VERY AWKWARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 4405, 1 April 1876, Page 3

VERY AWKWARD.

A correspondent writes to a London newspaper:— I should imagine that Dr W. H. Russell will be exceedingly annoyed at the news of the purchase of the Khedive's Suez Cenal shares by the English Government, inasmuch as, untese I a.n misinformed, that the transaction will take a coo- £4000 out of the Times great "special's" pocket. In this way: some years ago the Viceroy of Egypt coinnußsioned M. EtL About to write a book ou modern Egypt, in. order to show the vast natural resources of. tho land of the JfharaoliEi. Mi About was paid £4000l for the job, and he perpetrated Le Fellah, a novel of soporific memory, which of course, being a.novel, had no effect at all on European capitalists. Then the Prinoa o£ Wales, with.his usual kindness, recommended Dr Russell to the Khedive as a good man. to do the work M. About had marred. Juetras the Doctor had set to work, however, there oame the Franco - German war, and the| MS-., was obliged to bo put on oue ride. ' It was, I-believe, nearly completed, when the" Prince's voyage to India caused a delay which must be fatal, I imagine, as the Khedive with England to back his bills will no longer need any puffing,