New Monthly Magazine Volume 136 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1866 edition. Excerpt: ... had ridden on in advance of us to make arrangements for an extra large party, and had now returned to do the honours in person to his guests, and to apportion them all off" to their respective quarters under the charge of persons appointed to escort them, as well as to see to their baggage; which being done, he offered his arm to Madame Guichard, and led the way to his own chalet, or Swiss cottage, in which, with the addition of Sir A. G. and Monsieur Lagau, they were soon comfortably installed. Five of us had sleeping apartments assigned in a handsome building recently constructed by the " Compagnie Universelle," and rented as an hotel. This building stood on, perhaps, the most commanding site at Ismaeliya; its facade had a southern aspect, and on the first (or upper) floor there was a fine roomy verandah, or covered balcony, from which a view of the whole of the basin of the Lake Timsah, less than a mile distant, as well as of the lofty range of mountains a little to the westward of Suez, called Gebel Attaka, was obtained. Ismaeliya is a place that cannot fail, ere long, "to take" (as the saying is) with the public, and already several handsome and commodious houses have been erected, belonging to the staff engaged on the works of the maritime canal. Next to Monsieur de Lesseps's picturesque Swiss chalet, the visitor is struck with the appearance of the hotel, as well is with the residences of Monsieur Voisin, chief engineer for the whole line of works (then absent in Paris), of Monsieur Sciama, of Monsieur Viller (both chief civil engineers in their respective departments), and of Doctor Louis Companio, the physician appointed by the " compagnie" to superintend the hospital, and to visit the sick employes at Ismaeliya. The doctor, whose...