“I offer you my best wishes for a safe and prosperous voyage.
“Believe me
“Faithfully yours,
“J. Evelyn Denison.
“C. Field, Esq., Palace Hotel.”
The next is from the Prime-Minister:
“St. James Square, March 17, 1867.
“Sir,—Understanding that you are on the point of returning to the United States after a short visit to this country, I am anxious to take the opportunity of saying to yourself, what in the Queen’s name I was authorized to write to the chairman of the banquet in the autumn at Liverpool, how much of the success of the great undertaking of laying the Atlantic cable was due to the energy and perseverance with which, from the very first, in spite of all discouragements, you adhered to and supported the project. Your signal services in carrying out this great undertaking have been already fully recognized by Congress, and it would have been very satisfactory to the Queen to have included your name among those on whom, in commemoration of this great event, Her Majesty was pleased to bestow British honors, if it had not been felt that, as a citizen of the United States, it would hardly have been competent to you to accept them. As long, however, as the telegraphic communication between the two continents lasts your name cannot fail to be honorably associated with it.
“Wishing you a safe and prosperous return to your own country,
“I have the honor to be, sir,
“Your obedient servant,
“Derby.
“Cyrus W. Field, Esq.”