1858.] The Atlantic Telegraph. At 7 a. m., passed and signalled the Cunard steamer from Boston to Liverpool 263 Total amount of cable paid out, six hundred and thirty-three miles five hundred fathoms. Total surplus cable paid out over the distance run, one hundred and eight miles five hundred fathoms, or less than tweuty-one per cent. Two hundred and fifty-seven miles from the Telegraph House. At 12.38 a. m., ship's time, and 3.38 a. m., Greenwich time, imperfect insulation of the cable was detected in sending and receiving signals from the Agamemnon, which continued until 5.40 a. m., ship's time, or 8.40 a. m. Greenwich time, when all was right again. The fault was found to be in the ward room, or in about sixty miles of cable from the lower end, which was immediately cut out and taken out of circuit. TUESDAY, August 3, 1858.-Lat. 49.17 N., long. 49.23 W. Distance run by observation in the last twenty-four hours, one hundred and forty-seven miles. Paid out one hundred and sixty-one miles and sixty-one fathoms of cable, or a surplus of fourteen miles six hundred and thirteen fathoms over the distance ruu--equal to ten per cent. Depth of water seven hundred and forty-two to eighteen hundred and twenty-seven fathoms. Wind N. N. W. Weather very pleasant. The Gorgon in sight. Total amount of cable paid out, seven hundred and ninety-five miles three hundred fathoms. Total distance run by observation, six hundred and seventy-two miles. Total surplus cable paid out over the distance run, one hundred and twenty-three miles three hundred fathoms-less than nineteen per cent. Two hundred and ten miles from the Telegraph House. At 8.26 a. m., finished paying out the coil from the hold, and commenced paying out from the ward room coil-three hundred and five miles of the cable remaining on board at noon. At 11.15 a. m., ship's time, received a signal from on board the Agamemnon that they had paid out from her seven hundred and eighty miles of the cable. During the afternoon and evening passed several icebergs. At 9.10 p. m., ship's time, received a signal from the Agamemnon that she was in water of two hundred fathoms. At 10.20 p. m., ship's time, the Niagara was in water of two hundred fathoms, and informed the Agamemnon of the same. WEDNESDAY, August 4, 1858.-Lat. 48.17 N., lon. 52.43 W. Distance run by observation, one hundred and forty-six miles. Paid out one hundred and fifty-four miles and one hundred and sixty fathoms of the cable, or a surplus of eight miles three hundred and sixty fathoms over the distance run-equal to six per cent. Depth of water less than two hundred fathoms. Weather beautiful and perfectly calm. The Gorgon in sight. Total amount of cable paid out, nine hundred and forty-nine miles six hundred and sixty fathoms. Total amount of surplus cable paid out over distance run, one hundred and thirtyone miles six hundred and sixty fathoms-about sixteen per cent. Sixty-four miles to the Telegraph House. At noon, received signals from the Agamemnon that they had paid out from her nine hundred and forty miles of the cable. Passed this morning several icebergs. Made the land off the entrance of Trinity Bay at 8 a. m. Entered Trinity Bay at 12.30p. m. At 2.20 p. m., ship's time, stopped sending signals to the Agamemnon for the purpose of making a splice, and at 2.40 p. m., ship's time, commenced sending signals again to the Agamemnon. At 5 p. m., saw Her Majesty's steamer Porcupine coming to us. At 7.30 p. m., Capt. Otter of the Porcupine, came on board the Niagara to pilot us to the anchorage near the Telegraph House. THURSDAY, August 5th, 1858.-At 145 p. m, the Niagara anchored. Distance run since noon yesterday, sixty-four m les. Amount of cable paid out, sixty-six miles three hundred and fifty-three fathoms, being a loss of less than four per cent. Total amount of cable paid out since the splice was made, one thousand and sixteen miles six hundred fathoms. Total amount of distance run, eight hundred and eighty-two miles. Total amount of cable paid out over distance run, one hundred and thirty-four miles and six hundred fathoms, being a surplus of about fifteen per cent. At 2 a. m., went ashore in a small boat, and informed the person in charge of the Telegraph House-half a mile from the landing-that the Telegraph Fleet had arrived, and were ready to land the end of the cable. At 2.45 a. m., received a signal from the Agamemnon that she had paid out one thousand and ten miles of the cable. At 5.15 a. m., the telegraph cable was landed. At 6 a. m., the shore end of the cable was carried into the Telegraph House, and a strong current of electricity received through the whole cable from the other side of the Atlantic. Capt. Hudson then read prayers and made some remarks. At 1 p. m, H. M. steamer Gorgon fired a royal salute of twenty-one guns, and all the day was discharging the cargo belonging to the Telegraph Company FRIDAY, August 6.-Have been receiving all day strong electric signals from the Telegraph House in Valentia. NOTE. We landed here in the woods. Until the telegraph instruments are all ready, and perfectly adjusted, communications cannot pass between the two continents, but the electric currents are freely received. You shall have the earliest intimation when all is ready, but it may be some days before everything is perfected. The first telegraph message between Europe and America will be from the Queen of England to the President of the United States, and the second, his reply. CYRUS W. FIELD. Thus the cable was safely landed on this continent August 5th, 1858. The other end was also landed at Valentia on the coast of Ireland at the same time. For the satisfaction of such as have not had the opportunity of seeing spec mens of the cable, we introduce a brief description of its construction. It is about five-eights of an inch in thickness. 1. The first outside coating is composed of eighteen strands of seven inch iron. 2. Six strands of yarn. 3. Gutta percha-three coats. In the centie are the small copper telegraph wires-seven in number. The flexibility of this cable is so great that it is as manageable as a small rope; and it is capable of being tied around the arm without injury. Its weight is but 1,860 pounds to the mile, and its strength such that it will bear in water over six miles of its own length, if suspended vertically. The cost of the cable laid between Ireland and New Foundland, is given as follows: From the 5th to the 16th was a time of general anxiety and suspense, during which the operating instruments were adjusted to these new circumstances of Telegraphing. All preliminary arrangments having been successfully made, the first message, which was one between the directors of the Atlantic Telegraph company in Europe and America, was transmitted from Valentia to Cyrus Station Newfoundland. This is a noble message, and worthy of having been the first to flash through the wide deep waters o. the Atlantic, as it came at first "suddenly” heralded by the angelic hosts through the deep heavens above. LONDON, August 16th, 1858. To the Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company. [Signed] DIRECTORS of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, Great Britain. It is remarkable and significant to what an extent the feeling prevailed that the first message should contain a decidedly christian sentiment. The heart of the nation seemed deeply awed, as in reverence before God, whilst the wonderful work was approaching completion. It seemed too great for man. The picture of the sacred poet appeared in true grandeur floating before our astonished gaze, The waters saw Thee, and 1858.] The Atlantic Telegraph. 265 were afraid; Thy way is in the sea, and Thy path in the great waters.' Those who were immediately engaged in the work seem to have been deeply imbued with the feeling that the hand of God was to be recognized in the whole work. How significant is that beautiful record in Mr. Field's journal, relating to the morning, when the cable was landed. “At 6 o'clock a. m., the shore end of the cable was carried into the Telegraph House and a strong current of electricity received through the whole cable from the other side of the Atlantic. Capt. Hudson then read prayers, and made some remarks." Beautiful! Capt. Hudson of the Niagara was no chaplain employed for that purpose, no reverend passenger who was courteously permitted to read prayers; it was a spontaneous expression of a reigning feeling which desired to acknowledge dependence on God, and to offer to Him the tribute of grateful hearts for success in so marvelous an achievement. The touch The same feeling is indicated by the dispatch sent by Capt. Hudson to his family at New York, on the day the fleet reached shore. ing missive ought to be preserved. The telegraph cable is "TRINITY BAY, August 5.-God has been with us. laid without accident, and to Him be all the glory. [Signed,] So also Mr. Field, announcing, in a dispatch th safe landing of the cable, after mentioning the care and diligence of all on board, still ascribes the success to the kind hand of God. "The machinery for paying out the cable worked most satisfactorily, and it was not stopped for a single moment. Captain Hudson, of the Niagara, Messrs. Everett and Woodhouse, the engineers, and electricians and officers of the ship, and in fact every man on board the telegraph fleet, exerted himself to the utmost to make the expedition successful, and by the blessing of Divine Providence succeeded." All over the land expectant hearts echoed the same religious feelings. The scene referred to in some journals as taking place at a literary festival at Andover, on the announcement of the news, may be taken as a fair specimen of what was general in individual hearts and in more private circles. "At Andover Theological College about one thousand persons were partaking of the Alumni's semi-centennial dinner, when the news was announced; then followed enthusiastic applause, and from that crowd of men of genius, learning and position, there burst forth, to the solemn tones of the " Old Hundred," "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." The right reception for such glorious news! Hearts were too full to speak, and many a silent sigh of thankfulness ascended to Him who had given the genius, and sustained by daily help, the men whose toil and energy have secured this grand result." Such being the feeling which so generally existed, the christian sense of the nation would justly have felt itself wounded and aggrieved had not the first message been a religious recognition, and an eloquent a d grateful tribute to the word of God, if no so delicate and beautiful an allusion to the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, our Saviour. In this connection it is appropriate to call to mind the collateral fact, that the very first message which passed between Washington city and WHAT Baltimore, on the very first telegraph line ever in operation, was HATH GOD WROUGHT!" How appropriate! yet, if that was a proper sentiment by which to express human wonder and gratitude then, how much more is it so now, when not only towns and cities over the land, but continents through the wide rolling ocean, are joined, and speak to one another as friend to friend. When the noting aparatus had been brought into successful working order expectation-and we may say the same religious feeling of which we have already spoken-was high throughout the land, in regard to the dispatches of greeting which, according to previous arrangement, were to pass between the Queen of England and the President of the United States. The eminent stations occupied by them-the extraordinary event to be signalized-the time enjoyed by both for deliberation, and the eminent counsellors by which they are officially surrounded, and the general high-wrought enthusiasm of two of the most enlightened and powerful christian nations of the earth rendered the expectation just that these dispatches would, with singularly appropriateness and force express the mind and feeling of the two nations and embody in monumental sublimity the spirit of the event for the admiration of all nations and ages. That this expectation should be fully realized was perhaps too much to hope, as all efforts would naturally seem inadequate in the presence of the sublime event; yet, we hesitate not to say, though we do it sadly, that these international congratulations have not been read without a very marked and deeply felt disappointment. The enthusiasm was great and the national feeling joyful in the extreme, and we fear not to be charged with censoriousness when we say that the dispatches produced no additional thrill in the great stirrings of the nation's heart. Let them be here recorded: THE QUEEN'S GREETING. VALENTIA Via Trinity Bay, August 16. To the Hon. the President of the United States: Her Majesty desires to congratulate the President upon the successful completion of that great international work in which the Queen has taken the deepest interest. The Queen is convinced that the President will join with her in fervently hoping that the Electric Cable which now connects Great Britain with the United States, will prove an additional link between the nations whose friendship is founded upon their common interest and reciprocal esteem. The Queen has much pleasure in thus communicating with the President and renewing to him her wishes for the prosperity of the United States. THE PRESIDENT'S REPLY. WASHINGTON CITY, August 16, 1858. The President cordially reeiprocates the congratulations of Her Majesty, the Queen, on the success of the great international enterprise accomplished by the science, skill and indomitable energy of the two countries. It is a triumph more glorious, because more useful, than was ever won by the conqueror of the field of battle. May the Atlantic Telegraph Company, under the blessing of Heaven, prove 1858.] The Atlantic Telegraph. 267 to be a bond of perpetual peace and friendship between the kindred nations, and an instrument destined by Divine Providence to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty and law throughout the world. In this view, will not all the nations of Christendom spontaneously unite in the declaration, that it shall be forever neutral, and that its communications shall be held sacred in passing tothe place of their destination, even in the midst of hostilities? Here are no stirring words, which at once interpret and fire the national heart. It has been truly said by a highly respectable journal: "It is an occasion on which such a congratulation might have been placed in the strongest, the most terse and vigorous words our Saxon tongue affords." The dispatches seem studiedly diplomatic, statue-like and cold, lacking both the 'thoughts that breathe and the words that burn.' Let it not be thought cruel that we criticise even the English in which they are expressed. We have a right to do so in documents which concern national honor, and stand so prominently connected with an event which comes only once in ages. The Queen speaks of the "successful completion of the work." It has been justly asked by a prominent city journal, whether a work can be successful without being brought to completion, or be brought to completion without being successful. The oracle-like ambiguity of the expression "in which the Queen has taken the deepest interest," is inexcusable in a message of such dignity and importance. She no doubt means to say that she has taken a very deep interest in the work; but it may mean also, in perfect agreement with the genius of the language, that of the two nations she has taken the deepest interest in it. There ought to be no occasion for the least shadow of suspicion that the Queen under cover of ambigui y would thrust a sickle with which to reap glory from another's field. Moreover, instead of complimenting herself and nation, by saying that in it "she has taken the deepest interest," it would have been in much better taste-indeed all true courtesy requires this to have paid the compliment to the party greeted, by saying "in which she is assured the President has taken a deep interest." This is no cavil; the sentiment, as expressed, will not for one moment stand a critical examination in the light and by the laws of polite interchange of compliment. The expression "Electric cable," is not correct. It would only be properly called "electric" if it contained electricity in itself, so that it could be evoked from it by friction. It has no quality of this kind at all, but is merely a medium or channel for the transmission of that fluid which is excited and produced elsewhere. The Queen hopes that the cable "which now connects Great Britian with the United States will prove an additional link (of what?-she evidently means, of union) between the nations whose friendship is founded upon their common interest and reciprocal esteem." Without the words we have suggested, or others of the same import, the sentence is a mere truism. The friendship to which the Queen refers is founded first of all "upon their common interest," which is no friendship at all; and where this is its primary and deepest basis, "reciprocal esteem" becomes a mere sham, a union from self-interest. There is a much deeper basis upon which the friendship of the two nations truly rests. To say nothing of christianity, there is that of identity of race, sameness of language, and reigning |