The Sun.
London, England, 1858-11-11 00:00:00

THE FAULT IN THE ATLANTIC CABLE.

To THE DIRECTORS OF THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH

COMPANY.
Gentlemen,—l have to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of a letter from your secretary, dated 27th
ult., declining to grant me permission to test the
Atlantic cable, and conveying the directors' re-
fusal to entertain any proposal which, after that
testing, I might be prepared to make for the re-
opening and maintenance of communication with
Newfoundland. While awaiting this reply at Va-
lentia, I endeavoured to serve the interests of the
company by careful experimental research upon a
faulty piece of your cable (raised some weeks since
from the harbour), with the special object of ascer-
taining the possibility, or otherwise, of accurately
detecting, the character of a fault, as well as the
distance at which it might exist. The results of
this examination, which I now lay before you, are
decisive, corroborating in every respect the opinion
which I have already given, that the system of
testing hitherto confidently relied upon, is to the
last degree fallacious and inconclusive.
I have been able to imitate and reproduce at plea-
sure on this short length (less than two miles) every
phase through which the Atlantic cable itself has
been said to pass, the fault having been consecu:
tively arranged by me, as apparently existing at
600, 500, 400, 300, and lastly at 280 and 240 miles
distance, and subsequently at shorter and interme-
diate lengths. These phases were not produced
either by adding to length, but simply by altering
the degree or amount of the fault already existing,
while the length of the cable aswell as the position
of the fault in all instances remained the same.
It is therefore, manifestly impossible, by any
multiplied appeals to such a mode of testing to dis-
tinguish between a great fault at a considerable
distance, and a smaller fault, near at hand, or, in
fact, to ascertain at all with certainty the distance,
at which a fault exists, unless the degree or amount
of such fault be already accurately known—given
the distance; the amount of fault may be ascer-
tained ; given the amount of fault, the distance may
be determined. As, however, in the present condi-
tion of the Atlantic cable both are unknown, and
the indications required of each are identical in
character and inseparable from each other, it fol-
lows that by no nicety in the application of such
tests can theSe two points be separately examined
and determined with accuracy.
With such a source of error underlying all the
electrical opinions which have beeu relied upon,
the unequivocal demonstrations which I have ob-
tained induce me, in justice to the enterprise, at
once to impeach the validity of the accepted deci-
sion upon the state of the cable.
Bearing upon this subject, I here recal to mind
an incident of which the directors are perhaps
unaware, wherein one of the gentlemen recently
employed by them (Mr. C. F. Varley), in simple
reliance doubtless upon such tests, caused search to
be made about 70 miles out at sea upon a cable for
a fault or injury which was subsequently found to
be en shore. Another case has, indeed, very re-
cently occurred, in which, unless I am misin-
formed, the difficulty experienced in ascertaining
electrically the position of a fault in a cable of very
limited length, was only removed by the mecha-
nical operation of underrunning.
I will not enlarge upon the loss of capital and of
public confidence certain to result from a too im-
plicit reliance upon a system so open to error, and
yet upon the unshaken belief in which the very
existence of our enterprise has been for a long time,
and is at this moment, suspended.
I have felt constrained to bring this matter thus
prominently forward because an error in judgment
adopted and acted upon blindly, may thus decide
adversely, and at the same time wrongly and irre-
trievably, a question involving, to a great extent,
the interests of two nations, and the loss, or other-
wise, of half a million of money.
The probabilities are vastly against any approach
to accurate determination of the distance of the
fault in such a manner; while, irrespective of my
own testing and observations, which lead to an
opposite opinion, the common sense arguments,
hitherto apparently overlooked, are wholly in
favour of the fault being close at hand. I will
briefly enumerate these :-
Ist. The cable has been long exposed to danger
upon a coast; for which its delicate structure is
known to be utterly unfitted ; we, therefore, have
a right to expect injury.
2d. The entire interruption which has occurred
from injury no less than three times in as many
months, to another length of cable identical in struc-
ture—originally a part of our own—similarly situ-
ated in the harbour, and connecting the island with
the mainland, does itself most strongly confirm this
expectation.
3rd. The last portion of the cable laid out by the
Agamemnon was believed to be less perfect than
the rest, and it was hoped that it might not have
been used at all ; in fact, it would not have been
but for the large amount lost upon the previous

