This work was progressing so successfully that upon Mr. Field's arrival in England he found it unnecessary for him to remain there, and that it was possible for him to go to Egypt to attend the preliminary inspection of the Suez Canal. He was duly accredited as a representative from the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. His letter of appointment is dated March 7, 1865, and sets forth: "You have been selected to represent this chamber at the conference of representatives of Chambers of Commerce invited to meet at Alexandria, Egypt, on the sixth day of April next, by the Universal Company of the Suez Canal, to survey and report upon the works undertaken by them to connect the Mediterranean and the Red seas, and the great advantages to commerce which this new line of water navigation promises." This journey was a most interesting one. In his speech at Ismailia, on April 11th, he said: "I am sure that all who witness what we have will agree that a ship canal can be made across the Isthmus of Suez by the expenditure of money under the direction of the best engineers of the nineteenth century. You, Mr. President, are engaged in the great work of dividing two continents for the benefit of every commercial nation in the world.... Within the next three months I hope to have the pleasure of seeing two hemispheres connected by a submarine cable, and when that is done you will be able to telegraph from this place in the Great Desert of Africa, through a part of Asia, across the Continent of Europe, under the deep Atlantic, and over America to the shores of the Pacific; and your message will arrive there several hours in advance of the sun." And at Cairo, on the 17th, he said to M. de Lesseps and those with him: "Thirteen days since I arrived in Egypt an entire stranger, six thousand miles away from home, but you received me with such kindness that I at once felt that I was surrounded by friends; and now, when we have met for the last time that we shall all be together in this world, I have mingled feelings of joy and sadness. Joy and gratitude that I have been with you on our most interesting journey across the Isthmus of Suez, to examine that great work now being constructed, of a ship canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea; sadness that we now bid each other farewell. For all of your kindness to me I most sincerely thank you, and if any of you should visit America, while my heart beats you will receive a most cordial welcome from me." As it was not thought imperative for Captain Anderson to remain in England in March, he made another voyage in command of the _China_, and, on April 14th, while in New York, wrote to Mrs. Field: