The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-06-30 00:00:00

THE ISTHMUS OF SUEZ

The International Commission for opening the
canal across the Isthmus of Suez has adopted a
number of resolutions, of which the following is an
abstract:—

1- The Commission has rejected the system of the
indirect line across Egypt, and adopted the prinoiple of
the direct communication between Suez and the Medi-
terranean.

2. It likewise rejected the plan proposed for supplying
the maritime canal with the water of the Nile, and decided
that it should be fed from the sea.

3. The Commission discussed the advantages and incon-
veniences of a canal, wi, h banks, continued from one sea
to the other, and ultimately decided that the canal should
have no banks in its passage through the Salt Lakes.
4. The interposition of the Salt Lakes left open having
for its effect to weaken the currents of the tide, the Com-
mission was of opinion that sluices at the two extremities
of the canal, at Suez and at Pelusium, were not indis-
pensable. They might, however, be established at a future
day, if considered necessary.

5. The Commission maintained the width of 100 metres
at the surface of the water, to a distance of 20 kilometres,
which is to be metalled between Suez and the Salt Lakes ;
and it reduced the width of the remainder of the canal to
80 metres.

6• The outline sketch of the first project, prepared by
the engineer of the Viceroy, was moreover maintained.
7. Entrance on the Mediterranean side by Port Said.
The Commission adopted for Port Said the system of
niers proposed by the members who repaired to Egypt,
With this difference, that the width of the Channel is to be
reduced from 500 to 400 metres, and that a dock is to be
added in the rear.

8. Entrance on the Red Sea by the port of Suez. The
Commission adopted the line and direction of the Channel.
Its width, however, is to be reduced from 400 to 300
metres, and a dock is to be constructed in the rear. The
piers will extend into the sea, until they arrive at a depth
of six metres at low water, and a broad channel in the
direction of the piers will be dredged to the depth of nine
metres.

9. The Commission declares that the establishment of
p"oper lighthouses at every landfall along the coasts of
Egypt and of the Red Sea, ought to be the necessary con-
sequence of the opening of the canal.

iO. A port for revictuallina, refitting, and repairing, is
to be constructed in Lake Tirnsah.

As respects the auxiliary canals of fresh water, derived
from the Nile. :he Commission, guided by considerations
of art, would have preferred its being supplied by the
canal of Z og,zig, near Belbeis, but has declared its
willingness to leave the choice of the best mode of execu-
tion to the appreciation of the engineers who are to
direct the works.

12. Finally, it appeared from the information given by
the naval offiers, members of the Commission, that the
navigation of the Red S,m, is as safe as that of the Medi-
terranean and Adriatic. This i. the opinion in particular
of Capt. Harris, who performed 70 voyages between Suez
and the East Indies.

AUSTRALIAN MAILS CONTRACT.-It will take a fleet of
seven or eight steamers to convey the Australian mails
be' ween Southampton and Melbourne, the distance via
Chile being 11,100 miles, The price to be paid for the
conveyan. e of the mars amount to nearly 144 per mile.
It will take three steamers to convey the Australian
mails between Southampton and Alexandria.
CONFESSION OF PALMER. —At the mdinary meeting of
the visiting justices of Stafford gaol, on Thursday, the
Rev. Mr. Goodacre, the chaplain of the prison, presented a
report respecting his interview with the late convict
William Palmer. The report is made up of extracts from
the diary of the reverend gentleman. No order has been
given respecting the publishing of it. We understand that
the chaplain found Palmer not no frequently suffering intense
mental agony. He
,was particularly so on the Thursday
morning previous to his execution. The rev. gentleman
gave him the best advice he could, showing the disti-ction
between private sins and public crimes, and pointed out
that the latter dematided-a confession before man. Palmer
seemed to feel the force of the chapl tin's remarks, and made
use of the remarkable words—" It it is necessary for my soul's
sake to confess this murder, I ought also to confess fee others,"
adding, after a short pause, " I mean my wife and brother."
He then threw himse fon the pallet in the cell, and buried
his face in the clothes. The chaplain proceeded to a'k him
whether he was guilty of the murder of his wife ? Palmer
made no reply. The rev, gentleman then asked him
whether he was guilty of the murder of his brother ? A
significant silence again betokened the prisoner's guilt ;
and when the chaplain could not forbear uttering the
ejaculatory p-ayer—" The Lord have mercy on you !" he
responded will a deep sigh. He shortly afterwards some-
what rallied, and evidently calling to mind what had passed,
observed to the chaplain that he must not take advantage
of what he had said, for he had neither denied or admitted
his guilt. An application has been made to the chaplain
for permission to publish the report or some of the extracts.