The New York Herald Newspaper, November 21, 1869, Page 3

THE SUEZ CANAL, Complete Success of the Great Work. The Empress of France In Her Yacht at Suez. Inception, Progress and Completion of the Canal. Paris, Nov. 20-6 P. M. Advices from Alexandria just received contain the gratifying intelligence that the Suez Canal is a guccess. ‘The French imperial yacht Aigie, with her Majesty the Empregs on board, has arrived at Suez without accident, HISTORY OF THE SUEZ CANAL WORK Its Earliest Inception, Progress and Comple- tion—M. Ferdinand De Lesseps—His Per- severance and Suctess—Inspiring Tafluence of the Empress of the Freneb. The map which we present to our readers to-day Mustrates the Suez Iathmus Canal in its completed Condition, its pointa of entrance anddischarge, and the connection of Europe, Asia and Africa, affording also a full view of the new transit route, by the use of which the “roundiag” of the Cape of Good Hope ‘will be, for all profitable purposes, obliterated to mariners and travellers journeying to and from the East, a mileage to the extent of 5,500 miles be saved either way, the hitherto existing current of the ‘World’s commerce be revolutionized towardg Amer- ica, and New York, with the aid of the Pacific il road, be made the receiving and distributing entre- pot of the commerce and frst news of the universe ; Egypt be revivified, Turkey brought still more com- pletely within the pale of the great nations of the earth, Hindostan be eventually liberated and civil- $64, China christianized and the worla, moved by steam and girdied vy telegraphs, be made one in community of interest, the universalism of religion and aimplicity of faith and form of worship. For the more easy comprehension of this vast and Deneficial change, with ita certainty of effect, by our readers, it is merely necessary to state in plain ‘words the following geographical facts relative to Gistances by the different existing routes from Burope to Asia, as well as the economy of the one:— From the point of a ship's starting, off Gibraltar— fat the Azores—round the Cape of Good Hope to Cal- cutta, is 15,000 miles, ‘The distance to Calcutta, starting from Gibraltar— @t the same point—and travelling through the Suez Canal, is 9,500 miles, ‘The difference in favor of the use of the Suez Canal route is consequently 6,600 miles. A leading London journal says, generality, that the distance from Gibraltar to Calcatta is ‘‘about’’ 15,000 miles, and that this will be “shortened by about one-half” ‘Dy the opening of the Canal Suez. By means of the electric telegraph, in the shape of Geapatches from Asia, Africa and Europe, transmit- ted for our use by the deep sea cable wires sub- Merged in the Atlantic Ocean, we have already an- nounced to the readers of the HERALD the comple- tion of the great work of the Suez Canal, its utiliza tion by actual navigation by the Empress Eugénie of France, the fairest and most illustrious incarnation and representative ‘of that indestructible spark which has been from the beginning and dies not, as ‘Weil asofthe grand idea of such an undertaking, ‘which was thrown out to humanity three thousand ears ago, the assemblage of crowned heads, princes, earned men, statesmen, military and naval ofiicers, already distinguished in the service of their respec- tive countries and rendered still more notable by ‘their presence on this occasion, with the general and very illustrious representation of all the great living interests of the world besides, literary, commercial, Mmancial, diplomatic, artistic, scientific, mechanical, industrial, and of tne great daily newspaper press— the enlightened pond which unites, and the powerful leverage which moves, it may be said al- most thinks for, the whole, Wehave presented M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, who nurtured and matured the idea of its conciuding effect, to the world in his moment of triumph. Surveying the whole from the deck of the imperial French yacht L’Aigle, any dis- position towards an undue exultation at his splendid guccess, & natural and almost inevitable human tendency or feeling under such glorious circum- stances, being effectually toned—neutrallzed we may call it—by his compantonship with the Christian lady standing by bis side, one who has never forgotten the divine precept of humanity even in her first youthful exaitation to an active partnership in the every day responsibilities and duties of one of the most powerful—perhaps the most powerful—throne im the world, We have proclaimed the consecration of the canal work in prayer offered up by the reverend Almoner of the Empress, Pere Baner, at Port Said, and announced the fact that the reverend gentieman subsequently preached a sermonin which he congratulated the world on the success of this grand enterprise, thanked the Viceroy of Egypt, who bad immortalized his name and reign by his co- operation in one of the greatest undertakings of modern times, besides dwelling In terms of lively gratification on the liberty of worship which had been granted to Christians; and, thanking the Em- press for the sympathy she had shown, and M. de Lesseps for the exertions