“It is sixteen hundred and ninety-eight nautical or nineteen hundred and fifty statute miles from the telegraph-house at the head of Valentia Harbor to the telegraph-house, Bay of Bull’s Arms, Trinity Bay.
“For more than two-thirds of the distance the water is over two miles in depth.
“The cable has been paid out from the Agamemnon at about the same speed as from the Niagara. The electrical signals sent and received through the whole cable are perfect. The machinery for paying out the cable worked in the most satisfactory manner, and was not stopped for a single moment from the time the splice was made until we arrived here.
“Captain Hudson, Messrs. Everett and Woodhouse, the engineers, the electricians and officers of the ships, and in fact every man on board the telegraph fleet has exerted himself to the utmost to make the expedition successful. By the blessing of Divine Providence it has succeeded.
“After the end of the cable is landed and connected with the land line of telegraph, and the Niagara has discharged some cargo belonging to the telegraph company, she will go to St. John’s for coals, and then proceed at once to New York.
Cyrus W. Field.”
Next in order were the message to President Buchanan and his reply:
“U.S.S.F. ‘Niagara,’
“Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, August 5, 1858.
“To the President of the United States, Washington, D.C.:
“Dear Sir,—The Atlantic telegraph cable on board the U.S.S.F. Niagara and H.M. steamer Agamemnon was joined in mid-ocean, Thursday, July 29th, and has been successfully laid.
“As soon as the two ends are connected with the land lines Queen Victoria will send a message to you, and the cable will be kept free until after your reply has been transmitted.