3 OCTOBER 1863, Page 2

The Suez Canal is becoming a formidable nuisance. It hinders

the growth of Egyptian cotton, and, consequently, the prosperity of the Egyptian labourers. The cotton pays splen- didly, and all the labourers wish to work at it ; but the Suez fanatics insist on their 20,000 labourers, which is no little drain on the cotton-growing population. The Viceroy, who sowed about 4,000 acres last year in cotton, is said to have planted 19,000 this, and to have offered to supply the people gratuitously with seed, and he hopes next year will see 70,000 to 100,000 acres under cultivation.