he had made to bring the work to coripletion, and also returning thanks to all the other illustrious personages who had hon- ored the occasion with their presence. We have also shown how the Emperor of Austria, the Viceroy of Egypt, the Crown Prince of Prussia, the Prince and Princess of Holland, with the other distin- guished personages, participated in the religious ceremonies without reference to “form of creed,’ and also how the Empress of France subsequently landed and assisted at a 7¢ Dewm and at the Mus- suiman prayers; thus perfecting her glorious mis- gion by sealing to the peoples the acceptance of a really world-wide catholiciam on the soil of the lana of the Pharoahs ata moment when the current of commerce and thought had just been changed in its réle from Europe and Asia towards America, We have chronicled the congregation of a fleet of thirty-four steamers at Ismailia, with tho notices of others ‘coming up,’ as well as reported the con- gregation of the immense number of visitora from all parts of the world, with the continual streaming im at that point of the numerous advance of 3,000 Europeans, and the 25,000 Orientals who had been specially invited as the guests of the Viceroy of Egypt. We have telegraphed the trip route of the first detachment of these visitors from Ismailia to Port Said, in the canal, within the space of eight ours and thirty minotes, and shown that the transit had a depth of water ranging from twenty-five to thirty feet through the whole line of the canal, as ‘well as the preparations which were made for the starting of the entire fleet from Ismailia to Suez on Saturday, the 20th of November, at noon. Our readers havo seen in the pages of the HERALD how the French imperial yacht L’Aigle, with the Em- press on board, was followed through the first part of the canal by forty vessels and anchored at Ismal- lia, 0 the presence of the vast multitude of the officers and crew of @ newly arrived Russian frigate, the largest war vessel present, and the enjoyment of @ world’s ovation, We have reported how the Norwegian govern- Ment on the 24th of September last decided that the Gorvette Nordstjernen should be present at the inau- Gurauion of the capi, ONG how that vensel left Hor- NEW YORK HERALD, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1869.—TRIPLE SHEET. — THE SUEZ CANAL. Map |Showing the Old and the New Routes from Europe to Asia---The Distance Shortened ten to call at Brest and Cadiz before entering the Mediterranean; how the Emperor of Austria was to arrive on a visit to the Sultan of Turkey and after- wards proceed to Egypt to be present at the opening of the canal; how the following personages had peen invited by the Viceroy of Egypt to be present at the inanguration of the Suez Canal, and acceptation sent to Egypt:—Duké of Tetuan, Deputies D. Antonio Paion, D. Buenventura Abarzuza and D. Eduardo Jasset; Engineer Lucio de Valle, Director of Canal of Lozoya; Engineer D. Cipriano Segundo Montesino, Alcalde del Ayuntamiento de Madrid; Manuel Maria Joaé de Goldo, and the writer Eusebia Blasco,and are- presentative of the Spanish militia; how some twenty- five North German scholars and artista were invited by the Viceroy, and that they were to proceed to Paris and thence travel to Egypt with the other guests at the expense of the Viceroy, and that the Professors Mommsen, Dove, Drake and Richter, with the Arctic explorer Dr. bo Spang of Gotha, were also invited. A special in) mn was forwarded to the editor of the New HERALD and the editors of the other leading. of the world, The Prince of Wales had intended to be present, bat altnough British royality may be unrepresented on the great occasion, the Pres{dent of the Royal Society, Sir Ed- ward Sabine, being ungble, through pressure of oficial duty, to accept the Viceroy’s invitation, was allowed to nominate a gentleman to represent the Royal Society, the President’s choice,swhich has been approved by the council, falling on Mr. J. F. Bateman, C. E. Electric enlightenment from the hoary lands of Asia and Africa has enabled us to show also to the eyes of the New World the illuminations which blazed along the banks of the Suez Canal, from the house- tops and windows of the dwellings in Ismalita, as well as from every available prominent point of the outer works of the vessels comprising the huge fleet to which we have referred; America and Europe, with the exception of England, joining heartily in the jubilee of civilization near the very spot where human tyranny was first stricken down and an “ocean heaved,” in the words of the poet, ‘on the march below of the tyrant.” It was humanity re- suscitated, man made better, Christianity purified and faith “walking on the waters”—all, under the influences of the animating first principle of science, controlled and rendered more gentle and acceptable by woman—the Empress Eugénie of France. THE SUEZ CANAL—ITS HISTORY. Under such circumstances we feel calied on—not- withstanding our previous enterprise in the same irection—to place before our readers a succinct lustory of the Suez Canal from the moment of the fitst earliest conception of such a work down