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4--. . 
 
 THE 
 
 ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH 
 
THE 
 
 ATLANTIC TELEGRAPIL- 
 
 i 
 
 X^IFTEEN years have barely elapsed since the success of 
 the first Hue of electric telegraph demonstrated the 
 immense practical importance of that invention. 
 
 Its rapid adoption by almost every civilised nation 
 already gives promise of even greater things than it has 
 yot accomplished in the furtherance of social and com- 
 mercial intercourse. 
 
 It is, however, only within tlie last five years that 
 practical men have wrought out successfully the appli- 
 cation of the same principles to the still later problem of 
 submarine telegraphy. 
 
 Surroimded by every species of difficulty which besets 
 a new and untried path, Mr. Brett, with the aid of a few 
 associates, achieved in 18.51 his first success in the electric 
 union of France and Jlngland. 
 
 The result of this decisive experiment, favourable alike 
 in its national, commercial, social, and, though last not 
 least, in its reinunernti\'e aspects, has been such as to 
 disarm all prejudice, and to encourage a desire for the 
 utmost possibh^ extension of similar undertakings. 
 
England is now united by six distinct submarine cables 
 to adjacent coosts, and other countries have not been slow 
 to catch her spirit of enterprise in this important appli- 
 cation of scicucc to the wants of man. • /, . • , '' 
 
 America alone^ the greatest and most progressive ot all 
 the nations with whom we have intercourse, has hitherto 
 been debarred from participating ^^ ith us in the advan- 
 tages of electric intercommunication, while the daily 
 increasing requirements of the two nations render such 
 an i'^tluttion more than ever necessary to the well-being 
 of both. 
 
 The genius of science and the spirit of commerce alike 
 demand that the obstacles of geographical position and 
 distance alone shall no longer prevent the accomplishment 
 of such an union. 
 
 Under the influence of these considerations, the subject 
 of establishing a telegraph to America has been. largely 
 and anxiously studied on both sides of the Atlantic. 
 
 The careful and elaborate investigations of Lieutenant 
 Maury, of the U. S. ^avy, into the ph^^sical geography of 
 the sea, threw a new light upon Avhat had been sup- 
 posed to constitute the chief engineering difficulties of 
 such an enterprise. His clear and accurate definition of 
 the currents of the ocean, and the soundings of the 
 Atlantic deeps, — imperfectly known previous to his re- 
 searciies, — have developed an extraordinary, and, to speak 
 with I'everence, a providential fact. The two conditions 
 to be chiefly desired for the successful submersion of a 
 telegraphic cable are, the absence of currents interfering 
 with the steady descent of the line ; and a level bottom 
 with a stratum likely to remain undisturbed, and adapted 
 for its subsequent security and preservation. These con- 
 
 \ 
 
ditions, tliongh first elucidated for philosoi)liic objects other 
 than those of telegraphic science, have been shown to exist 
 in a remarkable degree throughout a plain extending 
 between the coasts of Ireland and Newfoundland ; which 
 possesses the additional advantage of being the shortest 
 possible route between the shores of the Old and New 
 World. Ho marked, indeed, are those features, and so 
 favoiu'able is their bearing on the great project, that they 
 seemed to the discoverer at the time so providential, as 
 to justify his designation of it as the Telegraph-Plateau 
 
 The mighty current which takes its rise in tlie Gulf of 
 Mexico, and flows northward as far as the banks of 
 Newfoundland, washes the eastern shores of the United 
 States with great force ; and the precipitous hollows exist- 
 ing in its course would render a route to the south of 
 tlie bardvs impracticable for telegraphic purposes. Imme- 
 diately to the north of the great banks these abysses cease 
 to exist. Stretching away in a direct line from St. John's. 
 Newfoundland, to the bay of Valentia, on the Irish coast, 
 lies the vast sub-oceanic plain already referred to, which 
 is situated in the line of nearly absolute rest of tlio waters 
 of the Atlantic, the bed of which has been shown, by 
 the specimens obtained on sounding, to consist throughout 
 of the most minute microscopic shells, which, froi. ibeir 
 delicate organism and the perfect state in which they are 
 found, prove the utter absence of all motion in the water 
 surrounding them. To use the words of the highest authority 
 on the subject,'' — " this plateau is not too deep for the cable 
 to sink down and rest upon, and yet not so shallow that 
 * currents or icebergs or any abrading force can derange 
 the wire after it is once lodged upon it." 
 
 » Maury's riiysioal Geography of the Sea, p. 250'. 
 

 
 III April, 1854, a company was incorporated by act of 
 the Colonial Legislature of Newfoundland for tliQ })urposc 
 of establishing a line of telegraphic conninmication between 
 America and Europe. That Government evinced the 
 warmest interest in the undertaking, and in order to mark 
 substantially their sense of its importance, and their 
 desire to give to it all the aid and encouragement in their 
 power, they conferred upon it, in addition to important 
 privileges of grants of land and subsidy, the sole and 
 ^xcl'.volvo right of landing a telegra])hic line on the shores 
 within their jurisdiction, comprising, in addition to th(.sc 
 of Newfoundland, the whole Atlantic coast of Labrador 
 from the entrance of Hudson's Straits to the Straits of 
 Belle Isle. This act of the Colonial Legislature was sub- 
 sequently ratified and confirmed by Her JVlajesty's Govern- 
 ment at home. The Company also obtained in May, 1854, 
 an exclusive charter from the government of Prince 
 Edward's Island, and afterwards from the State of Maine, 
 and a charter for telegraphic operations in Canada. 
 
 The exclusive rights absolutely necessary for the 
 encouragement of an undertaking of this nature having 
 thus been secured along the only seaboard eligible for the 
 western terminus of an European and American cable, 
 the Company in the first instance commenced operations 
 by proceeding to connect St. John's, Newfoundland, with 
 the widely ramified telegraph system of the British North 
 American provinces and the United States. This has been 
 recently completed by the submersion c f two cables in 
 connection with their land lines : one, eighty-five miles in 
 length, under the waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, from 
 Cape Bay Cove, Newfoundland, to Ashpee Bay, Cape 
 Breton ; the other, of thirteen miles, across the Straits 
 
of Nortliunibcrland, connecting Prince Kchvanl's Island 
 with New Hrunswick. Kloctric conmiunication in thus 
 cstabhsliL'd direct from Newfoundland to all the British 
 American Colonies and the United States. 
 
 On the Irish side, lines of telegraph have been for some 
 time in operation throughout the country, and are con- 
 nected with Pjiigland and the Continent by submarine 
 cables. The only remaining link in this electric chain, 
 required to connect the two hemispheres by telegraph, is 
 the Atlantic cable. 
 
 The New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph 
 Company being desirous that this great undertaking 
 should be established on a l)road and national basis uniting 
 the interests of the telegraph world on both sides of the 
 Atlantic, have entered into alliance with persons of import- 
 ance and influence in the telegraphic affairs of Great 
 Britain : and in order at the same time to obtain the 
 fullest possible information before entering upon the 
 crowning effort of their labours, they have endeavoured 
 to concentrate upon the various departments of the under- 
 taking the energies of men of the highest acknowledged 
 standing in their profession, and of oihers eminently fitted 
 for the work, who were known to have devoted much time 
 and attention to the subject. 
 
 The route between the two shores had already 
 been minutely surveyed by Lieut. Maury, whose name 
 alone amongst, nautical men is a sufficient guarantee 
 for the accuracy of the results obtahied, and whose 
 personal counsel and co-operation the promoters are autho- 
 rised to say will be given to the undertaking in bringing 
 it to completion. The data obtained by him have re- 
 ceived the most ample corroboration in the recent special 
 
soundings taken by order of the United States govern- 
 ment, at tlio instance of tlie New York, Newfoundland, 
 and London Telegraph Company by Lieutenant lierryman, 
 U.S.S. " Arcti(!," whoso valuable and able assistance the 
 Company wish to acknowledge. 
 
 It is with the highest satisfaction that the Company 
 are able to refer to tlie aid which her Majesty's Govern- 
 ment are inclined to give to their labours. A line of 
 soundings taken at spots intermediate between those 
 e^^'ftctcit hy Lieut. Bcrryman, have been ordered by the 
 Lords of the Admiralty to bo made forthwith ; and the 
 readiness and cordiality with which every suggestion on 
 the part of the j>romoters has been met by their LordHhii)s, 
 and by those at the head of the several departments, call for 
 the warmest thanks of all concerned in the undertaking. 
 
 Li the engineering department, advantage will again be 
 taken of Lieut. Maury's invaluable advice in connection 
 with the machinery employed in paying out the cable, 
 and of the co-operation of others who have carried out 
 the submersion of the submarine lines already laid. The 
 soundings of the ocean along the plateau, which gradually 
 increase from 1000 fathoms to 2070 fathoms at the 
 middle and deepest part, present no obstacle in depositing 
 a cable with regularity along a soft and almost level 
 plain of such a nature, — and the question of sub- 
 merging a cable in depths almost equal, and under less 
 favourable conditions, has been already surmounted 
 without difficulty. 
 
 Li order to determine various points connected with 
 the electrical department of the undertaking, a continued 
 investigation of all the phenomena connected with the 
 jLise of long submarine circuits has been carried on during* 
 
 
tlic last two years ; niul rrofossor Morso, wlio 1ms recently 
 visited Kngland, has, for many days consrciitively, gone 
 into ji rijxid series of iU^nionsti'a lions on this snhject in 
 connection witli those j^cnth'nien who have devoted so 
 much energy and patience to this dcjiartiuent of the work. 
 lie ileclares his conviction that the problem is conclusively 
 solved, and that the attainment of full commercial success 
 is no longer douhtl'ul. 
 
 It may bo mentioned here, that the [jossibility of readily 
 and rapidly transmitting telegraphic signals buyoiul a. 
 certain distance by submarine wires, had been thrown into 
 some doubt by the discovery of certain phenomena of 
 induction aiid retardation, described by Professor Karaday. 
 
 In the year 1H54, at the instance of Mr. Brett, Mr. 
 Wildman Whitehouse first took up the subject, of the 
 effects of induction in long submarine conductors, in its 
 relation to j)ractical tclegrajjliy, by commencing a series of 
 preliminary experiments upon a cable containing (J (5 (J miles 
 of submarine wire. In the following year, when the great 
 })roject of Transatlantic communication came more pro- 
 minently into view, these experiments were continued 
 more fully on I12r; miles of similar wire, the results being 
 obtained and recorded with the utmost care and acciu'acy, 
 by means of apparatus contrived for the purpose, and now 
 both in character au<l j)rinci])lo. Several facts of the 
 highest importance to electrical science and of the most 
 encouraging nature as regards the undertaking were thus 
 determined ; and in a still more extended scries of cxperi- 
 n^ients this year on 1020 miles, conducted conjointly by Mr. 
 Whitehouse and Mr. Bright, Engineer to the Magnetic Tele- 
 graph Company, these two gentlemen have been enabled to 
 realise and amplify every previous encouraging result, and 
 
10 
 
 at the same time to perfect iiistrmnents suitable for 
 practical telegraphic use and capable of working through 
 almost unlimited lengths of submarine wire. The size 
 of the conducting wire required for such distant operations 
 has formed the subject of special inquiry with tliese 
 gentlemen. They have finally established a claim to the 
 foremost position in the scientific department of the 
 undertaking, by practically demonstrating to Professor 
 Morse and others, on an unbroken length of o\er 
 2i)00 miles of subterranean wire, the fact of telegraphic 
 operations carried on with an amount of accuracy and 
 at a speed which determines at once the certainty of full 
 commercial success. 
 
 Nothing can be more satisfactory than the result of 
 these experimental demonstrations, which have been 
 verified by Professor Morse, — proving, as they do — First, 
 that telegraphic signals can be transmitted without 
 difliculty through the required distance ; Secondly, that 
 a large conducting wire is not required for the pijrpose ; 
 and Thirdly, that the communication can be effected at a 
 thoroughly satisfactory speed. 
 
 All the points having a direct practical bearing on any 
 part of the undertaking have thus been subjected to a 
 close and rigid scrutiny ; the result of this examination 
 proving to be in every respect of the most favourable 
 character, it remained only that those possessing the 
 required power should take the initiative. 
 
 The New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph 
 Company^ possessing, in virtue of their charter, all the 
 necessary powers, deputed their Vice-president to visit 
 England in the summer of the present year ; and they 
 gave him full authority to make on their behalf such 
 
11 
 
 arrangements as should seem to him best fitted to carry 
 forward tlie great work. 
 
 The outhnc of the formation of the " Atlantic Tele- 
 graph Company," which will be found in the Appendix, 
 will sufficiently explain the nature of these arrangements. 
 
 The expenditure to be incurred in carrying out the 
 undertaking is small, compared with the magnitude and 
 the national importance of the work. 
 
 The Projectors confidently anticipate having the cable 
 completed in time to lay it in the summer of 1857, and, 
 under any circumstances, not later than the spring of 
 1858. It is proposed to employ two steam-ships in the sub- 
 mersion, each laden with half the cable, and that they shall 
 l)roceed together to a point half way between the two coasts. 
 The two ends of the cable having been carefully joined 
 together, the vessels will start in opposite directions, one 
 towards Ireland and the other towards Ncw^foundland, un- 
 coiling the cable and exchanging signals through it from 
 ship to ship as they proceed. By this means, the period 
 ordinarily required for traversing the distance between the 
 two coasts will be lessened by one-half, each vessel having 
 only to cover 820 nautical miles in order to finish the task. 
 assigned to it. It is expected that the operation of la^ang 
 the cable will be completed in about eight days from the 
 time of its commencement. 
 
 It is no less fortunate than remarkable that the greatest 
 depth and difficulty w411 thus be encountered first; hence, 
 should any accident occur, it can only involve the loss of 
 a very few miles of cable ; this part safely accomplished, 
 the pi'ogress of the vessels in the process of submersion will 
 be hourly attended with less and less difficulty and risk. 
 
 The very grandeur of the undertaking constitutes a 
 
12 
 
 sufficient gaarantec for its coinmercial success when carried 
 out ; as, in addition to the great use of the cable by the 
 governments on each side of the Atlantic, and in ordinary 
 social intercourse, it will constitute the chief medium 
 through which all the important business transactions 
 between the Old and New World will be eifected. 
 The transmission of intelligence for the press in both 
 Continents will also form a most important feature of its 
 usefulness. 
 
 Tt will readily be admitted that the number of mossugcs 
 at present passed along the wires to or from a single 
 capital like London/" where the rapidity of railway 
 transit renders the Post-Office a powerful competitor, will 
 scarcely constitute any criterion of the probable amount 
 of traffic through a cable affording the only rapid means 
 of communication between two vast and civilised Conti- 
 nents, and which in its operation will shorten the period 
 of an interchange of correspondence almost from a month 
 to an hour, and to which the whole of both networks of 
 telegraph lines, already established throughout Europe and 
 America, amounting to not less tlian 100,000 miles, will act 
 as feeders. A very limited number of commercial messages 
 forwarded from each side daily, occupying the cable but a 
 few hours, will, without any other sources of revenue, pro- 
 duce a large return on the entire capital. 
 
 The difference of longitude between the two Con- 
 tinents presents another important consideration con- 
 nected with the advaiicageous working of tlie line ; for, 
 owing to the time in America being nearly five hours later 
 than in Europe, the whole of the business messages of the 
 
 * Not less than oOO messages .are trausmitted in and out oi' Loudon, and a 
 larger number in and out of New York, daily. 
 
13 
 
 day transmitted from this side between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. 
 will have arrived in America by the time the mercantile 
 community in t^r irious cities and towns throughout the 
 New World have commenced business, and the cable bo 
 thus perfectly clear for the return flow of messages to 
 Europe. 
 
 Whilst, however, the revenue of such a line must, on the 
 lowest estimate, be exceedingly remunerative, the working 
 expenses, being limited to the two terminal stations, will 
 necessarily be very small. Under such circumstances, it 
 appears difficult to over-estimate the commercial returns 
 that will accrue from this undertaking. 
 
 (Signed) 
 
 London, 
 Nocemhcf 1st, 1856. 
 
 CYRUS W. FIELD, 
 
 Vice-Prei?ident of the New York, Newfoundland, 
 and London Telegraph Company. 
 
 ^. 
 
'Lium^ 
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 Observatory, \VASHiN(iToN, 
 Dear Sir, ^"«^ '''''' ''''- 
 
 I gave myself up last night to the practical details of paying the 
 Telegraphic Cable across the Atlantic. 
 
 It oan be done without fail. 
 
 I have hit upon a plan, as to the practicability and success of which I 
 am willing to risk my reputation. 
 
 It can be done by one steamer, and in case of accident while running, the 
 cable may be recovered. 
 
 I see no difficulty in the way whatever ; still, to be on sure and tried 
 ground, there are two points which I should like to test by actual experi- 
 ment before I go further or say more. 
 
 AVhen I say a single ship, of course 1 mean one large enough to carry 
 the cable and coal. 
 
 The cable need not be large. No time for details ; but, you may rely 
 upon it, in my judgment there need be no difficulty in laying the cable 
 across. 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 (Signed) M. F. MAUllY. 
 
 Cyrus W. riELP, Esq., 
 
 New York. 
 
 London, 
 
 October 3, Five o'clock, a.m. 
 MY DKAii Sir, 
 
 As the <:'lcctrieian of the Xew York, Newfoundland, and London 
 
 Telegraph Company, it is with the highest gratification tliat I have to 
 
 apprise you of the result of our experiments of this morning upon a single 
 
 continuous conductor of more than 2000 miles in extent, a distance you 
 
 will perceive sufficient to cross the Atlantic Ocean, from Newfoundland to 
 
 Ireland. 
 
 The admirable arrangements made at the Magnetic Telegraph Office in 
 
 Old Broad Street, for connecting ten subterranean gutta-percha in.sulatod 
 
 conductors, of over 200 miles each, so as to give one continuous lengtli of 
 
 more than 2000 miles during the hours of the night, wlieu the Telegraph 
 
 is not commercially employed, furnished us the means of conclusively 
 
15 
 
 settling, by actual experiment, the question of the practicability as well as 
 the practicality of tclef^raphing through our proposed Atlantic cable. 
 
 This result liad been thrown into some doubt by the discovery, more than 
 two years since, of certain phenomena upon subterranean and submarine 
 conductors, and had attracted the attention of electricians — particularly of 
 that most eminent philosopher Professor Faraday, i. ,id that clear-sighted 
 investigator of electrical phenomena Dr. Whitehouse ; and one of these 
 phenomena, to wit, the perceptible retardation of the electric current, 
 threatened to purplex our operations and required careful investigation 
 before we could pronounce with certainty the commercial practicability of 
 the Ocean Telegraph. 
 
 I am most happy to inform you that, as a crowning result of a long 
 series of experimental investigation and inductive reasoning upon this 
 subject, the experiments under the direction of Dr. Whitehouse and Mr. 
 Bright, whicli I witnessed this morning, — in which the induction coils and 
 receiving magnets, as modilied by these gentlemen, were made to actuate 
 one of my recording instruments, — have most satisfactorily resolved all 
 doubts of the practicability as well as practicality of operating the telegraph 
 from Newfoundland to Ireland. 
 
 Although we telegraphed signals at the rate of 210 — 241, and according 
 to the count at one time even of 270 per minute upon my telegraphic register 
 (which speed you will perceive is at a rate commercially advantageous), 
 these results were accomplished, notwithstanding many disadvantages, in 
 our arrangements, of a temporary and local character — disadvantages which 
 will not occur in the use of our submarine cable. 
 
 Having passed the whole night with my active and agreeable colla- 
 borators, Dr. Whitehouse and Mr. Bright, without sleep, you will excuse 
 the hurried and brief character of this note, which 1 could not refrain from 
 sending you, since our experiments this morning settle the scientitic and 
 commercial points of our enterprise satisfactorily. 
 
 With respect and esteem, your obedif nt Servant, 
 
 (Signed) SAML. F. B. MORSE. 
 
 To Cyri's W. Fikld, Es(i., 
 Vice-President of tlie New York, Newfoumllaud, 
 .and Loudon Telograpli (Jompany, 
 i57, Jenuyu-street, 8t. Jaiiies's-street. 
 
 London, Oct. 10, 18;"i6. 
 Mv DKAIl SllJ, 
 
 After having given the deepest consideration to the subject of our suc- 
 
 *ce3sful experiments the other night, when we signalled clearly and rapidly 
 
 through an unbroken circuit of subterranean conducting wire, over 2000 
 
 miles in length, I sit down to give you the result of my reflections and 
 
 calculations. 
 
 There can be no question but that with a cable containing a single con- 
 
u 
 
 ducting wire, of a size not exceeding that through whicli we worked, and 
 with equal insulation, it would be easy to telegraph from Ireland to New- 
 foundland at a speed of at least from eiglit to ton words per minute ; nay, 
 more : the varying rates of speed at whicli we worked, depending as they did 
 upon differences in tlie arrangement of the apparatus employed, do of tliem- 
 selves prove that even a higher rate than this is attainable. Take it, how- 
 ever, at ten words in the minute, and allowing ten words for name and 
 address, we can saf( \y calculate upon the transmission of a twenty word 
 message in three minutes ; 
 
 Twenty such messages in the hour ; 
 
 Four hundred and eighty in the 24 hours, or 14,400 words per day. 
 
 Such are the capabilities of a single wire cable fairly and moderately 
 computed. 
 
 It is, however, evident to mo, that by improvements in tl'.c arranffoment 
 of tlio signals themselves, aided by the adoption of a code or system con- 
 structed upon the principles of the best nautical code, as suggested by 
 Dr. Whitehouse, we may at least double the speed in the transmission of our 
 messages. 
 
 As to the structure of the cable itself, the last specimen whieli I examined 
 with you seemed to combine so admirably the necessary (lualities of strength, 
 flexibility, and lightness, with perfect insulation, that I can no longer 
 have any misgivings about the ease and safety with which it will bo 
 submerged. 
 
 In one word, the doubts are resolved, the difficulties overcome, success 
 is within our reach, and the great feat of the century must shortly be 
 accomplished. 
 
 I would urge you, if the manufacture can be completed within the time 
 (and all things are possible now), to press forward the good work, and not 
 to lose the chance of laying it during the ensuing suninier. 
 
 Before the close of the present month, I hope to be again landed safely on 
 the other side of the water, and I full well know, that on all hands the 
 enquiries of most interest with which I shall be met, will be about the 
 Ocean Telegraph. 
 
 Much as I have enjoyed my European trip this year, it would enlianoo 
 the gratitication whicli I have derived from it more than I can describe to 
 you, if on my return to America I could be the first bearer to my friends of 
 the welcome intelligence that the great work had been begun, by the com- 
 mencement of the manufacture of the cable to connect Ireland with the line 
 of the New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company, now so 
 successfully completed to St. John's. 
 
 llespectfully, your obedient Servant, 
 
 SAMUEL F. 15. :MUKSE. 
 To Cyrus W. Field, Esq., 
 
 Vice-President of the New York, Newfoundland, 
 and London Telegraph Company. 
 
PRIVATE. 
 
 THE 
 
 ATLAJiTIC TELEGIUrH COMPANY 
 
 (LIMITED) 
 
 TPor connecting the Continents of Europe and America hi/ a Submarine 
 Electric Cable, to be laid down from England or Ireland to 
 Neufoiutdland, jiniting the entire American system of Telegraphs 
 with that of Europe. 
 
 CAPITAL £350,000, in Shares of £1000 each. 
 
 "I T is purposed at once to commence the great undertaking of 
 establishing Electro-Telegraphic communication between America 
 and Europe. 
 
 The favourable nature of the soundings of the Atlantic which have 
 been so liberally made for this object by the United States Govern- 
 ment, at the instance of Mr. Cyrus W. Field, — the proof that great 
 depths are no impediment to the enterprise, as demonstrated by the 
 recent efforts of Mr. John ^V. Brett in the Mediterranean,— and the 
 conclusive experimeuta recently made by Messrs. Whitehousk and 
 l^RiGHT, in conjunction with Professor Morse, on a length of over 
 2000 miles of subterranean wire, — establish beyond doubt the 
 practicability of laying the cable, and of working efficiently through 
 it when submerged. 
 
