ON THE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN EUROPE AND INDIA, THROUGH EGYPT. "It is a solecism of power to think to command the end, and yet not to wwwm LONDON: SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL. 1846. 134. CONTENTS. ........ .... Page 1 13 The daily increasing importance of the Route to India through Egypt The Communications with India by way of the Red Sea in ancient times 10 Canal between the Nile and the Red Sea The Indian Trade will soon begin to be divided between the Route through Egypt and that round the Cape of Good Hope France and Austria are at present in possession of the Steam Navigation The improvements now in progress in Egypt must soon increase the ........ Projects for the formation of a Ship Canal and a Railway through Mohammed Ali's system of government is adverse to the improvement of the communications with India through Egypt.. Hostility between French and English policy in Egypt Policy of France, in case of any revolution in Egypt, or of a general war INCREASING IMPORTANCE OF THE ROUTE TO INDIA THROUGH EGYPT. THE importance of the communication with India through Egypt to Great Britain is already immense. All our public despatches and commercial correspondence are forwarded by Egypt and the Red Sea. And it is by the same conveyance that our civil, military, and naval authorities, whose personal services are immediately wanted, hasten to the sphere of their duties. The whole of our mercantile transactions from Bombay to Hong Kong are regulated by our communications through Egypt, though the merchandise itself still follows the route round the Cape of Good Hope. Important, however, as the route to India through Egypt is to Great Britain, the southern nations of Europe consider that it promises very soon to be of still greater importance to them. It has already afforded foreigners the opportunity of acquiring a far more accurate idea of our Indian empire than they previously possessed, and it has given them B |