The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-16 00:00:00

THE ISTHMUS O 1 SUEZ.

ALEXANDRIA, JAN. 4.-2tte international commission
for cutting a canal through the Isthmus of Sucz has
just terminated its investigation on 4he Egyptian soil
and given in the conclusion of its report to the Viceroy
The commission left Suez on the 21st of December,
after having studied the roadstead. It crossed the
Isthmus from south to north, examining* ou its way the
soundings and levels which have been e 'wonted during
the last three months, and which ill enact le the course
of the projected maritime canal to be traced. out.
The commission encamped on the 28th December
on the shore of Pelusium, where it embarke4 on the 31st
on board the Egyptian steam-frigate Le Nil. This
vessel had been cruising for a month in the bay, accom-
panied by a tender with coals on board.
On its first arrival at Alexandria the commit lsion had
left instructions with'. M. Larousse, the naval a ogineer,
who, with remarkable aetiv:ty, had completed a survey
of 44 kilometres of the coast. Seconded by At. Dar-
nand, engineer of the Viceroy, and by M. Ciancit do, an
Italian engineer, he was enabled to present a d't tailed
plan of that portion of the bay the study of whici t had
been intrusted to him.
The following are the very favourable, and it ma sy be
said unexpected, results of the observations made :
Opposite the ruins of Pelusiain the soundings g ave
8 metres at the distance already known of 7,500 met. "ea
from the shore ; but, taking a wo.sterly direction, the
depth of 8 metres gradually nears ti;se coast, and is to b
found at a distance of only 2,350 metres, in a continu-
ous line, running parallel with the coast for 20 kilometres.
This was an immense advantage ; the European engi-
neers could not fail to take advantav of it to fix the
point for the mouth of the future canal ir.,to the Mediter-
ranean. On approaching the coast on this line of 20
kilometres, extending between the mouth( of Omfareg
and that of Gamileb, the soundings. gave, with an ex-
cellent bottom, a depth of 5 metres at 753 metres, 6
metres at 1,600 metres, and 7 metres at 2,300 metres.
The depths of 9, 10, and 12 metres, and more, were suc-
cessively obtained at distances of 3,000 and 6,000

metres.
It results from these important facts acquires to hy -
drograhies that the jetties of the canal in the „Ray of
Pelusium, the water of which, moreover, is pefect\iy lim-
pid, need not be half so long as was at first sup posed.
The same will be the case in the Suez roadbtead, vhich
was just as little known as that of Pelusium.
The International Commission, in its report to the
Viceroy, pronounces itself in favour of the direct
which it regards as the only solution of the problem et
the junction of the Red Sea with the Mediterranean. It
unanimously declared that the execution was easy and

the success certain.
" REPORT TO HIS ITIGIQTESS MOHAMED SAID PASHA,
VICEROY OF EGYPT.

" His Highness called us to Egypt to study the ques.
tion of cutting a canal through the Isthmus of Suez.
Providing us with the means of judging upon the spot
the merit of the different solutions proposed, he invited
us to submit to him the one most easy, most sure, most

advantageous to the commerce of Europe.
"Our investigations, favoured by desirable weather,
facilitated and abridged by the ample means placed at
our disposal, are terminated.
We hare found innumerable, or rather insuperable,
obstacles to directing the canal on Alexandria, and un-
expected facilities for establishing a port in the Gulf of
Pelusium.
"A direct canal from Suez towards the Gulf of Pelu.
shim is therefore the only solution of the problem of the
junction of the Red Sea and the MedhernAran. The
unanimous ;
pose giving our reasons in a detailed pamphlet, accom-
paniedexecution thereof is easy, the success certdW, the results
we pur-
pose immenseopinion
ion in this the commercerespect of
theiB world.
o by hydrographical plans of the bays of Suez and
Pelusium, with a map of the conformation of the ground
through which the canal will run.
"The compilation of this pamphlet will take some
time. We shall set about it at once, in Europe, so as
to be able to present it to his Highness a few months
hence.
"For the moment we give the following conclusions:—
"1. The line on Alexandria is not admissible in a tech-
nical and economical point of view.
"2. The direct line oilers every facility for 'the execu-
tion of the maritime canal, properly called, with a branch
to the Nile, and the usual difficulties for the creation of
the two ports.
" 3. That of Suez will open upon a large and sure
roadstead, accessible at all times, with eight metres of
water at 1,600 metres from the shore.
" 4. That to be formed in the Gulf of Pelusium, which
the first plan placed at the end of the Gulf,
18 kilometres more to the west, where there are eight
metres of water at 2,300 metres from the shore, with
good anchorage.
"5. The expense of the canal of the twowill be placed
seas and of
the works connected with it will not exceed! the sum of
200,000,000 f., as put down to the estimates of the en-
:, AT .
gineers of the Viceroy.
"The members ot the I,n,tle,r.ncatoiosnitaAlr,C7Formeissidsieonnt.fpr
cutting a canal through the Inthnaus of Suez,
" NEGRELI.
" LIEUSSON, Secretary."

"Alexandria, Jan. 2.

--- - .
MAIL TO AUSTRALIA.— LIVERPOOL, Jan. 15.--Thfit
new and magnificent iron clipper ship Royal Charter,
Captain Boyce, fitted with anxiliary screw power, and
owned by the Australian Mad Steamship Con3pany,
sails from this port on Thursday, when the postbox
closeP, in this town at 12 p.m., and with late fee at 12.30
p.m. Her passenger list is almost filled, as also is her
cargo space. It is expected that she will make the run
under 60 days. The British and North American mail
steamer Canada will sail from this port to-morrow fqr
Boston with the usual mails and passengers. The post.
office closes at 10 a.m.