The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-16
BANQUET TO CYRUS W. FIELD.
Ovation by the New York Chamber
Of Commerce - Addresses by
Cyrus w. Field, Admiral
FaTFaguts General
Meade, and
Others.

NFVht NC AeD AOh fdptIS o. TO-DAY.
grand banquet was given to Cyrus W. Field
Dythe New York Chamber Of Commerce, at the
Metropolitan Hotel, last evening. Many dis
hngnished people we're present, among them
Aalor-General G. G. Meade, Admiral Farrsgut
lhe Hon. Lafayette S. Foster, President of the
United States Senate, Archbishop John Nc.
SgOskey, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, Mayor
Hoffman, the Rev. DR.. Bellows, F. Lieber, LII. D..
Sohn jay, Robert j. Walker, Charles O'Conor.
6eneral William F. Smith, U. S. A., Captain A.
N. Pennock, U. S. NJ, w. F. Judson, Peter
cooper, the Hon George Bancroft, Alfred Bier
stadt, Moses Taylor the Rev. r. w. Hitchcock.
and the Brazilian Minister The banquet hall
was beautifully decorated with the flags of diff
terent nations, choice flowers and embems sug-
gestive OF the great enterprise the originator of
which the guests had assembled to honor. A.
A. Low, ESQ.,, President of the Chamber of Com
melce, presided. After dinner the ladies were
introduced, and the serious business of the even.
ing began.
REMARKS OF MR.. CYRUS W. FIELD.
Mr.: President:-I thank you for the kind words
which you have spoken and you, gentlemen
Tor the manner in which you have responded
to them. 1t is pleasant to come home alter
kong absence, and especially when warm well
come meet us at the door. 1t is pleasant to see
among old neighbors and friends, and to be as
suTed Of their regard and appreciation. And
now 70 receive such tribute as this from the
Chamber of Commerce of New York and from
this large array of merchants aud bankers and
eminent citizens is very grateful to my heart
The scene before me awakens mingled recol-
lectons. Eight years ago the Atlantic Tele-
graph had won brief success; and in this very
hall we met to celebrate our victory Alas for
our hopes! How soon was our Joy turned into
mourning. That very day the cable departed
thls llie. IT went out ike spark in the mighty
waters. So suddenly it died that many could
not believe that it ever lived. Tonight we
meet 20 rejoice IN a success which believe will
De permanent. But many who were with us
then are not here. Captain Hudson has gone 10
his grave. WOOdhouse, the English englnper
who was with our own Everett IN the NIAGARA,
sleeps in his native island. Others who took an
early par, IN the work are no more among the
nVng Lieutenant Bcrryman, who made the
hrst sOundlngs across the Atlantic, died for his
country in the late war, on board his ship off
Pensacola,
His companions, Lieutenant Swain. the hero
OF the Ill fated Darien expedition, and Lieu
tenant Thomas, both are gone. SO are John w.
Brett, nv first associate in england, Samuel
Statham, Sir william Brown, the first Chairman
OF the Atlantic Telegraph Company, and many
many Others. My first thought tonight is OF
the dead; and my only sorrow that those who
labored SO faithfully with us are not here now
to share our triumph.
In the letter inviting Inc to accept Of thus ban.
quet, you expressed a wish to hear from nv
lips the story OF this great undertaking." That
sir, would be very long story, much beyond
your patience and my strength. ! should have
to take you forty times across the Atlantic, and
half as many to Newfoundland. Still / will
endeavor in brief way, TO give you some faint
outline of the fortunes OF this enterprise.
II is nearly thirteen years since half-a-do2en
gentlemen OF this city met at my house for four
successive evenings, and around table, covered
with maps and charts and plans and estimates
considered a project to extend line of tele.
graph from Nova Scotia to st. Johns in New
toundland, thence to be carried across the
ocean. 1t was very pretty plan on paper
There was New York, and there was st. Johns,
only about 1900 miles apart. 1t was easy 10
draw line from one point to the other-maklng
no account of the forests and mountains and
swamps aud rivers and gulfs that lay in our way
Not one of us had ever seen the country or had
any ioea Of the obstacles to be overcome
We thought we coulG build the line in a few
months. IT took two years and a halt Yet we
never asked for help outside our own little cir
Gle. Indeed, fear we should not have cot It if
we had-tOr few had any faith in our scheme
Every dollar came out Of our own pockets. Yet
l am proud to say no man drew back. No man
proved deserter: those who came first into the
work have stood by il to the end. OF those six
men four are here to-night-Mr. Peter Cooper
Moses Taylor. Marshall o. Roberts, ana myself
Ny brother Dudley is in Europe, and Mr.. Chand-
Ter White died in 1855, and his place was supplied
by Mr.. Wilson G, Hunt, who is also here. Mr.
Robert W. Lowber was our Secretary To these
gentlemen, as my first associates, it is but just
that should pay my first ACCOMPLISHMENTS.
From lhls statement, you perceive that in the
beginning this was wholly an American enter.
prise. II was begun. and for two years and
hat II was carried on, solely By American CAPT
tai, Our brethren across the sea did not even
know what we were doing away in the forest of
Newfoundland. Our little cOniDany raised and
expended over million and Quarter of dol
lars before an Englishman paid a single Donnd
sterling. Our only support outside was In the
liberal charter and steady friendship of the !
Government of Newfoundland for which we |
were greatly indebted to Mr. T.. NJ. Archibald !
then Attorney General of that colony and now |
British Consul in New York Aud in, prepar-
ing for an ocean cable the first soundinps
across the Atlantic were made by American
officers in American ships. Our scientific men
Morse, Henry, Bache and Maury-had tax IN
great interest IN the subject. The United States
ship Dotph1n discovered the Telegraphic plateau
as eally as 1858; and the United States ship
ArCtic sounded across from Newfoundland TO
ireland in 1856 year before her Maiestys ship
CyctOps, under command of Captain DaYman
went over the same course. This state, not
TO take aught IRON the Just praise of England
but simply TO yindicate the truth of history
(Applause.)
Ii was not until ls56-ten years aao-tbat the
enterprise had any existence in England In
that summer went to London, aud there with
Mr.. John w. Brett, Mr.. (now Sir) Charles Bright
and DR.. Whitehouse, organized the Atlantic
Telegraph Company. Science had begun 10
contemplate the possibility of such an enter
prise; and the great Farraday cheered us with
his lofty enthusiasm. Then for the first time
was enlisted the support OF English capitalists;
and then the British Government began that
course which 1t has continued ever since-offeT-
ing us ships to compleCe soundngs across the
Atlantic, and 20 assist in laying the lcable, and
an annual subsidy tor the transmission of
messages.
The Expedition Of. 1857 and the two Expedi-
tons Of 1858 were Joint enterprises IN which
with the A0dmegnnOn, the leonard the GOFQOn,