Feelsomeoftheworstofit，Isay;forsomeoftherestoftheworstis，bythissimplefaith，excluded。
Itwasintheyear1868，thatthecloudsfinallyrose。ThebusinessinpartnershipwithMr。Fordebegansuddenlytopaywell;
aboutthesametimethepatentsshowedthemselvesavaluableproperty;andbutalittleafter，FleemingwasappointedtothenewchairofengineeringintheUniversityofEdinburgh。Thus，almostatonce，pecuniaryembarrassmentspassedforeveroutofhislife。
HereishisownepiloguetothetimeatClaygate，andhisanticipationsofthefutureinEdinburgh。
’……ThedearoldhouseatClaygateisnotletandtheprettygardenamassofweeds。Ifeelratherasifwehadbehavedunkindlytothem。Wewereveryhappythere，butnowthatitisoverIamconsciousoftheweightofanxietyastomoneywhichI
boreallthetime。Withyouinthegarden，withAustininthecoach—house，withprettysongsinthelittle，lowwhiteroom，withthemoonlightinthedearroomup—stairs，ah，itwasperfect;butthelongwalk，wondering，pondering，fearing，scheming，andthedustyjoltingrailway，andthehorridfustyofficewithitsendlessdisappointments，theyarewellgone。Itiswellenoughtofightandschemeandbustleaboutintheeagercrowdhere[inLondon]forawhilenowandthen，butnotforalifetime。WhatIhavenowisjustperfect。Studyforwinter，actionforsummer，lovelycountryforrecreation，apleasanttownfortalk……’
CHAPTERV。—NOTESOFTELEGRAPHVOYAGES，1858TO1873。
BUTitisnowtimetoseeJenkinathislife’swork。Ihavebeforemecertainimperfectseriesofletterswritten，ashesays，’athazard，foronedoesnotknowatthetimewhatisimportantandwhatisnot’：theearlieraddressedtoMissAustin，afterthebetrothal;thelatertoMrs。Jenkintheyoungwife。IshouldpremisethatIhaveallowedmyselfcertaineditorialfreedoms，leavingoutandsplicingtogethermuchashehimselfdidwiththeBonacable：thuseditedthelettersspeakforthemselves，andwillfailtointerestnonewholoveadventureoractivity。Addressedastheyweretoherwhomhecalledhis’dearengineeringpupil，’theygiveapictureofhisworksoclearthatachildmayunderstand，andsoattractivethatIamhalfafraidtheirpublicationmayproveharmful，andstillfurthercrowdtheranksofaprofessionalreadyovercrowded。Buttheirmostengagingqualityisthepictureofthewriter;withhisindomitableself—confidenceandcourage，hisreadinessineverypinchofcircumstanceorchangeofplan，andhiseverfreshenjoymentofthewholewebofhumanexperience，nature，adventure，science，toilandrest，societyandsolitude。Itshouldbeborneinmindthatthewriterofthesebuoyantpageswas，evenwhilehewrote，harassedbyresponsibility，stintedinsleepandoftenstrugglingwiththeprostrationofsea—sickness。Tothislastenemy，whichheneverovercame，Ihaveomitted，inmysearchaftercondensation，agoodmanyreferences;iftheywereallleft，suchwastheman’stemper，theywouldnotrepresentonehundredthpartofwhathesuffered，forhewasnevergiventocomplaint。Butindeedhehadmetthisuglytrifle，ashemeteverythwartcircumstanceoflife，withacertainpleasureofpugnacity;andsuffereditnottocheckhim，whetherintheexerciseofhisprofessionorthepursuitofamusement。
I。
’Birkenhead：April18，1858。
’Well，youshouldknow，Mr。—havingacontracttolaydownasubmarinetelegraphfromSardiniatoAfricafailedthreetimesintheattempt。Thedistancefromlandtolandisabout140miles。
Onthefirstoccasion，afterproceedingsome70miles，hehadtocutthecable—thecauseIforget;hetriedagain，sameresult;
thenpickedupabout20milesofthelostcable，splicedonanewpiece，andverynearlygotacrossthattime，butranshortofcable，andwhenbutafewmilesoffGalitainverydeepwater，hadtotelegraphtoLondonformorecabletobemanufacturedandsentoutwhilsthetriedtosticktotheend：forfivedays，Ithink，helaytheresendingandreceivingmessages，butheavyweathercomingonthecablepartedandMr。—wenthomeindespair—atleastIshouldthinkso。
’Hethenappliedtothoseeminentengineers，R。S。Newall&Co。，whomadeandlaiddownacableforhimlastautumn—FleemingJenkin（atthetimeinconsiderablementalagitation）havingthehonouroffittingouttheELBAforthatpurpose。’[Onthisoccasion，theELBAhasnocabletolay;but]’isgoingoutinthebeginningofMaytoendeavourtofishupthecablesMr。—lost。
Therearetwoendsatorneartheshore：thethirdwillprobablynotbefoundwithin20milesfromland。Oneoftheseendswillbepassedoveraverybigpulleyorsheaveatthebows，passedsixtimesroundabigbarrelordrum;whichwillbeturnedroundbyasteamengineondeck，andthuswindupthecable，whiletheELBA
slowlysteamsahead。Thecableisnotwoundroundandroundthedrumasyoursilkiswoundonitsreel，butonthecontrarynevergoesroundmorethansixtimes，goingoffatonesideasitcomesonattheother，andgoingdownintotheholdoftheELBAtobecoiledalonginabigcoilorskein。
’IwentdowntoGatesheadtodiscusswithMr。Newalltheformwhichthistolerablysimpleideashouldtake，andhavebeenbusysinceI
cameheredrawing，ordering，andputtingupthemachinery—
uninterferedwith，thankgoodness，byanyone。IownIlikeresponsibility;itflattersoneandthen，yourfathermightsay，I
havemoretogainthantolose。MoreoverIdolikethisbloodless，painlesscombatwithwoodandiron，forcingthestubbornrascalstodomywill，lickingtheclumsycubsintoanactiveshape，seeingthechildofto—day’sthoughtworkingto—morrowinfullvigourathisappointedtask。
’May12。
’Bydintofbribing，bullying，cajoling，andgoingdaybydaytoseethestateofthingsordered，allmyworkisverynearlyreadynow;butthosewhohaveneglectedtheseprecautionsareofcoursedisappointed。Fivehundredfathomsofchain[were]orderedby—
somethreeweekssince，tobereadybythe10thwithoutfail;hesendsforitto—day—150fathomsalltheycanletushavebythe15th—andhowtherestistobegot，whoknows？Heorderedaboatamonthsinceandyesterdaywecouldseenothingofherbutthekeelandabouttwoplanks。Icouldmultiplyinstanceswithoutend。
Atfirstonegoesnearlymadwithvexationatthesethings;butonefindssosoonthattheyaretherule，thatthenitbecomesnecessarytofeignarageonedoesnotfeel。Ilookuponitasthenaturalorderofthings，thatifIorderathing，itwillnotbedone—ifbyaccidentitgetsdone，itwillcertainlybedonewrong：theonlyremedybeingtowatchtheperformanceateverystage。
’To—daywasagrandfield—day。Ihadsteamupandtriedtheengineagainstpressureorresistance。Onepartofthemachineryisdrivenbyabeltorstrapofleather。Ialwayshadmydoubtsthismightslip;andsoitdid，wildly。Ihadmadeprovisionfordoublingit，puttingontwobeltsinsteadofone。Nouse—offtheywent，slippingroundandoffthepulleysinsteadofdrivingthemachinery。Tightenthem—nouse。Morestrengththere—downwiththelever—smashsomething，tearthebelts，butgetthemtight—nowthen，standclear，onwiththesteam;—andthebeltsslipawayasifnothingheldthem。Menbegintolookqueer;thecircleofquidnuncsmakesageremarks。Oncemore—nouse。I
begintoknowIoughttofeelsheepishandbeat，butsomehowIfeelcockyinstead。Ilaughandsay，"Well，Iamboundtobreaksomethingdown"—andsuddenlysee。"Oho，there’stheplace;getweightonthere，andthebeltwon’tslip。"Withmuchlabour，ongothebeltsagain。"Nowthen，asparthro’thereandsixmen’sweighton;mindyou’renotcarriedaway。"—"Ay，ay，sir。"Butevidentlynoonebelievesintheplan。"Hurrah，roundshegoes—
sticktoyourspar。Allright，shutoffsteam。"Andthedifficultyisvanquished。
’Thisorsuchasthis（notalwaysquitesobad）occurshourafterhour，whilefivehundredtonsofcoalarerattlingdownintotheholdsandbunkers，rivetersaremakingtheirinfernalrowallround，andriggersbendthesailsandfittherigging：—asortofPandemonium，itappearedtoyoungMrs。Newall，whowashereonMondayandhalf—chokedwithguano;butitsuitsthelikeso’me。
’S。S。ELBA，RiverMersey：May17。
’Wearedelayedintheriverbysomeoftheship’spapersnotbeingready。Suchasceneatthedockgates。Notasailorwilljointillthelastmoment;andthen，justastheshipforgesaheadthroughthenarrowpass，bedsandbaggageflyonboard，themenhalftipsyclutchattherigging，thecaptainswears，thewomenscreamandsob，thecrowdcheerandlaugh，whileoneortwoprettylittlegirlsstandstillandcryoutright，regardlessofalleyes。
’Thesetwodaysofcomparativepeacehavequitesetmeonmylegsagain。Iwasgettingwornandwearywithanxietyandwork。AsusualIhavebeendelightedwithmyshipwrights。IgavethemsomebeeronSaturday，makingashortoration。To—daywhentheywentashoreandIcameonboard，theygavethreecheers，whetherformeortheshipIhardlyknow，butIhadjustbidthemgood—bye，andtheshipwasoutofhail;butIwasstartledandhardlylikedtoclaimthecomplimentbyacknowledgingit。
’S。S。ELBA：May25。
’Myfirstintentionsofalongjournalhavebeenfairlyfrustratedbysea—sickness。OnTuesdaylastaboutnoonwestartedfromtheMerseyinverydirtyweather，andwerehardlyoutoftheriverwhenwemetagalefromthesouth—westandaheavysea，bothrightinourteeth;andthepoorELBAhadasadshaking。HadInotbeenverysea—sick，thesightwouldhavebeenexcitingenough，asIsatwrappedinmyoilskinsonthebridge;[but]inspiteofallmyeffortstotalk，toeat，andtogrin，Isooncollapsedintoimbecility;andIwasheartilythankfultowardseveningtofindmyselfinbed。
’Nextmorning，Ifancieditgrewquieterand，asIlistened，heard，"Letgotheanchor，"whereonIconcludedwehadrunintoHolyheadHarbour，aswasindeedthecase。AllthatdaywelayinHolyhead，butIcouldneitherreadnorwritenordraw。Thecaptainofanothersteamerwhichhadputincameonboard，andweallwentforawalkonthehill;andintheeveningtherewasanexchangeofpresents。WegavesometobaccoIthink，andreceivedacat，twopoundsoffreshbutter，aCumberlandham，WESTWARDHO！andThackeray’sENGLISHHUMOURISTS。Iwasastonishedatreceivingtwosuchfairbooksfromthecaptainofalittlecoastingscrew。Ourcaptainsaidhe[thecaptainofthescrew]hadplentyofmoney，fiveorsixhundredayearatleast。—"Whatintheworldmakeshimgorollingaboutinsuchacraft，then？"—"Why，Ifancyhe’sreckless;he’sdesperateinlovewiththatgirlImentioned，andshewon’tlookathim。"Ourhonest，fat，oldcaptainsaysthisverygrimlyinhisthick，broadvoice。
’Myheadwon’tstandmuchwritingyet，soIwillrunupandtakealookatthebluenightskyoffthecoastofPortugal。
’May26。
’Aniceladofsometwoandtwenty，A—byname，goesoutinanondescriptcapacityaspartpurser，parttelegraphclerk，partgenerallyusefulperson。A—wasagreatcomfortduringthemiseries[ofthegale];forwhenwithadeadheadwindandaheavysea，plates，books，papers，stomachswerebeingrolledaboutinsadconfusion，wegenerallymanagedtolieonourbacks，andgrin，andtrydiscordantstavesoftheFLOWERSOFTHEFORESTandtheLOW—
BACKEDCAR。Wecouldsingandlaugh，whenwecoulddonothingelse;thoughA—wasreadytoswearaftereachfitwaspast，thatthatwasthefirsttimehehadfeltanything，andatthismomentwoulddeclareinbroadScotchthathe’dneverbeensickatall，qualifyingtheoathwith"exceptforaminutenowandthen。"Hebroughtacornet—a—pistontopracticeon，havinghadthreeweeks’
instructionsonthatmelodiousinstrument;andifyoucouldhearthehorridsoundsthatcome！especiallyatheavyrolls。WhenI
hintheisnotimproving，therecomesaconfession："Idon’tfeelquiterightyet，yousee！"Butheblowsawaymanfully，andinself—defenceItrytoroarthetunelouder。
’11：30P。M。
’LongpastCapeSt。Vincentnow。Wewentwithinabout400yardsofthecliffsandlight—houseinacalmmoonlight，withporpoisesspringingfromthesea，themencrooninglongballadsastheylayidleontheforecastleandthesailsflappinguncertainontheyards。Aswepassed，therecameasuddenbreezefromland，hotandheavyscented;andnowasIwriteitswarmrichflavourcontrastsstronglywiththesaltairwehavebeenbreathing。
’IpacedthedeckwithH—，thesecondmate，andinthequietnightdrewaconfessionthathewasengagedtobemarried，andgavehimaworldofgoodadvice。Heisaverynice，active，littlefellow，withabroadScotchtongueand"dirty，littlerascal"appearance。
