Always truly your friend,
“John Bright.”
He sailed from Liverpool on April 7th by the steamship Persia, arriving in New York on Thursday, April 19th, and he immediately took his return passage for England in the steamship Java, which was to sail from New York on May 30th. May 1st he wrote to Captain Anderson: “Many thanks for your kind letter the 13th ultimo, received yesterday.” Every word of encouragement was always helpful to his eager temperament, and of course it was especially so at this time, after so many disappointments.
Mr. Russell, in his book on The Atlantic Telegraph, says:
“It has been said that the greatest boons conferred on mankind have been due to men of one idea. If the laying of the Atlantic cable be among those benefits, its consummation may certainly be attributed to the man who, having many ideas, devoted himself to work out one idea, with a gentle force and patient vigor which converted opposition and overcame indifference. Mr. Field maybe likened either to the core or the external protection of the cable itself. At times he has been its active life, again he has been its iron-bound guardian. Let who will claim the merit of having first said the Atlantic cable was possible, to Mr. Field is due the inalienable merit of having made it possible and of giving to an abortive conception all the attributes of healthy existence.”
“Friday evening, 29th May.
“My dear Mr. Field,—I had hoped to see you to-day, but I have been a prisoner.... If I do not see you before you leave to-morrow, I pray God to bestow His best favor on you and the noble work in which you are so fervently engaged.
“You will be remembered by very many who will not cease to implore success on your undertaking from Him who holds the winds and the waves. Please present my best regards to Captain Anderson.
“Hoping for your safe return, with all the triumph which you have so richly deserved,
“I remain, my dear sir,
“Your affectionate friend and pastor,
“W. Adams.”