These difficulties, though great, are not insuperable. The advanced state of marine architecture and engineering ought surely to be able to cope with them. By re-opening the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, and throwing into it the waters which would naturally find their way into the Tanitic and Mendesian branches, a sufficient stream of water might be thrown into the Mediterranean at Pelusium to keep a passage open by its _scour_. We must speak with diffidence about a locality which has yet been so imperfectly surveyed; but so far as the present state of our knowledge respecting it enables us to judge, there are no serious impediments to the construction of a ship canal from Pelusium to Suez, which would be perfectly accessible and practicable for vessels of from 300 to 350 tons burden; and there is a growing impression among merchants and skippers that this class of vessels is the best for trading purposes. But the great difficulty remains yet to be noticed; the condition of government and civil security in that country. The isthmus is close on the borders of civilised Europe, and ample supplies of effective labourers could be procured from Malta, and the Syrian and African coasts. But so long as the country is subject to a Turkish dynasty, could the undertakers count upon fair play and sufficient protection from the local authorities? And are the jealous powers of Europe likely to combine in good faith to afford them a guarantee that they should be enabled to prosecute their enterprise in security? CURIOUS EPITAPH. The following curious Inscription appears in the Churchyard, Pewsey, Dorsetshire:— HERE LIES THE BODY OF LADY O’LOONEY, GREAT NIECE OF BURKE, COMMONLY CALLED THE SUBLIME. SHE WAS BLAND, PASSIONATE, AND DEEPLY RELIGIOUS; ALSO, SHE PAINTED IN WATER-COLOURS, AND SENT SEVERAL PICTURES TO THE EXHIBITION. SHE WAS FIRST COUSIN TO LADY JONES; AND OF SUCH IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Published at the Office, No. 16, Wellington Street North, Strand. Printed by BRADBURY & EVANS, Whitefrairs, London. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES Page Changed from Changed to 146 bursting hose), balls of cord, bursting hose), balls of cord, flat rose, escape-chain flat hose, escape-chain