“During the review we received an invitation from the general to dine with him, which we accepted. I must reserve a detailed account of this dinner for another letter.
“The next morning we bade good-bye to our friends, and returned to the restraints of city life.”
It was during this year that Mr. Varley made the statement that when the cable was laid it would be possible to send through it eight words a minute, and possibly thirteen and a half words. This assertion called down upon him some criticism. On July 6, 1885, Mr. Field sent ninety-five words from London to the President of the United States at Washington in eighteen minutes. Ten minutes were required to send the message from Buckingham Palace Hotel to Throgmorton Street, and eight minutes from there to Washington.
When in London he was up by five o’clock, though out at dinner every night, and the servants at his hotel were known to say, “Mr. Field never goes to sleep.” His work while on either side of the Atlantic was constant, and for that reason the long sea voyages proved a blessing. The first days after sailing he would sleep continuously, only getting up for his meals, and by so doing was rested and ready for any emergency or pleasure on landing.
Immediately upon his arrival in New York on September 23, 1863, he prepared to welcome Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Milne. A reception was given to Sir Alexander and Lady Milne by Mr. and Mrs. Field early in October, and the letter from Washington refers to that entertainment:
“Treasury Department, October 7, 1863.
“My dear Mr. Field,—I am glad that you are doing your part towards making the stay of the naval officers of the Good Queen in our metropolitan harbor agreeable to them. My faith is strong that the English government will yet see that the interests of mankind demand that there should be no alienation of the two great branches of the Anglo-Saxon family from each other, and will do its part towards removing all causes of alienation by full reparation for the injuries inflicted on American commerce by unneutral acts of British subjects, known to and not prevented by the responsible authorities.
“That’s a long sentence, but I believe it conveys my meaning. I am sorry I cannot accept the kind invitation of yourself and Mrs. Field (to whom please make my best regards acceptable) to meet these gallant officers.
“Yours, very truly,
“S. P. Chase.”
The answer to this letter was written on October the 9th: