At midnight on the 28th of July, 1858, the Agamemnon and Niagara once more met in mid-ocean, and on the following morning spliced the Cable, which was this time destined to tend so much towards solving the great problem. On the 30th, 265 miles had been paid out. On the 31st, 540 miles. On the 1st August, 884 miles. On the 2nd, 1256 miles. On the 4th, 1854 miles; and on the 5th, 2022 miles. The Agamemnon now anchored in Dowlas Bay, Valentia, and preparations were made to join the ocean and shore ends. On the same day, at 1·45 a.m., the Niagara anchored in Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, and in an hour after she received a signal across the Atlantic that the Cable had been landed from the Agamemnon.
Mr. Field at once telegraphed the news to the New York press, and the intelligence flew all over the Union, where it was received with the most extraordinary manifestations of delight. The information was received more equably in England.
On the 7th of August, many an anxious heart was lightened by reading in the Times the following telegram:—
“Valentia, August 6th.
“End of Cable safely landed, close by pier, at Knightstown, being carried on the paddle-boxes of the Valorous—expect to be open to public in three weeks.”
Mr. Field’s dispatch to the Associated Press of New York was followed by two to the President, to which Mr. Buchanan sent a suitable reply. A message was sent to the Mayor of New York also, to which an answer was returned next day.
On August the 9th the telegraphic wires reported that “Newfoundland still answered, but only voltaic currents.”
On the 10th it was stated “Coil currents had been received—40 per minute easily”—followed by the modest words, “Please send slower for the present.”
On the 14th a message of 14 words was transmitted, and on the 18th the Directors in England thus spoke to their brethren in the other hemisphere: “Europe and America are united by telegraphic communication. ‘Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, goodwill towards men.’” This message occupied 35 minutes in transmission. It was rapidly followed by a message from the Queen of England to the President of America, which occupied 67 minutes in transmission, and was repeated. The text was as follows:—
“To the President of the United States, Washington: