cutting through the Isthmus. It is accompanied by a map indicating the configuration of the ground and the nature of the soil. It has met with your Highness’ approval, and you have requested me to give it the most extensive publicity in order to call the attention of all competent persons in Europe and America to a question which interests the whole world, and to invite their examination and observations.

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Your Highness has decided to send immediately, to the Counsellors of His Imperial Majesty the Sultan, the explanations which they require for the ratification of the scheme for the communication of the two Seas.

For my own part I shall proceed immediately to Europe, I shall make it my especial business to get the official documents relative to the affair as well as the precursory scheme of MM. Linant Bey, and Mougel Bey, printed and published. Arrangements will be made in order to collect within a limited time the opinions of those competent persons who shall be willing to aid the enterprise with their information and suggestions. In the mean time your engineers will be preparing the elements of their definitive scheme.

Agents will be appointed in every country to collect the communications and arrange the correspondence.

When the definitive scheme of the engineers is completed, and when the remarks received from each country have furnished a mass of information, a commission will be appointed, composed of engineers of known ability in hydraulic operations, and chosen in England, France, Germany, Italy and Holland. This commission will give its opinion upon the scheme of your Highness’ Engineers, and point out the modifications, or alterations which it shall think proper to be adopted. Every means shall be placed at the disposal of the Commission for visiting the Isthmus of Suez, should it be considered necessary to see the localities before deciding.

Your Highness has been pleased to limit at present the consideration of the track. After having passed in review the numerous schemes presented to Governments, or to the public, for more than fifty years, you give full liberty for the application of the means that science shall recognize to be best for making a communication between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, by cutting through the Isthmus of Suez at any point of the Isthmus, eastward of the course of the Nile; but you have declared that you will not authorize the Grand Maritime Suez Canal Company to adopt any track that might have its point of departure on the coast of the Mediterranean eastward of the Damietta branch, and which would cross the Nile.

It will not be until after the adoption of the track of communication between the two Seas, and when all the advantages and all the responsibilities of those who take part in the enterprise are clearly determined, that capitalists and the public will be invited to subscribe for shares, and the representatives of those interested will finally decide upon all questions affecting the administration, the execution and carrying out of the undertaking.

Allow me now to point out to your Highness, the preparatory operations to which MM. Linant Bey and Mougel Bey have to apply themselves previous to presenting their definitive scheme.

They have—

1st. To trace out on the ground the line of the Maritime Canal in detail, with all its angles and curves, and transfer the line so traced on to a plan.

2nd. To take the levels throughout this line, extending them into the two Seas to a depth of ten metres of water.

3rd. To make profile sections wherever the formation of the ground requires it.

4th. To take soundings along the line, and carry them out to a depth of ten metres below the level of low water in the Mediterranean.

5th. To collect specimens of the various soils met with in their operations.

6th. To settle the prime cost of manual labour and of all the materials that will be employed in the construction of the Canal.

7th. To establish positive data that will serve to estimate the number of workmen of all kinds necessary for the execution of the works.

For my own part, I shall make it my business to collect the most recent statistical documents that will afford the means of ascertaining positively the minimum valuation of the returns.

When the time has arrived for commencing the works of the Maritime Canal, a large number of machines, and a considerable quantity of materials, timber, iron, coal, &c. &c., ought to be procured from Europe. The Suez Canal Company will find the advantages of certainty, economy and facility of transport, which do not exist at present, in the continuation of the railway to Suez, and the establishment of the Towing Society, with which is connected the amelioration of the Mahmoudieh Canal, and also its communication with the port of Alexandria.

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The communications which I have received from Europe bear witness to the ever-increasing interest with which the scheme of opening the Isthmus of Suez is everywhere received.

Amongst those who have spontaneously offered me their co-operation, there are some who have placed considerable sums at my disposal as a contribution to the preliminary expenses of the undertaking. These offers already amount to more than 15,000,000 francs. I have not thought it proper to avail myself of them, but I have noted the names of those who have made them in order that they may take their appropriate place in the list of subscribers.

Certain founding members have already been named; they have subscribed an engagement, under conditions, to contribute to the expenses preliminary to the regular organization of the Company. The first list of founding members, fulfilling the conditions required by Art. 11, of your Highness’s Firman, contains fifty-five names belonging both to Egypt and to Europe. Your Highness who leaves to me the charge of completing this list by the addition of persons of all countries who shall actually contribute to the establishment of the work, has desired that the total number should not exceed 100 if it can be avoided.

Your Highness has been pleased to approve of the provisional appointment of M. Ruyssenaers, Consul General of the Netherlands, as principal agent of the Company in Egypt; he deserves in every respect this mark of confidence.

Such are the preliminary proceedings that have appeared to your Highness calculated to promote the success of your grand enterprise.

I beg your Highness to inform me whether I have fully understood your intentions.

(Signed) Ferd. de Lesseps.

My attached Friend M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, of high birth and elevated rank.

I have made myself acquainted with the report which you addressed to me on the 30th of April, and I approve the document which is to serve you in place of instructions. I appreciate the zeal which you have displayed in this affair, and the friendly interest you have taken in it has afforded me real satisfaction.

3 Ramadan, 1271.

(The Viceroy’s Seal.)

A true translation of the Turkish text.

Kœnig Bey, Secretary of Mandates to His Highness the Viceroy.

Alexandria, May 19, 1855.