[ In French ] Document Signed "Linant Bey", to "Son Excellence Cherif-Sacha Mininter de l'Interieur et President du Conseil des Ministres

Minister of Public Works, with a key role in the building of the Suez Canal. The document, numbered No.39 top left corner, is three pages, folio, sl. damaged but text clear and complete. He reminds his correspondent that "Son Altesse le Khedive" has appointed him "ministere des travaux publics" four months previously. He discusses "le reglement" by which decisions were to be made and the situation he finds himself in, "ne sachant au juste sur quoi appuyer mes actes officielle, je ne puis plus longtemps rester dans la vague, qui empeche toute administration. He describes a complex administrative situation and concludes by asking his correspondent to "faire terminer cette affaire . . ." The handwriting is the same as that in the "Khalil Linant" letter in my inventory (#4684), indicating that his son acted as his secretary. Note: The term "Khedive" was first used in 1867. The Suez Canal opened in 1869, and was perhaps one of the issues in this letter.