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Photographic
Sciences
Corporation
23 WEST MAIN STREET
WEBSTER, NY. 14580
( 716 ) S72-4S03
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6
i*«SdJ^
OCEAN TELEGRAPHY:
THE TWENTY- FIFTH AXNIVEKSAUY
OK
Tin: ORCtANIZATlON OF
THE FIRST COMPANY
KVKK KUIIMKI) TO LAY
AN 0(^EAN CABLE.
NEW YOllK: MARCH 10, 1879
i-k|^-
ruMl'I'n ••'"•! rHIVATK tlKCtLATlON (1NI,Y.
i
— I'WIliMff
K^W^ ■ MUm.iW'ifli.iiii, J,
i^^K. -r^
I .. ii^^
An .x'ciisioii so full of iiitcrost as that wliich commpnioratcd the
birth of Ocoaii Telegraphy, ami whicii revived so many reiiiinis-
conces of its early history, deserves some record or memorial liy
whieh its assoeiati«Mis may he preserved. In accordance with this
sugjiestion and re(iiiest from many tiwarters, the following has heeti
prepared chielly from the reports N\hich appeared in the pajiers of
tlu' citv of New Voi'k.
'liWHP^"'
M
I
TiMM flies so fast, (hi ttm<;- us away from ••voat events;
nnd eliai.ovs suceeed each other so rupuUy, the luimeles
of yesterday beeoiuin^- the familial' faets of to-day; that
we are apt to foroet the oriolu of the new ereations,
even while en.jo.vii<«- their n»a.unitieent results. It is only
once in a wlnle, when some anniversary eomes round,
in the hours of a birthday or a festival, that we pause
a little, and look baek at the past, and see the long
distanee that has been traversed, even sinee we have
been upon the xtaj-e. The lifetime of one {.eneration is
reckoned at thirty years. It is indeed a "little span,"
but that span has measured a cycle in the prooress of
the worhl. So sudden an«l stupendous have the changes
been, that what even the most visionary did not dream
of has come to pass. Ft is o<,od for us now and then
to retrace our steps; to go back to the beginninos of
things ; to " remember the days o. darkness," which
were many; the days of disaster and deteat ; and to
mark by what "labor and toil and pain" the luial suc-
cess was achieved. "Other men have labored, and we
are entered into their labors." The knowledge and the
practical mastery over nature, which are our rich inheri-
tance, were obtained for us by the discoveries of others,
wrought out in secret, after mau> di.sappointments and
long'^delay. It may teach us the "patience of hope,"
to consider how repeated failures taught the way of
success, and defeat ended in victory.
i
HHiHHi^^Ki''
.i|^ija-^^!^W*f'
.,ss,-«j^. ,,_,!, j^,_. I inijjumij, ffe^^e^«!^«^K^f,m
mm^0
Amoiiu' tlio wonderful iicliicvt'inciits of onr m^o, pcr-
liiil)s iioiio sti'ikos the iiiiii<'Miation moiv, iiiid marks ji
jiivjiti'i" chaiiuc ill limiiaii atlairs, tliaii tlu' discovery of
the seieiiee and art of Snlmiarine Tele^rapliy, uliereby
linnian intellijieiiei^ niav be Hashed aeross the oeean in
an instant of time
'rh(«rebv tln^ (h)ininion of man over
nature is iiKh'liniiely exteiuh'd ; tiie waters which eiieirele
the hiiid do not form "a bound which he cannot pass,"
for the same swift airy
nu
sseiiiitM' which tlies over
the mountains, dives under the s<'a, and man talks to
man from distant shores. The Ilrmispheres, divided by
great oceans, are brought nigh unto each other ; lar-
separated nations conic " witliin siteaking distance " ; and
in the possibility of easy communication, the world may
be said to be "of one language and one speech."
It is indeed a marvellous tale, and yet the science
itself is of recent birth. It opened its eyes upon the
world since we of this generation opened ours. Many
of the inventors and discoverers, who ma<le it possible,
are still living; and those who tirst applied it on a
lav
iie sc
ale t(> unite the Old World and the New, are
our countrymen. It is well that the beginning of such
an enterprise should be remembered before those who
had a itart in it have all passed away. Not long since
The New York ilerald thus referre«l to this chapter of
recent history :
" We are so faiiiiliar witli tlii' use (if tiie telegnipli ;K'ni>s the
oeean that we are apt to forget how reeeiit a thing it is, and that
the originators of the great enterprise are still aiiiong us. It is
only a quarter of a century since the project was tirst conceived.
^^is^^i|k '.
Tlu. lotl, ..!• Nrarclu isr.4, is t1u> .latc^ <.f its l)irtl., and so of the
hirtl, of .k-op sva telo-raphv. ( ).. that .hiy was si-ne.l the agree-
ment to orpuu/e 'The New York, Newfouii.Uand and London
TchMM-aph ('on.panv' (if certain privile^^es couhl he ohtau.ed
fronrXewfou.uUancb, the ohject of whieh was stated i.i the very
first sentence of its eharter to ho "to estahlish a line of tele-
„,,j,l,i, ,o„nnunication hetween America an.l Knrope hy way of
Newfoun<iland; The company was formed in a private in.nse-
tl,a of Mr (\'rns W. Kiehl-and composed ..f hut five m.hvul-
,„1,: IVtcr Cooper, Moses Tayh,r, Cyrns W. Fiehl, Marsi.all O.
lloherts, and Chandk-r White. Mr. Davi.l Dndiey FieUl was
present as the k-j^al adviser of the company, and went with his
U,.,tlK.r an.l Mr. White to St. John's to ohtain the charter. Mr.
vV^hite soon after died, and was sncceedcd hy Mr. Wdson U.
Hunt These five i^entlemen are all still livin-, to s.e the great
results of the experin.ent then first made to carry the teleo-raph
,.n.ss the ocean. Snc.dl attempts had heen .aade in Europe to
trat,smit n.essages under water-first across the River Rhine, hut
,,ar , ,,;,, wide, and next acn.ss the British (l.annel. Ihe first
attempt to unite Kngkml and France was made in is.,0. A cop-
,, ,vire. rovered with gutta percha, was laid hctwecn Dover and
Calais, ahont twentv-one miles, hnt cmimnnication was kept up
onlv for a vcrv hrief period. The next year it was replaced hy a
..,l>ie of four wires, which is still perfect. A few other sea cahles
,,,,,, ,,i.,, Init onlv in shallow water and for short distances-tlie
lou.^est, that to Holland, heing hut KU) miles, an.l in water only a
few fathon.s <leep. This American company wa. the first to pro-
...e to span the oc.an. As soon as the line ha.l heen compk-ted
to Ncwfonndland, Mr. (\vrns W. Field went to London, and there,
in isr.«;, organize.! the Atlantic Telegraph Company.
..Its first atten>pt was made in ISM, hut the ships had sailed
e
hilt a little over three hundred iniles from the coast of Trcl.iiid
when the eahle hroke and the e.\i)t'diti<>n retiirne(l. The next
year (1858) the attempt watj renewed in a ditferent manner. The
Ameriean and English ships-ot'-war, the ?>'iai>;ara and A<;amemn(»n,
sailed for the middh' of the Atlanti(, wliere they were t<» join
eahles, and sail east and west to carry tlie two ends to their re-
spective shores. Ihit hef(»re tliey readied mid-ocean a storm
arose, and the Agamemnon had a narrow esea))e from foundering;
and when at hust the cahio was joined, it was hroken several times
in the attempt to lay it, and the expedition returned to Kii<,daiid
almost in despair.
"One more effort, however, was made that summer, ami with
sueeess. The cahle was stretched from shore to shore and mes-
sages j)assed hetween Europe and Ameriea. Ihit eommunication
continued only three weeks, nor was it re-estahlished till ei«^iit
years later (in I8<ir)), after two new cables had been manufac-
tured (one of which, after being paid <tut l,'2n(i miles in isi'.."),
was l)roken in mid-ocean and fished up tiie year after and carried
to the shore of Newfoundland), mainly by the exertions of the
same indefatigable spirit which had originated the project and
urged it forward in spite of all obsracles for twelve years.
" Ihit the success of that Hrst Atlantic telegrai)h in 1858, brief
though it was, had demonstrated the ])ossibiIity of crossing the
ocean, and so led the way for all after triumphs in deep sea
telcgrapliy. It had j)roved that a cable over two thousand miles
long could l)e laid in water over two miles deep. Aftei- that
nothing seemed im])ossil)le. Cables were laid in the ISrediterra-
nean, in the Red ISea and the Persian ('tn\i\ and thence acr.»ss
the Araltian Sea to India, and across the Hay of I'engal t(»
Burmah, and down the Malayan Peninsula to Penang and Singa-
pore, and up the eastern coast of Asia to China, and across to
*:s.
■'i-^^^^^-vf^i'!:
.liiimii, wliilf sdiitliwiinl lini's wi'Pj earned to Java luul across
tliat iHlimd and the surrounding,' seas to Australia and to Now
Zi'aland. In tliis Western Ileniispliere cables were laid to Cuha
jmd tlu! i.ther West India fslands, and down tli«! coast of South
America to Hrazil and tlie Ar^'entine Con federation.
'•Thus, within a quarter of a century, suhniarine telej^raphs
jiave been carried across almost all the seas and oceans «.t' the
oloi)e le.xccpt tlic broad Pacific, which yet remains to be con-
qucred), brill <!:in^' into clos(! communication all parts of the civil-
ized world. Many who bore an honorable part in these great
achievements have passed away. Their memory is dierished by
their survivors, who Hnd many stirring,' recollections recalled
whenever they meet t.)<;ether, as they will continue to do so
lun." as anv .>f those who were actors in these scenes shall re-
main upon the sta«;e."
In the spirit of the a])ove, in order to celebrate an anniversary
of so much interest as the completion of a quarter of a century
Inrni tlu' si,i,niin<? of the agreemetit to orfranize the first (^ompany
ever tV -il to lay an ocean cable; and to bring together once
more his old conipanions-in-arms, and to gather around them hl^
friends and t1u::r friends ; ^^r Field issued invitations to a large
Pinubcr of gentlemen, to a reception at his house on the 10th
of March. 1S?.».*
*Thc cnr.! uf invitati.,,,. of which a fm- simil.' is triven. was .lesigiuHl to rcp-
,...,.,>t Snhn.a.ine 'IVlo^raphy, liukins toir.,her with it. chain of li«ht the four
.,„artcrs of the ivloho. In tho centre is a white space of tlie size of an orau.ary
Nisiti,.- i'a---.l. on which is cn-ravc.l the invitation. Above this is the ooat-of-arn,s
.,f ,hc"l''icM family, which consists of a shield, with a black ^ronnd. parted by a
ch,n:,n of >ih cv. with sheaves of wheat in gold. The crest shows an nrn. en.eruing
fro,n a cloud, an.l irraspins the world. This is derived from an ancestor of the
family John Fiild, a distinguished English astronomer, who lived two hundred
►
s
Ak it h:i.l l.vn liiH fortmuN it. i>aK«ii»- to iin.l fn. in tlu' hiKt
.juartiT c.f a .rntury, on the vvvmuU i.f u vitv l.usv lit<', to U>vux
a., aciuaintuiice sm-h as is rare unum^^ private in.livi.luals-..nc
not coi.timMl to his .ANJ. country— he toc.k this occasion t.. «,Mve to
friends far distant a t..ken of his retnend.rance. Invitations were
sent to a larj^e muiuIk'! of persons ahroad, especiidly to those who
had been connecte.l with hin. in tch'^'raphic enterprises on land
or SCI, wli.., tiionjih they could not he present in answer to the
,,,11, responde.l in the n...st cordial terms. A few of their tele-
jrrains and letters will he jriven .■Isewhere. Of the invitations
this side the Atlantic, sonu' were sent t" friends almost as fur
..if as if beyond the ocean— as to those on tlie I'acitic Coast. In
all, there were ei<,diteen hundre<l invited pu'sts ; and with the
nianv unavoi«laMe absences and re},Mvts, about one thousand re-
J•c^r^^ aiio. an.l wl... iiitn-dnnMl tli- ( '..iHTnica.. astronomy into Kimlaiul. A nion-
approi-riatf .Us-mn -ouUl liardly hv foun.l lor on,, who hoH ut.it.Ml tlic lli-inisi.luivs.
On (Hu' sid.' -H an Aiii.Ti.'un and on thi' othor an Kntclish fla- «lu- stafVs of wl.icli
cross l)i-!Mnd the sl.u'ld. Tin- alloirorical tiirmvs of tin; four .,uart.rH of the «lol.o
will h.' n'co-,nii'.('d hy all Kniilishnu-n as tiik.-n from 111.- d.'si-ns on xUi' Allu-rt Memo-
rial Monnninit in llyd" Park, Lon.lon. V.m-nyi' is sratrd on ,i hull, tti.' •■mldetn of
slren!,'th, crowiu'd, holding' a sc-ptrc in hrr ri^'ht hand, and in lirr i.'fi a mlohr, sur-
mounted hy a cross, wliih' at her feet are three symbolic ti-iires, one holdin;; a sceptre,
one with an anchor and a wieath, and the third in an attitude of instrietioii.
America anpears as an Indian, with spenr and shield, seated on a hison. with a
native warrior hel.ind, while in front a titjure of civilization stretches out its wand
over the new world. Asia reposes on a km .lin^ elephant, alt.'iided hy Brahmin
and l',uddliist priests; and Africa is perched on the hump of u camel, with Oriental
tipires around her. A cahle winds around the whole card, nuikin;,' n frame to the
medallions. On one side is tlio date of ttie orii,'in of the Company, Mardi 10, \MA ;
and on the other, that of the reception. March 10, 187U. At the foot is the rei.rc-
sentation of Mr. Field's diidnjj;-room, and the six i;entlemen who iru't therein to
launch the first cahle— Cyrus W. Field, I'eter Cooper, Moses Taylor, Marshall O.
Roberts, Chandler Wliite, and David Dudley Field.
n
ti
n
i^|Miii(l(Mi ill |>ci'sun. S;ii<l flic New ^'«'il< Times tin- next iimni-
iii^^; "Such II •listiiii,niisli('(l ;iss;'iiii>lv wms |>r(il>iil»!_v iicvci-
Uiitlicrcd toir<'tlit'i' ill oiic IiMiiM' on this coiitiiiciit."' IikU'imI
one lidiisc (li<l not sutlicc to hold thcnr. i»nt the inljoinii ,,' one,
of Mr. Diidh'V Kichl. .Ir.. wiis thrown o|.fii iilso ; whih' in thr
rt(!ir (d" JM.th h;id hfcn rrcctcd ii liir;:;*' tcniponirv pavilion, in
which thf nitcrtiiinnicnt was |»i'o\ id('«i.
'I'hc drawinii-rooni was hiin^i- with paint iiii.-'S >' ' "' \vhich
wvvv (U'lincaHons «d" sct-iu's in the dilVcri-nt tch^iraphic cxiu'iji
tions. On.' rf|>rcsi'nt»'d thr laiidinj-' of th.' cahh' at N'ah'iitia,
Ireland, in Isf,:,. T\u' <ireat Kast( rn is standing- oil" in the
(listanei-, whih' a lon^- line of siilors in th" shallow wafer are
drajfL'iii.H' the lieavv caMe to the shoi;'. Another showed tin-
arrival at Heart's Content, Newfonndland, ..f th.- (ireat Kastern,
hearinii' tlie cidde of l^tW'., niider escort of the Alh;in\- and
'J'errihle. and the landing' in tlie |.re.-ence of a va>t and jovoiis
nndtitnde. The (.tlier three depii'teil scenes on hoard in inid-
oeean ; ^•rajtplin.i; for the lirokeii calde, and tiirowini;' np a sky-
loclsct at niidni-'-ht to tell the accoiiii.anyino' shijts that it was
found ; then the -testinii-" in the electricianV room on hoard,
to see if the lon,i>' lo-t cahle were still -alivt-/' and. last, the
ivtni-n <d" the (ireat Ka-tern from Newjonndland, after landing
the recovered cahle. In the dinin<i'-room, in the n-ar of the
pallor, where the original company was formed, stood i!«;.' tahle
.)n which the first eoi.ipact was signed, and on it the globe
which has hei-n in Mr. FiehTs lil.rary for more than a .piarter
of a century, and ii. turning over which the idea <.f a telegraph
across the ocean was tirst suggested to him. On the wall,
spanning the win.h.ws, hung a flag wliicli had a historical .i.terest.
It was neither Knglish nor American, hut hoth in one, the two
ensh-iis heini'- fohled or inwrought together, and this was the
,^^m^s0^g^^
10
vcMT flai,' wiru-h lia.l been borne in four oxiu'ditions : whicb
tioated (UHT the Niagara when slie first set sail iVon. Irehin.l in
1857; anda-ain in isr.s. when the same shi^ l.n.u.Liit it aeross
the sea; whieh was raised over the (nvat Eastern in ISCr., to
he carried only to niid-oe..an. h.nt M-hieh hnn- there still, in the
year foUowino-. ^vhen the a1ten.pt wa> at last eonipletely sne-
"eessful. In the rear of the dinin^M-ooin was a tele,i;rai)h instrn-
ment, at which, dnrin- the eveninir, n.essa-es were received from
ditlerent parts of the country, and from heyond the si'a.
It was a -reat pleaMuv to Mr. Field to have with him his
three hrothers-all that are living-David Dudley Field, Stephen
J. Field, Jud,u-e of the Supreme Court of the Fnitr.l Stat.^s. and
Rev. llenrv ^^I. Field. The special -nests of the evening- were of
c<mrse his four associates, Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor, Marshall
O. Eoherts,and Wilson (i. Hunt, wl... shared with him in the con-
gratulations of the evenin-. No la.lies were present, ex.-ept those
of the family. Soon after nine ..'clock the iruests hegan to arrive,
and contiimcd with scarce a ni..m.>nt"s intennission for two hours,
till hoth houses were densely crowded. Seldon. has a c<.mpany
included a greater variety of pci-onages. Almost every name
suggested some enterprise with which it was connected, s..me
poshion of intluence. An.o,)- the fir^t to arrive w.- the vener-
ahleMajor-Cicneral Josq.h Patterson of Philadelphia, and it was
a sight to see grouped togctlu-r three Mid. di>ti..guishe.i octoge-
narians as (Jen. Patte.'son. Pct.r Coopc. and Thn.'low Weed-
the latter a great power in Anie.'ica.. politics ; one who, with....t
public station, holding no oilice an<l seeking n.me. has been the
creator of <.thcr ...en's political lo.lmics. Otlicial pc.-sonagvs fol-
lowed in great m..nb...-s. who, with the naval a,.d .nibtai-y g..ests.
many ..f them \u unifo.-n.. made a ve.-y brilliant scene. It is im-
possible to give a con.plete li>t ..f tl.o>e p.vsct. ( M.c .-an o..ly
11
■g
«
^Mthcr out of the ivpc^rts in the city paper.s of tlie next nionnni*
a portion of tlio iiiiines, ^vllic^l are here arraii,i>-e(l in jjjroups, to
Bhow more i-learly tlu' varied and representative character of the
distino;nislied company. Among them were the following:
William M. Kvarts, Secretary of State; Sir Edward Thorn-
ton, the r.ritish Miiiisler; Edward M. Archibald, C. B., the
liritish Consul-Geiieral ; Baron Sclusl<in, the Bussian Minister,
with attaches of the Eussian Legation ; 'M. dc Kartschewsky,
the Bussian Consul-General ; Captain Schm 'tkin of the Bussian
Navy, aide-ile-cam]) to the Grand Duke Constantine; Leon
Chottcau, commercial delegate from France; M. de Zamacona,
the Mexican ^Minister ; Judge Allen, :Minister from the Ha-
waiian Islands; Hermann A. Schumacher, the Cierman Consul-
General; Signor C. (i. B. BalTo, the Italian Consul-General ;
Salvador de '^[endon(•a, the Brazilian Consul-General ; Baron
Thomsen ; and E. F. iJavison, Consul of the Argentine Con-
federation.
Of the late and ])r( .cnt ofFicers of the (ioveniment there
were: Ex-Secretaries of the Treasury Benjamin 11. B)ristow and
Hu.di Mc(^nll(.ch; dudgvs Benedict and Choate. of the United
States District Court; Edwards Bierrepont, Ex-Attorney-Cren-
ernl and late Minister to England; -lohn r,igelow, former ^Min-
ister to France and late Secretary of State of Xew York;
Georm' II. I'.oker. late ^Minister to Uussia; Ex-Bostmaster-Gen-
eral Marshall ,lewel! : dohn ICaton, Connnissioner of Education;
and William (i. Le Du.-. Commis>i(.ner of Agriculture; J. Hub-
lev Ashton. late. Assistant Attorney-General of the United
Stales; General ^lerritt. C<.llector of the P..rt of New York;
S. W. F.urt, Naval Otlicer, and Pcstmaster dames; Ex-CoUector
Chester A. Arthur, and A. P.. C..rnell, late Xaval Officer; and
Thomas II. Dudley, late Consul at Liverpool.
r- ■■.f^^^s^alr^tktfta
Of fcnnci- and present MeiuluTs cf ( ".mi-rc^s: Ser.at..rs Alli-
s..n ..f T..WM, aii.l i'ratt of Coniu'ctlcut, an<l Kx-Scnators La-
fayette S. Foster aiunVillian. II. Eannnu; an.l Representatives
Kiijal. Ward. Clarksuu N. Potter, Ahran. S. Hewitt, Fernando
Wood. 8. S. Cox. Al.ran. Wakenian, \l. W. Roosevelt. Anson
(;. .Me('o(.l<. Henjanun A. Willis. William Walter IMielps, Levi
P. Murt.m. S. r.. Chittendrn. and Arehil.ald ^l. 151iss; .1. W.
l-Vnlon of Rockland connty, and Kllis IL Roberts of Ftiea :
Henry Watterson ..f Kentucky, and (ieneral C K. Hooker of
Mississii)pi.
The Navy Avas represented by Rear-Adniiral Worden, who
f.u.dit the Monitor a--ainst the :\[erriniac ; Rear- Admiral
Trc^ichard. late in c<mnuand of the North dlantic s.piad-
n.n; Commodore (JlasH.n, wh.. c.unmanded one of the ship,
in Perrv-s Expedition t.. dapan : Paymaster Joseph Khlr>'d-r.
•1,0 was on iM.ard the Niap.ra when the cable was laid; and
Lie.utenant> Wells L. Field and T. P.. M. Ma.on ; and the Army
l,y a mnnber .d' otHcer> wli.. did l>rilliant service in the war,
thou-h .ome of them have ^ince re>i-ned to ..no-auv in
otlJ pur>uit.: (ienerals Francis C. Parlow, dames Powen.
Daniel Butterliehl : (u-.r-e W. Cnllum, .-f the Fnited States
En.nneers: W. M. Dnnn, Jn.l-e Advorate (ieneral of the
FnLl States Armv : Clinton P.. Fi^k, ()uin.-y A. (iillnn.re,
Th..n.a> ilillhoU.e. Martin T. McMalmn. Horace Porter.
Charlo Koo, e. Alexander Shaler. Henry W. Sjoeun). P.
F. Stoekton. F-bert L. Vi.'lc and Stewart Van Vleit: Major
Francis Pope, and Capt. W. !'. Pobe>on.
Of the State of New York there wen- pri'sent three Fx-
(;overnor>: Samuel d. Tilden, F. D. M.M-an. and John T.
IlnllhiaiK with Lieutenant-Covernor William D.u'sheimer. and
1,;. „red.r<.»or, Stewart L. W Itord : Chauncey M. 1 )ei.ew,
w
m
,4^3gfi!RffiSffW*W^
13
^^
late Secretary of State ; Attoniey-CTeiieral Soliooinnaker ; and
Seiiatoi's Rohertson, lio^a'rs, Et'clesiiic, j\lui'|>liy, St. -lohn,
aiul AVao^stair ; Chief Justice Clinivli and .lnd<i:es Andrews
and Rapallo, and Kx-.Tud<ies Conistock and Davies, of the
Court of A])])i'als ; while other State-^ were represented l)y
Alexander II. Rice, late (iuvernor, and II. G. Knig-ht, late
Lieutenant-(nivernor, of Massachusetts ; K\-(TOvernor Marcus
L. AVanl, Ilun. Cortlandt Parker, and Senators IFohurt and
Frederick A. l\»tts, of New derst'v ; (iovernor Iloyt and Ex-
Governor llartranft, of Pennsylvania ; Kx-Governors Howard
of Phode Island, and I'ldloi-k of (ieor^'ia.
The City of New ^'(-rk was represented, not only hy its
ofHcials. aiuon<4' whom were the l\Iayor, Ivlward Cooi)er ; and
Ex-^^ayol•s (iunther, Wickhani, and Ely; Andrew II. Green,
the late Comptroller; Jordan L. Mott. President of the Poard
of Aldermen; Smitii V.. Lane, Park Conunissioner, and other
mendn'rs ol' the City ( loNcrnment ; hut hy hundreds of her
ni(»>t eminent citizens — men distin<i'uished in every profession,
on the r.ciich and at tlii' liar, in the Pulpit and the Press,
Literary men and Artists: with Uankers, ]\[erchants, and the
Capita!i>1s. whose names ti^'urc at the head of all our ^reat
commercial enti'rpri>i's.
.Iudi:-c>: Chief -In^tice Noah Davis of the Supreme Court of
New ^'ork; Chief .ln>tice William E. Cui'tis of the Superior
Court; Chief -Ins! i(H' C. P. 1 )aly of the Court of Comnum Pleas ;
with .ludu'es and E.\-.lu(l,<i't'> I'osworth, Cowiuii". Daniels, Danforth,
,1. V. Daly, E. L. Faiicher. F. .1. Fitliian. Ih'ury Hilton, William
\'iiii Iloeseii, P. L. Lai'remore, Ania>a J. Parker, Charles A.
Peahody. doliii K. I'orter. C. F. Sanford, (iilhert M. Speir,
11. C. \;m F.rnnt. and 11. C. Van Vorst.
Lawver.- : Theodoi\' \V. Dwi^'ht. LL.D., Erastus C. Benedict,
14
District-Attorney rhclps, Joseph H. dioate. Dnniel 1>. Lur.l,
AVilliam Allen Hutler, John E. llnrrill, Henry M. Alexumlor,
S L. M. Barlow, Algernon S. Sullivan, (ieurge De Forest Lonl,
John E.AVanl, Henry W. De Forest, WaMo Hut.hlns, John
Sherwooa, Henry Day, Charles E. Whitehead, WiUian. Iraey,
Louis DelaiieUl, Henry D. Se.lgwiek, (i. F. Luwrey, l)w,<,^ht H.
Ohnstead W.d. SterlinJ,^ Simon Sterne, Frederic-k S. lalhnadge,
Cephas Brainerd, Bnrton X. Harris.n, U. S. (J rant, Jr., Arthur
G Sed'nviek, John Gaul of Hudson, Arc
* Of Cler-vnien one reeo^mized the faces most familiar in the
pnlpits oi New York and F.rooklyn: Rev. Drs. Willian. Adams,
Monnm Dix. John Cotton Snuth, E. A. AVashhurn, Henry AV .
Bellmvs, R. D. Hitchcock, Henry C. Potter, Howar<l Crusl.y,
Henrv Ward Beecher, Theo.lore L. Cuyler, Xoah Hunt Schenck,
Thomas (iallandet, (>. H. IFouj^d.ton. \Villian> F. M..rgan, W.lham
M.Tavlor, L. D. Bevan, George B. Cheever, T. W. Cha^d.ers
Philip Schaif, W. (;. T. Shedd, M. R. Vincent, Ruhert Russell
Booth. Thonus S. Hastings, E. F. Rogers, Sau.uel D. Burchard.
V C Tiffanv, Wn>. J. Tncker, W. W. Xewell, Willian. T. Faxton,
E F. llatheld, Stephen II. Tyng. .Ir., Charles A. Stoddard,
O H T-dTanv, Samuel Osgood, E. H. Chapm. C. (• Hall,
T.W. Nevin,^ Lyn.an Ahhott, J. D.Wilson, -I. U. l^'vi-, ^nd
Father Fjerring of the Ru>sian Church.
Physicians:' Drs. Willard Parker. William A. Ilanunond,
William H. Van Ihnvn, Fordyce Barker, Alfre.l Lo<.nr.s. Jan.es
Tl Woo<l, Edward L. Keyes, Austin Flint. C. R. ^V^neW,
\ Jacohi, W. B. Xeftel, William F. Lusk, Arthur.). M. Mumr,
Elisha Harris, Joseph J. Hull, John C. Harron, Everett Herr.eU,
Peter Jav, J. Foster Jenkins, Frederick Drake, S. 1?. .lone.,
Frank Lerov Satterlee, Edward I.oring, II. Nirhol. M. D. \ an
Doren, D. M. Stin.son, Francis M. Weld, II. C En<., .1. H. Fulton,
U
V. l\[. Gunnell, and William 15. llnbbanl ; Georg-c .1. Fislier, of
Sin^'Sing; Tlioiiias Kirkhridc and O. A. .ludson, of Phila-
delphia, &v.
M<Mrhants, Uankei-s, A;c'. : Edward 8. .laftVay, B. G. Arnold,
Lh>yd As])inwall, Elliot C. Cowdin, J. M. Constahlo, William
Libbey; Samnol I), Babcock, rrcsident of the Chamber of Com-
merce; -lohn A.Stewart, Henry F. Vail, Henry F. Spaulding,
George Cabot Ward. Knssell Sage, John T. Agnew, Percy K.
Pyne, Joseph Seligman, Jesse Seligman, J. Pierpont Morgan,
Charles Lanier, D. S. Kgleston, ][. ('. Fahnestock, George V.
P.aker, Morris K. Jesu]), .l.«hn W. Ellis, (ieorge P.liss, David
Dows, Josiah M. Fiske, John Taylor Johnston, A. 8. Hatch,
Robert L. Stnart, Alexander Stuart, Solon Humphreys, E. P.
Fabbri, J. H. Wright. Samuel Ward, Xorman White, William
E. Dodge, Jr.. D. Willis James, James MeCreery, John H.
Hall. A. S. IJarnes, Henry Ivison, Salem H. Wales, Daniel F.
A|>pleton, Jackson S. Schultz, Isaac H.. Bailey, H. (i. Marquand,
Julius Wadsworth, Chandler Eobl)ins, John J. Cisco, Jay Cooke,
Andrew V. Stout, Robert H. ]\rcCiirdy, Edmund H. Miller,
Anson P. Stokes, Henry M. Taber, William H. Webb, J. B.
Cob'-ate. Charles P.. llotfman, W. P. Dinsmore, Eichard A.
McCunly, W. II. Peers, Charles F. Livermore, Benjamin B.
Sherman; Praytoii Ives, President of the Stock Exchange;
T. P. M\isgrave, William II. Fogg. (Jeorge W, Lane, Lawrence
Turnure. (iordon W. Ihirnham, Smith ("lift, William IL Taggard,
Parker Handy. Augustus Sehell, J. Hasbrouck, Charles L. Titiany,
Colonel Bayard Clarke, Robert Stuyvesant, Edward Clark,
Thomas C. Acton, Col. J. W. Adams, Milton Courtright,
II. R. ISishop, P.enjamin Prewster, William J. ^SfcAlpine,
Col. AN ;, :, in P.orden, A. L). Jnilliard, Francis Cottenet, Eugene
Killv, W. M. Ilalsted, Charles II. Russell, Harrison Durkee,
10
,1„.(.phW. DivM'l, ('. II.<;.Hlf.v,v. Arthur I A.irv; K. S. Wit.st.M.,
() 11 Paln.or, Alfiv.l \\M -I. W- V\ur\u,t. (h-ui-v Op.lvkr.
Fmlrrirk 11. Co-itt, Isaac N. Pln^li^s, K. A. Quintanl. Ko.val
]>lu'li.s, .lose V. Xavarru,.Ianu's l^'UNvitk. llrnrv (irimull Rn>sell,
U M'sclnHTrlin: Alrxan.kT \^y^>^yu. .1. W. CK.n.U'nin, .lulu.
l>aton,.l(.natlKn,K.hvanls,l{.("..nu.ll\Vkit....lanu.>II.\VkitHM.us..
.,„,,, TownM.uk (;c.o,-o W. (^n-l.t..n, A. D. k. Kan.k.lph.
Geuri^o Iluvc-n I'utuanu K. A. Wick.s, Arthur Ik Cravc-s,
Cleoi-e Ik Satterlec, Du.Ury J. (T.ft. .lanu's (\ kar-... ilcMiry AV .
l)^vi.^.t, Thomas McWnth, K. Ik Wr.k-y. aiul .k-hu 11. 1 Vy :
..nrilenrv K. l'i.nv|>unt, .Iimucs S. T. Stranahan. Srth kow.
Walter T. Hatch, and A. D. Naj.icr. of I'.rooklyn; llcury Ik
l>ier<ou. of Alkauv: .lauics A. IkmU'U, of Troy: dcornv M.
l>,,th„l„„.cw, of llartfonl; Walter Watson, of the k.ank ot
Montreal: Captain MrMirken of thcCunani kine. vV.-c.. .Vc.
The Colle-es wore rejuvM nted '^v Pre^hU■nt liarnanl an<l
Professors Chan.llcr. Newkerry. and k.-l'->run of (uhnnkia:
Piv>i.lent A.S. Wekkof tk.e C'oUe-e of Xi'W York; (■hanrrll..r
{'rosbvan.l I'rote>sor Iknry Drap-.r of the rniver>ity ; I'rofes-
s<,rs (ieorire P. ki>h.T. S. Wells William. kk.D.. an.l O. ( '.
Marsh of Vale: ProfesH.r k. N. llorsfonl of ( •amhri.l-c ; P'vh-
,lent Potter of knion; Pr..H.lrnt Cha-lhourne and ex President
Hopkins ..f Williano: and Prohlmt ko~s of Woleyan Pniver-
sitv. Middletown. i'"UU.
The Pres> was n-i.re.eutcd ky Pokcrt llur. the inventor nf
the famous " kij^.tninj^ Pros'": ky Kev. Dr. Samuel 1. Prin.e
and Kdward P.i i-ht ; Mosrs. Chamkerlain of the New 1 ork
Herald, Davi.l M. St.me of the dournal of Commerce. Whitelaw
liekl of The Trikune, N..ah k.rook^ .d' The Times, William
Henry llurlkert of The W..rld. I'Mwin k.(o,dkin of The Nation.
Isaac^ Hender>on, dr., of Th.^ Kvenin^ Po>t, W. T. (darke of
■«
9f
J^
MMb
SSP"
17
The Express, J. M. V>n\u\y of The Mail, Frank Leslie of The
lllu.stritted Newspaper, .1. II. and Charles M. (loodsell of The
(Iraphic, Oswald Otteiidorfer of The Staats-Zeitim^ ; Joel Cook,
correspondent of The London Times; Geor<5e W. ("hilds of
The Lcdircr, and Francis Wells of The Dulletin, of Fliiladelphia ;
Thomas T. Kinney of The Newark Advertiser; K. M. Fulsifer
of The Jjoston Herald, Edward Kiiii;' of The Journal, and
(Jeoi't^o Ivoherts of The 'J'inies ; N. D. Spciiy of The New Haven
Palladium; Stilson llutchins of The AV^ishin<fton I'ost : Ralph
]5ayley of The Pittshuri,^ Telegram; Horace AVhite, late editor
of Tlio diicaiio Tribune; Dr. J. (i. Holland and Uoswell
Smith of Scrihner's Monthly ; Tliorndike Rice of The North
American Review; AV'illiam Fihhcy, Jr., of The Princeton Review,
II. J5. IJarnes of The Inti'rnational ; and the representatives of
the ^reat pul)lisliin^- houses, the Harpers, the Api)letons, etc.
Of the Artists were many whose uames are familiar to all
lovers of trooil paintinii's, as their works hani;- on the wails of the
Academy: Daniel Huntington, Eastman Johnson, Sanford 11.
(iitford and R, Swain (Jitford, Worthinn-fon AVhittre(l<ji;e, J. F.
('ropsey, Louis ( '. Tilfany, dervis McFntee, William 11. Beard.
H. \V. Rohhins, Th.. mas Hicks, Thomas Le Clear, H. (\ Shumway,
T. Addison Richards, S:v., with the sculiitor ,1. (}. A. Ward.
AVith the cditois and artists, one reco<>-nizeil others well known
in our literary society, sucli as Prof. Rotta. Richard (Jrant White
and dames (Jrant Wilson ; Edmund C. Stedman and Edward J.
P>n rli no-am c ; l>fn>on .1. Lossinu-. the Old Mortality of our Revo-
lutionary history ; (ieu. Di Cesuola, who spent years anu)no- the
ruins of Cyprus, ol' which he has furnished the most authentic
history; and Paul Du Chaillu, wlio exi)lored the forests (»f Africa;
Col. Tiiomas W. Knox, the traveller in Siberia; J. Youno-, the ex-
])lorei' of Austr.ilia; Fred Law Olmsted and Calvert \'aux, to
18
wlu.se beautiful dcsiiru cur citv owes its j;ivat Ontral I'ark. :ui<l
Col. (iooi'irc K. Waring;, who aided iu carrviu^' out llie work;
Prof, r.iekuiorc, of tlie Museum of Natural History; and others
conne(ted with our public institutions and charities; Wdliani
Wood, the President of the I'.oard of Edueatic.n ; Henry IJer-jh,
ITenry M. IVllew, and Charles L. Urace, the latter the f<.uuder
of the Children's Aid Society.
There was a larue infusion of Railroad and Teleirrai>h men.
Of the former, Cornelius Vauderhilt. Vice-l'resident of the New
York Central; liu^di .1. Jewett, President of the Krlc ; A. K.
Demns, Vice-President, and F. Wolcott Jackson. Sui.erinteiident,
of the Pennsylvania Central ; (;eor<ie II. Wat rows. President, and
William 11. P.ishop, late President, of the New York. New Haven
and Hartford; Sidney hilh.n. President of the I'nion Pacific;
C. P. Iluutinjrton, Vice-President (.f the Central Pacific; Samuel
Sioar.. Conuno.lurc C. K. (iarrisoii, W. P. Garrison, cV:c.
The Tele«'-rai)h was re;)re>ented hv llinim Sil.ley of Rochester
and .1. 11. Wade of Ck^vcland, who were amoni;' the founders of
the <Teat We>teni Cnion Teieii-i'iipl' Company; l.y Dr. Noivin
(ireen, its Proideiit, ;iiid its five \'icc-Presidents ; (ii'ii. T. T.
Eckert, PresiiK^nt of the Atlautic and Pacific; (Jeor^re (i. Ward.
Superintendent of the Direct Cable Com))any ; (leorue P..
Prescott, author of a History of the Electric Tele^n'aph ;
Colonel T. Smith, tin- olde>t tclc.uTaph operator in the I'liitctl
States; Prc>i(lcnt Andrews, of the American District Tel-
e^n-aph (^.mi.aiiy: Mr. Dakers, .>f the Montreal TeU'^n-ai.h
Couii)any, who came from Canada to be present ; and Moses
G. Farmer of Newport, the inventor of the Electric Ti.rj.edo.
With these there were many fn.m other cities than those
already named: From P...>ton, Hon. dosiah (i. .\bi»ott, Samuel
Kneeland, EE.D., Tlloma^ (i. Appleton, Nathan Aj.pleton, iVrc.
1<»
From ItiiltiiiKirc, its Miiyor, l-'cnliiiand Liitrolu', with Knocli
Priitt, Doc'iiUir II. Miller, mid Williaiii McKim ; \vliil(^ Wasli-
iiiijfton, besides its diplcmiatic and otlicial quests, wan represented
1)V two of its imtst ciniiieiit iiicii of scieiiee, I'l-uffssor Spencer F.
Ilaird, tin- recently elected Secretary of tlie Sndthsonian Institu-
tion, as the successor of the lainentecj Henry ; and (ien. Alhert J.
Mvcr of the Siijnal Service Ihirean, whose calculatiojis from oh-
servatioiis over the whole continent, enahle him to anticipiite
and ii-ive warnin;;' of the winds and storms that are aj»proachin^'.
While Mr. Field was receiviny- this array of <,niests, IjIh
associates seemed e(|nally hapj)y with himself in the results of
the ^vva\ enterprise to which tiiey had all contrilmted. At
half-past ten o'clock they took their places in the diinn_i;-room,
where tlii' oriiriual compact was formed, Mr. Field heinj;- sur-
roimded hy his family, while at Mr. Cooper's side stood his son
Edward, the Mayor of the city. Mr. Fiehl then spoke as follows :
Ni:i(iiii5()HS .\Ni) FiiiKNDS: T\vtMity-tiv(^ yonrs iij-o this
cveiiinj^-, in tills house, in this room, iiiid on this table,
iind ill this very hour, was signed the a.uieenient to
form the New York, Xewfoimdland ^S: London Tele-
oiapli Company— the first Company ever formed to lay
an ocean cable. It was si«;iied by live persons, four of
^vhom— Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor, JMarsliall (), Roberts,
and myself— arc here to-ni<;ht. The tifth, Uv. Chandler
White, diet! two years after, and his plaee was taken by
.Mr. Wilson (i. Hunt, who is also present. Of my asso-
ciates, it is to be said to their honor- as mijj;ht have
been expi^eted from men of their high position and
eharaeter— that they stood by the undertaking manfully
tor tw(dve long years, through diseouragements such as
I
m
t
hoImmIv Unows liiil HkmiiscIvcs. 'VUosv who nppliiiul our
siUM'oss, kM'.»M lilth' tliron^li what strnji-ulcs it was ol»-
taiiuMl. OiuMlisappointnuMit foHowcd auothci', (ill " liopo
(U'fV'ncd made the heart sirU." We had little ludp IVoiii
ouiside, for few had any faith in our i-nterprise. l?ut
not a man deserted the ship; all stood Ity it to the end.
My brother Dudley is also here, who as the eonns«'l of
the Company, was pr«'s»'nt at the si,unin<;- of the apce-
ment, and went with Mr. White and myself the week
after to Xewfonndland, to obtain the eharter, and was
onr le^al adviser tlironji;h those anxions and troubled
years, when sne«'ess seemed very donbtfnl. At St.
John's, the lirst man to i-ive us a hearty welcome, and
who aided ns in obtaining- onr eharter, was Mr. lOdward
M. Arehibald, then lMim»" Minister of Newfoundland,
and now for nn>re than twenty years the honored repre-
sentative of Her Majesty's <;overnmer,t at this port,
who is also here to-ni<;ht. it is a matter for .i-ratefid
aeknowled,i;inent that we werr spared to see a«'('omplished
the work that we benan : and that we can meet now,
at the end of a (piarler of a century, to lo'.ik with w«mi-
der at what has been wrou,i>lit since in other parts of
the world.
Our little Company came into existence oidy a few
weeks before tlie Western Inion Ttde,i;rapli <'ompaiiy,
which is entitled to share in our con<;ratulations ; iind
has kindly brought a c<nniectin.i;- wire into this room, by
which we <'au this evenini*' comminiicate with every town
and villam' from the Athmtie to the Pacitic ; and by
our sea cables, with FiUrope, Asia, Africa, Australia,
New Zealand, the West Indies, and South America.
«
V
21
While our siiuill circle lins been ln'oketi by dentil but
oiKM', very (lilfereiit li.is it been with the Allaiitii* Tele-
jUriil»h Coininiiiy, which was loiiMed in liomlon in 1S')<I,
to extendi one line iicrnss the <»cean. At its be<4iiniin,n',
there \v«'re eighteen lOniiiish and twelve AiiuM'ican di-
rectors, thirty in ail, of whom twjMity-nine have either
died, or retircil IVoni the l>oard. I alon<^ still remain
(Mie of the Directors.
IMany of the ^-reat men of science on both sides of
the Atlantic, who inspired ns by their knowledge and
their enthnsiasin, iiav(! passed away. SVe have lost
liache, whose Coast Snrvey mapped «,nt the Wiiole line
of the American shores; and ^Faniy, who lirst tan<'lit ns
to find a i»atli thron^h the depths of the seas; and fer-
ryman, who sonnded across the Atlantic; and Morse;
and last, bnt not least, Henry. Across the water we
nnss sonu' who did as mnch as any men in their vener-
ation to make the nanu' of England "Teat— Fara<lay an<l
W'heatston*', Stephenson - and lirnnel— all oi whom gave
ns freely of their invaluable connsel, refnsini;' all com-
pensation, because of the interest which they felt in the
•Tlic ulliHioii licic iiiiidi' 111 till' i;n'it cimiiicur, IIhIxtI Sti'iiliciwoii, ciIIihI
i'oith II Icttrr iVdiii ii ^ihtlciiaii of New York to wliiisi- rnllicr Mr. Sti'i(ln'iiM)n
wrote Aim-ii-i •!:>, ls.">7, just iit'tiT the t'niliiic of tin' lirst cxin'ilitioii. Tlic piissniri'
is iIlt(■l•l■still^• IIS siiowiii-- liow iiiiich tlioimlii. lliiil j^ri'iit man iiad i,nv.ii to llio
siilijcft, iiiid bow fiillv !"'• ii|i]>ii" lalf 1 tlic fiionhous diHit'iiltio to lie o.i'rcotnt'- -
ilillieullics lliroiinli u|,i,li he fniniiiy coiifi'sscs "lie could not sim' his way":
" 'I'hc Atiiintic CmIiIc ijui', .on js ;■, fm' iikm'i' diUlcnlt niattfr tlniii tho^i' who
hiivc undcrtMkrn it un' di-p.-cd to liclic '■•.ilijcct hns occuiiiod nnii'h of
Miv tlionn-lds, and as Vft I inu-t c )nf('-s . >■ my way ihron^li it. Ho-
fore tin; sliijis li'I't tins connfry witii tiu- ( .1... , 1 very imhlicly j.riMru'tod, as
soon as tlicy got into di:c|i watiT, a signal faiinii'. It was, in fact Jncviliihlo."
«#
solution ol" ii ur«'iit luohh'iii ol' sr'n-iKM innl cii^iiu'cinij;-
skill. It is
>vliiU> tlic iNvo novriniiu
pioiid satist'iictiou to iciiu'mlM'r, tint
iits ai«l«'(l us so jn<MH'rousl\ with
tlu'ir ships, MiJikin;; survr>s of the orr.ni, mmiI even nir-
ryiim «»ur cahh' in tlir Ihst («\p<'ilitious, such men as
thi'sr oavc their support to an cutciprisc whirh was t«»
uuitc the two rouutiics, aud in the ruti to luiu« the
^^hoh' worhl toiictlu'i.
Others there are, aiuou;;- tlu' li* iui; and the dead,
to AvhoMi we are under ureat ohli<iations. Hut I «'an-
u't repeat the h)!);-' roll of illustrituis names. Vet I
must pay a passing- trihute to one who was my friend,
as he was the steadfast frii'ud ol my country, h'ii'hard
('(►hden. lie was <ute of the lirst to look forward with
the eye of failh t(» what has slue*- <MMne to pass. As
lono- a.iio as isr.l he lia«l a s.ut (»f prophet's dream that
the'^oe.'aji mi.uht y»'t he crossed, and advised IMinee
Alhert to devote tiie prolits of the (ireat Lond«»n Kx-
liihition »d' that year to an attempt thus to unite Falk-
land with America. Il<' did not live to .see his dream
fullilled.
V.ut thouuh men die. their works, their discoveries.
.,ud their inventions, live. From that small l.e.uim.in.u
u;i(h'r this roof, arose an art till then scarcely knoNsn,
that of ti'le-raphin^ throu-h tlie depths o»' the sea.
Twenty-tive years a,uo there was not an ■ <'.»u eai»h^ in
the world. A few short lines had heen laiil across the
Cha!inel from Ihi^ihuul to the Continent, hut all were
i„ s!.ilh>w water. Fven M-ience hardly dared to c(Mi-
roiv. ' the possibility of sen«iin,u human intelligence
thr,. J 'he abysses of th<' ocean. Bnt when we struck
m)-
<ml to cross tlir Athintic, we luul to lay i\ vwhUt over
two tlioiisaiid inih's loiiy- in \vat<'i' ovt'i' two miles (Iccp.
'IMial jiicat Mi'H'css ^a\(i an iniuirnso Inipulst; to Subma-
rine Telcurapliy, IImmi in its infancy, but wliicli lias
since grown till it has stietcln'd out its lin;;ers tip|»<''l
witii lire into all the waters of tlie j;lobe. "Its lines
have ji'ont; into all the earth, and its words to the endK
of the world." T(» d; y there are over seventy-thou-
sainl miles of cable, crossinj;' the seas an<l the oceans.
And as if it wer<! not enough to have nu'ssajtics sent
with th«' speed of li,i>litnin;;', they must be sent in cppo-
site directions at the sann; moment. I have Just re-
ceived a tele<;ram from Valentia, Ireland, which vea«ls
''This anidversary witnesses duplex working' across the
xVtIantic as an accomplished fact "—by which the capa-
city (d" all our ocean cables is (huibled.
Who can nn-asiu'c the ettect of this swift inteHigence
passing to an<l fro V Already it regulates the markets
of the world, lint better still is the m'w relation into
vhich it brings the ditfere!it kindreds (»f mankind. Na-
tions are made enemies by their ignorance of each other.
A better ac(piaintan«'e leads to a lu^tter understanding;
the senses of nearness, the relation of neighborhood,
awaki'us the feeling of brotherhood. Is it not a sign
that a better age is condng, when along the ocean-beds
strewn with the wrecks of war, now glide the messages
of i»eaceV
One thing only renmins which I still hope to be
spared to see, and in which to take a part, the laying
(d* a cable trom San Francisco to the Sandwich Islands
—for which J haves re<M'ive<l this very day a concession
,i1^
24
from Kiii<;' Kalakiiun, by his ]Minister, who is lierc to-
iii<;ht— and tVoiu tliencc to Japan, h\ which the ishmd
groups of the Pacilic may be l)i'ou<iht into <'omminii('a-
tiou with the eoiitinents on either side — Asia and A'neiiea
— tlins eom|)letin^' tlie cirenit of the globe."'
Bnt life is i)assiny, and ])erhaps that is to be left ♦^o
other hands. jMany of onr ohl companions have fallen,
and we mnst soon give place to onr snccessors. l>;it
thongh we shall pass away, it is a satisfaction to have
been abk; to do something that shall remain when we
are gone. If in what I have done to advance this en-
terprise, I have done sometliing for the honor of my
conntry and the good of the world, I am devoutly grati'-
fnl to my Creator. This has been the great and)ition
of my life, and is the chief inheritance which I leave to
my children.
Mr. Field's address was receixi'ij with tln' heartiest aj)-
plaiise. At the eh>so he tiinieil tn his Iindher, Mr. David
Dudley Field, who, as the eounsi'l and adxisei' ;it" the Coin-
paiiy through all these years, had had occa.-ioii to speak tor it
' it is I'uur yujii's siiico tin' K'niu' inml' \>\< \\A\ to tliis i'i)iiiiti'\ , When in
New N'lri'ji lie callcil (in Mr. I'l'ld. witii sr\ iTal im'niiiiTS ot' liis ('aliiiii't, and
in the \ii'y runin wlici'c llic Nrwl'dnndlanil < 'n'lijiany was t'ornii'd, and sittiiii;-
ai'iiund tlic vi'i'v taMi' (/n wliicli tlic (iri^'inul au'rcrincnt was sij,Mi'd, utri'i'i'd
liini a ciincc-.-inn a- an indiiniiicnt to undiTtakc the liiyin^- of a calilc to tlii'
Saudwii.'li Islands. 'I'iio fornial n-iiai'antue lias hccii didavfd till now; Iml the
last week, .Indue Allin, the Mini-lur of tin' Hawaiian Islaml-, int'irnnd .Mr,
I'iidd tlial 111' liad rt'ci'ivi'd I'nll aiiliiority to c'oiii|.!iti' it. and this rscnini:' In-
|ilacrd the docniiicnt in liis ha'id-, •^ci-urin'^' ti liiiii an i !iis as-ociatc- an i'\-
clnsivo I'iiilit I'or t wcnty-ti\ i' years to land a cahlc on tiio-c Islands, [rovideil
the work is ljei;uii in tive, an^l completed in ten \ear.~.
25
iiiaiiy fillies ami in tiumy ])la('cs, and fcquostc'd liiiii to add a
few remarks. 'Flic latter responded to tlio request as follows :
TiiKN AND Xow juv tlic Words wlii(di hcst indiciitc^ the
(Mirront of tlioiinlit of one who wiis an jictoi' in tho tnms-
jR'tlon we are conuncnioratin^' and the events which fol-
lowed it. Then, as we have been told, there was not a
Sid)niavine T(de,i;iai»h in the world, exeeptini;' three from
JOnoland to the adjaeent Continent, n<Mie of which lay
more than titty fathoms oeep ; now there are cables at
the bottom of every ocean, except the I'acilic. Then
whatever to(dv place in Ireland, the nearest land, could
be known to ns only after ei,<>ht or ten days; now we
read at our breakfast-tables news of what has happened
a few hours befor«' in Ireland and in l':n<;land, in France
and Spain, in Constantinople and ('airo, in Delhi and
^lelboiniu'. When 1 look at this ceilino- and these walls,
all uuchan«ied, and think of the lirouj), small in number
butjL^Teat in heart, that then gathered around this table,
and of what tluy set on foot, I feel that the achieve-
ments of our (lays have surpassed the marvels of fable
and romance. Peter (N)oper has written his name on
walls of stone and iron ; Moses Taylor has heaped up
"riches and hcmor"; Marshall O. Roberts has ploughed
cither ocean with his swift ships; and yet uothing- that
these men have done has wrought half so nnudi for the
world, as that which they be,i«an that niiiht. The part
which my brother took you all know. Of the other two,
one, Mv. Chandler White, my friend of many years, fell
by the waysi<le, lonu before the end of the tedious
jouriu'y which the otiiers had before them, Mr. Wilson
T
■
2(1
(i. Hunt took liis mIju'c, iind Joiinieycd with tluin reso-
lutely to the end. Xo one knows better tliaii I the ob-
stacles wliieli these ^eiitlemeii had to oven-oine, the dis-
aj)i»oiiitinents to sutfer, the delays to sustain, the oblocjuy
to withstan<l; and no one ean bear stron<ier testimony
tlian 1 ean to their ]);'tlenee, their perseverance, their
eourai>'e, and the deserved lionor of their linal trinnii»li.
Tlie tlaii', American and English wrou<iht into one, which
lianas over these windows, is the si«;n ol' their constancy
in defeat, as of their victory. That united tla^' tloated
at the masthead of the Xia<iara in the disastrous exi)e-
dition of l.sr»7, and the partially successful one of IS.IS;
it was run up auain at the fore of the (Jreat Eastern, for
the voya<.;-e, when she failed in 1S(m, and was kei)t stream-
inn; in the wind, until it lloated over a victorious ship and
a <>reat work accomi>lished.
Though we then knew somethinin" «d" what we were
doing, we did not know all. Invents have outrun the
imagination. Little di<l I dream that, within twenty
.years, I should stand beneath the Southern Cross and
send from Australasia a message to my northern home,
which, almost while I stood, jtassed over half the globe,
darting with the speed of thought across the nearly 'J, 001)
miles of Australian desert, through the .\rafura Sea, past
ihe " Isles of Ternate and Tidove," across the Hay of
Jiengal and the Sea of Arabia, along the Hed Sea c<>ast,
under the Mediterranean, and liiscay's sleepless liay,
and linallv beneath our own Atlantic to this island citv,
"situate at the enti-y of the sea."
Seeing that so much has Iteen acc<uniilislied in the
quarter <'cntiny past, what may we not cxj^'ct in the
rtrr-
27
(inarter ctMitui-y to conio. Tlu; coini)letiou of the worM-
eiicirclin<>- girdle, by forcing the rcinanring link between
the Occident and the Orient, is bnt a part of what you
may witness. There will be new instruments for hand-
ling the electric current, as there are new places to
reach. Then, when every part of the earth shall be vis-
ited each day by the electric spark, with its messages
from the peoples of many lands, we may hopo to see
that better understanding among all the sons of men,
which is sure to teach them that the ways of peace are
the ways of prosperity and honor.
There is a natural association between one's legal and one's
spiritual adviser, and so it was (^uite iu the order of things for
Mr. Fiehl, after hearing from the counsel of the Company,
to re(piest his pastor, Kev. Dr. Adams, to give his henedie-
tion to the hapj)y occasion, who, being tinis called upon, re])lied:
Although (d)cdient to a summons so direct, T cannot
think tiiat tlui prof(\ssional services of any clergyman
are necessary at this Sha'EU \Vhi)I)1N(i. The Doges of
Venice were accustomed to repeat the ceremony of
marrying the Adriatic with a ring, every year; but the
event which we conmuMuorate to-night has proved so
happy that, with no need of second nuptials, and no
possibility of a divorce, we have only to congratulate all
concerned, and especially, as we all do most cordially,
Mv. Field and the friends assochitcd with him, in that
marvellous achievenient which, by one indissoluble cord,
has married all seas and all continents.
It rarely happens that those who have projected great
\
1
4
i ;
( ■
k..i
28
enterprises, live to see their fullest snecess. Columbus
tliscovered this Western henusphere in 149'J. After in-
credible reverses, ehnins even und imprisonment, he died
in fourteen years, without ji glimpse of our Northern
Continent, or any vision of the vastness of that New
World from which he had lifted the veil of the sea.
Hudson, iu KHM), discovered that noble river now bearinj"-
his name, on whieli sits our own metropolis. J{ei)eating
his voyao-e the next year, he was set adrift, in a small
shallop, on the oi)en ocean, by a nmtinous erew, and
never afterward was he heard of. Robert I'^ulton, iu
1807, ascended the North Kiver in his first steau.boat,
the "Clermont." Seven years only elai)sed, when, wori'i
out with litigations and perplexities, he died, not having
seen iu the most brilliant pictures of hir imagination
what is familiar to every one of us, on all tlu^ rivers,
lakes, seas, and oeeans of the globe. Of such exi)Iorers,
inventors, and discoverers, it may be said, as of the old
Prophets, that "not unto themselves, but luito us, they
did minister" the things whi<-h to them were disclosed
only by occasional glimpses through the rifts of the
clouds, liut here are we gathered, ;is wc have Ik'cu
reminded, in the very room and by the very table at
which, twenty-five years ago, were seated the five uumi
who signed the contract for constructing and laying the
first Atlantic Cable ; and here, after the lapse of a (piar-
ter of a century, all of thesi' very men, with a single
exception, are nu't again -one of them, because of his
age, as well as his benevolence, the object of universal
veneration, surviving all the uncertainties ai>d i.-hanges
of life to receive the well earned cngratulations Of
i
20
tluMi' fri(Mi(ls, l)ecaus(^ tliomsclves pcninitted to see the
Jiniaziii;;' rcNiilts of tlicii' sagiicity jukI energy and faith.
May they all live to he greeted again at a Golden
Weddinc}.
I have no intention of saying ji word in laudation of
the Atlantie Cahle. The time foi* that has passed. In
the words of Holy Wilt: "He is of age : ask liini : he
shall speak fou himself." Though the ear eatehes no
articulate words passing along its (luivering strands, yet
this polyglot interpreter is speaking now, with tongue
of fire, beneath the astonished sea, in all tlie languages
of the civilized world. As Mr. Field has been pleased
to speak of me as his pastor during all the toils of that
Ijroject, whose success we now celebrate, I may, with-
out any infringement of professional proi)riety, bear tes-
timony to what was often brought under my personal
observation. I'rof. ^Morse and JNIr. Field— I speak of
them bticause of my special intimacy with them as their
pastor ; I doubt not th(^ same was true of their associ-
ates — always regarded themselves in this enterprise as
the children and agents of diviiu' L'rovidence. Never
did they fail, at every stage of the proceeding, at the
begi)niing of every voyage, to implore the aid of Him
who " holdeth the watcsrs in the hollow of His hand,"
and who hath made " whatsoever passeth through the
paths of th(^ sea." The motto on Mr. Field's coat-of-
arms — aS'«».s Dicii Ri<;n~\\'i\s no [►retence or impertinence.
One incident deserves to be inuiiortalized «».i canvas :
When Capt. Hudson, devout as he was gallant, after the
cable had been drawn to its anchorage on shore, sur-
rounded by his crew, with uncovered heads, fell upon
?
his knees, jiiul heneatli the stars o-avo thanks to Alinio-hty
(lod tor his gracious favor, and for the new power then
born into tJje worhl. With no tendency to snperstilion,
may we not believe tliat nineh of that pluck, so near
akin to faith, which bore tliese enterprising- men thron«>h
untohl ditlienlties, disappointments, and rebuffs, h'adin^-
them to risk tlieir eartldy fortunes in what to otliers
seemed chimerical, entailin«<^ cares, lon^' and painful sep-
arations from happy homes, such as few ever knew—
had its taproot in the reli<!iious conviction, that this
union of continents, syndmlized on our cards of invita-
tion, had a higher use and meanin«>- than i)ers()nal wealth,
or connnercial benetits, even the purpose of God to bring-
the thoughts and the Interests of all nations int(> ulti-
mate unity. As a i)ledge of success it matters much
whether one works with the current of Trovidenc^e or
against it. At this late stage of histor.v for local |M)li-
ticians to put an endjargo on international intercoinse,
or attempt to prevent the intermingling of all tribes,
nations, and kindreds, reminds one of the words of
Luther: "lie who would blow out (lod's tires <h)es but
blow the coals and the ashes in his own face." Here, in
this room, in the presence of these our fellow-citizens
whom we have conn^ to congratulate and honor, as the
original contractors of the first inter-continental Tele-
gra[>h, here is the place, and this is the time to fornuilate
the lesson: amid all the mysteries and confusion of the
world, the more we study the ways of Trovidence, the
more of design, and ordei-, and harmony, shall we see.
As the first niessage along the first telegra|>h on land
was "What has (lod wrought," and the first words which
I
'M
llaslitMl iRMU'sith the sea were "Peace on caitli, gooiX
now, as wo loan to listen to the voice
will to men" ; so
which, (lav and ni«-ht, is passi
nii
under the surges of the
Western ()ee:in, this is its interpretation :
'• ("lose wcMldod liy tliiit mystir cord
Tlic continents arc one,
And one in liciirt as one in blood
Shall :dl their jx'oples be;
The liiinds of liuninn brotherhood
Shall clasp beneath the sea."
After tliese ^rracefnl an.l roucl.in- w.nls ncthincr more needed
to he said, and the host 1..1 th. way to the entertainment provided
in the adj..inin- huil.lin-. Mr. Kvarts takin- in Mrs. Field, Sir
Edward Thornton the eMe^t (hu.uht.r ..f Mr. Field, the ITawauan
Minister another dano-l>ter, and th. Russian Minister, Mrs.
Dmlley Field, dr. The pavilion which had heen erected for the
purpose was dres>e.l with the tla-s of all nations. In the eentre
was spread a l<.uir table loaded with delieaeies, and ornament-
ed with ships and locomotives, and other enddematie devices.
lTo,v for an h..nr and a half, was a scene of festivity and rejoic-
.„,.,. ( ),,i „,,„aintanccs and fricn.ls met fron. different parts of
the eonntrv. who had not seen each other for years. The feehnj.^
shown towanl Mr. Field and his family, was one of snch personal
kimh.ess as nu.st l,ave heen very ^ratefnl to hin.. All congrat-
ulated hin. on the past, and wished he might live t.. celebrate the
(iolden Weddinu-of this happy marriage of laud and sea. As
,„. l„i...,,, ,,rew on the guests hegan to take their leave, feehng
that thev iiad been present at an occasion, not merely ot social
^.„. ,^.„^^;,,^ „., „,, snggestive of the advance of the world in
scu.ntiHc. discov.M-v and its practical application to the arts of
in,. i„ that sebjection<.f the forces of nature to tlK^mrpo^^"^
. ,' • ..i.u.li i.iirks a loll"" steo forward in the
<d human intercourse. wliieU niaiK^ a ion., i
nroirress of mankind.
M
k..i
As Mr. Kicltl lias s|M.kfii so ijciu-nMisly of liis associati-s in tin-
(.riuinal .'iifcrpris.'. it is l.ut rit^lit that it slmul.l apjx'ar liow fully tlicy
Iiav.> i-fcoiririzcd :iii(l apitm-iatt'd his scrvicfs. At the first mcctiiii.' of
the Ni'W York. Nrw toiiiHllaiid and I-ondoii 'I'l'lcyrapli Company, after
the sue vssftil liiyinir of the caldr in !f^:)H, tli.' followiiiif resolutions
were olVerecj l>y I'eler Cooper and secondeil \>\ Moses Taylor, and
nniininioiisly iidopteil :
W/ierea.s. This Company was the first evi'r fornie.l for the estaldisii-
ineiit of an .Vtlantie Teleirraph ; an enterprise ii|Min wiiieh it starte<| in
the Ix'iriiiniiiir <if l'^'>t. :>t ♦•>'' instaiKv of Mr. Cyrus W. Field, and
which, throwuh his wise and unwearied eiier^'y, actin<r upon this Com-
pany, and others atterwards formed in eon.ieetion with it, has Ix'eii sue-
eessfiilly accomplished -. 'Iherefore the stoekliold.'rs of this Company,
at tills their lirst mec.inix since the com|detion of the enterprise, .lesir-
int; to testify their sense ot' Mr. I'ield's services:
Jiesnlre : First— That to him more than any other man the world is
iiidel.tcd for this maizniticeiit inst rumcnt of irood ; and hut for him it
would not. in all i)nd)al)ility, lie now in existence ;
S(>c(. lid -That the thanks of the stockholders of this Comically are
herehy -riven \>> Mr. Field f-r these s rvi.'.^s, uhieh. tlioimli so irrcat, in
themselves, and so valiial.le t<. this ' 'ompany. u eiv rendered without
remuneration ; and
'Pliii-il 'I'liat a copv of this resoliitic'ii. eerlitied liy the Chairman
and Secretary of this mctini:, lie delivcivd to Mr. Field as a reeoir,ii.
tioii. I.y those who hest know, of his just vvM to !„• always ivtrarded
as thi" fust projector, and most p.^rsistciit an. I ellicieiit pronmt.'r. of the
.\tlantic Telegraph.
I'ktkk Cooi'KH, C/i'iiniKi/i.
• Wilson (!. Wis \, Scrrc((tii/.
■
•'-"'-^^MiiiiiiiiiimiNjui
LETTERS AND TELEGRAMS.
KXTKNSION OF TKLErTFtAPITS ON LAND
[Tl.
statciiu'iit irivcii 1
II tlic adtlrcss o
f Mr. Field I's to tlu> exten-
sion t>\' < )eeaii
li'tter from t
the woi
Telegraphy, is a.imiral)iy siippleinented l)y the foUowing
he l'resi(U'nt (.f tlie hirgest Land Telegraph Company in^
Id showin-r, as it does, how vast has hecoiiie the system of
tele<M-a|)hie eommnnieation both npon luiid and sea.]
Fnuu Norvin (jlrcoii, hsq.,
Esd., Prosldont of the AVcsteni Union Tolcsjiapli
Company.
New Youk, Ma/ch 1(», 1879.
Cvuus W. FiKi.i), Ks*i.
Mi/ Ihar X//',— I 1)L'^- nio
belli*;- spam! and i>r('serve(l, sti
tain v<»iir nuinerons
st lieartily to congratulate you on
in the vigor of life, to enter-
friemls at a reception on the quarter-
centennial anniversary o
Atlantic with a Telegrapiiic Cable, as give
f vuur grand conception to spun the
11 the form of an
uiu
lertakinu bv the execution of an a<
n-eeiuent with your enter-
prising assoc
■iatt
at vour liouse on
the lOth of March, 185-i.
Tl
lis event niai
•ks also about the period of my own c
•onnee-
tion with Telegraph enterprises, since which I have continued
to participate in the executive management of Telegraph Com-
panies. I have, therefore, some knowledge of the great advance
made in T-legraphy, both as a scientific art and as a business
enterprise, ..vcm- lanil as well as under s(>a, with whicli advance
your undertaking, and the energy and perseverance with which
"it was pursued, lias had very much to do.
TTp to IS.U, the total Submarine Telegraph Cables wdiich
had been lai.l and worked, did not exceed (100 miles, of which
m
480 miles were in four lines l»ctwoon Kii^'liin<l and llolland, and
108 miles were in four lines across ilie British Channel— all in
comparatively shallow water. The lonjjest cihle working was
120 miles; and up to a period ten years later, it was almost
universally held by the most sei( itifie a.ul experienced electri-
cian, that about 00(» miles was the maximum distance at which
it would he possil.U' to send a Telejrraph current for any prac-
tical purpose throuj,di a Submarine Cable in one circuit. The
concei)tion of spannin^^ the Atlantic at that early date, was there-
fore almost a vision of prophecy, far in advance of all philosophy
and science in the then state of the art. And to the wonderful
grasp of this grand enterprise, and the iiuhuuitable energy and
perseverance with which it was prosecuted, imder the most dis-
couraging ausi)ices, the world of science and the great interests
of commerce arc most undoubtedly indebted for the achieve-
ment of the grand benefits of Atlantic Cable communication, to
the present age and generation.
This grand success, demonstrating that the thing could be
done, gave a general impetus to deep-sea (.'ables all over the
world, of which there are now between 70,iMK) and lon.ddO miles
in operation— more than suthcient t(. inak<' three entire circuits
of the globe.
The total extent of Telegrapli lines in the Cnited States at
that time comprised about 2t;,(ioo miles cf wire: and the total
numlier of messages transmitted could not have exceeded 2,000,000
per annum. There are now about 200,000 miles »»f Telegraph
wires in operation on this Continent, an increase of ten fold, and
the Company I represent is alone transmitting 24,000,000 of
messages per annum, an in.-rease of twelve fold over the entire
traffic of that date. The rates of tolls to the public, notwithstand-
ing' the extension to the PaciHc, and greatly increased distances
^^-
;r»
mcfirtfijires aro fmnsinitted, Imve been rtMliicoil from an average of
not IcHH than $1 . 1<» per iiiessagi', t(. that (hiring the hist year of
3Si cents; and tlie Hcrviee han heen so improved that, instead of
waiting nntil tlio next day for answers, meuihers of the Produce
Kxchanges and Boards of Trade com])hun if they do not got
answers fr.)in Boston, Chicago, and other p^inls on Hoard of
Trade lines, within twenty minutes after sending the;- ni.ssage.
The improvement in the profits of Tek^graphy . • I'Msine'
enterprise, has heen eiiuidly marked and decided A large major-
ity of the early Telegraph companies failed to realize a financial
success in their l.usiness; and breaking down, like many of cur
railroads in the h.st few yeiirs. were purchased at much less than
their cost aiMl stocked into other cmpanies which had been more
successful. This tendency to c.nsolidation, originatiug in nec-is-
sity, was found desirable fnmi motives of nmtual interest, an<l
went on nntil mor.. than fcmr-tifths ..f the entire Telegraph lines
on the (^mtinent are owned and operated by one (,'ompany.
These Hues exteml from the Canadian bonier to the Gulf of
Mexico and the Ilio (Iran.le, and from North Sidney, Nova
Scotia t,. the Pacific OceiUi, and up the Pacitic coast into the
British Possessions, a spu, East and West of 4,500 n.iles, over
which it req.nres four hours and a .(uarter for the Sun to riBC ;
a.id the feat has been prrtormc.l of ])ublishing in the umrning
papers at San Francisco the markets of London at the close of
Exchange hours of the saiiu' day.
1 am, my ilear sir,
Respectfully and truly yours,
NOliVlN GREEN.
■'•«»,.
t
;i(i
From >Villiaiii K. Kv(>r4>(t, 1Im> Kiiu'lnccr of (lie Miiuiira, in tlio
£\unlitioiiH of iNi'ii uimI iH'tS
^Fy DiAi! ^FiJ. Fiimd: On Mccount of illiu'ss 1 Inivc iM't'ti
iinahli to Ifiivc my Ihnisc t'or soiiii' iiioiitlis, Imt miii imiu'ov f<l
Mitliciciitlv to si'i'k :i niort' iiiiM cliiiiiitc, aiiil all ai raii<j:rint'iils
art' made tor Icaviiin' on Momlav next. 'riicrcl'ort' it is iin-
possiltli' I'oi- nil- to acc<'i»l yoiir invitation for tin- HUli, and
with how n-uch regret 1 am nnalth' to cxpross. l'rol»altl_v
thero is no oiu' |>('r>on who had nioi'c oppdptiinity t(» know-
on how minv occasitnis the carrvin^ ont of the plan to con-
nect the Old and the New World hy an electric cal.le would
have heen abandoned, l>nt for yon individually. It was often
and often attended l»y such unfavorahle cii'cunistances that all
otliers were in di'>j»air and dislieartonecl, hnt you never; and
t«» your umneasured energy and encouraj^inient the sclnine
was solely indehtecl for its tinal success. Xothin;?; liii; the
impossihle ])revents me from liavin<f in person the plea>ure of
expressini;: my coiiijratnlations on the twciity-tifth anniversary
of the ori^anization of the >clicnie, ami tli.it the yeais ot lahor
and devotion \ on have ^ivcii were at last terminated with such
eoinjdete satisfaction.
1 trust you may lonu' <'iijoy all the hv>t tlie v/orld can
bestow as a compensation, and wish iml to be foi'i^ntten as
amonir \\\e mmilier of your well-wishers in whatever you may
undertake.
Yours faithfully,
w. K. evkim:it.
Kyk, March 1, 1870.
.4 !
I
.17
A uTt'iit niiiiiluT of h'ttt'i-H ami tclfjiraiiiH were rcccivi'd tn»m tlistiii-
^iiislicd |MTs..iis ill all parts of tiir c.imtry- fn.iii tlic l»rosi.li'iit ui tho
rnil.-.l States ami Mi'iiilwrs cf tin- Caliim't ; Sfiiators ami MciuIhts of
th,. Iluiisc of IJ.|.n's.'iitativ<'s; .lii<l,s,'.'s of tlic Siipninc Court, ami
rorcigii Ministers; fn.in (H-iicral Sh.rmaii and Admiral I'ortrr, licmls
of til. • Aniiv and Nav\ ; from the CoVfriiors of this and ot|i(>r Stati'H ;
troiii Pn-sidrnts of ("oll.-jics, and literary iiu-n. as well as tliose distiii-
uwishcd in tin- j^r.-at railroad, t.'l.-i;ra|.lii.'. and otii.r .Mil.r|.risrs of the
n.iintry. Kroiu a.ross thr l.oidrr Irttcrs wwr received from the Mar-
,,uis(d' Lome, the (i..vernor(;eMerid of Canada; from Sir John A.
Mae.lonald, Prime Minisler; f.om Sir Francis llineks ; from the Lieuten-
ant-^ ioxernor of Nova Scotia, and Sir FredcricU Carter, Chief Justice of
NeNvfonndl..nd,>.nd lUMuy others. <)ut<.f snch a nnml-r of letters,
iMdv a few .'an l.c -ivcn, whose spirit indicates that of iIm- whole:
From <iciM'ral Shcnnnn.
llKMHirAUTKHS AUMY OK TlIK rNITF.I) STATKS,
WasIIIN(1TON,
I). (•„ March :., 1S79.
Mi;, ('vims W. l"ii;i.i>
iilisciicc in till' Stmt
-I ndiinuMl last ui.-rld !><'t<^'' :' l'^'*^ weeks'
li aiitl t'ouiid ail iiiiiiuMist' pilo (d' paiRTs,
iiiioii'!' tlit'iii voiir vcrv
kind note and tlie liandsonie card of
invitation to voiir
i;,.,T|)tion (d' March Kitli. Kf-'iii tlie e
Mlt-
dlisl
mien
Is, 1
SIM'
that voii wi
II assendde under \(<ur inos
t
hospitaldr roof ivim'scnlativ.. men <d' the fonr .inarters <.f the
.Inhr. who l.v caldes of .dectn.-ity arc hein- l.n.n.uht into one
^Mvat fa.nllv.' I kuosv of im. spot on .-artli. or of no Imman
riw.llin- wh..iv >uch an a>seinhla-e ..f nu-n conld meet with
nioiv proprictv, and with a ^•reatcr certainty of reali/.in^^ that
wo are all akin. Ihit it cannot he my privilege. I have
!.,.,,„ ,way so m.u-li that I nu.st stay at In.me awhile, and
tlieref.»re nmst hei-- yoii to excuse me.
AVishin- yon an assemhlai-v worthy the oeeasion, I am, with
nrofoun.l respect, your friend and servant,
' W. T. SlIEiniAN, General.
A:
From Williniii Lloj<l (iariisoii.
Boston, March 8, 1879.
1)];ai{ Mk. Field:
Mativ thanks for v«>ur kind invitiition to hv one of a very
numerous assenihlaj^e that will meet at your residence on the
evenin*,' of the 10th instant, with reference to the completion
of a quarter of a century since the formation of the company,
wliidi, throu^di obstach^s seemingly insurmountahle, and with
chances of success that to almost all otiiers hut its half a
dozen meud)ers appeared utterly visitmary, laid the first At-
lantic cable between the I'nited States and (treat Ih'itain ;
and thus prepared the way f(»r a similar electric submarine
communication with the four quarters of the <rlobe — realizing,'
the vision of dolin in the Ap(.calyi)se, ;' And there was no
more sea.''
Unable to be with you on so jubilant an occasion, I can
only send ycm my warm conirratulations tliat — as it was pri-
marily owin<; to vcur own sublime conception. unfalterin<ij
faith, and indomitable perseverance and ener:;y — this most
wonderful achievement was tinally ('on>ummate(b you have
been pernutted to live to tliis auspicious day, — ^as I trust
have been mo.-t, if not all. of your early associates, wit]u)ut
whose co-operation the undertaking; mij;ht have been jiost-
poned for an indefinite pci'iod. All honor to you and to
them I Vou all doerve to be crowned with unfadin«; lau-
rels, and to hold a conspicuous |>lace in the pantheon of the
world's benefactors. There is no conii)uting arithmetically, no
grasping ideally, the value to mankind of this exploit, where-
])V time, space, and distance are ahnost annihilated in the in-
tercliange of nnnd with mind, the dissemination of every va-
tt ^1
30
no
tj of intelli<,'onco, and reporting' the hcart-pulsationF of our
common humanity universally
.111(1
b
ak
instinct
Uouiul tlie earth's electric, circle, tlie swift flash of right or wrong;
Whether conscious or unconscious, yet humanity's vast frame,
Through its ocean sundered fibres, feels the gush of joy or shame ;
In the gain or loss of one race all the rest have equal claim."
With sincere wishes for your heahh and happiness, I re-
main vours to lahor for the incoming of that prophetic pe-
riod,
" When man to man the world o'er,
Shall brothers be, for a' that."
WM. LLOYD GARRISON.
Mr. EiuK'h Pratt, of naltinioro, wrote:
That^Irs. H. K. Johnston, of that city (Miss Harriet Lane),
had in her possession the original despatcli sent in 1858 to her
uncle. President l^uchanan. hy Queen Victoria, and would allow
it to be l.ri.ught to N(>w Y.irk for this occasi(ui. The offer
was gladly accepted, and it was brought on by Mr. Pratt himself,
and attracted great attention during the evening. It is as
follows :
To THE Phksident ok the United States, Washington:
The Queen desires to congratulate the President upon the successful
c.mipletion of the great international work, in which the Queen has
taken the greatest interest.
The Queen is convinced that the President will unite with her in fer-
ventlv hoi.ing that the electric cable which now connects Great Britain
with 'the rnited States, will prove an additional link between the nations
whose friendship is tuun.lcd in their .■ommon interest and reciprocal esteem.
The Que.M. has much pleasure in thus communicating with the President
nnd renewing her wishes tor the pro>perity of the United States.
V
■ppRnaMMM
40
From John 0. Whlttlor.
[Ill 1858, wlu'ii the first success of an Atlantic cahle
startled the people of this couiitrv, AVhittier wmte some of
his most stin-inn- lines on this victorv t»f peace — lines which
eiii-ht years after were repeated with i;'reat efl'ect hy the l)id<e
of Argyll, at a dinner n;ivc'u to Mr. Field, in London. It
occurred to a hmtlicr of Mr. Field that it would l)e pleasant
to hear au-aiii from the now vcneral)le poet. T(» this request he
sent the following answer:]
Oak Knoll, Danvkks. id Month, 24, 1879.
II. M. FiKM., 1 ).!).:
I>,<1/' Fr/i/n/,— \ wish it was in my power to send some
fitting- words for the family t'ch'hratioii of the Twenty-tifth
.Vnniversary of the laying of the Atlantic C'ahle. I regret
that it is not in my jiower to do ju>tice to the occasion in
verse.
A quarter of a century ago, I wrote some lines on the
eomph'tion of the great enterprise, with whit-h thy brother's
name is so houoi-ahly assoeiated as oui' of the nolilest bene-
factor.- of his race. 1 do not know that I c(»ulil adil any-
thiui;- to them. No words can do ju>tice to an iMiterpi'ise of
such colossal magnitude, of such j. resent re.-ults and future
possiliilities.
"Pre,--ent to thy hrotlii'i- my wai'mot coiigratidatioiis, and
believe me verv trulv.
Thy friend,
.loIlN (!. wiirniKK.
n
From Rev. Henry >V. Hollows, D.H.
Nkw Yduk, Feb. '?.'),
1879.
T)i:au ^fu. Fii;i.ii :
Laocooii iUid his suiis
in the folds of the serpen
were hardly more inextricahly ('auf>-ht
ts, than vonr name and fame are bound
Uj) in the Cahle. I think yon mi,^-lit havi' had the (Jreek sculp-
ture on vonr shield, except that while Laoeoon and his children
di\'(/ of their stran";ulatioiu von //'rr hy your
s! i adnnre the
niirenion?
vonr can
, twists hy which the Cable speaks ont your initials in
1 of invitation. To write one's name hi initc/', and to
lav it down it/xh'i' the irata\ are two very (
liil'erent roads to
immortality, and you have chosen, or hrcn clm^en for, the last.
'^S.iiix D'liii /.^V;^"
Uow fortunate to remain youiig am
iiv
e vear:
back to d;ite one's (
tlu'ir ci'own on Iti'ows a
1 active, with twenty-
■hief deed from ! Most men put
Ireadv noddiui;- to the <>;rave. Yon wear
vour
laurels .m youn-;. temples, that still throb with new ei
iter-
prise and tivsli j)uri
I shall come on
)oses.
^farch loth, and see how famous men 1
)eai*
thfir triumj)
centurv festival of vour
hs. and c(.n,u-ratulate you in lierson on the cpiarter-
Transatlantic Telegrai>liic Cable's birth
— oi- I'ather C(ince])tion.
That
\(»n are an
American, secures you
from ever heing an
iron (ink(
but certainlv von are
tl't rr-pil
■p
tlu' most fanuius of all the
^/,',/',v, and have a full title to havin-- (nitwitted Xeptune
Ink
ai
id Chroiios, an
1 beaten even Apollo in the race,
All of which euiu-mas, interi)rete
d, mean onlv my cordial
sympathy with the hap]
)V o(
casion von ci'k
brati
Yours with sincere svmimthy and Amencan pri.te,
iii.:m>v \v. r.KLLows.
I
42
Fr«»iu the Edit or of tlic Clilcajro Tribiino.
Editouim, Rooms, Tiik Tuiiu;ne, Chicaoo, March fi, 1879.
!My Dkak Mh. Fikld:
I reirix't e.\cee(lin<;lv that I shall he iinahlc to accopt yo\ir
kind invitation to a MK'etin«j; of yonr friends eoninienionitini): the
ineeption of your scheme for coiinectinir the New witli the Ohl
Worhl l.y Ocean Tele^M-aph. It was the hohlest scientific project
of the century, and seemingly the most impussihle. Ihit hrains,
pluck, and cai)ital triumphed, and Piu-k put his girdle round the
earth. To you fairly belongs the lion's share of the credit.
Even envy has not attempted to tear a laurel from your brow.
May you live to celebrate the Golden Wedding of Kurope and
America in the indissoluble bonds of electricity!
Very truly yours,
J. MEDILL.
\\ «s;_ — I vividly remember the great shout that went up
when the electric announcement came that Field's Atlantic
Telegraph was laid on its ocean bed, and that iJritannia was
''telephoning" to Columbia, or words to that eiVect, ''(Jlory to
Science" was the head-line (»f The Chicago Tribune's pean.
Silence and darkne.-s succeeded the "vocal Hash," and sorrow and
desj)air followed joy and jubilee.
Manv unbelievers l.iughed, and nioi-ked at "(Jlory to
Science"; and the reply was ''Preserve your weak souls in
patience, and give that iiid(»mitable ' Yankee' another chance,
anil if h(! doesn't make the lightning cross on his wire bridge,
vou mav have our heads for footltallsl" It was not long before
the laugh was on our ^ide, and we enjoyed it. M.
mi
'A
43
The laic Eliliii Kiirritt.
"Tlio Intt" Elilni P.iirritC writes it tVieiul to Mr. Field, " ii
few (lavs before his death, was innch pleased at receiving an
invitation to the celebration at vour residence. He M'as too feeble
to answer, but greatly appreciated your kind renienibrance.
" Only a few days before his death he tried to tell me some-
thing of his early movement in the I*eaco Cjiuse, and spoke of
vonr kind and substantial aid."
J. Watson W«'1>1», late Minister to Brazil, writes ;
"Ocean Telegraphy would have come to us when it siiited
the wisdom of (Jod, and the ad\ance of science, to give it to us;
but vou have won the distiiu'tion of having anticipated its arrival
by a i)eri(Ml of more than twenty years. During each mimite
and space of time it has conferred innumerable blessings upon
mvriads of peopk'. You have therefore richly merited the
enviable title of a great pul»lic benefactor.''
{{
!►'" 11
li'xas iiiii
fniiii every piirt of our coiiiitry, from "Nraiiio to
I Calit'oriiia ; tVoin NewrciiiiiUaiKl. from the Dominion of
Tlic teleirrams were
Canada and .lamaica
from England, Seotliind, Ireland and (iermany
A few only can Ik> iriven, as sliowinjjj the spirit of the wliole:
Fr«i:i Mr. (Jravcs, Aii}rlo-A r - •• Te'n'srniidi ('(•iiii»aii.v"s (Mllfc.
Vai.kntia. luKi.ANii, Marcli 10.
This anniversary witnesses (hi,.. e\ workin.u across the- Athiutie as
an aeeomplished fact.
From Doaii Stnnloj.
Westminsteu Addky, March 1 0th.
HK'ssiuiZs from \Vi>tminster Ahbey on the Silver Wedding of I'ai-
irhind aihl America. W hat ( iod hatii joined t(.uetlier, let no iumii pnt
asumler.
From Sir >Villiam Thomstm, LL.I)., F.H.S.
(ii.AS(.ow Inivkhsity, Marcii 10th.
T" iks for your kind invitation. 1 am sorry your ealdes cannot
flash me t<. tlie'lludson and hack; and so I eamiot he with you this
eveniiiu; but tiiey .lo allow me to eon<rratulate you heartily, and wisli
continued prosperity and extension all around the world of o.'i'an tele-
graphy.
From Sir Janus AiMlcrson, who ('oiiiniaiKlcd llio (ircal Kastcrii in the
FxiK'dhioii of 1N(»'» and iHlJti.
{.(•NhoN. M.ireh 10th.
It cannot tail to ^rratify you, and sliouM astoiii>li \oui' -iicsts, to
rraliz.' the aiiiazin- irrowth of \our o.can child: si\t> tliou>and
ii,il,.s of (ahic, c^iiiiL' al.oiit twenty million pounds stcrlin.L', have
I,..,. I, laid >iMce your eiicruy initiated the first loui: 'aide. Distance
has no Ionizer anMhinix to .lo with coninierc.' : iIh' t'orci._ni trade of
all civilized nations is now l.econiinic only an extendcil home ti-aile;
all the old ways of commerce are chani:e<l or eliaii,<.'intr. crcaliuir
;niioii::>t all nations a common interest in the welfare of eai'li other.
'\\, |,;,v,. Keen the pioueer p'lr vvrclbnre in this ^^vva\ w.-rk. should
be most u'lMtifyinu' 'o yours df and your f.imily : and no man .-an
take iVtiUi y(ju the [)rouil position.
15
I'nuii Sir SaiiiiH'l CannlnK:, Knisiiu'cr on both ExikmIUIoiis in llic Umit
Kaslcrn.
London, March 10th.
I oonjTratiiliitc yoii and yoiir cn-di rectors uihui the twcuty-lit'th aiiiii-
vcrsarv ot" the turiiiatinn of the New Yurli, Nt-w t'oiiiKUaiid and i^uiidou
Telegraph ('oiiipaiiy, the pioneer i>i' ali the Athintie eahles. I look
hacli witli pleasure to our (irst etVorts hetween Newtoiindland and Cape
lireton Island in iN-'i.'), and to friendships tlien mad.', and wish you all
lieulth and happiness
from Sir Ihniicl (i(MMli, Chairman ol" llio IVlcirniph Construction and
Maintenance C»nii»any.
London, >rareh 10th.
I congratulate you on this twenty-fifth anniversary of the organiza-
tion of the New Y.")rk, Newfoundland and I-ondoii T( '. -graph Company,
primarily dne to your mitiring energy in ihe cause of <»cean telegraphy,
which resulted in uniting Kurop.' Nsitli America l.y calde. May this
ininivcrsarv meeting prepare the way for the still gran.h'r work of cu-
uecting the great Am.'rican Kcpuldi.' with the Continent of Asia, thus
comi»leting the circuit ot'tlic ghdic.
Kr;>ni .lolni IVmlcr, i:s(|., M. I'.
London. March lOtli.
\s one ,.f vour earlv .ujlea^.mes in the Atlantic Cal.le enterprise, I
e<uigratulate vm. h.-artilv on the great res.dts of suhmarine telegraphy,
,l„.C,„„.dalionofwhichis very much <lue to your energy and enter-
prise. Y.ui mav n n.en.lu.r what strn-des we had in this country to
„,,,,,•„, ,1,,. M.oncv for the first Atlantic Company, and how many
srluMucs were su-.stcd. and tried, and failed, to enlist the puhl.c cou-
,1,,,,„,, i„ ,1,, ,;„.rvin^ out of the ^rcat work. Now l.y perseverance it
is crowned Nsith si.n.al success. It has done nuwh, and will do '.mre,
to l.ring the w.,rld i.ito harmony. Kvery day proves that it ,s carry-
ing forwar.l the gn-at objects of human and material progress.
,5,,,.,, ,;,„u.r. whose na.nc is i.lcntilied with telegraph lit.es all <.ver
,,„. world, sends from London Ins -hearty cougratulatu.ns ; and
"Sien.ens."the<listinguished Kngi-iecr and Eleetri..ian, the matu.tac-
,,„.,,, ..fo.'can cables, sends his -.■ahle -reetings. '
(Sfi^*™™"*-'^'"- '~ y.-i--^-''*^*':. m ■ i i!fl(Hm
tmmtm^---
k;
From Heiirj Woavpr, Esq., fioncnil Wrtiiaufor Aiiirlo..Vmorl<'nii Telc'
KTaipli ('(Miipany.
FiMNDON, M.irch 10th.
.\i'ci'|it luv Uiiid cotiixriitiiliilioiis upon tlic Iwciity-tirtli ;iiiiiivcrs,irv
ol'tlif (iccisioii wlicii till' |)Mssil>ility of coiiiu'cf iiiii Kurinu' iiml America
l)_v .siiltiiiiiriiu' Atlantic caliics, was iiist (lisciissfii at your house. 1
trust that the many f'riemls assemliled arouml you to-ilay may live to
otl'er voii their ijood wishes upon the liirieth amiiversa>'y.
Messrs. Grant and Wells of tlie same Comf)any's staff also " hope
that they may have the pleasure of eoniirutulatinu' him ii;j;aiu at the end
of anuther twi-nty-five years."
Vvtm Htm. John Welsh, raited States Miiiistor to (irc.it llritalii.
London, Mareh 10.
Warmest salutations to von and voui' friends.
i
From .Iiiiiiiis S. Moriran, Esq.
liONDON, ^fareh 10th.
I add my eon<,'ralulatioiis to the many you will receive at your
Silver Weilding to-day. 'J'he (ioldcn Wedding will ^n-atefully inau-
gurate a new century. Promise me an invitation.
From Hr, Stepliaii, Fostmastor-(ieiieral of (Germany.
liEiu.iN, Mareli lOtli.
Sincerest con<rratulatioiis to the originator of the admirable work of
ocean cable. May it always jirovc a medium for proinotinir tlie pcace-
tul union of nations !
From Sir Hinrli Allan, Preshlont of lln^ Monlmil Tclosrrapli Tompany.
MoNTiiEAi., March lOtI).
As the leading spirit in developintr and practically carrying' into
ctleet sulnnarine tcle'nMphv, vou are entitled to much credit ; and I an\
sure the time is not far distant when you will, in this resjiect, and in
others also, he j'ei^arded as a wry cmini'ht public bcnctiictor.
1 I'
47
From 4'aniula.
Iltiii. \l. \\. Dicki'}', Senator, tclci^'raplis from Ot'awii:
Ottawa semis coiiirratiilatioiis — shared liy the (ioveriior (leiienil
(Mar(|uis of Lorne), I'l'emier (Sir -lohii A. Macdoiiald), and Somites of
Caiiuihi — to tile pioneer of 'I'rans-Atlanfie Tele<j;ni[)liy, on this (juarter-
ceiitnry anniversary.
From Ur. Lasard, Manager anil Uircctor of tiio (•eriiiaii Union Tel*
i>u:ra|)li Coinpany,
Kkri.is-. March 10th.
IMease accept my Itest con;ifratnlatioiis on the twi'hty-fifth anniver-
sary of till- day when lirst yon liei;an earryini.' into elVect your great
idea of a teli'ifraphic connection l»etwien tiie two hi'mispheres. The
cios<> and friendly relation lietwei ii my coinitry, and the undi-rtaking
which origin.ites from that day, causes me the greatest satisfaction in
inv position. I am verv sorrv indeed that the yreat distance has pro-
vented me from accepting your kind invitation, tor which 1 thank you
verv much in mv mind. However, I am ech l)ratiug the day with
•ou.
From Sir Anliiony M»sg:««v«', K. ('. M. (i., (iovornor of .laniaica.
INdSToN,
AM Alt' A,
March 10th.
I wish I could have accepted your invitation t'or to-night, and offered
mv congratulations upon the anniversary of what 1 saw completed in
Newfoundland when I lirst met you. Drink the health of your grand
ne|>hevv whose birthday it is, and who has directly descended from the
cable to which 1 am deeply indebted for my wife. All well.
Nfr
From Mural llalslcad. Cincinnali.
ll;d>tc!id is well known as oiuot'tlie in(i>t I'ainousof Aiiicricun jour-
alists. In 1.ST4, he aecmnpanii
d Mr. Field to l.chuid to attend the niil-
Icnial celelu-ation of the lirst seltl. men
Inabilitv to attend voiii- Silver
t of tliat island:!
Weddintr with Atlantic Telegraphy
a eenMiionv metnoi
able forever— sincerelv ri'grcttcd
IT(
ipe to joii
vou ami
N'ler
("
ooper oil
the (
lolilen
Anniversary I Do not forget our
appointment at Reykjavik. lc(dand. f.u- the second millennial cele
bration
of the settlement of Iceland I I his is
I markul anniversary for me also
— (dosini' tweiitv-six years of connection w
C'ommereial."
,ith "The Cincinnati
! I'ti^
IS
Fi'oiii (apt. H. V. MajiM', II. \., <'. II.
Ottawa, Mi.ivli Uttli.
Coii-iiMtiilati' ynii iMost lu'iutilv <»ii this iiiiiiivcrsury of your gmit
triiinipli. May it iit-vt-r l>i' tori,'ottcii in the amials ol'tlu' worltl !
rroin Thomas Allt'ii. Ksq.
St. horis. Mo.. Maivli UUli.
Voiif I'litcrpiisf iiiailc till' cai'tli siualliT |iliysically. larger iiitflK'ct-
iiallv. and l(!'<>ni:lit liiinianity iicarcr a unit. I heartily join in the inii-
vorsal roniiiatulations \ipMii tliis Silver \V»'i|(linir of tlie ll.'miHplu'n-s,
and in t'elicitations ol' yourstdf, son ot" Merksliirf. as its Iii;,rh priest.
'I'lianks tor the invitation, and reirrets that I ea;ini«t he |>resent.
From .1. II. Wade, who was ('iia:ai.'('<l jnirs a«:o in Tie ciitcriuisc to
carry a Tchirraph to Asia \ia the Western roast of America an«l
Itehrinic's Straits.
Aceejtt my eon^'ratidati( is. .\ithoii;.jh \onr siieeess defeated our
hinil line to connect iMirope and America, via IJehrinix's Stiaits, [ can
Init rejiiice in the most jfomi to the irreatest numl)er, .and no one is
prouder ot'yi.nr lireat aeliieveiiients ot nnitinjr the nations nf tin' eirtli
liy neean ealile. than your tVii'nd. •' ■ ''• " ^l"■■•
From ('. II. F. IVtcrs, IMreclor of the l.ilciillcia Ooscruitory.
[I'rnf. l*eU'r>, dl" llainilloii CoUeir". i-; well known to the scicntitic world as
one of (lie most cniiiu nt of American, or indeed of living, astronomers. He
is the discoverer of several asteroids, and wa> sent ..lit l>y tlie I'uited States
Government four years -a'^o to make oliscrvations on the tran-^it of Venus from
flic otlua- side of the ^dolie. Mis scicntitic entliUMasm will explain the |ifcn-
liar pliiMscolo-ry of this telcLrrain, winch he sends from his ( )liservatory : |
Asti-oiiomcrs tliroujilioiit the worM cuinplinient, ( '\ rns \V. Field for
Athintic Cable, flasliinjf news t'n.m the stars, t-llinir planets unknown,
connecting heaven and earth.
From Dr. Isaac I. Hayes, the Arctic Kxplorer, !!o« Mcmher of the
Asseuihly.
AiaiANV, Maiu'!1 loth.
\'er\ much regret that pulilie hnslnes- ,iet .ins me liere this evening'.
.\eeept m\ congratulations and I'ordial i.mm.1 wishes. 'The years of
yuiir tri'iidly kindness to me are measured hy the period y(ni ceUd)rate.
">
40
From Eioii. It. I., (lihsoii, Mt'iiibcr ol' ('<)im'n>s> from lionlsiaiia.
\\ A>lllN(iT(tN. Millrll lOth.
Mr. (iilisuii uircis his sincere regrets ami iiidst citrilial lelicitatioHH
ill cMiiiiuemiiratiiiii (d'eveiits wliuli mark tlie advuiicriiieiit <»t' iiiaiikiiiil
ill the arts III' peace ami eivilizatiuii.
Ki'oiii Sriiator Katoii ol' ConnH'ticiit.
I Iautkuiii), March Kith.
IJefirct that I caiimit lie with voii. 'I'he ( hiircli, lieiicli, Bar, ami
Scionco aliko luuKir tiie iiaiiie t<f Kit'lil.
From Kx-(i<»voriior liciaiid Shiiiford of Cnlil'oniia.
Sam FuANOiscd, ^^al>•ll lOtli.
Mr. Staiif'onl con-jratiilates Mr. Fii-hl ii|m)|i the <,'raml succcsh of iiis
^rcat work. Tlu" proirre-is of civilization tor the past twenty-live years
has lieeii womlcrfiil licyomi any precedent in history ; Kiit shoiild tho
future twcntv-five years lie iindistiirhed liy violence, the possihilities of
inipioveiiieiit can only he vaguely Mirmised ; for the iiici'cascd tacllities
of the tilei;raph, of st.'ain, and of the pi'ii!lin<f-press, make the whole
civili/ed world as one iiciirhhorhood. We can hope evei'Uhing tVom
the future, t'Xeept t'roiii its political atmos|(liere.
(icorirc S. Liuld, of llic lVl<'Lfni|(li Ollico, San Francisco.
( 'oii"ratiilatioiis iipoii the occasion w hi'li celehratcs the triiniiph ot a
ipiarter of a century a<ro. We, of the I'aeifie, antici|i ite the day when
Voii will crown vour laurels with a Trans-i'acife (".dile.
rroni .Mr. Stearns, llic Inventor ol'the Duplex System oC Tele^'raphy.
[Tlie tirst of the .d.ovc tcle-rraiiK, from Valcntia. Ireland, announces the
successful ai>i)licatio.i of the Duplex System oi Telenrapliy to the ocean
caMes. Mr. Slearns the inventor of tiiat System, was al>srnt from Valentia
when ids invitation came: hut retuniiiiy a day or two after, telegraphed to
Mr. Flcl.i:|
Vonr kind invitation just recelv.d two days alter the fair. May
yunr y.'ars and y-.ur Idcssiiiirs i.e -.Inplexed •" ! Mny you live to put
a uird'le inimd tl'e eaitli, and may I live to "dui-lex" that girdle!
r.i)
LETTERR FROAf AnnoAt).
AMci- thf iTct'ptioii U'ttiTH caiiM" ill )i.vr\\\ iiiiml»fr-( tVoin altroiid.
'I'licit' is spacf but for a tew iiaiui's of writers, ami luit Iwn nr tliicc
Ifttfis. aihl lliusi' oi.lv (iftlif liri.'li-.t kiiiil. Aiiiuiij: others were letters
>r the Uit;h ("oiiimissioiu-rs who iie<,M-
iVoin the Marijiiis ut' Ui|M>ii. on
tiatetl ill \x1\ the 'I'reafN of Washiii^tnii, which selllnl the AlaliaiiiM
(ilieHtioii ; llaroii (le^'leni ami Sir .loliii Hose ; SaiiiiU'l Morlev, •>f l-oii-
.loii, ami William ilatlil e. ol' Liverpool, iiieinl.ers of I'arliaiiieiil ;
Ailiniral Sir Ale.xamler Milne, |,ite one of the Lor.ls of tin- Admiralty :
Ailmiial I'reeily. who eommamled the \<ramemnon in the first suceess-
fill laviiit: of the ealile in lf^."»S; aiiil Captain Moiiirty, who as a
picket! man of the Navy foi such a sei vice, naviualcl ihedreat Kiist«'ni
safely across the deep in the e\pedilioii of iHfdi; Admiral Commerell.
wliu also took part in the la\ in;.' of ihe siiecessliil cahle in lH(»t», and
has since held one <if the hitihest commands in the Medilcrram-an ;
|{(d.ert Dudlev. the Kn;.dish art i>t . who aceoinpanied the Ivxpeditioii
ill the (ireat Ivistern, ami tonk the sketches from which he executed
tile series o
(t pailltiliiis w
hi.'h
now ailoi'ii
Mr. Kicld's 1
lollse
.llirelie
Schii\lcr. American ('oii>ul at nirmiiiijham ; \)v. ('alleiider,
the einineiit siiryeoii,
,f I. Ion; and Dr..). II. < iladstoiie, tin- author
)f the I/il'e of Faraday ; Major Matcmaii ( 'liaiiipain. of the Tele^xfiij'h'*
d' India; and Sir.liilins V..;r,d. the Keprcsenlative in l'ai;,'land of
New XealamI : tlic I're-^idciit ol the Suiss ( 'mifed. lation
I.e (
olli-
iiiam
leiir !•: I)" A
IllICO, 11
lioiiie
Director (ieiieral, and M. lieiliri.
Inspector, of the 'rele;.rraplis of Italy; Irom Dr. Stephan, of IJerlill.
I'c»stmasler-(icneial. and Dr. A. Lasard. Diivctn -f 'relei.'ra|ihs, of
( iermanv
M
OllSIC
nr Diimner de \Natteiiw\l. ot'N'ieima, ( "oiineillor
and Minister of ( 'oiiiiiiene, D, rector ul' the 'rclcL'raplis n\' .\iistria;
Haroii de Liidcis. of St. I 'ctiislni !■;,'. I'ri\y (oiineillor and Director
(Jciicral of all the Ttdc^irai'hs id llussia and Sil.cria ; Siileiiiian I'ltrciidi.
Kn^riiicer of the 'rclearajihs in I''.l:\ pt, vVc. \-e., \-c.
Froiii Lord lloiiLrlitoii.
FuysTON IIai.i., Fi:i!i{vuicii>(ii:, YoltK-iiiitK, March lOtli.
Lord Il<iU^litoii |tivsL!its his coiiiidiiiieiifs to Mr. (Vriis l'"i(d(l.
ami r. u'l'i'ts tliat tlic sli^'ht (jistaiice (d" liis ri'si<lt'iief wiil prcvciit
liiiii t'roiii liaxiii:; the pic i.-iifi- of tiiniiii^i'' iiliiist'lf at (iratiicrcy
I'ark this cvi-iiiii';.
51
From I'ror. Konainy rrin>, or Oxfonl Inlvci'slty.
',• NoHMAN (JaIIDKNH, ()\H>I(1>, Fl'l». 'i\i, l^iO.
DiAu Mu. Cvuis KrKin:
Is this ii smniiioiis to crn^ tin- occiii which vmi send \uei
A iiiost (h'li;;httul invitation, iiinst ci'i'tjiiiily ; hut then oiio cimiiot
cxactlv onh'r ont one's stfanihunt as one docs one's carriajje for
an evening; party. ^ Ct how 1 >honhl Hke to he in AnK-rica
ayain — that jr)nniev was so exceedingly I'nll ot" pU'asnre, Xo
kinch-r oi- more lios|iital>ie peoph' on i-arth than the Americans I
M_v heart wonld l>e made of stone if 1 did not say this, with the
stnaip'st eni|»ha>is,
I exult over the >nccc» of jlc.sumption. I distinctly pro-
phesied it in si'veral writini;s. My fear turned only on tlie
existenc*' nf the will to adopt it.
Now the next thinir is Free Trade— a very fai' <ireater lioou
than even a >ound currency. Why wont you Americans- keen-
witted people that you are— see that protection is a tax or poor-
rate imp(»>ed on the .\inerican people, upon no one else, to
support certain makers or workmen i Why do they shut their
eves to the fai-t that no oue, man or nation, can laiy unless he
>ell>. and that the only thin- to huy with are the u'oods one
makes. The foreifruer mu>t takt them, or you caiiuot and will
n(.t huy. Trade lu'ver i>an'ihin.u el.-e lait li' I> for <;oo(ls, of
etpial value uonnnaliy. Alasl
Mr. R. Stuarf, of TJvcrpool, writes :
''I'.ut fnr the distance 1 should he <leli-hted to he with you.
Vour emMXV. however, in the annihilation of time and sj.ace so
far as mni,/ is conceriuMl, lias stoi)pcd short ..f the conveyance of
»ntff'r with li-htniuiT rapidity, and I nnist therefore content
myself with thankini; y.ai for your kindly rememl.raiur, and
wishin<; a liap|>y issue to your festival.
«mmmmm>^^^''^
'i*IS»»««l|fS*<,
52
From the la(o Ooorpe SnwanI, Esq.
Along Avitli tlic many kind incssiiift's (Viiin aliroad from the livinji,
it may not Ix' ont of j)la('(' to add. as a tondiing dose to them all,
one t'loni a fVicnd who is gciu', hat wliosc tcstiinnny remains, and is
re|>r()dii(ed lirre as Iteinj; most li(inoraI)le alike to the livinij and the
dead. Immediately alter tlu" success ot" tlic first eaUlc, in 1S5><, Mr.
Georce Saward. nl' London, the St cietarv nt' the Atlantic Teleixraph
Comjiany, Avrott* to Mi'. Field as IhIIdus;
■• At last the j^'reat work is siiceesstul. I rejoice at it for the sake (d"
huiiianitv at lari^e. I rejoice ;i1 it for the sake ot' our conimon nation-
alities, and last, hut not least, for yoiii- personal sake. I most heartily
and sincerely rejoice with you, and coiiuratulate you, upon this happy
termination to the troulde and anxiety, the continu'rUs ami perseverinii
Idior, and iievei--ccasimr and sleepless enerixy, which the successt'ul ac-
eomplislimeiit of this vast and iiohlc enterprise has co^t you, Never
was man more dev 'ed — luNcr di<l man's eiiertry hetter ile-^erve siicci'ss
than vours has done. May you in th.' Iiosom ot' your family reap
those ri'wards ot' repose and all'ection. which will he douMy sweet t'r<UM
the relleetion. that \ "U return to them after haviuLT heen umler Provi-
dence the main and leadini: principal in coid'erriuix a vast ami endurlnir
lietiefit on mankind, it' the contemplation ot' tame ha> a chafm tor
\((U. von mav well indulire in the I'ellection ; tiir the name ot't'yriis W .
Field -ill now 1:0 onward to immortality, as long as that of thi' .Vtlantic
Telegrajih shall he known to inaiikiixl."
COMAri:NTS OF THE PRESS.
From llic Now York IForaltl, March lltli.
A CAJ5LE JUBILEK.
Tlu' rcccptidii <rivrii last n'mht liy Mi-. ( '\ rus W. Ficlil, in coiu-
iiifiiioratioii of the tsvciitv-lit'tli aiiiiivci-.<ary i>\' tir.' t'orinatioii of a
coinpaiiy for layiiii,' tlif first AtlaMtic caltlc, was an rvciit of no onli-
iiai'v iiitcrcst. Tin' lilicrality of the cnti-rtainnu'iit, tlR' distiiiguishod
cliaractcr ot'tlic micsts, the rcnilniscrnccs wliich fillcil the rooms of one
of tlu' most im|iortaiit cntcriiriscs that ever (Milistt'd the synn)athi(-'s or
tested tile ijeiiins and tlie energy of man, imiied to render the evening
a memoiMlile one to all who jjartook of Mr. Field's hospitality. l'>nt
there was something more than this in the celehration. Among the
eom|>any wen' I'onr out ot the five gentlemen who fiist pledged tiieir
names for the execution ot' a work which, from the grandeur and over-
slnnhiwing importance of the results promised in ease of its success,
seemed almost hopeless of acci.mplishiiient. 'I'hroiigh struggles the
severitv of which can scarcely lie imagined, and through disconraixe-
meiit such as no one can now conceive, these five capitalists perseveriMl
mitil the lilorioiis t'nd was reached, and the tw.. coiitimMits were prae.
ticallv drawn into immediate proximity l>y the lirst Atlantic eahle.
The ureat chaiiires. the revolution, we may say, which followed the
iinkini: together of I^iirop.' an. I An, erica in iustantaiu'ous telegraphic
,.,„nmiinication. lormed the t.^pic of the ehxpieiit speeches made last
niirhl, and nee.l not he repeate.l here. The example of the men now
living among its, to whose h<.|.efiilness, confidence, wonderful energy
and nntiring'perscverance we are indet.ted for ocean telegraphy, is cer-
tainly a practical eiiconragemeiit to all who enlist •„, the cause of science,
and 'should spur them on to action in enterprises which promise to
1,,-nelit the world, no matter h-.w insurn.ountable may appear the oh-
statdes in their path.
irmmmm
WMIiMillMP
,.,«„,SBaHi««9B»S»**»5'W
-.4
From llio »w York Tiilmiic.
THK CAliMrS SII.VKU WKDDINM!.
The irntli.'riiiir iit \\ic lioiiso of Mr. ("ynis \V. Fidu last iii<rlit was
a rfinarlial)lt' ouinmciiiMratinii of a r('iiiarkal)lc fvoiit. 'I'lif twciity-fittli
aiiniv(>i-s;iry of tlif fonnatimi of llir llrst oc-aii cal.Ic coiiipuiy was
<•,■!(. biMtc.l l.y a iratlirrinir of every iin'iiil)er Imt one of the ori-iiiial
iissoeiatioii. ami of soiii>' nf their iimst |.roiniiieiit co-workers in the
eiitorprise; ami a ixreat niimher of <listini,Miishe(l people eiiiiie to<retlier
to witiioss th.' impressive rc-iiifion. The attention of the eoni|iany
which was one of the most hrilliant ever I.ehelil in New York ( ity.
naturally concent ratc.l itself upon the man who may, with truth, lie
called the fathei- of oei'.in teleirraphy, and who has. in other ways like-
wise, done much work f >!• mankind. The liheral spirit .ind the l.ound-
less enterprise ojCyrus \V. I'^ield have made him rich in a most
hoiKii-alile fime. The true significance of the cimmcmoration, how-
ever, was n<it in the presence ot' a lar^a- ami splendiil company, of
coui-se, n><v vet in the asseml>l,ii:e ot the smaller LrnMip ut" now histori<-
char.ictcrs; hut in the vi\i<! reminder ^iven to the world of the
amazintr growth of a s_v-tem which oidy a (piartcr ot' a century a<xo
was merclv one man's dream, the rcali/atinn "f w hicli sccmc(l to the
mass ot' mankinti fairly impossilile.
Twentvdive vears have passed. an<l there are to-day. as Mr. Field
stilted in his address. ■• <i\ CI' 70.0(M> miles uf cahle crcssiui: the seas
and dceans."" This .imiiv ersary itscit'. as he went "W to show, is a
witness ot' a new and irrcat ^li'ide t'urw.ii-d in cx'ean teleirrajihy .
•• |)u|ilc\ Wdikinir across the \tlantic" was pi-n\cd to l)c ;in aceijin-
pli-hed fact hv a dispatch uhieh ihc speakei' held in his hand Tele-
irrams mav lie sent in lioth ilii'cctidiis on the same calilc at once, .and
thus the cap.icitv i<\' all the nccan wires is duuiilcd. it u.is in the
hiuhcsl .|c:_n'ee appnipriate that the same mitiiinir woi-kci t,, whose
i.'eniiis ;ind perse\ ci-aii<e w c owe the \tlaMtic (alile sh'inld lie the main
instrument in ciinipletiiiLr the teli'Liiaphic circuit "f the earth, .is ln' has
lieeii ill makinii' i'. 1 here leinains <iiil\ one link more to he t'orifcd in
this wiinderfiil chain, and this w oik iietr.iii als.. \ estcrdav th.it d.is of'
happS eoilieidellces. With tile la S i lit.' "l' t he I 'acilic e,l hie. c .miecl illjf
the < idil'oiiiia c'last with the Sandwich l-l.nids, and the Islands with the
irreat Mastern < 'oiitiiieiit. the Ld"liewill have its ifirdle uf elect ric tire
complete. Seeing to w hat this eunception lias ;rrown in le-s than .a ^ci;-
eratioii. we may well hesitate c\cii to conjecture what its prKirress may
1 I
Ho
lie ill another f^iMUMation. Its inHiU'iioe upon the arts of war and peace,
tlie methods of trade and the manners of nations, upon hinnua<re and law
and reli<ii()n, n|H)n all the processes of dilVnsing civilization, is beyond
human foresi^lit, and mav well serve as a theme for reverent thought.
From (lie World.
The Atlantic calile has. in twelve years, become so much a pai't of
the f^eiieral frame of thini_rs, that most people have long ago ceased to
woniler at it, or to regard it as any less eomnion|ila(H' an appliance of
the World's business than an omiiib\is. As Mr. Carlyle once devoted
a clia[)ter to showing, the eeasiuL; [d wonder, however, is by no means
the beginning ot" wisdom. 'I'lie Atlantic cable none the less remains an
amazing achievement, because ordinary minds are unable to maintain
a c()iiditi<ui of ama/enicnt and stupetiiclion over it. It is. |)erhaps, the
most remarkable achievement ot' our generation ; certainly it is tho
achievement which has had the greatest ellect on the practical conduct
of human atlairs. The revolution it has wrought in journalism will be
apparent to any reader who will I'cllcct, as he turns over to-day's
Worlil, how much le^s cuniplct ■ his view of his own atlairs as alfected
by the allairs ot' bis fellow -creatures would have been had the cable
been interiai|tti'd yi'sterday morning. It has changed the whole aspect
of international politics, on the one side, and ot' occupations so prosaic
as operating in stocks and iiuying breadstulls. on the other. The
twenty liftli annivcrsar\ ot" the planniuir ol' a project which has already
borne such tremendous fruit -^ is an event really wiu'tli celebrating. n(;t
only in the maimer in which Mr. FicM and his friends celebrated it last
night, but in a more |)ul)lic theater and on a nuudi larger scale. Of
Mr. Field's own share in bringing aiiout this result it would not be
easy to sav ton much. From the beginning ot" electric communication
liv telcirrapli wires, the caltle.it may lie said, was a tiin gone conclu-
siuii; but it w.as nut a I'uregone conclusion that the cable should be laid
in our tiiiK'. It was in this connection that the personal eijuatioii be-
c.iiue important. Mr. .l''ield. with persistent and indomitable inipor-
tunitv, dratrooiied tiu'eiini capitalists, eiigiiu'i'rs, nianut'acturers, aiu'
<rovernments into the service of his project, and it is altogether prob-
able that to his pers(in;il cxei'tioiis. more than to ,any nther single thing,
it is due that t-leirfaplii"' communication bctwciMi Fiiropi' and America
h.as been pei'lccli'd in mir generation, instead of being let't t'or our chil-
dren to establish. It shoubl be I'liough l"or one man's ambition that
this can bi- said of him with truth.
^
r)()
%
From tlio Evoiiliur Tost.
Tt was a iK.tiibK" iiiiiiiviM-sary wliifli Mr. <'yrii^ VV. Fiold orkhratcil
last iiiiiht with the assistaiu-o ofa inultitu<le of liis ti-llow-citizt'iis, many
oftlu'iii I'luim-iit ill various dopartmonts of iiiililic life Tlic ol)vioiis
siMitimoiit of tiu- otrasion, and tlio wonis with which everybody would
descril.e it, are contained in tlie tele^jraphie message sent from West-
minster Al.l.ey by Dean Stanley, .vho calls it the " silver wedding of
Knglan.l and America,"' aii.l says: '^ What (Jo<l hath joined together let
no man put asunder." The event which was commemorated is scarcely
more remarkable than the rapid advance of all nineteenth century
events which the recollectiun of this one .suggests. It is only twenty-
five years since a determined ellort was made to realize what had been
wildly dreamed of; it is considerably less than twenty-five years since
the dream liec:ime a reality; yet already instaiit.-incoiis communication
between the ( )ld World and the New has been consigned to the common-
place book of history. It has become one of those tamiliar things
which we lorgct all about liecause they arc tamiliar, but which are also
indispi'iisable, as we would be sharply rcinindcl if we should lose tlu'in
Ibraday. or an hour; things which ar" of the highest value, but of
which it is hard to speak without talking platitudes. Willi this great
i'vciit the names of Mr. Fiebl ami other men of business, whose intelli-
iicnce. liberality and energy made the work of .M<u-se ;;nd other men of
science a practical triumph, will be always and lion<u-ably associated.
[Krcmi tlie Kvriiiiij! I'o.-t.]
A MODHR.N lli:i{().
[Iiixriix'il to CvriH \V. l'iil(l.|
He slew no dniL^im with liis well aimed spcir.
No l)l()od stiiiiK <l Clown imr laurel did lie gain
Oil batt'.etields heaped with unhiiried >laiii ;
rile foes he vaiKiiii-lied were tlic doulit, the fear,
The dread of timid souls to do or daiv ;
liis only weaj)ou, hurled with matchlos >kill,
Was an uiilieut. uncoiujueralile will,
Stroiij.'- a^ tlic cncliaiitcd j-word Km allbar.
To t!n>- the slorniy and m\>teiioiis main
I'nliancil its de'plli.;, and o\(r whiteuinji- bones,
Treasure- untold, wrecked tleets and galleniis,
Deep ill its i.rcast was laid that wondrous eliaiii,
That nerve ln'.ween two worlds who-e curieiits" tlow
Vilirate- to tlioUL'ht and thrills to joy or woe.
Anm: C. !.. BoTTA.
Ni.w VoKK. Maich lU. IsIlJ.
JP^BP?"
57
From tlio Ihiily <>ra)»lii('.
"A MANY YEARS AGO.
Tiicrc was :i iiotaltlo ^atlu'riiig at Mr. Cyrus \V. Field's rosidenco,
tv, lust «'V('iiiiiu, to cclchratc u vory notable event. Tvventy-
tl
in this CI
live years ajzo -tliat is, on the lOtli of Mareli, 1H.")4— in tlie very room
in wiiicli the iiost hist iiif,'ht weh-onied his >riiests, on the very tahle at
wliieh he stood, and at the very iioiir at which lie be^an to speak, the
aiir(>eiiient to orifanize thi' lirst eoinpany ever foniied to lay an ocean
cable was siifiied
Ml
siieccli was an
interestinj' one. lie referred in appro-
priate terms to the memory of the threat men of scienei-, Faraihiy
W
tl
leatstoiic, liaeht
M
orsc
lleiirv, Maiirv, and Fierrvman, who aided
le enterprise in its inception, wi
thoiit whom, indeed, cal>les couhl not
have, hccn cons
follow them,
tliem.
tnictcd and laid. Thev are now dead. I)iit their works
tl
II this (
asi- it IS th
e ('(MX
1 that men do that livi's after
he wori<
I has heeii chaiiiied l>y tlu' completion of the ocean ea
il.K
It has tended toward the miiiication of the world. We are, thanks to
lids of Paris. London, Herlin. and St.
the ele(
•trie link, within a few sec()
retersliiiru'. Instead of couiitinir ten days for the mail, we have the
news, eummeivial, political, pe-smial and dramatic, in onr newspa|)ers
every moriiin<r. Ami what occurs in the morning' in Kur..|)e is puh-
lished in the at\eiiioon
itress.
liroadcast tlironjiliout America hy the at\ernoon
ihilated l»y the tele-
nditioiis— the tele-
Siiace and time seem to h'lve heen anni
traphie wire, and its irreat adaptation to marine co
ifraiiliic caiiie
Heretofore all the i>raise of men has been awarded to the soldier,
'II
le nast ai^es were a<j;es
)f ( Ilict. He that <M
ve the stoiiti'st Idow:
was the I.est man. The new times are at;es of peace— eomparatively
at least. The inventor, he who makes our mortal lalmrs lij,rhter, who
inereasi's the sum of human ha|)piness, w
ho liriiiiis nations closer to-
jiether, who makes intcrcominunieatioii hetwceii man and man and
nation ami nation easier — has heconu' in a sense a real hero. The vie-
itter, of man over his physical environment, are
toi'ies of mind over ma
n<iw
thonirht to he of liit;her moi
iieiit than the victories ot man over
1
inan. Tlu' (rlcbrati..!, last i'Vfiiinii was notal.lc as Lcin-; in the new
ilim-tioM. It ,M,M„nrm..ratc.l the initial point in an cntorprisi' ..f tho
first iinimrtanco. Tho pernnnnd of tin- -athorin- ^s•as worthy <.f tho
ovi-nt, and all who assisted at Mr. Field's ..ntrrtainnu-nt will l.o siav to
retain jdeasant reminiscences of it thron},di life.
Fnmi llio Kviiilnjr Express.
A very larj^e and l.rilliant company of fr.Mitlenicn crow.h'd the par-
lors of Cvrns W. and David Dn.lley Field last ni^dit to eelel.n.te the
twentv-nith anniversary of tlu- formation of the company to whose
H.terprise and perseverance and ener^'y th- world is ind.d.ted for the
,„.ran tele-raph. The story <.f the incepth.n of that umlertakinjr, a.ul
the prosecntion <d' the work in spite of the seeminfrly insnrmonntalde
dilVicnlties and overwhelming .iiseoura,-:ements to a sneeess vnIikIi is
justl\ rejrardrd as one of the triumphs of the nindrenth century, is too
weirUiu^wn to ne.'d rrh.Mrsal. No elo.|u..nce is HMpfuvd to srt forth
the splendid aehiev..m.'nt wrouirht l.y the tar-secinji sa-aeity and indom-
italdr pluck of those live men \s ho t weiitydive years a-ro put their hea.ls
to.rrtlHr in that historic dinin;i-room and rcsolv.'d that an ocean cahh'
should l.e laid. The work sp..aks for its,.|f. It is its own eido^ry.
How mu.'h the inc.'ptioii of the ciit.rpris.. and its ultimate success xseiv
dutMo tlu> irrepn'ssiidea.'tivity and .x.'cutive force of Mr. Fi.'ld. and
l„pw much to his aide supporters, w may not he ahle to .letermine; it^
is of verv little conse(iuence now. F.ast night c.delu-ated the su.ress of
the enterprise, and it was one of the telicities of the o<-<'asion t h.it all the
original members of the eompans hut one were present. The venera-
l.hri'et.^r Cooper, Maishill < ). UoI.erts, and Moses Taylor share.l the
conjrratulations of the distiii-uish.'d .'ompany. than which no nn-re
striking f,'atherin<r of eminent and notable men h;;s assembled in this
eity for years. Tin- speaking was pertinent to the occasion, 'out liie
occasion" itself was fir m..re ehMjUent than an\ thing that was said.
Yet the tele-raph is in its childhood. No on.- can foretell or imagine
wliat developments it is .apal.le ot'. and uliat revolutions lie latent in it.^
What has been ellecte.l in twenty. five years justilies e\pectati..ns of
greater improvements and nn.re tar reathin- results than ih.' original. .rs
of the proj.'ct .lai-.'d .'Ven to ilr.'am.
I
..iJJMIIBM'-— '>..
5i)
From the Urooklyii Vm^U'.
A NOTABLE ANNIVEHSAIIV.
'I'liiTc was, lust ovfiiiii;,', ill tlif lioiisc «»t ;i New York <,'('iitlt'in!Vii, a
liiitlifi-iiii,' wliicli was ill cvi'ry way ri'iiiarkahlf. 'I'Iiitl' witc iircsL'Ut
iiH'ii ciuiiiriit ill almost t'vcry worthy cairni<,' aii<l in'otcssioii in life.
On a tahlt', about which stood four taiiioiis but uiiassuiniiii,' s,n'iitk'iiuMi,
lav an iinprt'tt'iitious (locumciit, to which, ainonj; other si<.Miaturos, were
attache.] the names ot' these tour. The document was the original
agreement hy which the first Atlantic Telegra|)li Company was organ-
i/ed. The names written on it were those of Cyrus \V. Field, Peter
Cooper, Marshall O. Iwoherts. Moses Taylor, and Chandler White, and
the occasion which brought the first four iiamcil of these, th.' survivors,
and several hundred other geiitleiiieii tog»'ther in Mr. Field's parlors
was the celcl)ratioii of the twenty-fifth anniversary of that great, event.
We said that it was a gathering altogether notable. U marked a
point in human |irogress so advanceij, so im|ii)rt:iiit and so suggestive
as to well make us think seriously of whit the future m ly yet have
in store tor us. The annihilation of time and space by the electric tele-
graph ill communicating thought, was uiii|Uestioiiably the most tre-
mendous st ride t'orwaril in improving the material condition of human
beings ever made by the humaii mind. It is a comparatively recent
event. Ill it ther<' was somethiiii; that ap|)ealed to the imigiiiation as
no other diseovcrv ever did. and suggested possiiiilities such as no
other <liscovery ever approached. It was a sort of miracle to tind
(jut that the ethereal medium that tills all space and manifests itself
to our senses as light, heat, eK'ctiicity , motion, could lie made the
ineaii^ ot iiistaiitaiieoiis conimuuicatioii l)etwi'eii persons separated by
thousands of miles. We accepte I the new ami wonderful condition,
made t'aiiious the dls.overer and w«'iit on our way. and a new genera-
tion came into the eiijoyment ot' the heritage of genius with almost the
same iiiditfcreih'e with which the child accepts nature's i-omiiion git'tsof
light and air. The man ot" great practical foresight e ime along and
proposed another step in advance. lie woiiM lay the electric wire on
til • bed of the ocean and colineet tin- coiitillellts of th.' world. The idea
si'cmed chiiiKTical. To am but the bold little i-oterie, all but one of
(iO
whom wcri" d-lcl)!-;!!!!)"; its hiicccss last ni^'lit, it was lilvc tiic (ircain c»t'a
lunatic. Wlnii tiif lirsf iVa^Miu'iitan sciiti-iici' was (laslu'd aloiif,' iiiidcr
tlic soa, ami wIumi tlic coiiiiiniiiicatioii was hrolit-ii ajraiii, the |)t'(>|)lc l>t-
iii'Vi'd it to liavi' iiofii a Iran.!, ami n't'iisc.l to jistni to an expression ot'
faith. I'vcn, in the possiiiiiitv of an ocean telef;i-a|'h. Hnt success was
at last aciru'ved. ami witli due «r|uiilication and coiiferrinj,' of renown we
went on our way a^ain. an.) aiiutlier generation has already l)c<,Min to
accc])t till' licncfils of ocean tele<fra|diy as if if were a free <,'ift of (Jod.
Now, untlcr almost every ocean the calile is laid. Not <inc of Puck's
•rirdles al'oiit the earth, iiut a hundred almost. Kvt'ry j^rand division
of the earth and the important islands of the seas are in instantaneous
communication with each other. The earth turns eastward on its axis,
eleven hundred miles per hour, hut the mysterious somcthinir we call
the electric current conveys motion, cunnin;,dy made intelligent hy
human invention, almost infmitcly faster. Time is not only annihilated
in the transmission of tliouifht, Imt so to speak, is made a minus (pian-
tit\. and as we rcail dui-atioii on tlc' face of the eai-th'> revolutions, we
leai-n of events liefore they seem to have taken place. Human progress
develope.i amazinj.'ly therel.y. The telegraph, in its latest application,
hecame a lever to lit't up the whole race. It seems as though no people
couhl lonu remain dei^raded and dark when the ulole earth should he
eovere(| with eleetrie lines (•onve\ ing human thought. Only tin- I'acilic,
the irreatest oeean ot'all. as yet remains unattem|>te(l, and last evening
it was announced that this would soon he spamied. In one ot' his great
missionarv etforts het'ore thr tiist Atlantii- ("alile was laid. Uisho|»
Simpson t'oiTtoJd the time when " nations would he eonvi-rted in a day. '
and made use ot'tlie splmdid illustration of the electric current passing
in its circuit hetwcen carlioii points |iroducinLr a liu'h' almost inetl'alile
in hrilliancv and :.loi'y. Missionary elfoi't a:>!cd liy ilivinc grace wasthe
elei'tric current, and tlu' dark heathen ot" tin- islamU of f he sea were the
carhon points. Uishop Simpson looked tin-ward to a spiritual millennium,
which he har<llv iio|.c(l to live to see. A material millennium seems to
have I.een already reached. Ve-.terda\ the Hawaiian .Minister gave to
('vru> \\ . Field the eonce-,sion i-e(piired. and het'or.' many months
elapse the Sandwich Islands will l>e a telegraphic station on the liiu' of
suli-njariiie telegraph connecting d.ipan with our Western coast.
Since the sueeesstid completion of the .\tlantic cahle over r>(M) suh-
marine lines |i;i\e hecn laid ot'an agu'regati' length o)' ovi'r .">(>,(>(>() miles,
saiMmmmmmi
. .jS S k XL'l 'l
({1
aii'l witli tin- iin|ir<iv(iiiciits in fclfiriMiiliv tlir caitiicify ot'occiiii wires to
tfuiiHinit words lias litcii vastly iiicriMscil, risiillin;^ in a <'i»rri'Sj»«>n<JiM<i;
incn-asc in linsiiicss ami a U'sscninj' of cost of transmission. Ah Dr.
Adams rrmarki'd last cvcnin};, the first mcssufjo ovor the (irst ti'lcj^rapli
on land was, " What Hod hath wrought," and the first words ht'ticath
tht' ocean \\{'Vi\ •' I'caee on earth, ;,'oo(I will to men," and this womler-
t'lil achievement aiding more than any other human agency, the time
draws near when
" Oiii' in licart and one in lilood
Hhall all the penph'S he,
And han<ls of liinnan hrotherliood
Shall clasp liciieatii tlu' sea."
From tlie I'hihiilelphia LtMlijrer, March 12th.
"WHAT HATH (K)l) WHOKHIT T'
That wa-" the impressive and reverent iiifssnirc sent ity l*rofessor
Morse over the lirst coin|ilcted line ot" electric telegraph wire in the
world. This was the short stretch hetweeii Washington and Baltimore.
In those days (IHH) it was a niaivcl, and the |)ossihilities of the tiitiiro
were let loose upon the inventive imagination; hut hosv few they were
who looked firward through the intervening twenty two years, to ItStJtJ,
the tiiii" wlii'ii I'^iirope was suceesst'nily linUed to America under the
depths ot' tw enty-two hnmlred miles ot" the Atlantic.
The [ireseiit LTeiieratioH of business me;i and of reading pi'oplc havi-
heeonie so ae.Mistomed to the ocean calile (onci-, like the transatlantic
steamship, a scieutitically demonstrated impossihility), that the time
when "it was not '" seems away olf in the remote ages. ^ et it was not
so remote hut that four of the five of the far-seeing originators of that
nolde enterpi'ise could meet in the liviiiif body, as llicV <li<l, at the resi-
dence ot' ('\rus W. Kielil, New York, on Monday last, to c(Hiim»'mo-
rate the twent\ lillli anni\ ci-sary ot'the signing ol'the eompact to lay a
teU'<'rai>liic calile across the Atlantic. There ihevwere. at th" invita-
tioii ot" Mr. l-'ield -himselt'. Peter Cooper, Nfarshill O. UohtM'ts, and
Moses Ta\ loi', ill the same house, the same room, and at the same
tjjhle — not with an uutrieil, hazai'dons, hold, and most costly schi-me to
conside-, hut with the full fruition of their grand conception .ihuut
I
■ -'immmmimHB
mmttm
I
((2
thoiii, ill iniiiu'diatt" ti'h'jiraiihic conmniiiicatioii with tlii' hiin(liv<ls nf
tliuiisantls of mill's ufwiirs on tlu' land, an.! with the si-vcnty tliniisaml
niilt's uikUm- thf st-a— .lull's \'iTni''s laiiiil'iil "'rwfiitv ThuUHaii.l I.i-ajjiu's
rihliT tht' Si'a" surpas.-snl ! In thi- short iiitt-rval lit-twi'i'ii l>«W) ami
187J> all till' iMiiitiniMits had Iu-imi intiTloi-ki'tl l.y the oi-caii cald. —
AiniTica, l-iii()|»f, Asia, AtVii-a. and the tar away Ni-w Flollaiul. as it
usi'd to l.f rallfd. at tin- aiitipodi's. I'rartiiMlly tin- W(.rld had lutii
I'licii-clt'd, Ihuii;;!! then' is still no caldf across tin- I'acilic.
Mr. Fifld and his thri'f surviving,' i-olli-a^iirs of tli iirinal hand
(Mr. Chandler White ludiij,' deceasi'd)— and the ^'oodly i ipaiiy he had
ussenihled to (■( Ichrafe the silver weddiiiir «'t" the ('ontiiieiits and the
Soas — sittiiiii at that taMe in that now historic room in (Iraiiieny
Park, could have telejiraphed to every capital of every civilized nation
of the Old World, and to every eonunereial centre and to every local
point— to London, I'aris, Berlin, Vienna, Madrid, Lishoii, K.uiic, St.
Petershurj,', Aiiisterdinu, Antwerp. I laiiilMir-.'. (ieiicva. Stoekh'ilin.
('openhaireii. ("onstanlinopie -and under the Medilerraiieaii and the
Ked Sea and the Indian ( )(ean and all the separating: waters to Hoinhay,
Calcutta, Sin^M|iore, lloiiir Koiiir, ••eddo, .\usf ralia, ami New Zealand —
to meet the coniiiiii ^un in his circuit journey from the Orient — and in
advance of the siiii and oi' local time across our own < tiiieiit to San
Fraiicisi'o. on the slmres <.f the Pacific I 'I'liroiii^'h the Atlantic cahlcs
al>> and Ky a 1wo-t"..ld traverse ..t the Atlantic, first to |/isl.oii. in
Portuiral, and theiiee hack, across the South Atlanti<'. to Pernamhiico,
they could have held converse with the inmA Brazilian Kiiij eror at IJio
.laiieiro. or with their coinniereial eorresp •• '.-iits ;it Para. i'.(|Ually.
they could have exchaliired <.n-ectilii:s with the West lihlia Islands; and
with all of our own multitudinous cities and touns, where the click ot
the .loseph Henry repeater is heard da\ iind nit.dit, al -t without
eeasin>'. What a ma'Miitieent fruition tln' quests ot' Mr. I'iehl had to
survey in th.it i m on the twenty lit'th aiinivei-sary ot their <larin),f
project :
Besides the nuniei-.pus ealdes across the smaller arms m|' the sea. and
ill addition to those under the P.alti<'. the Mediterranean, the Ped Se.i
and Pi'i'siaU Oulf there are live now in operation lietweeii this ecuntry
an<l Kiirojie, and one hetween Portu;;al and Brazil. Prom \N estern
Piii'ope they course arouiid thron^di the Miditciraiieaii to Alexandria.
m
in l!ji\ |il, iiiiil f'luiii Sue/, iimlci iIh' \tvi\ Sea, In Ailt-ii, ami tluiici' iimlcr
till' lihliaii ncraii tn Koiiiliay, ami llu'iict- a^aiii Itv latid llnrs and other
calilt's llicv cuniniimiiitc with the svstfin> iVoiii Sini^a|M>ic t<» ("hiiiii,
.lapan, Australia, ami Niw Zcalanil. as alu-adv indicatnl. Thus we so«'
*■ what (iimI hath wii.iiLrJit " in this i|uarifr of a crnlurv, siiu't' \fr. Kiidd
an<l his tour associates met in Jx.M!
Coiniiii; hack to the period inmiediatel sueeredin<r their Mieniorahlo
ajireeinent. we may take hut a ;,danee at thv' tremendous tliUleulties and,
what seemed i rreinedialde, defeats the [iron oters ottlie Atlantic cables
had to enciiuntcr. Alter nei;otialinj; the vast sums of money r('<(uired,
they were struck li\ tailure alter failure, thret eahles hreakiuij in mid-
ocean, and at every hreak a million ami a (piarter .f dollars sunk into
the sea--u(itil at last, in lsr»S, a ealde was yot to speak across the
tweiitv two hundred miles ot' ocean ; hut I'ainter and fainter till it yave
its last sii,'n in the mcinoralile "■ All rij^ht. 1 )e Saiity," and spoke no
more, to the di>may ot'tlir projectors and the reifret of the world.
Then hope seemed to ha\e lied — and did lly for seven years tVoni all
sive a fiithtnl few- and would have lied tVom them hut lor the iiidoin-
itahle will and coura^'c of ("yrns W. Field. Me knew it could he done,
and was determined that it shcudd. And most noldy has it ht'cn
aeroniplished, as oiir very Itriet summary of electric eahles will help the
reailci' to understand. It is not too much t'p say that Mr Field was
the inspiration all the way throuyh ; ;ind that he is a typical representa-
tive of that species of hiimin activities who leave their impn'ss in hroad
and endurin;; characters upon the a^'e and upon the worhl.
From 1h<- Christian I'liion.
It is onl\ on<'i' oi' twice in a lifetime that one sees so many
notal)le m 'U iratle'rel under t«u • root" as throni^ed the twin houses of the
two hrotliers. David Dudley and Cyrus W. Field, to ctdtd)rate the
silver weddiiii; ot' the .\tlautic ealih' list .Monday niiflit. It is dillieidt
to l>elie»f that it is a ipiarter of a century since the littli' hody of men
met with Mr. Field to form the company whieh led to roalizinij Puck's
proplieey ot" putt iii',r a .rirdle round the ^lohe ; ami impo' s,hle to esti-
mate the oldiiifation which the woi'ld owes to the ciuiraiie and persist-
ence and pluck c>t"tlie man who has t'ultilleil I'lU'k's hoast. If New York
IW"""
ii i .i i iiMi- '>''i^ i- ^^-' i -'-
■?*,
[i»<"
(14
()\vo« liny one a monimu'nt it is the iniiti who, haviiif,' cfimu'ctt'd lu«r with
the Old World l»y u tflcgriipliic caldf, now at a time whi'ii most iiirri
WdiiJil l>o rfstin<(. ('uiiiifcts Iht ((immcn'ial licaif with her rural siihiirhs
l»y rapid transit.
TIh'sc Kxfracts iVoni the Press inii.dif be conliniicd lo any extrnt. as
articles similar in cliaractcr a|)|K'ar(>i| in almost all tin- leading journals
of the connfrv. Tlu'V mav In* fitly «-Iost'd l»v a despatch st>nt l»v tin*
faldo itself, and ^^lli(■ll a}>|H'are<l in the London Times of March l*2th :
!'k\v Youk, March 1 1.
The '2'i\h anniversary of flic t'ormatioii of tl e(nii|iany that laid the
Atlantic Calile was ceUdn'ated last niylit hy a rt e|»tion at the house of
Mr. Cyrus W. Field. Cranieny I'ark, New York. On March 10, IH.VI.
in this house, was signed the aj^reement orj^ani/inji the New York,
Newl'iiundland and f.ondi'ii Telej;ra|ih ('oiii|iany. Five New York
merchants c(im|iosed tin com|>an_v — I'cter Cooper. .Moses iaylor,
Cyrus \V. Fiel.l, .Marshall O. iJolu-rts, and Chandler White. The
latti'r, soon afterward dviii'', was succeeded liv Wilson («. iliiiit.
Thi'se iiv'> t'cntleiin-ii attt-iided the reception, receiviny congratulations
on the splciiditj results of their enterprise. One tliousjiiid ^niests .assem-
l)led. omltrai inir many who lia<l aided in perfectimf the 'aldis, with
others distliiirni>lic(| in prot'essioiis. .ii'ts. and sciences. .Many coiif^rat-
nlatory messajjes were ti'lc^'raphed from Kurope and Caiiacl.i. inclinlintf
those t'loni Mr. .loliu Welsh, the Ameri<an Minis'icr, Dean Stanley, and
the Manpiis oi' Iconic.
^sisT'