and the rivers of the American continent. But after my introductory remarks, the reader will not expect me to transcribe from hand-books or the polemical treatises of learned writers and travellers, the details connected with the extent or history of this renowned gulf.

I promised, in the title-page, to give a glimpse of three memorable seas, and I shall literally fulfil my promise by giving, as I have now done, a bird'seye view of one of them.

CHAPTER V.

THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC RAILWAY,

versus

THE OVERLAND ROUTE.

SUEZ, in itself, is certainly a wretched village, and would not attract more of the public attention than any other small Egyptian town, were it not for the peculiarity of its site, the circumstance of its giving a name to the celebrated Isthmus, which connects Asia and Africa, and more especially, at present, for the attempts which are made towards the accomplishment of that great project-the construction of a canal to connect the Red Sea with the waters of the Mediterranean. In this respect it assumes considerable importance; and although I do not, by any means, entertain the sanguine opinions expressed by Alison on this exciting topic, yet I cannot resist quoting his eloquent remarks, having a few plain

words to add in connection with the subject, and on the selection of the most desirable route from the British Islands to the East. In the twenty-fifth chapter of his History of Europe, the enthusiastic historian has these remarks:

"When in the revolution of ages, civilization shall have returned to its ancient cradle,—when the desolation of Mahommedan rule shall have ceased, and the light of religion illumined the land of its birth, Egypt will again become one of the great centres of human industry; the invention of steam will restore the communication with the East to its original channel, and the nation, which shall revive the canal of Suez, and open a direct communication between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea, will pour into its bosom those streams of wealth, which in every age have constituted the principal sources of European opulence. The great Leibnitz, in the time of Louis XIV, addressed to that great monarch a memorial, which is one of the noblest monuments of political foresight:-'Sire, (said he,) it is not at home that you will succeed in subduing the Dutch; you will not cross their dikes, and you will rouse Europe to their assistance. It is in Egypt, that the real blow is to be struck. There you will find the true commercial route to India; you will wrest that lucrative commerce from Holland, you will secure the eternal dominion of France in the Levant, you will fill Christianity with joy.' These ideas, however," (adds the historian,) "were beyond the age; and they lay dormant till revived by the genius of Napoleon."

That similar views were, in fact, ardently entertained by Napoleon the First, is now a matter of history; nor is it doubtful that his nephew cherishes

like aspirations, and eagerly desires and plans to secure an effectual footing in Egypt. The nature of the desert, intervening between the Red Sea and the low marshy shores of the Mediterranean, in the vicinity of Alexandria, renders the construction of a canal almost an impossibility, without taking into consideration the immense expenditure, which must, under any circumstances, be incurred. This is the opinion of scientific men, who were sent specially to report upon the practicability of the project. It is certainly impossible to imagine how the quicksand can be mastered. Whether Mr. Lesseppes actually thinks that it may, and sincerely believes that the project is practicable, I will not undertake to assert : he undoubtedly finds the design highly popular in France, and (if we are to judge from the expenditure) not altogether unprofitable to himself.

It is highly probable that the work will be commenced in good earnest, for the enterprise enjoys the warm support of the French government. Whether it will be prosecuted with energy, may be reasonably doubted; but one cannot help thinking, that it is intended as an important political move. Money enough will be spent in order to render some protection to French interests requisite; and then, on some sudden emergency, before England or Europe can well be aware of what is going on, a French