CHAPTER XI

THE FAILURE OF 1865

On February 25, 1865, Mr. Field writes:

"I have been absent from New York for some time on a visit to Washington and to General Grant's army."

It was on the previous day that he had written to London:

"I do most sincerely hope that Captain James Anderson, of the Cunard steamer _China_, will be appointed to the command of the _Great Eastern_ during the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable.... With Captain Anderson in command and Messrs. Canning and Clifford superintending the laying of the cable, I should feel the greatest confidence that all would go right."

The _China_ was at this time on her way to New York. She sailed again on her return voyage, March 8th, and Mr. Field was on board as a passenger. The following letter from Captain Anderson is evidently the sequel of their conversations on the voyage:

"34 RICHMOND TERRACE, BEECH ROAD, "LIVERPOOL, _March 19, 1865_.

"_My dear Mr. Field_,--I purpose going up to London sometime to-morrow. I did not get the _China_ moored until four P.M., so that I have still the necessary custom entries to make.

"I shall meet you at breakfast Tuesday morning as early as you like, and shall look for a note upon my arrival at your hotel. I shall telegraph when I start.

"Mr. David MacIver appears to have laid his plans for the possibility of my being required to remain behind at this time, but will require an answer at latest on Wednesday morning. It will therefore be necessary that I should be in communication as early as possible on Tuesday morning with some one who could proceed to the ship with me and talk the matter over.

"I dare say there may be no more work required than could be done after my arrival in May, but it would then be too late to undo anything.

"I have, however, the greatest faith in the engineering skill and experience of Messrs. Glass, Elliott & Co., and believe I shall find myself unable to suggest much that they are not already quite familiar with, but I naturally would like to identify myself with some knowledge of the storage and plans for lifting the ship, with a view to trim for steering, pitching, or rolling as she becomes lighter.

"I would like to see how the tanks are connected with each other in their communication, and to understand the process of paying out, the possibility of ever requiring to check it, and to be generally familiar with men and material below the deck.

"You know I think prevention better than cure, and that it is the distinct duty of a ship-master to be familiar with what is to be apprehended, and, so far as he can, to have some plans in his mind to which he can resort when his foresight has proved insufficient. I do not apprehend or fear any difficulty to your great enterprise, but as little as possible should be left to chance or inspiration.

"The essentials, as far as I am concerned, would be to _see for myself all_ the ground tackling _clear_ and efficient;

"The steering gear and prevention ditto in good order;

"The sails necessary to steady the ship in a chance breeze;

"The _compasses_ and their _adjustment_ and all the means that are available for freeing the ship from water.

"I should like to get around me such a staff of men that I might hope to rely at least upon a portion of them.

"If the crew are all shipped at the last moment, you begin with a difficulty at once. I would not, of course, incur the expense of employing a large crew at present, but I would select a good nucleus, and have the ship's work and discipline well in hand in good season.

"Is the ship to go into Valentia Harbor? If so, I advise you to let me go and see it. It is narrow. Should it prove a calm day this might be of no moment, but it is not always calm in Ireland; we might have to wait for a day or two. But these are first thoughts. I will see what I think on Tuesday. Perhaps you might show this letter to Mr. Canning, or any one you like. If they think I should now join them, immediate application should be made; if not, it will be very bad if I cannot work with the tools I get.

"Sincerely yours, "JAMES ANDERSON."

The foresight and circumspection displayed in this note were characteristic, and were among the qualities which, combined with Captain Anderson's seamanship and long experience on the Atlantic, made Mr. Field anxious to secure his services. The application to the Cunard company for a leave of absence was granted, and there was no fault to be found with the manner in which the temporary captain of the _Great Eastern_ performed this part of the work.

"The _Great Eastern_ had arrived at her berth in the Medway on the 11th of July, 1864," wrote Mr. Field, "and the work on the three tanks was begun at once. They were not completely finished until February, 1865, although the coiling began on January 20th. The admiralty had detailed two vessels, the _Amethyst_ and _Iris_, to take the cable from the works to the _Great Eastern_, and late in June all was safely on board."

This work was progressing so successfully that upon Mr. Field's arrival in England he found it unnecessary for him to remain there, and that it was possible for him to go to Egypt to attend the preliminary inspection of the Suez Canal. He was duly accredited as a representative from the Chamber of Commerce of the State of New York. His letter of appointment is dated March 7, 1865, and sets forth: "You have been selected to represent this chamber at the conference of representatives of Chambers of Commerce invited to meet at Alexandria, Egypt, on the sixth day of April next, by the Universal Company of the Suez Canal, to survey and report upon the works undertaken by them to connect the Mediterranean and the Red seas, and the great advantages to commerce which this new line of water navigation promises." This journey was a most interesting one. In his speech at Ismailia, on April 11th, he said:

"I am sure that all who witness what we have will agree that a ship canal can be made across the Isthmus of Suez by the expenditure of money under the direction of the best engineers of the nineteenth century. You, Mr. President, are engaged in the great work of dividing two continents for the benefit of every commercial nation in the world.... Within the next three months I hope to have the pleasure of seeing two hemispheres connected by a submarine cable, and when that is done you will be able to telegraph from this place in the Great Desert of Africa, through a part of Asia, across the Continent of Europe, under the deep Atlantic, and over America to the shores of the Pacific; and your message will arrive there several hours in advance of the sun."

And at Cairo, on the 17th, he said to M. de Lesseps and those with him:

"Thirteen days since I arrived in Egypt an entire stranger, six thousand miles away from home, but you received me with such kindness that I at once felt that I was surrounded by friends; and now, when we have met for the last time that we shall all be together in this world, I have mingled feelings of joy and sadness. Joy and gratitude that I have been with you on our most interesting journey across the Isthmus of Suez, to examine that great work now being constructed, of a ship canal from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea; sadness that we now bid each other farewell. For all of your kindness to me I most sincerely thank you, and if any of you should visit America, while my heart beats you will receive a most cordial welcome from me."

As it was not thought imperative for Captain Anderson to remain in England in March, he made another voyage in command of the _China_, and, on April 14th, while in New York, wrote to Mrs. Field:

"I am glad you have had such good news from your good husband. I shall be astonished if he reports well of the canal, and should be well satisfied to be assured of a healthy life until the first ship sailed through the great ditch. I am quite curious to know what he will say about it."

Mr. Field returned to London on May 1st, and that same day was at a public meeting of Americans held "in order to give expression to their feelings respecting the late distressing intelligence from America"--the assassination of President Lincoln. Mr. Adams, the American minister, presided, and Mr. Field closed his speech with these words:

"Just before leaving America I called to see President Lincoln, and I know how deeply he desired peace in America and peace in all the world. I trust, therefore, that everything calculated to stir up ill-feeling between North and South--even the last sad deeds--or between England and America, will be allowed to die with the good man who has been taken away and will be buried in his grave forever. If Mr. Lincoln could speak to-day he would urge upon every one to do all he could to allay the passions which have been excited in America; and I hope all will comply with what I believe would be his wish."

The weeks passed rapidly in active preparation for the summer's attempt to lay another cable. This account is from the London _Star_ of May 30th:

"At ten minutes past five yesterday afternoon the new telegraphic cable, destined once more to connect England with America, was completed. The last thread of wire was twisted, the last revolution of the engine accomplished, and the mechanism of that subtle and silent speech which henceforth is to unite two continents was ready to be put in operation.... It was not to be expected that such a propitious occasion should be allowed to pass without the celebration of a dinner. No true-born Englishman could have lent his countenance to a scheme which was not so inaugurated, and therefore, towards evening, the gentlemen who had visited the works of Messrs. Glass & Elliott proceeded westward to the Ship Tavern, where a very princely entertainment had been provided. John Pender, Esq., M. P., was in the chair. One of the toasts was: "Cyrus W. Field, Esq.--may his energy and perseverance in behalf of the Atlantic Telegraph Company be rewarded by the permanent success of the cable."

What follows is the beginning of a long article in the London _Times_ of June 19th:

"At length all the preparations connected with the final departure of this great telegraphic expedition are completed. On Wednesday the _Amethyst_ left the telegraph works with the last length of 245 miles of cable on board, and on Saturday the operation of coiling this in was begun. This work will probably last till the 22d inst., when the _Great Eastern_ will have in her as nearly as possible 7000 tons of cable, or, including the iron tanks which contain it and the water in which it is sunk, about 9000 tons in all. In addition to this she has already 7000 tons of coal on board, and 1500 tons more still to take in. This additional weight, however, will not be added till she leaves the Medway, which she will do on the morning of the 24th for the Nore, when the rest of the coals and special stores will be put aboard, and these will bring her mean draught down to 32½ feet. Her total weight, including engines, will then be rather over 21,000 tons--a stupendous mass for any ship to carry, but well within the capacity of the _Great Eastern_, of which the measurement tonnage is 24,000. Her way out from the Nore will be by Bullock's Channel, which the admiralty are having carefully buoyed to avoid all risk in these rather shallow waters. Before the following spring tides set in, about the 6th or 7th of July, the _Great Eastern_ will start for Valentia. There she is expected to arrive about the 9th or 10th, and there she will be met by the two ships of war appointed to convoy her--the _Terrible_ and the _Sphinx_. Both these vessels are being fitted with the best apparatus for deep-sea soundings; with buoys and means for buoying the end of the cable, if ever it should become necessary; and with Bollen's night-light naval signals, with which the _Great Eastern_ is likewise to be supplied. To avoid all chance of accident the big ship will not approach the Irish coast nearer than twenty or twenty-five miles, and her stay off Valentia will be limited to the time occupied in making a splice with the massive shore end which for a length of twenty-five miles from the coast will be laid previous to her arrival. This monstrous shore end, which is the heaviest and strongest piece of cable ever made, will be despatched in a few days, and be laid from the head of a sheltered inlet near Cahirciveen out to the distance we have stated, where the end will be buoyed and watched by the ships of war till the _Great Eastern_ herself comes up. Some idea of the strength and solidity of this great end may be guessed by the fact that its weight per mile is very little short of one-half the weight of an ordinary railway metal. For the shore end at Newfoundland only three miles are required, and this short length will be sent in the _Great Eastern_."

The request that American war vessels should accompany the expedition was made in the early spring, as is shown by this correspondence:

"NEW YORK, _March 1, 1865_.

"_Sir_,--The undersigned honorary directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company have the honor to transmit to the President of the United States the draft of a letter to the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy, deeming it a matter of propriety that an application of so interesting a character shall be made to the Navy Department of the United States through the chief executive of the nation, whose interest in behalf of the enterprise thus presented is earnestly invoked.

"We have the honor to be, "Very respectfully, "Your obedient servants,

"W. E. DODGE, PETER COOPER, "WILSON G. HUNT, A. A. LOW, "E. M. ARCHIBALD, CYRUS W. FIELD, "Honorary Directors in America.

"To his Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President of the United States."

"NEW YORK, _March 1, 1865_.

"_Sir_,--Under an act of Congress approved March 3, 1857, the government of the United States detailed the steam frigates _Niagara_ and _Susquehanna_ to assist in laying the cable of the Atlantic Telegraph Company from Ireland to Newfoundland, and the following year sent the _Niagara_, under the command of Captain Hudson, to co-operate with the _Agamemnon_, of her Britannic Majesty's navy, in the further prosecution of this enterprise. These vessels meeting in mid-ocean on the 28th day of July, 1858, after connecting the wire, separated, the _Agamemnon_ sailing for Valentia, on the coast of Ireland, and the _Niagara_ for Trinity Bay, on the coast of Newfoundland. They reached their respective destinations on the 5th day of August, and the work of uniting the two continents by telegraphic communication was successfully accomplished.

"For a brief time messages were transmitted from one continent to the other, among the most interesting being the announcement of peace between Great Britain and France and China. The success, as happily achieved, but only temporary, was still sufficient to assure the parties engaged of a final and perfect fulfilment.

"The capital of the Atlantic Telegraph Company has once more been filled up, and a new cable is now in course of shipment, on board of the _Great Eastern_, and will be wholly embarked on or before the 1st of June next. During that month we have every reason to think it will be successfully laid, seven years of experience, with the added teaching of science, affording very ample grounds for this conclusion.

"Regarding this as an enterprise of great international importance, we invite the attention of the government of the United States to this new effort of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, and respectfully request the Honorable the Secretary of the Navy once more to detail a ship of war to act with such vessel of the British navy as her Britannic Majesty may appoint to accompany the _Great Eastern_ on her projected mission.

"The lapse of time since the first attempt was made to unite the continents by a system of telegraphic communication has not tended to abate the interest which originally centred upon this bold undertaking. On the contrary, four years of civil war, prolific of events demanding immediate and mutual explanations between Great Britain and the United States, have contributed to strengthen and deepen the interest with which at first it was so universally regarded. May we not reasonably indulge the hope that, as the old cable first conveyed to the Western World the news of restored peace in China, one of the first messages through the wires about to be immersed may convey to the Old World from the New tidings of peace re-established in the West, of the States reunited, and slavery everywhere abolished, and that henceforward all causes of misunderstanding between Great Britain and the United States may be instantaneously removed?

"We have the honor to be, "Very respectfully, "Your obedient servants,

"PETER COOPER, WM. E. DODGE, "A. A. LOW, WILSON G. HUNT, "CYRUS W. FIELD, E. M. ARCHIBALD,

"Honorary Directors in America.

"To Hon. GIDEON WELLES, Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. C.

The only explanation ever vouchsafed of the failure of this application was the suggestion, published in a New York paper, that it was "because England had not withdrawn her proclamation excluding our vessels from her ports under what is termed her 'twenty-four hours' rule.'"

The _Great Eastern_ left Medway on June 24th, and removed to the Nore, and on July the 15th left that anchorage. The progress of the great ship is chronicled in the following extracts from the London papers:

"PORTSMOUTH, _July 16th_.

"The _Great Eastern_ passed Newton at 2 P.M., five miles off land, under steam and sail; wind light, southerly."

"VALENTIA, _July 23d_.

"Yesterday morning the first great step in the important undertaking was accomplished by hauling on land the massive shore end up the cliffs at the southwestern extremity of this island."

"VALENTIA, _July 24th_.

"Before this reaches the public the _Great Eastern_, if all goes well, will already have laid some 300 miles of the Atlantic cable."

"ON BOARD 'GREAT EASTERN,' "_Friday morning_.

"Five hundred nautical miles of cable were paid out at 10.50 A.M. to-day. The distance run at 9.50 A.M. was 450 miles.

"The signals are perfect; weather fine."

"ON BOARD 'GREAT EASTERN,' "_Wednesday morning, August 2d_.

"Twelve hundred miles paid out at 7.50 A.M.; 1050 run by _Great Eastern_ at 6.50 A.M.

"All going on well."

"_August 7th._

"Although the precise cause of the catastrophe is still a mystery, there remains but faint hope that the fate of the Atlantic cable is not already decided. Four days have elapsed since the signals ceased to evoke any return, and those received at Valentia became unintelligible."

"_August 17th._

"Arrival of the _Great Eastern_, Crookhaven. Failure of the Atlantic telegraph expedition."

An illustrated paper published on the _Great Eastern_, and called _The Atlantic Telegraph_, tells of some of the days that passed so mysteriously to those on land:

"_Saturday, July 29, 1865._

"OUR WEEKLY SUMMARY.

"The week just completed has been most exciting, several mishaps having occurred, but we are enabled to state that everything at the time of our going to press was most satisfactory, both as regards the ship's progress and the chief objects of her voyage across the Atlantic.

"On Monday the hopes of all interested in the success of the undertaking were much damped by the intelligence that all was not right with the cable. The chief engineer immediately proceeded to stop the 'paying out' of the cable, and gave orders for 'paying in' the same. This latter operation is very slow and unsatisfactory, and answers to the 'paying out' of the pockets of the shareholders, whereas the 'paying out' of the cable contributes to the 'paying in' as regards the same pockets. This curious feature will be better understood by a reference to our money market intelligence.

"MONEY MARKET.

"Money scarce. Exchange, 00.

"STOCK EXCHANGE.

"There has been great fluctuation in the shares of the Atlantic Telegraph and Great Ship companies.

"NEWS OF THE WEEK.

"The _Great Eastern_ speeds nobly on her mission of towing the islands of Great Britain and Ireland to America. In less than ten days it is expected that a splice will be effected between the two countries, and long, long may it last.

"AMUSEMENTS FOR THE DAY.

"12 noon.--Luncheon and _Daily Navigator_.

"5.30.--Dinner.

"8.--Tea.

"9 to 11 P.M.--Grog, possibly with whist.

"From daylight till dusk.--Looking out for the _Sphinx_. (Through the kindness and liberality of the admiralty, this interesting amusement will be open to the public free of charge.)

"N. B.--The above amusements, with the exception of whist, are gratis.

"FINIS.

"_The Atlantic Telegraph_ will be published till further notice. The price will be, for the series, five shillings, including the cover, and the proceeds will be devoted to such purposes as Captain Anderson shall appoint.

"Communications to be addressed to the editor at No. 14 Lower South Avenue, Middle District.

"FINIS."

"THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.

