And so the days passed, hope alternating with despair.
It was in writing of this time that a friend said:
“To Mr. Field and those who had labored with him for so long a period the blow came with redoubled force. The work had to be commenced afresh; and Mr. Field felt that an arduous duty devolved upon him, that of trying to infuse fresh courage into some of his friends, to overcome the doubts of others, and to fight against the persistent efforts of the enemies of the enterprise to injure it in every possible way. His faith in its ultimate success was still unshaken, his confidence unbounded, and his determination to carry it to completion as firm as ever.”
On December 15, 1858, Archbishop Hughes wrote:
“Our cable is dumb for the present; but no matter, the glory of having laid it in the depths of the ocean is yours, and it is not the less whether the stockholders receive interest or not. At present you have no rival claimant for the glory of the project.”
It was in strange contrast with the rejoicing so soon over that the gold snuff-box and the freedom of the city were received with this note: