The Times states that it was Lord haling who terminated
the very dangerous struggle for influence between England and France in the matter of the Suez Canal. Lord Palmerston had an idea that the Canal would make of India a Mediterranean State, and leave her permanently liable to attack by sea, an idea of little value, as we could block the Red Sea more easily than the Indian Ocean. Lord Palmerston, however, fought hard, and Napoleon is said to have threatened that the Canal should be made per fas nut nefas, when Sir H. Bulwer hurried to Egypt, examined into the whole affair, and submitted a report which removed Lord Palmer- ston's objection. The secret history of this affair has never been made public, but an impression prevailed among Indian officials that an Egyptian expedition was never more probable.
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