3-043-843 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Khedive of Egypt laying the first stone of the harbour works at Alexandria, 1871. '...on a wharf near the Mahmoudieh Canal...were assembled all the Ministers, with Colonel Stanton, C.B., the representative of Great Britain...All the ships in the harbour were gaily decorated with flags, and it was remarked that the Khedive's vessels were by his special order flying the English flag at the main, a compliment to the contractors for the work, Messrs. Greenfield and Co., and to the British nation...The Khedive,...accompanied by two of his sons...[was] received by Colonel Stanton, Mr. Greenfield, the chief Ministers of State, and the Consuls-General of every nationality...His Highness...examined the documents and coins; they were deposited in a recess of the foundation masonry, over which his Highness manipulated the cement with a trowel. The stone was then lowered to its place, amidst loud cheers, music of military bands, and booming of cannon from all the forts... As a part of the proposed harbour works, the first thing to be commenced is the breakwater...extending along the bar or sandbank...there will be nearly two miles of landing quay, alongside which ships may lie in 27 ft. depth of water'. From "Illustrated London News", 1871.