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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 subject of the Cut (CHECK) of the Suez Isthmus; and in supplying for ourselves the ways to be able to evaluate the area, of the merit of different proposed plans for this purpose, L'A.S instructed us to submit the easiest, the safest, and the most advantageous one for Europe's trade. Our expedition–promoted by opportune timing, facilitated and shortened by the abundance of material resources at our disposal–is now finished; from it, we recognized infinite obstacles, or to be more precise, the impossibility of managing the Canal on top of Alexandria, and encountering the unexpected and favorable combinations/coincidences to establish a Port in the gulf of Pelusio. The Canal directed from Suez across the gulf of Pelusio is, therefore, the only solution to the problem of the union between the Red-Sea and the Mediterranean. The execution of this is not easy, its success certain, and the immense results for worldwide trade. Our conviction on this matter is unanimous, and we will expand upon the reasons in a detailed deposition supported by the Hydrographic plans of the Suez Baje and by Pelusio, by the profiles, and giving the elevation/survery of the surfaces and the drilling, indicating the nature of the land crossed by the canal. The writing of this deposition, 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 in a few months to His Highness. In the meantime, we move hurry to make our conclusions known to him. 1. The sketched out plan that should pass through Alexandra is inadmissible below/under every technical and economical relation. 2. The direct plan presents every ease for the implementation of the nautical canal with an entrance in the Nile, and it does not present difficulties in constructing two Ports. 3. The Suez Port will be able to open onto a vast and safe beach, accessibile at any time where there is 8 meters of water to 1600 meters from the shore. 4. What is to be constructed 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 8 meters of water at a distance of 2300 meters from the shore. Here, the positioning is good 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 cutting 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 21st after having studied the natural harbor; they crossed the South to get to the North, identifying probes along the way and the leveling that was in progress for three months, and that they will permit to definitely establish the plan for the nautical canal in the 'thalweg' of the wide valley. They camped out on the 28th of December on the shore of Pelusio where they then boarded the Egyptian frigate, the 'Nile,' on the 31st. This ship was still there where for more than a month 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 measured in detail–with remarkable activity 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 trusted to study. Here are the favorable findings, and one can say unexpected that they fulfilled the observations. In the face of the ruins of Pelusio, the probings reported 8 meters in depth to the already known distance of 7500 meters from the shore. But moving towards the west, this depth of 8 meters moves progressively towards the coast and finds itself again at only 2350 meters on a continuous line that extends parallel to the shore for 20 kilometers. It was a huge advantage: European engineers could not miss from profiting off of it to determine the point where it will flow into the Mediterranean. Getting closer from the shore to this 20-kilometer line that extends through the mouths of the 'Omfareg' and the Garmileh, the probing (CHECK) gave excellent and solid bottoms with a depth of 5 meters to 750 meters; 6 meters to 1600; and 7 to 2300. The depths of 9, 10, 12 meters and more are gradually attained at distances of 3000 to 6000 meters. The results of these important facts by now acquired to the hydrography that the jetties of the canal of the Pelusio cove, of which the water from elsewhere is perfectly clear, should not be half the length that was counted before them and that it will be the same in the Suez harbor. Like the Pelusio one, the Suez harbor was not fully recognized. 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.'