 Professor Morse, the inventor of the American system of Tele- 
 graph?, and Lieut. Maury, U.S.N., who is well Ivuown for his 
 
18 
 
 investigations of ocean depths and currents, arc active supporters 
 of the undertaking, and are con(i(leiit of its successful accomplish- 
 ment; indeed, the latter writing upon the subject says, — " As to its 
 practicability and success, I am willing to risk iny reputation. I 
 see no dilllculty in the way whatever." The same opinion is shared 
 by all the officers who have been engaged in making the soundings. 
 
 A Charter, conferring the exclusive right, for fifty years, of land- 
 ing Telcgrapli Cables on the shores of Newfoundland and other 
 parts of North America, has been obtained by tlu; l^ew York, 
 Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company. This privilege, 
 as well as all concessions bearing on this undertaking which may 
 hereafter be obtained, together with the patent rights of Messrs. 
 WiiiTKHOUSE AND BiiiGHT, wliicli givc the most perfect mode at 
 present known of practically working instruments in submarine 
 circuits of so great a length, will, with other advantages, be made 
 over to the Company. 
 
 k 
 
 Responsible parties olfer to manufacture the whole cable for a 
 sum so far within the limits of the proposed Capital as to leave an 
 ample margin to cover the expense of submerging, as well as inci- 
 dental expenses ; and it is determined to complete and have the 
 Telegraph in o])eration during the ensuing summer. 
 
 In order that the Capital subscribed may be wholly applied to the 
 immediate object of the undertaking, the Projectors, Mkssks. JkiF/rr 
 AND EiELD, in conjunction with Messrs. Wiiiteuouse and Bright, 
 (whose services in the cause it is desired to acknowledge and retain,) 
 propose that their compens^ation for the privileges they assign, and 
 for past and future services, shall entirely depend on the successful 
 result of the eiitcrj)risc. With this view the remuneration of the 
 Projectors has been made wholly dependent upon, and subsequent 
 to, tlie profits of tlie Shareholders. After l)aying a half-yearly 
 
I 
 
 1.0 
 
 dividend :'t the rate of 10 \nn' cent, per annum on the Ca])ital, one- 
 half of tilt surplus profit will be assigned to these Gentlemen, and 
 the other half will belong to the Company. 
 
 To testify still further their confidence in the undertaking, the 
 Promoters and their friends have subscribed upwards of £100,000 
 of the Capital recpiired. 
 
 The Projectors do not deem it necessary to resort to any other 
 means of raising the Capital than that of making their wants known 
 by the present communication ; feeling satislied that the remaining 
 amount required will be readily subscribed without the occasion for 
 iLU'ther ])ublicity. 
 
 It has been their ambition, and would be their pride, to see this 
 truly great enterprise undertaken and carried out by a few indivi- 
 (kials, each subscribing £::i5,000 ; but in order to avoid the appear- 
 ance of exclusiveness, and to give a wider and more national 
 character to the uiulertaking, they propose to divide the Capital into 
 Shares of £1000 each, ami they invite subscriptions from those who 
 are willing to participate in the honour of accomplishing the object 
 songht to be attained. 
 
 It is considered that little re(|uires to be said in favour of the 
 ui\ilcrtuking. 
 
 The beniilits which it will confer upon all classes are too obvious 
 to need mention, and its ])roved practicability renders its accom- 
 plishment a duty. 
 
 U])on a very lUfKlerate computation of the probable amount of 
 trutlic, and a consideration of the comparatively small working 
 expenses, (which are ncuTssarily limited to those of the terminal 
 
20 
 
 stationa,) the net receipts will yield rtii umiuiil return exceeding 
 40 per cent, upon the Capital. 
 
 The Company is incorporated under the Joint Stock Conipuniea' 
 Act, 1856, with limited liability, and the Directors will be chosen 
 at an early date. 
 
 An instalment of 20 per cent, of the Cupitul will be payable on 
 Allotment, and the remainder by eight monthly instalments of 10 
 per cent. each. 
 
 Due notice will be given of the Allotment, and when and where 
 the payments wiU have to be made. 
 
 It is requested that all communications may be addressed to 
 The Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company {Limited), at 
 \n , Bishopsffate Street Within. <l 
 
 London, Norcmber i\lh, 185(5. 
 
 HKAtmilRY AKD KVAN;5, I'RINTKUH, \V lllTKKIIl AHS.