“If I were with you I could talk a good deal, but I cannot write more, so farewell.
“With every good wish for you,
“I am always sincerely your friend,
“John Bright.”
A joint resolution presenting the thanks of Congress to Cyrus W. Field was introduced in the Senate of the United States on December 12th, and it was reported by Mr. Sumner without amendment on December 18th.
“Resolved. By the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled,
“That the thanks of Congress be, and they hereby are, presented to Cyrus W. Field, of New York, for his foresight, courage, and determination in establishing telegraphic communication by means of the Atlantic cable, traversing mid-ocean and connecting the Old World with the New; and that the President of the United States be requested to cause a gold medal to be struck, with suitable emblems, devices, and inscription, to be presented to Mr. Field. And be it further
“Resolved, That when the medal shall have been struck, the President shall cause a copy of this joint resolution to be engrossed on parchment, and shall transmit the same, together with the medal, to Mr. Field, to be presented to him in the name of the people of the United States of America. And be it further
“Resolved, That a sufficient sum of money to carry this resolution into effect is hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
“Approved March 2, 1867.”
Immediately on his return to New York Mr. Field sold enough of his cable stock to enable him early in November to write to those who had compromised with him in 1860 and enclose to each the full amount of his indebtedness, with seven per cent. interest to date. One check was for $68 60, another was for $16,666 67; in all he paid $170,897 62.
The New York Evening Post wrote of this act: