[43] It will be noticed that Lord Granville's proposal was no longer limited to the protection of the Suez Canal, but pointed to a joint military intervention to put an end to loss of life and anarchy.
[44] Port Saïd was held by the ship's marines and bluejackets until 16th September, when they were relieved by 200 Royal Marine Light Infantry and 100 Royal Marine Artillery sent from England.
[45] His relatives received £1,000 by way of compensation from the British Government.
[46] This is absolutely untrue.
[47] But see letter from the Secretary to the Admiralty on the next page.
[48] These dues were, with unnecessary liberality, paid subsequently by the British Government.
[49] On the contrary, the ships in general were navigated by their own officers and almost without accident.
[50] Despatches from the Captains of the Orion and Carysfort.
[51] This vessel was one of the few which had a pilot (formerly in the Canal Company's service) on board.
[52] It is related that the President of the Canal Company subsequently posted himself at the landing-place at Ismailia at the moment when a number of men from the ships were about to disembark, and emphatically declared that "no one should land except over his dead body." This, however, was without effect, for according to the story he was gently pushed aside by a bluejacket with the observation—"We don't want any dead bodies about here, sir; all you've got to do is to step back a bit." Though the anecdote is probably apocryphal, it serves to illustrate exactly the attitude adopted by the British Navy towards the Canal authorities.