The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-19

venetian citizens or SUBJECTS was serene ana
happy. M. W. H.
What NJ. dc Lesseps Rensnbers.
Ever since the revolution Of 1s4s NJ. FERs
DINAND DE LEssEps has been conspicuously
before the public, and since the completion Of
the Suez Canal he has ranked with Theirs and
Victor Hugo among the greatest Frenchmen Of
his time. With regard to many OF the great
events and eminent persons OF the last half
century he speaks with the insight and author
ity OF one who has stood behind the scenes.
while in relation to the memorable enterprises
with which his name is linked what he has to
say is fraught with particular significance. In
his Recohections of Forty Years tApplstons)
many misconceptions are corrected, and II,
with reference to questions yet pending. as, for
example. the possibility Of completing the
Panama Canal. he docs not manage to reverse
the current of opinion, he strenuously endeav-
ors to secure. at all events. . suspension Of
judgment.
We do not suppose that many readers Of our
day will be much interested in the 118 pages Of
this volume which are devoted to the authors
mission to Rome in connection with the French
expedition under Gen. Oudinot. It has long
been we'll understood that the original purpose
of this military demonstration differed materi-
ally from that which its organizers subse-
quently adopted. Conceived In q thoroughly
liberal spirit, the work ultimately accomplished
by the expedition was destructive to the hopes
OF Italian liberalism. 1t is also we'll known
that this change Of intention conceded in point
Of time with a change in the temper OF French
legislators. The Constituent Assembly which
sanctioned the despatch of troops to
Civita Vecchia had been decidedly republi-
can. The Legislative Assembly which
presently succeeded it was distinctly
reactionary and beheld with pleasure the cap
ture of ROM and tho strangulation Of the
Italian republic by the soldiers of aGovern-
ment that was no longer republican except in
name. But, while there is nothing new or dis
putable about these facts. 1t is natural that
NJ. de Lesseps should wish to recall them. be-
cause his OWL part in the events Of that day
was then misrepresented and has never per-
haps been rightly understood. The documents
which he now prints show plainly that NJ. de
Lesseps zeslously labored to avert hostilities
between the Italian Liberals and the French
troops, but that, In doing so, he faithfully
obeyed his instructions, the only breaches Of
duty and good faith having been committed by
President Louis Napoleon and his Minister for
Foreign Affairs. NJ. Drouyn de Lhuys.
The account ofthe origin Of the Suez Canal is
curious. Few results OF striking magnitude
uhNo eNcT pTOC6eueO IEOIu bulhll6E BEGINNINGS
or in the face of greater obstacles. 1t appears
that Said Pasha, the predecessor of Ismsil. had
as q child been taught to ride by NJ. de Les
seps. who was much liked and trusted by Me-
hemet All. Whom his former pupil became
Viceroy Of Egypt in 1854. he sent for the author
to come to Cairo. The latter had been. We are
told, for some time studying In detail /" all the
questions relating to the Suez Canal. and was
perfectly familiar with the isthmus. I was per-
fectly satisfied Of tho possibility Of cutting the
Canadian enterprise which had taken possess
sion Of ny imagination after reading the
memoirs Of Lepere. the head engineer in the
expedition OF Gen. Bonsparte." M. de
Lesseps tells US that he convinced
Said Pashas Generals Of his engineering
competence by jumping q fence, SO that when
the Viceroy showed them the memorandum I
had drawn up. they were unanimous in my
favor. Sol got my concession" But what was
he to do with lit Luckily, he had a good many
personal friends that were rich. OF these he
got a hundred to Join him for the purpose OF
founding a company. w zach of us" he says,
put in a share Of 81 1000. and this share is now
worth 100000. This sum served for the pre-
liminary investigations. which I had made by
engineers whom 1 had brought from Europe to
examine the ground. which had never before
been done. as no one had ever dreamt that
the canal could be made except with the water
Of the Nile. But 1 had always been OF the opin-
ion that as the two seas were on tho Same level
-~stoutly as this was denied-the work to be
undertaken must be a purely maritime one. I
stuck to my text in spite Of all opposition, and
my obstinacy has had Its reward"
1t was more than fifteen years after the pro-
curement OF this concession from Said Pasha
before the Suez Canal was ~inaugurated. The
delays and obstacles by which M. de Lesseps
was long embarrassed, II never discouraged,
were mainly caused, as is we'll known, by the
intorposition Of the British Government, and
particularly OF Lord Palmerston. The incident
which. in the opinion Of the author, finally
brought about the grant Of the decisive frman
is thus recounted: when Napoleon III. ar
rived at Marseilles on April 80. 1855. to embark
on his yacht. the Aigle. on his way to Algeria.
the Grand Vizier. Fuad Pssha, who had come
to the south OF France to recruit his health. was
among the crowd Of notables that were grouped
around the Emperor. who. for his part, took no
notice of him and did not reply to his bow. He
then came up closer and asked the Emperor II
his Majesty had any cause Of complaint against
him or his Government. The only answer he
got WAS an expressive gesture. accommodating
the single word. the frman.'"
To Gordon we find the following allusion, |
which Is worth considering in any estimate of
tne mAh' pec&uso the autnor OF this book
knew him well. and is better acquainted than
any other living European with tho soudan
and the difficulties Of governing 1t: when
Gordon was at Khsrtoum as Governor the
viceroy informed me that he had summoned
him to Cairo to join the committee OF inquiry
OF which was President I said to him. You
are wrong. Gordon is a man OF great ability.
very intelligent, very honest. and very plucky.
but Keeps all the Soudan accounts In his
pocket on small pieces Of paper. All
that he pays out he puts In his
right pocket, and all that he receives In
his left. He then makes up two bags and sends
them to Cairo, and money is sent back to him.
He ID not the man to regulate the affairs OF
Egypt The Viceroy then telegraphed to him
to remain where he was. but he was SO active
that he came all the same. as he was admins
tering the country in a very able manner, ac-
cording to the traditions left by Said Pasha. |
l asked him to peruse the explanations of
thaln IaarAA. Al n.a - G-E -. |