to the time of its embracement by M. de Lesseps and its elaboration under his care and by means of his energy and perseverance to a successful fruition, and the “union of the waters of the sea of pearls with the waters of the sea of corals” been actualiy effected. To-day, this moment, is therefore most opportune and meet for a review of the great un- dertaking which has been inaugurated in the pre- sence of rulers and princes of nations which had no existence when, 1,400 years before the Christian era, King Seti’s ‘‘navvies’’ threw up the first spade- fu) of earth from the line marked out for the original Isthmus of Suez Canal. The period thence till now includes @ space of 8,000 years. The work done is colossal in its character, but the leading incidents are few, and their recital may be brief, The idea of forming a through water communica- tion across the {sthmus of Suez was familiar to the Egyptians under the Pharaohs, though with ends in view widely different from those with which the nineteenth century promoters of the undertaking have been animated. in those days the whole of the lakes which le across the isthmus were flooded, Nothing required to be done save to dig trenches between each, and so connect them, King Seti 1. commenced the enterprise, and a thousand years later (826 B, C.) Nechas worked to death 120,000 men in renewing it, The Romans and tho Arabs, aa they successively occupied the country, patched up and extended the canal; but in a more enlightened age, the Caliph Almansour, being at issue with his sub- jects in a province through which the canal pai L and belng desirous of starving them into subjec tion, destroyed the route by which they were accustomed to receive provisions, This was in the eighth century, and the idea of connecting the Red Sea with the Mediterranean slept fora thousand years, when It was reawakened in the mind of 8 man for whom such a work had a pe- cullar charm. In 1798 Napoleon Bonaparte the First, then serving the French republic as commander of the expedition to Egypt, proposed that a canal, capable ot being navigated by sea-going ships, should be cut across the Isthmus of Suez; but he was met by the curious yet time-honored objection that the waters of the Red Sea were not on the same level as those of the Mediterranean, and that the consequence of putting them into communication would be some thing dreadful. Bonaparte scouted this idea as be- ing contrary to the scientific laws which govern tho globe; bat he, nevertheless, directed the commission of savants which accompanied the expedition to sur- vey the isthmus with the view of ascertaining the levels of Wap tro Remm, The Feeult Wap patgunaing, Five Thousand Five Hundred Miles. Lissére, an engineer of high standing, who conducted the sarvey, reported that one sea was bigher than the other by several inches, and the idea of connect- ing them was thereupon abandoned. The statement of the French engineers, though at first accepted as being the result of a special survey made under competent direction, was 80 directly opposed to the teachings of acience that presently it began to be hinted that there must be a mistake on one side or the other, and it was generally agreed that it was more likely to have been committed by the surveyors, In 1830 Lieutenant Waghorn—to ‘whose memory # monument has been erected on the banks of the canal—planning the British overland route, re-surveyed the Isthmus of Suez, and settled the question by demonstrating an almost perfect equality of level between the two seas, At this time M. de Lesseps was serving his diplomatic appren- ticeship in the French Consulate at Catro, and the laying of the bugbear which had hitherto prevented engineers from seriously Considering both sides of a project for dividing the gontinents, sugested to his mind the possibility of carrying out the schome. He felt « powerfal “call” to the work, but it was plainly more than might be undertaken by a man aged twenty-six years, and but just started in life. M. de Lesseps, however, did Not by any means abandon the idea because circum- stances happened to make it impracticabie at the moment. Ho carried it with him to Barcelona, whither he was shortly after removed, and where be gained great fame by his conduct during the siege of 1842. He kept 18 before im in Rome, where in 1848 he further distinguished himself by presuming to differ from his government on the question of the French occupatton of tnat city, and by honestly avowing his sentiments and sacrificing his position thereto. In 1854 the opportunity for which he had long waited arrived. Mahomed Said, the Viceroy of Egypt, invited him to pay a visit to Cairo, and one day, while crossing the desert from Alexandria to the capital, M. de Lesseps opened out his scheme to his Highness. Mahomed was delighted with the idea, which he was shrewd enough to perceive was fraugnt with great advantages to Egypt, and pledged himself to support the undertaking by every means in his power. It was in the beginning of November that this conversation took place, and on the 30th day of the same month M. de Lesseps was in possession of a viceroyal firman vestowing upon him the exclusive right to construct a mari- time canal across the Isthmus of Suez. M, Lesseps had reached an age at which most men. begin to think of rest when he commenced the work for which he was born; but if he had been twenty- five instead of fitty he could flot have set about doing it with more ardor. At the outset diMculties were no sooner overcome than others arose, it ‘Was necessary to obtain the Sultan’s confirmation of the Viceroy’s firman, and the Sultan was not greatly disposed to further an enterprise which, whatever became of the original shareholders, could not fatl to add to the importance of Egypt—a dependency already too precocious to suit the jealous policy of the Porte. Tne late Lord Palmerston, possibly foreseeing an ulterior French “annexation” of Egypt, canal and all, set his face against the project, and was supported by some of the Britisn journals, the writers of which in leading articles which M. de Lesseps carefully preserved in his desk and gleefully shows to his friends, atyled the promoter of the scheme, the “High Priest of the Egyptian Enterprise,” and other funny names, Sctentific men demonstrated the im- possibility of the undertaking, and even Stephenson lent the weight of his then great authority to crush it, But the energy of M. de Lesseps triumphed over ll, and in 1868, four years after ne had definitively taken the matter in hand, the subscription hist of the Compagnie Universeile du Canal de Suez was opened on all the Stock Exchanges of Europe. Shares were taken up with encouraging alacrity, and on the 25th April, 1859, possession was taken, in the name of the Suez Isthmus Canal Company, of a narrow belt of sand on the northern coast of the Isthmus, washod on one side by the Mediterranean Sea, and on the other by the shallow waters of Lake Menzaleh. The first point which the engineers under the direction of M. de Lesseps turned their attention to was the creation of a port for the ships which brought from Eutope the machinery and the princt- pal supplies of food for the great army of workmen. ‘There was no choice of site. The starting point of the canal was fixed, and there m be the port, notwithstanding the fact that the water was at the time so shallow that nothing bigger than a barge could approach within halfa mule of the beach. The only thing to be done was to run Out seaward break- waters, as described in the different maps, on elther side of the space required for the harbor, and to deepen the enclosure. But before this could be dono it would be necessary to land cargoes of provisions and of heavy machinery, and tow wero they to be discharged? Thus:—An isiand was created at the limit to which the ships might approach; immense cranes were erected thereon, and by their means the imports were transhipped into lighters, which conveyed vhem to tho beach, Tye Vullding of tap Dreaxatare Was Hhgn nrogeeded 3 OTEXERAN PEIRSIA ‘with, stones being supplied from the quarry of Gex, near Alexandria; but this course was found to en- tail great cost and delay, and the men who had made the little island in the Mediterrdnean deter- mined to make also the stones for the breakwater. They established a manufactory on the seashore, and by an ingenious process moulded, of sand mixed with lime, blocks of clay weighing twenty tonsa piece. These being exposed for a due season tothe sun and air, became hard as granite, and of them are Quilt the breakwaters, which, stretching out into the sea—one a distance of a mile and a half and the other of upwards of a mile, make the HARBOR OF PORT SAID, While the breax waters were being bullt and the har- bor deepened, and a town growing up on the narrow belt of sand, the construction of the canal itself was vigorously pushed on. The course from sea to sea being definitely marked out the work was simuita- neously commenced along the whole line, gangs of men being told off for stations fixed at eqal-dis- tances. Machinery of the most ingenious design ‘and upon the vastest scale was introduced, and, with an unlimited supply of nardy workmen, the canal was growing apace, when, in 1862, events occurred which threatened to put an end to the work altogether. Three years earlier, when the Sultan saw the work actually commenced, and perceived from the character of the men engaged in it that it was very likely to be carried on to the end, he ordered the Vice- roy to send away the Frenchmen, and it was only upon the intervention of the Emperor that he withdrew the injunction. Now, again, in a manner more peremptory than before, he interposed, for- bade the Viceroy to permit his fellahs to labor upon the Canal, and declared null and void the firman of 1866, which conceded to the company the lands necessary for the works. Before this mandate of bis liege lord the Viceroy of Egypt was powerless, the fellabs were withdrawn, and the works came vir- tually to a standstill, Attempts were made to sup- ply the place of the natives by an importation of Eu- ean navvies, but under the sun which beats upon the sands of the Isthmus none but of the negro race can do a fair day’s digging and live, and, till the matter at issue was settled, the managers were fain tobe content with holding the way already made. Again the Emperor of France came to the redciie, aid being appointed arbiter, he early in 1864 effected an arrangement by which the works were resumed under pretty nearly the same circumstances as those under which they were carried on previous to the Sultaa’s interdict, Here ends the record of the exceptional dificulties with which the promoters of the Suez Canal have had to deal. The history of the last five yeors is simply a chronicle of daily progress, and is best summed up in the statement of the fact that the canal is now ready for opening. THB NAVIGATION OF THE SUBZ CANAL—OFFICIAL REGULATIONS AND RULES. The code regulations for the transit of vessels on the Suez Canal were issued some time since by M. de Lesseps, During the inauguration of the canal there will be no charge made, and these regulations ‘will not come into force until the 21st of the present month of November. Ships of all nations are per- mitted to use the canal, the sole condition being that they do not draw more than twenty-four and a half feet, tne canal being twenty-six and a quarter feet deep. Steamboats may be propelled in the ordinary manner, but satling vessels over fifty tons must be towed by the company’s service, The maximum speed of vessels in the canal is fixed provisionally at about six miles an hour. Navigation is allowed during the night on condition of fares being kept up and a strict watch maintained. Tho commanders of vessels are forbid- den to anchor in the canal or to throw earth or rub- bish overboard, and if anything should fall over- board which they are anxious to recover they are forbidden to try to recover it themselves, but must give notice at the nearest station. THE CHARGE FOR TRANSIT from one sea tothe other is ten francs per ton and ten francs per passenger, and the cost of towage is fixed at two francs per ton. The pliot, who must be retained on board in case of stoppage, is to charge twenty franca a day. A reduction of this cnarge is, however, to be made on those vessels which are towed. RULES OF NAVIGATION. ‘The following are the oMcial regalations for the navigation of the Suez Canal :—~ 1, Navigation on the Suez Maritime Canal is per- mitted to all vessels, whatever their nationality, provided they do not draw more than seven metres and @ half of water; the canal being eight metres deep, Steam vessels may navigate by means of their own steam power. ng vessels, about 60 tons burden, must be towed by the servive established for this purpose by the ere Steamers requiring to be towed will arrange by special contract. Every vessel towed Will provide ita own towline. 2, The Maximum speed of vessels on the canal is provisionally fixed at 10 kilometres an hour, 8. Every ship exceeding 100 tons burden must take ® pilot employed by the company, who is bound to furnish every information as to the route to be fol- lowed, the captain remaining responsible for the eondact ana handling of the vessel. 4. When @ vessel requiring to pags the canal has taken up her moorings at Port, Said or at Suez the Caktalp is bo puter Lid verse] at the pMice and to way the passage dues, as well ag the pilotage fees, tow- ing and harbor fees, when due. A receipt will be oa him which will be available in case of need. 6 will be bound to furnish the following particu- lars:—Name and nationality of the vessel, name of the captain, names of the owners and charterers, port whence sailed and destination, draught of water, number of passengers, tonnage of the ship according to legal measurement, certified by official documents. 6. In the formation of trains the captain, furnished with @ number according to his receipt, serv- ing asa way bill, and after having received the ilot on board, will take up the position assigned to im, 6. Every vessel about to enter the canal Js to have her yards braced up and booma topped. She mast have two anchors—one forward and one aft—to allow of anchoring at the firat order of the pilot. 7. (1) Every vessel must have, during the passage of the canal, a boat in tow with a haweer ready, in order in case oi need to carry out her nawser to one of the moorin: canal. (' ‘Watches on deck both night and 4: jay, to be ready to cast off or cut the tow lines at the Urst order. lights burn- lation, and @ lookout forward. or other steamer will whistle (3.) Daring the oped vessels Will kee ‘accor (4.) Every steam tug at the passage of curves at the approach of vessels which are to ar crossed, and at the nil macet.” (a) Winch two vessels proceeding 1 vessels, te a come ib sight, iuey are to ip speed, each keeping the starboard bank, or stop, according to the order of the pilot. (6.) When & vessel requires to pass apother going in the same direction, warning must be given by signal. The Vessel going at least speed is to keep close to the starboard bank and to slacken speed as much as possible. 8. (1,) Veasela which for any cause whatever are obliged to stop in the canal are, as soon as possible, to place themselves on the windward bank, and moor fore and aft. (2) In case of necessary stop- page, and when it is impossibie to reach a siding, which 1s always to be done if possible, the captain must immediately give notice by signals by day and by lamps by night, fore and aft. (3.) In case of ground: the agents of the company Wiil have the Tight to direct the means of getting the vessel off, and, if necessary, of unioading—the whole at the expense of whoever may have caused the grounding. 9. Captains are forbidden (1) to anchor in the canal, except im cage of absulute necessity, and not without the pilot’s consent. (2.) To throw into the canal earth, ashes, cinders or any other mate- rials. (3.) In case of anything falling into the canal ‘a declaration is to be made W the pilot, who ts bound to transmit itto the agent at the nearest station. {) The captam 18 forpidden to fish ap anything ‘allen into the canal, except under the direction of the companys agents, (5.) The salvage of ali objects falien into the canal is at the expense of the captain, to whom tmey will be resiored on payment of these expenses. 10. Captains will bina themselves, on receiving a copy of these regulations, to obey every order for the purpose of carrying them out. 11, The dues to be paid are calculated on the actual tonnage of the vessel, botn as to the transit dues and the towing and harbor dues, ‘This tounage is determined until further orders) by the official papers on board. The transit due from one sea to the other 18-10f. per ton burden and 101. per passen- r, payable at the entrance at Port Said or Suez. fhe towage dues are fixed at 2f. per ton; the harbor dues for anchoring at Port Said, at Ismaiita and before the platform at Suez, afver remaining twenty- four hours, for twenty days at the utmost, 6 cea- times per ton per day, ac the place assigned by the captain of the port. ‘The ptlotage dues for the passage of the canal aro fixed according to the draugit of water, as fol- lows:—Up to 3 metres, 5f. per decimewre; from 3 to 434 metres, 10f.; from 44 to 6 metres, 16f.; from 6 to 74g metres, 20f. Every decimetre to be paid for proportionally according to the category to which ‘the vessel belongs. The pilot kept on board, in case of anchorage, will be paid 20f. per day. Vessels towed will be entitled to a reduction of twenty-five per cent on the pliotage dues. FERD. pr LESSEPS, President Director, CONSULAR JURISDICTION IN EGYPT. Late telegrams from Alexandria report that the mixed international commission prayed for by the Viceroy of Egypt from the chief European govern- ments to inquire into and to report on the allegea abuses of the capitulations in Egypt was to meet. Sir Philip Francis, the Judge of the Supreme Consu- lar Court, was named vo be the British delegate com- ing from the Levant, and the French government ‘will be represented by the Under Secretary of the Paris Foreign Office. Though the Austrian, Prus- sian, Russian and Italian governments were ex- pected to join in the inVestigation the names of their respective delegates were not mentioned. The Com- mission was to meet In Alexandria or Cairo, and tts functions limited strictly to inquiring into the al- leged abuses of consular jurisdiction and reporting theretipon to the governments, simply with a view to furnishing the latter with data for judging whe- ther any modifications of the existing practice are or are not expedient in view of the opening of the Suez Canal, On this important part of the subject a communi- cation from Vienna jately published in Berlin says:— The Opening of the Suez Canal nas raised the ques- ton of its neutralization. The Powers are suid to be very actively occupied with the affair at this mo- ment, for if it is not declared neutral it runs the risk of becoming the theatre of rivalries and struggies | | The buildiag was damaged $250; iully covered oy between the great nations, Austria is understood to be In favor of that step, hurry to pronounce. Prussia ts reported to be com- pletely in accord with B 4, Who ardently desires the neutralization. Italy, who sees her Eastern commerce increasing, is strongly disposed to sup- port the project. France and Russia—aiways accord: Ing the Press—are of contrary opinion. The former, a8 the princi omoter of the now com- pleted works, is sup; to hope to obtain certain privileges tor the French ships, which may wish to make use of the canaj; and the latter, who regards with a distrostral eye every road whitch is opened towerus the Kast, ahd of which she 18 not miswess, ia beneved to entertain the project—i this channel is Feally accessibie to large steam vessela—Of asking les placed along the two banks of i The captain 18 bound to keep for & modification of the treaties which requlate the navigation in the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, English Opinion of the Effects of the Suez Canal. A London journal, speaking on this subject, just Previous to the formal incorporation ‘of the Suez Canal, said:— No doubt next autumn, after the festival of the inauguration, all the European papers wil be filled with detatied explanations of @ matter which as yet the greater part of Europe seems to regard a8 @& thing only in its infancy, With the exception of France, which is interested in the canal in 1t# double capacity of a proprietor and of a merchant, who, through it, must come into the possession of the whole trade of Egypt, Austria is the only country that has taken any practical steps in anticipation of vhe changes the canal must unavoidably produce in the relations of Europe with Asia, apd more especially witn China and Japan. ‘The government of Vienna, perfectly aware of the importance which the port of Trieste ‘bout to acquire, has sent an important expedition to the chief places of Eastern Asia With @ view to inquire into the conditions of their trade, as weil a8 to introduce samples of Aus- trian Manufacturcs into the new markets, The re- guilt of this expedition must be, no doubt, of great importance for Austria, and ttg retarn is looked for- ward to with ail the more eagtrness as the expedi- tlun is believed to have been formed in a more satis- factory manner than mages have peen expected of bureaucratic Austria. It seems to be com- posed of several practical men of unquestion- able competence. No other continental nation has as yet done anything in this way, although the interest of all of them are involved in this mat- ter, and mast, we fear, turn to the disadvantage of England if it will not take any special steps ip ac- cordance with the new circumstances, some of which we shall indicate. The impulse which the Suez Canal must give to the trade of Spain, Italy and Greece may be felt out of view as being of mere local interest in consequence of the very nature of the chief products of those Countries. But if, also, we put aside France, which will apply its commer- cial energies chiefly and for the first time to the de- velopment of the Egyptian trade, we shall be obliged to admit that the changes likely to take place in the trade of the rest uf Europe wiil be very considerable indeed, ‘Trieste, Odessa, Taganrog aud the mouth of the Danube must attain in a few years an importance that they never possessed be- fore, and which might easily raise them in some respects to the rank of Marseilles, if not to that of paver yoo} or Southampton. Presuming that two parcels of goods of the same quality ana at the same price are consigned to China, the one frou ‘Trieste or Odessa, the other from London, the former will have all the advantages of a considerably Te- duced freight and of about ten to twelve days’ less travel. Such conditions must tnevitably benefit the productions of Austria, a3 well as of Kussia, at the expense of England, Holland and partly of France. To Austria and Russia may be added also a part of Germany. German factories, situated at a distance of avout elght to tweive hours by rail from Vienna, wWili obtain all the advantages of a communication with Eastern Asia by small ships loading at Vienna and saliing down the Danube, the Black Sea and the Suez Canal, without any inconvenience or reshipy ping. Of course, great advantages will still be on the side of the best produce; but in the trade witn Asia the price is more looked to than the quality, and 18 ia very likely that this state of things wil continue fora long time. Moreover, it 1s not at all probable that Germany, the trade belug establisned, will re- {rain from improving its produce, if the demand sug- gests lw provement. M. Ferdinand De Lesseps. Having thus chronicled the history and work of the Suez Canal, past and present, its completion and opening, the muster of crowned heads and distin- guished personages and the peoples on its banks, the presence aad inspiration of the Empress of France, the reorganization of a grea: fleet for its passage ip the wake of her Majesty’s yacht, the signal, the start and the run through and time to Ismatila, it ia but proper that we should conciude with a sketch : of the life of M. de Lesseps, the guiding mind under which all has been accomplished, prefacing the biographical sketch with the most pleasing feature of the announcement of his approaching marriage to —— of —— in Paris, the biooming and happy bride being in the —— year of her age. M. Ferdinand ae Lesseps 1s the son of Jean Bap- tiste Barthelem!, Baron de Lesseps, who was bora at Cette, a French port in the Guif of Lyons, in tho year 1765, His father was, for five years, French Vice Consul at St. Petersburg. in 1785 he accompa- mies La Perouse on hia voyage to Kamtchatka, whence he brought, by land, the papers containing a description of the expedition. In 1738 he wag Consul at Cronstadt and St. Petersburg. From St. Petersburg he was called by the Emperor Napoleon 1, in the year 1812, to Moscow, and appointed intendant of the latter city. In 1814 he proceeded to Lisbon, and was stationed there as Consul until 1823, He died in Paris, May 6, 1834. His son Ferdi+ nand was born at Versailles, in 1805, and ts, conse- quently, in his sixty-fourth year, though his appear- ance is that of a man little past middie age. In 1825 ha ‘waa attaché to the French consurate at Lisbon. Two years subsequently found him engagea in the com- mercial department of the French Ministry of Foreign Atfairs. During the latter part of 1523 he was attaché to the Consul General at Tanis, and in 1831 was despatched by his government