trip.
4th. A considerable degree of fault was found to
exist in that part of the Atlantic cable within the
harbour which was cut out, and on its removal and
replacement by fresh cable, the signals from New-
foundland were so manifestly improved for a time,
that the subsequent receipt of messages was the
very best and quickest work performed by the
cable.
Lastly. No accident is known to have occurred
during the ptiyino• out at the distance of 280 miles,
sufficient to lay bare the conductor for two inches,
as is now inferred to be the case.
Having thus given my reasons for dissent from
the received opinion upon the present state of the
Atlantic cable, on the ground of its beinc, based
upon insufficient, and what now prove to be tin-
' sound electrical data, no less than opposed to all the
arguments which common sense adduces, I may add
that my confidence will be in no way shaken should
the present tardy and feeble effort with reference
to the shore end prove a failure. I regard the means
employed as inadequateto the end to be attained.
I turn now with pleasure to recount to the direc-
tors an incident which I have gleaned since my ar-
rival at Valentin, and which, I doubt not, they will
learn with equal gratification. Shortly after the
repairs had been effected, to which allusion has al-
ready been made, and when the cable was in its
most perfect working order, the superintendent at
Newfoundland, when all the official messages of the
day had been worked off; gave permission in order.to
keep the clerks employed, for exchange of conversa-
tional intercourse between Newfoundland and Valer-
tia for a time. Freed thus from fear of any respca-
sibility attaching to errors from carelessness or
haste, the clerks on duty manipulated., at a higher
speed than had ever before been attained ; New-
foundland using my instrument, and induction
coils for transmission, while Valentin received the
signals on Thomson's galvanometer, and recorded
by finger-key upon the paper ; the station clock
marked the time upon the paper, in hours, half-
hours, and quarters, as well as minutes, so that
there can be no error in the computation of speed.
I have carefully examined the record then made ;
the signals are perfect, and the rate at which for a
length of time that conversation was kept up in
words at full length, was such (if that speed alone
could be maintained, and I am confident that it can
even be increased), as would enable the directors,
after the payment of all working expenses, to de-
clare a dividend at the rate of 10 per cent. per
annum upon the present capital ; while laying
aside, within 12 months, a reserve of £50,000.
This computation is made for the six working days
only, allowing a margin of four hours per diem
for unavoidable delays and interruptions.
These facts and these figures, together with the
calculations upon which they are based, I am pre-
pared at any time to submit and to substantiate
before the directors and shareholders, and this is
the condition to which I still believe the cable ad-
mits of being again safely and easily restored 'at
an early day .--I am, gentlemen, your obedient ser-
vant, E. 0. WILDMAN WHITEHOUSE,
Late Electrican to the Atlantic Telegraph
Company.
London, Nov. 8.

The Senzaine Religiezise announces that the
Prince Lucien Bonaparte, who is in holy orders,
_is occupy-
ing himself actively in re-establishing the order of St.
Bernard in France.

FIRE IN FLEET-STREET.—Yesterday morning,
between four and five o'clock, a fire broke out in the range
of premises belonging to Mr. Paul Jerrard, publisher,
situate at the corner of Red Lion-court, Fleet-street. The
discovery was made by the police on duty observing smoke
issuing from the workshop in Ited Lion-court, who imme-
diately raised an alarm, when the inmates with difficulty
effected their escape. The engines of the Fire Brigade ar-
rived in quick succession. An abundant supply of water was
procured, and the firemen, under the direction of Mr. Braid-
%ood, had the engines set to work. The flames continued
to• spread, and in the course of a quarter of an hour after
the outbreak the whole of the rooms in the extensive pre-
mises became enveloped in fire. At the same time the
heatedn
ng
housess mo ke ma-na s
thed pourin
inmatesthrough
were
compelledthe walls t
oof
rushth e an
ida-
into the street,'
ortheir night-dresses, carrying in their arms
churlcould lay their tny
childrenportable article of furniture they,
to inuninen'tn asant,Toorn.keiTthteo ex-
posedfithreolinremn.,oraklt,hbouutgNtilileso engaged the back NiNn-allle m. Mr. Braidwood then wentll in with a noise like a clap of
thunder, newly burying
Inspectori Harding, and finding
round to Crane-court vi,h
no danger, directed the attention the firemen to the sur-
rounding buildings, but the fire was not extinguished until
print.ndfro,)unebtr-ltsilishreeert, ; yirre
.
the premises of Mr. Paul errand'',
floors,d, third,
oiii in
;to Mr.. C.
burnt out. Mr. G. Charles, tailor,
Gordon, publisher, the
the occupation of Mr T. E gleton bbooolkoboignidoegr
and 13, Red Lion-court, Fleet-street,
Mitchell, advertising agent; No. 14, Mr. W. H. Brewer,
printer; Mr. Maddick, printer, Crane-court, Fleet-street,
all sustained more or less damage by fire and water. The
losq will fall upon the Unity, Sun, County, and other fire
offices,