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21 January 1856: Sheet #1

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==Report to S.A. Mohamed Said Pascia  ==
=== Vice-King of Egypt ===
His Highness has invited us to come to Egypt to study the matter of the Construction of the Suez Isthmus; and in supplying us the means to be able to evaluate the area, of the merit of different proposed plans for this undertaking, His Highness instructed us to submit the easiest, the safest, and the most advantageous one for trading in Europe.  
Our expedition–promoted by opportune timing, facilitated and shortened by the abundance of material resources at our disposal–is now finished. It allowed us to recognize infinite obstacles, or to be more precise, the impossibility of directing the Canal through Alexandria, and to encountering the unexpected and favorable conditions of establishing a Port in the gulf of Pelusio.
A Canal that goes from Suez to the gulf of Pelusio is, therefore, the only solution to the problem of joining between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Executing this is easy, its success is certain, and it will have immense results for worldwide trade.
Our conviction on this matter is unanimous, and we will illustrate the reasons in a detailed report supported by the Hydrographic plans of the Suez Baje and by Pelusio, and also by profiles, given the evaluation of the surfaces and the drilling, indicating the nature of the land of the canal. 
The writing of this report, of the plans, profiles, etc. that have to be provided, is no small task, and we will tirelessly occupy ourselves with it in Europe to be able to present it to His Highness in a few months. In the meantime, we make haste to show him our conclusions.
1. The plan which traced passage through Alexandra is inadmissible under any technical and economical aspect. 
2. The direct plan presents every ease for the implementation of the nautical canal with an entrance at the Nile, without presenting difficulties in the construction of two Ports. 
3. The Suez Port will be able to open onto a vast and safe shore, accessibile at any time when the water is 8 meters deep and at a distance of 1600 meters from the shore.
4. What will be built in the gulf of Pelusio, that which the previous plan proposed to be situated at the bottom of the gulf, will instead be established 18 kilometers further west in the area with a depth of 8 meters and at a distance of 2300 meters from the shore. Here, the positioning is suitable and the arrival on land is easy. 
5. The cost of the canal of the two Seas and of the labour that is necessary to complete the task will not exceed the sum of two hundred million that was indicated in the previous project by the Vice-King's Engineers. 
''''Alexandra the 2nd of January 1856.''''
''''Signed.'''' The Members of the International Commission for the Cut of the Suez Isthmus. 
''''F. Conrad.'''' President. ''''A. Renaud Negrelli. I. Mac.-Lean. Lieussoux'''' Secretary.

''''Newsletter from Mr. Ferdinando di Lesseps of Alexandra the 14th of June 1856.''''
The International commission for the building of the Suez Isthmus has finished its exploration of the Egyptian lands, and has communicated its findings from the report to the Vice King. The commission left Suez on December 21 after having studied the natural harbor; they crossed from the South to the North, probing and leveling the road along the way for three months. This leveling will allow the plane for the nautical canal to be permanently secured in the ''''thalweg'''', the part of lowest elevation of the wide valley. The commission camped out on December 28th on the shores of Pelusio where they then boarded the Egyptian ship, the ''''Nile,'''' on the 31st. This ship was anchored there for more than a month where it intersected a corvette sailing ship that served as a storehouse for carbon. 
Since its first journey to Alexandria, the commission had left instructions for the naval engineer Sir Larousse who studied in detail–with remarkable work and intelligence–44 kilometers of coast. With support from the Vice King's engineer Sir D'Arnaud and from Italian engineer Sir Cianciolo, he was able to present a detailed plan of the cove, which he had been entrusted to study. 
Here are the favorable and even unexpected findings, resulting from our observations. In front of the ruins of Pelusio, the probes reported 8 meters in depth at a distance already known of 7500 meters from the shore. But moving towards the west, this depth of 8 meters moves progressively towards the coast and is to be found at even only 2350 meters on a continuous line that extends parallel to the shore for 20 kilometers. It was a huge advantage that European engineers had to take advantage of in determining the future point that will flow into the Mediterranean. Getting closer from the shore to this 20-kilometer long line that extends through the mouths of the ''''Omfareg'''' and the Garmileh, the probes found excellent and solid bottoms with a depth of 5 to 750 meters; 6 to 1600 meters; and 7 to 2300 meters. The depths of 9, 10, 12 meters and more are gradually attained at distances of 3000 to 6000 meters away. 
The results of these important facts now acquired from hydrographic studies, that the cement pourings for the canal of the Pelusio cove–whose waters are, after all, perfectly clear–do not have to be half the length that was previously anticipated, which will be the same in the Suez harbor. Like the Pelusio one, the Suez harbor was not fully or correctly understood. 
In its report to the Vice King, the international Commission declares the direct plan which he reviewed as ''''the only solution to the problem of combining the Red Sea and the Mediterranean.'''' The commission declared ''''unanimously that its implementation was easy, and its success guaranteed.''''
(signed) ''''Ferdinando de Lesseps.''''