as Consul to Alexandris, in t, Seven years subsequent to his appointment at Alexandria, and when ne waa ip his thirty-ffth was sent as conect Rot- terdam, in 1839, to negotiate wita the 5) behalf of French commerce. In the same year he was trausterred to the consulate as Barcelona, where, during that and the two following years, he was especially active, and ally dis- inst the reign of ‘tero. In 1844 he was again in Alexandria, whither he was sent to take the place of M. Lavalette. He did not remain long in Egypt. Returning to bis former position in Barcelona, he was witness to some of the seenes of the Spanish revolution of February. In 1848 he was appointed French minister av the court of Madrid. Remaining at the Spanish capital avout a year, he returned to Paris immediately after the revolutions of 1848, and in May of the following year ‘was despatched as envoy of the French republic to the republican government of Mazzini, at Rome, where he took a leading part in the abortive negotiations which preceded the restoration of the Pope by & French army. In 1854 he recetved a commission from the Soct:té d'Etudes du Canal de Suez, at Paris, to negotiate with Said Pacha for the construction o! the canal, first projected tm 1816, Accordingly, to- ward the close of that year, we again find him on the Isiiimus preparing for his work. His mission was crowned witn success, and the necessary concession was made in November of that year, A nalace and retinue of servants were as- signed to his use, aud he was treated as a guest of the Viceroy with the utmost respect. Great opposi- tion followed, especially from England, and it was not till January, 1856, that the second and fuller con- cession was granted by Sald Pacha and the “Inier- national Company” fully organized. In 1858 M. de Lesseps succeeded in raising two hundred millions of francs in France alone, and in 1859 he proceeded to Egypt and planted in the har- bor of the ancient Pelusium, where Port Said now stands, the Egyptian flag. Laying at the same time the founcation stone for a@ lighthouse, he proudly prociaimea the work commenced. Fresh dificuities, cluetly of a political nature, interposed; but Leaseps never despaired. In 1859 he had the sat- isfaction of seeing lis company and work placed upon a firm tooting. though the fnai decision of the French Emperor was not given till July, 1864, and from that time to the present hour the canal has steadily progressed. ‘The personal appearance of M. de Lesseps is very striking; though long past middie age, he has a fresh and even youthtul appearance. Both face and figure are well preserved; his slightly curling gray hair setting o!f in pleasing contrast his brozed yet clear complexion, his bright eye and genial simile, He is somewhat over the medium stature, 13 pos sessed of a compact and well knit irame, he carries his head erect and moves about with a buoyancy and animation perfectly marvellous in one of hia ears, His address is that of the French gentleman he is; his manners are winning, his voice clear and under most exceiieht control. What is, perhaps, the most remarkable 18, that with great gentieness of Speech and suavity of manner he combines a Strength of will and steadfastness of purpos jut would not be In & | worthy of Napoleon. Though beset by difficulties and scoffed and jeered at alike by friend and foe, he has never for one moment swerved from his purpose or relaxed his efforts to accomplisa it, Neither the sneers of Stephenson and lus associate English engineers nor the heavy broadside ot the London “Thunderer,”’ made any visible impression on the wiil or conduct of Lesseps. He early learned to labor and to wait. “Jai pour principe de com mencer par avoir la conflance'—“My principle from the commencement was to nave conildence. ictal Sedpasneninieta iis File AND. EXPLOSION, Several Men Injured. A fire was discovered about half-past twelve o'clock yesterday in the rear of No, 123 Cedar street, caused by @ leak In the main gas pipe. The firemen and police promptly arrived and forced open the door, when an explosion instantly occurred, inflicting injuries more or less severe upon the following persons abont the head, face and hands:—James Rooney, assistant foreman; Joon MeKewn and Theodore aken, firemen, of Engine No. 6; Jobn Me laborer, residing ab » 193 New Cham bers street, and Will Fogarty, occupant of the preimises as @& boarding house. All the injured parties were conveyed to the ‘Twenty- seventh preciiict station house, attended by Surgeon Andrews and seat to thelr homes, witn tue excep- tion of McCarty, Who was 80 badly burned as to render his removal to Bellevue Hospital expedient. insurance. FELONIQUS ASSAULT BY A WOMAN. The sergeant of the Kighth precinct was last night notified by a physician that he had a patient at No. 2 Wooster street lying Na critical condition from injuries inflicted by another woman, [t appears ‘that the tujured wowan, Maggie Wilson by name, on Frivay night hada street quarrel with Lizzie Ben- nett, of No. lity Broome street, who kicked her se- rely in one of her sides, Tne gir: veauett was simied @nd locked up fa the Prince street station ©