"_Saturday, August 12, 1865._

"The events of the last ten days have caused so much anxiety to the chiefs of this expedition, and, indeed, to all on board, that it appeared to us unseemly to allow our funny writer, or any one in our employ, to utter any ill-timed joke. That anxiety is now over, and though it be not supplanted by the exultation of success, let us accept our failure in the healthy spirit shown by the chief sufferers, and with an expression of sincere regret let us wipe from our brain what of the past is unavailing, and turn to the future with that hope and confidence which are justified by the experience gained by failure. As in kingdoms they say, 'The king is dead; the king liveth,' so let us say, 'The cable is dead; the cable liveth.' All honor and glory to our new sovereign!

"DEEP-SEA FISHING.

"It being ascertained that the sea-serpent was somewhere in latitude 51° 30' N., longitude 39° W., Captain Anderson, accompanied by Messrs. Canning and Clifford and a party of scientific gentlemen, endeavored to capture the monster. It being found that the lazy brute lies perfectly still at the bottom of the ocean, and being fed by sea animals, a bait was useless. A strong wire rope, with a grapnel attached, was lowered to a depth of 2000 fathoms. After drifting a while, they grappled the monster and brought him up 1000 fathoms, when, unfortunately, the swivel gave way. Two or three attempts were made, with a like result, and it was resolved to postpone all operations to a more favorable time.

"ADVERTISEMENT.

"Captain Anderson will sell by auction in the chief saloon of the _Great Eastern_, on Saturday, August 12th, at one o'clock, the following articles, the property of various gentlemen leaving their present quarters:

"Lot 1.--_The Great Eastern._ For cards to view apply to Mr. Gooch, on board.

"Lot 2.--The good-will of the Atlantic Telegraph Company. (This invisible property is in Mr. Field's possession.)

* * * * *

"Lot 12.--A free pass from Boston or Halifax to Liverpool by any of the Cunard boats, the proprietor, Mr. W. Russell, having no use for the same."

The accompanying illustration appeared at the end of the papers, with this verse:

"No useless sentry within the tank, Not in slumber or sleep we found him; But he sat like a warrior stiff on his plank, With his Inverness cloak around him."

It was while Mr. Field was on watch on August 2d that "a grating noise was audible as the cable flew over the coil," and "There is a piece of wire" was called to the lookout man. The fault was discovered, and the cable was transferred without difficulty to the bows, and the picking up was going on quietly when the strain became too great and it parted.

To quote from _The Atlantic Telegraph_:

"Mr. Canning appeared in the saloon, and, in a manner which caused all to start, said: 'It is all over--it is gone,' and hastened onward to his cabin. Mr. Field, ere the thrill of surprise and pain occasioned by those words had passed away, came from the companionway into the saloon, and said, with composure admirable under the circumstances, though his lip quivered and his cheek was blanched, 'The cable has parted and gone overboard.'

"After this grappling was determined upon. At 11.30 on August 11th the _Great Eastern_ signalled to the _Terrible_, 'We are going to make a final effort.' The cable was caught and was brought up 765 fathoms, and was then lost."

At Dundee, Scotland, in 1867, Sir William Thomson said:

"I shall never forget the day when we last gave up hope of finishing the work in 1865. On that day Cyrus Field renewed a proposal for the adoption of the plan which has been adopted, and which has led to the successful completion of the enterprise. Cyrus Field's last prospectus was completed in the grand saloon of the _Great Eastern_ on the day when we gave up all hope for 1865."

On the morning of the 12th the _Terrible_, one of the vessels detailed and the one that had acted as pilot, was directed to resume her journey westward and to carry letters to America. As she steamed away she signalled "Farewell"; the _Great Eastern_ answered "Good-bye, thank you."

The following message is without doubt the one sent by this conveyance to Mr. Field's family:

"_Great Eastern_ left mouth of the Thames July 15th. Shore end landed in Ireland on 22d. Parted on August 2d in latitude 51° 25' north, longitude 39° 6' west, 1062.4 miles from Valentia Bay, 606.6 miles from Heart's Content. Spent nine days in grappling; used up all wire, rope; nothing left, so obliged to return to England. Three times cable was caught, and hauled up for more than three-quarters of a mile from bed of the ocean."

The news of the failure of the cable expedition reached New York after the middle of August, and in a degree the country was prepared for it. The _Cuba_ early in August had brought word of the trouble that had occurred on the 29th of July.

The suspense and anxiety had been so great to Mr. Field's family that the loss of the cable was as nothing compared to the relief they experienced at knowing that he was alive. Mr. David Dudley Field has told of going to Garrison's on the Hudson, where the family were passing the summer, to express sympathy, and that he found a very happy group, and was met with the words, "Is not this delightful?"

