“I regret Mr. Sumner’s speech and his course about the Alabama claims more than I can express, and shall do all I can to counteract the effect of his actions, and you can help me, I think, very much, if you will take the trouble to write your views fully.... I am anxious to do all in my power to keep good feeling between England and America.”
And on November 1st he wrote again to Mr. Bright:
“I do hope and pray that all matters in dispute between England and America will be honorably settled, and I felt encouraged when I read the sentence in your letter, ‘I feel sure that some more successful attempt at settlement cannot be far off.’ ”
Dean Stanley’s words, spoken at the breakfast given to him by the Century Club on his visit to New York in 1878, describe Mr. Field’s life during these years:
“The wonderful cable, on which it is popularly believed in England that my friend and host Mr. Cyrus W. Field passes his mysterious existence, appearing and reappearing at one and the same moment in London and New York.”
CHAPTER XIV
INTERNATIONAL POLITICS—RAPID TRANSIT
(1870-1880)
THE journey to England in December, 1869, was taken in order, if possible, to effect the consolidation of the Anglo-American and the Atlantic Cable companies; this was done, the latter losing its name and being absorbed in the other. Mr. Field also made a working arrangement between the Anglo-American Telegraph Company, the French Cable Company, and the New York, Newfoundland, and London Company, and a division of revenue was arranged between the three companies.
He returned to his home in February, and he was in Washington in March, and while there had a talk with Mr. Sumner on the settlement of the Alabama claims.
The New York Herald of March 22d says: