In all gation run through three lakes, viz., Timsah Width of the Canal. The greatest difficulty anticipated was that the large quantity of deposit being constantly carried eastward from the Nile would rapidly form a shoal across the entrance to the Canal at Port Said. M. de Lesseps, however, boldly confronted this difficulty, and his decision has waters. been justified by the event. He has thrown out two formidable breakwaters on both sides of the Canal, inclosing an area of 450 acres, and extending as far as 6,940 feet to sea on one side, and 6,020 feet on the other. These form a good, quiet harbor, and effectually keep out the silt. The breakwaters are made of loose blocks of artificial stone. At Suez, the port of entry is easy of access. A breakwater here protects the entrance from southerly winds. The fresh at Ismailia. From the Nile at Cairo to Ismailia there is a fresh-water canal, which connects with the maritime canal there by means of two locks. water canal About three miles before reaching Ismailia, an arm of this fresh-water canal branches off, and runs alongside of the main Canal to Suez. The depth of this fresh-water canal is about four feet. There is also a railway from Suez to Ismailia along the route of the canal. Value of the Canal. The Company formed in 1854. To show the enormous value of this work to all Indian and Chinese interests, it may be sufficient here to state that the Canal route saves very nearly one-half the distance between the English Channel and Galle, the distances being round the Cape of Good Hope, 11,650 miles, and by the Canal, 6,515; or a saving of 5,135 miles, or in point of time, thirty-six days. It was in the year 1854 that Mohammed Said succeeded Abbas Pacha. On the 15th of November, in that year, M. de Lesseps submitted to him a memorial advocating with grand simplicity and power the advantages of this grand project. On the 30th of November, the concession was signed, inaugurating a Universal Company for piercing the Isthmus of Suez. Then the English representative asked the Viceroy how he expected the work could ever be accomplished. To which Mohammed Said replied, "that M. de Lesseps having entitled his company 'Universal,' all nations would be invited to contribute to its capital." M. de Lesseps himself announced, in these terms, to the English agent, the signing of the firman: "I come as the friend of peace and of the Anglo-French alliance, to bring you that which will contribute to realize the saying, 'Aperire terram, et dare pacem gentibus.' End of the Pope's [In 1870, the Franco-Prussian war breaks out, the French troops are recalled from Civita Vecchia and the Italian troops bombard and occupy Rome, ending the temporal power temporal of the Papacy. The son of Victor Emmanuel power. is chosen King of Spain. A revolt of Indian half-breeds on the Red River is suppressed. Diamonds are discovered in the Orange Free State. Board Schools are established in England. Infanticide is prohibited in India.] THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR (A.D. 1870—1871) JAMES SIME France declares war against Prussia. EAR ARLY in July, 1870, Leopold, the hereditary Prince of Hohenzollern, at the request of the Spanish Government, and with the permission of King William of Prussia as head of the Hohenzollern family, became a candidate for the Spanish throne. The Emperor Napoleon, who had never heartily accepted the reconstitution of Germany, and who was anxious for an opportunity to establish his waning popularity in France, resolved to make Leopold's candidature the pretext for a war with Germany. A cry was raised in the French Legislative Assembly that a foreign Power was about to place one of its princes on the throne of Charles V. A section of the French people took up the cry, and called loudly for the submission of Germany to the wish of France. To take away all cause of dispute, the Prince of Hohenzollern formally resigned his candidature on July 12. Not content with this triumph, Napoleon insisted that the King of Prussia should give an assurance to France ambassador that the candidature of the Prince of Hohenzollern would not be renewed. M. Benedetti, the French ambassador, came on the 13th to Ems, where the King was staying, and on a public promenade urged this demand. King William not only refused to grant it, but de- The French clined to listen further to M. Benedetti on snubbed. the subject. An official telegram from Ems informed the German Governments of this fact next day. War had now become certain; and the King hurried toward Berlin. On the 15th he was met at the Brandenburg station by the Crown Prince, Counts von Bismarck, von Moltke, and von Roon, and informed of what had taken place that day in the French Legislative Assembly. All that was now wanting was the formal declaration of war. While still in Brandenburg, therefore, the King of Prussia gave orders for the mobilization of the North German army. Next day the Federal Council met, and expressed its. The South hearty concurrence with the views of the Gov-States reernment; and on the 19th the Confederate to Prussia. Diet was opened by the King with a speech of great dignity and moderation. On the same 'day, the French declaration of war was received and communicated to the Assembly. Napoleon, misinformed as to the real state of Germany, had hoped that the South Germans, if they did not actually join France, would at least remain neutral. But, though in Bavaria and Würtemberg there were strong German main true |