This letter was one of the first received by Mrs. Field:

"NORTH CONWAY, _19th August, 1865_.

"_My dear Friend_,--Emerging from the wilderness at Moosehead Lake, my first inquiry was for news concerning the cable. I have not had a full long breath ever since, such has been my suspense.

"Day and night our thoughts have been with you and dear Mr. Field. Outside of your own family perhaps no one has known more of the hopes, the sacrifices, the efforts involved in this great undertaking. Certainly no one has felt more of interest in his success than I have. His pluck, bravery, and faith have always elicited my admiration, and inspired me with absolute confidence in his ultimate triumph over all difficulties. He has surely done his part well. He deserves the approbation and honor of the civilized world.

"To-day for the first time I have heard of the parting of the cable. It seems as if a strong cord had snapped in my own heart. I feel most keenly for Mr. Field's disappointment. The disaster comes home to us all.

"Mrs. Adams and myself talk much of you. We hope you have good news as to the health of your husband. How does he bear up with all this excitement and revulsion? I trust he will soon be returned to you safe and well; most of all, that he and you and we may yet see the complete success of this wonderful enterprise....

"Very truly and affectionately your friend and pastor,

"W. ADAMS."

To copy once more from his papers:

"This last attempt at ocean-cable laying proved conclusively that all the principal difficulties had been overcome in the way of carrying the grand enterprise to successful completion. The _Great Eastern_ as a cable ship had proved herself admirably fitted for the service on which she was employed. The cable itself could hardly be improved. The paying-out apparatus was almost perfect, and on this occasion it did not require any great amount of persuasion to induce the directors of the company to go on with the work.

"A meeting was at once called, and the board resolved not only to pick up the lost cable, but to construct and lay another, both operations to be performed in the following year, and the _Great Eastern_ to be employed in the service. The contractors made a liberal offer to the company, and the directors decided to raise £600,000 of new capital."

All work for the coming year having apparently been most satisfactorily settled, he returned home in September. A friend on the steamer with him said:

"We heard Mr. Field was a passenger. We felt the deepest sympathy for him, and to our surprise he was the life of the ship and the most cheerful one on board. He said: 'We have learned a great deal, and next summer we shall lay the cable without doubt.'"

But again came discouragement. November 3d Captain Anderson wrote:

"I cannot yet write a cheerful letter.... I cannot see any difficulty to our success but the one item of money. We are losing time. The board has already lost its margin, and it will end, must end now, by being in a hurry at the last.

"I am sorry you are not here. Somehow no one seems to push when you are absent."

On November 27th Mr. Field wrote to Mr. Saward:

"Unless I have more favorable news from London in regard to the Atlantic telegraph, it is my intention to sail for Liverpool on the _Scotia_ on the 13th of December."

He did not reach England a day too soon. On December 22d the Attorney-General had given the opinion that only an act of Parliament could legalize the issue of the twelve per cent. preference shares. Parliament was not to meet until February, and then there would be a delay in passing the bill. For this reason the money subscribed had been returned, and the work of manufacturing the cable stopped. Mr. Field accepted the opinion given, but also saw a way out of the difficulty. It seems as if Mr. O'Neil's words in _Blackwood's Magazine_ referred to this crisis and not to the failure of the previous summer:

"Mr. Cyrus Field, the pioneer of Atlantic enterprise, full of hope and confidence, and never betraying anxiety or despair even at the most serious disaster--a man whose restless energy is best shown in his spare yet strong frame, as if his daily food but served for the development of schemes for the benefit of mankind in general and the profit of individuals in particular, every stoppage in our progress being marked by the issue of a fresh prospectus, each showing an increase of dividend as the certain result of confiding speculation--and, I say, all honor to him for his unswerving resolution to complete that great work for the success of which he has toiled so long and so earnestly."

It was on December 30th that Captain Anderson wrote:

"SHEERNESS, _Saturday, 30th, '65_.

"_My dear Mr. Field_,--Thanks for your cheering letter. I have great hopes in your energy and talent. I feel as if our watch had got the mainspring replaced, and had been trying to go without it for the last three months. At all events, I know nothing will be left undone that human energy can accomplish.

"With the compliments of the season, and every kind wish, in which my good wife joins me,

"I remain "Sincerely yours, "JAMES ANDERSON."