enterprises and results which change the destinies of the world? Mr. Field terminated his reflections that night by an eminently practical measure. Ere he retired to rest he sat down and wrote two letters,—one to Lieut. Maury, U.S.N., to ask his opinion concerning the possibility of laying down a cable in the bottom of the Atlantic; the other to Professor Morse, to inquire whether he thought it practicable to send an electric current through a wire between Europe and America. Lieut Maury, in answering in the affirmative, wrote, “Curiously enough, when your letter came I was looking over my letter to the Secretary of the Navy on that very subject.” And, in fact, on the 22nd February, 1854, Lieut. Maury made a long communication to Mr. Dobbin, Secretary, United States Navy, from the Observatory, Washington, respecting a series of deep-sea soundings made by Lieut. Berryman, U.S.N., brig Dolphin, from Newfoundland to Ireland, in connection with researches on the winds and currents, carried on for the National Observatory. It is obvious that Lieut. Maury, as well as many others probably, had thought of the same idea as Mr. Field. He says, “The result is highly interesting, in so far as the bottom of the sea is concerned, upon the question of a submarine telegraph across the Atlantic;” and he goes on to make it the subject of a special report, in which occur the following passages;—

“This line of deep-sea soundings seems to be decisive of the question as to the practicability of a Submarine Telegraph between the two continents, in so far as the bottom of the deep sea is concerned. From Newfoundland to Ireland, the distance between the nearest points is about 1,600 miles;[1] and the bottom of the sea between the two places is a plateau, which seems to have been placed there especially for the purpose of holding the wires of a Submarine Telegraph, and of keeping them out of harm’s way. It is neither too deep nor too shallow; yet it is so deep that the wires, but once landed, will remain for ever beyond the reach of vessels’ anchors, icebergs, and drifts of any kind, and so shallow that the wires may be readily lodged upon the bottom. The depth of this plateau is quite regular, gradually increasing from the shores of Newfoundland to the depth of from 1,500 to 2000 fathoms as you approach the other side. The distance between Ireland and Cape St. Charles, or Cape St. Lewis, in Labrador, is somewhat less than the distance from any point of Ireland to the nearest point of Newfoundland. But whether it would be better to lead the wires from Newfoundland or Labrador is not now the question; nor do I pretend to consider the question as to the possibility of finding a time calm enough, the sea smooth enough, a wire long enough, a ship big enough, to lay a coil of wire 1,600 miles in length; though I have no fear but that the enterprise and ingenuity of the age, whenever called on with these problems, will be ready with a satisfactory and practical solution of them.

“I simply address myself at this time to the question in so far as the bottom of the sea is concerned, and as far as that the greatest practical difficulties will, I apprehend, be found after reaching soundings at either end of the line, and not in the deep sea. * * Therefore, so far as the bottom of the deep sea between Newfoundland, or the North Cape, at the mouth of the St. Lawrence, and Ireland, is concerned, the practicability of a Submarine Telegraph across the Atlantic is proved.”

Professor Morse, in 1843, indicated his conviction that a magnetic current could be conveyed across the Atlantic, and his reply to Mr. Field was now given with increased confidence to the same effect. Thus encouraged, Mr. Field took measures to form a Company to purchase the rights of the Newfoundland Company, and to connect Newfoundland with Ireland by means of a submarine telegraph across the Atlantic. He entered into an agreement with Mr. Gisborne for the purchase of the privileges of the Company for 8000l., under certain conditions. Then he put down the names of ten of the principal capitalists in New York, and proceeded to unfold his project to each in succession; and having secured the adhesion of Mr. Cooper, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Roberts, Mr. White, and the advice of his brother, Mr. D. Field, he called a meeting of these gentlemen at his house on 7th March. Similar meetings took place at his residence on 8th, 9th, and 10th, and after full discussion and consideration it was resolved to form “The New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company,” of which Peter Cooper was President; Moses Taylor, Treasurer; Cyrus Field, C. White, M. O. Roberts, Directors; and D. D. Field, Counsel. Mr. C. Field, his brother, and Mr. White were commissioned to proceed to Newfoundland, to obtain from the Legislature an act of incorporation, and set out for that purpose on March 15th. On their arrival at St. John’s, the Governor convoked the Executive Council. He also sent a special message to the Legislature, then in session, recommending them to pass an act of incorporation, with a guarantee of interest on the Company’s bonds to the amount of 50,000l., and to make them a grant of fifty square miles of land on the island of Newfoundland, conditional on the completion of the Telegraph.

After some little delay, the Legislature, with one adverse member only, granted the valuable privileges to the Company which were subsequently transferred to the Atlantic Telegraph Company. They constitute, in fact, a monopoly of telegraphic rights in Newfoundland, the value of which was enhanced afterwards by similar concessions from the state of Maine, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward’s Island; and liberal encouragement from Canada. There is much to be said against concessions, and monopolies, and patents, on abstract grounds; but it is quite clear that in certain circumstances men will not venture money and spend time, without the prospect of the ulterior advantages such protection is calculated to ensure. The Government has, however, informed Colonial and Provincial Legislatures that in future Her Majesty will be advised not to give her ratification to the creation of similar monopolies. By their chartered rights the new Company obtained the exclusive privilege for fifty years of landing cables on Newfoundland and Labrador, which embraces a coast extending southwardly to Prince Edward’s Island, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the State of Maine, and their respective dependencies; and westwardly to the very entrance of Hudson’s Straits. The Company also secured a grant of fifty square miles of land on the completion of Telegraph to Cape Breton; a similar concession of additional fifty square miles when the Cable shall have been laid between Ireland and Newfoundland; a guarantee of interest for twenty years at 5 per cent. on 50,000l.; a grant of 5000l. in money towards building a road along the line of the Telegraph; and the remission of duties on the importation of all wires and materials for the use of the Company.

The Company also obtained from the Legislature of Prince Edward’s Island, in May, 1854, the exclusive privilege for fifty years of landing cables on the coast; a free grant of one thousand acres of land; and a grant of 300l. currency per annum for ten years.

From Canada the Company obtained an Act authorising the building of telegraph lines throughout the Provinces, accompanied by the remission of duties on all wires and materials imported for the use of the Company.

Nova Scotia, in 1859, gave the Company a grant of exclusive privilege, for twenty-five years, of landing telegraphic cables from Europe on the shores of the Province.

The State of Maine accorded the Company a grant of the exclusive privilege, for twenty-five years, of landing European telegraph cables on the