Hehadasaddisappointmentatstarting。Havingbeensecondmateonthelastvoyage，whenthefirstmatewasdischarged，hetookchargeoftheELBAallthetimeshewasinport，andofcourselookedforwardtobeingchiefmatethistrip。Liddellpromisedhimthepost。Hehadnotauthoritytodothis;andwhenNewallheardofit，heappointedanotherman。FancypoorH—havingtoldallthemenandmostofall，hissweetheart。Butmoreremainsbehind;forwhenitcametosigningarticles，itturnedoutthatO—，thenewfirstmate，hadnotacertificatewhichallowedhimtohaveasecondmate。Thencameratheranaffectingscene。ForH—proposedtosignaschief（hehavingthenecessaryhighercertificate）buttoactassecondforthelowerwages。AtfirstO—wouldnotgivein，butofferedtogoassecond。ButourbravelittleH—said，no：
"TheownerswishedMr。O—tobechiefmate，andchiefmateheshouldbe。"Sohecarriedtheday，signedaschiefandactsassecond。ShakespeareandByronarehisfavouritebooks。IwalkedintoByronalittle，butcanwellunderstandhisstirringuparough，youngsailor’sromance。IlenthimWESTWARDHOfromthecabin;buttomyastonishmenthedidnotcaremuchforit;hesaiditsmeltoftheshillingrailwaylibrary;perhapsIhadpraisedittoohighly。Scottishisstandardfornovels。Iamveryhappytofindgoodtastebynomeansconfinedtogentlemen，H—havingnopretensionstothattitle。Heisamanaftermyownheart。
’ThenIcamedowntothecabinandheardyoungA—’sschemesforthefuture。HishighestpictureisacommissioninthePrinceofVizianagram’sirregularhorse。HiseldestbrotheristutortohisHighness’schildren，andgrandvizier，andmagistrate，andonhisHighness’shouseholdstaff，andseemstobeoneofthoseScotchadventurersonemeetswithandhearsofinqueerberths—raisingcavalry，buildingpalaces，andusingsomepettyEasternking’slongpursewiththeirlongScotchheads。
’OffBona;June4。
’Ireadyourlettercarefully，leaningbackinaMalteseboattopresentthesmallestsurfaceofmybodytoagrillingsun，andsailingfromtheELBAtoCapeHamrahaboutthreemilesdistant。
Howwefriedandsighed！Atlast，wereachedlandunderFortGenova，andIwascarriedashorepick—a—back，andpluckedthefirstflowerIsawforAnnie。Itwasastrangescene，farmorenovelthanIhadimagined：thehigh，steepbankscoveredwithrich，spicyvegetationofwhichIhardlyknewoneplant。Thedwarfpalmwithfan—likeleaves，growingabouttwofeethigh，formedthestapleoftheverdure。Aswebrushedthroughthem，thegummyleavesofacistusstucktotheclothes;andwithitssmallwhiteflowerandyellowheart，stoodforourEnglishdog—rose。Inplaceofheather，wehadmyrtleandlentisquewithleavessomewhatsimilar。Thatlargebulbwithlongflatleaves？Donottouchitifyourhandsarecut;theArabsuseitasblistersfortheirhorses。Isthatthesamesort？No，takethatoneup;itisthebulbofadwarfpalm，eachlayeroftheonionpeelsoff，brownandnetted，liketheoutsideofacocoa—nut。Itisacleverplantthat;fromtheleaveswegetavegetablehorsehair;—andeatthebottomofthecentrespike。Alltheleavesyoupullhavethesamearomaticscent。Butherealittlepatchofclearedgroundshowsoldfriends，whoseemtoclingbyabusedcivilisation：—fine，hardythistles，oneofthembrightyellow，though;—honest，Scotch—
looking，largedaisiesorgowans;—potatoeshereandthere，lookingbutsickly;anddarksturdyfig—treeslookingcoolandattheireaseintheburningsun。
’HereweareatFortGenova，crowningthelittlepoint，asmalloldbuilding，duetomyoldGenoeseacquaintancewhofoughtandtradedbravelyonceuponatime。Abrokencannonoftheirsformsthethreshold;andthroughadark，lowarch，weenteruponbroadterracesslopingtothecentre，fromwhichrainwatermaycollectandrunintothatwell。Large—breechedFrenchtroopersloungeaboutandaremostcivil;andthewholepartysitdowntobreakfastinalittlewhite—washedroom，fromthedoorofwhichthelong，mountaincoastlineandthesparklingseashowofanimpossiblebluethroughtheopeningsofawhite—washedrampart。Itryasea—egg，oneofthosepricklyfellows—sea—urchins，theyarecalledsometimes;theshellisofalovelypurple，andwhenopened，thereareraysofyellowadheringtotheinside;theseIeat，buttheyareveryfishy。
’Wearesilentandshyofoneanother，andsoongoouttowatchwhileturbaned，blue—breeched，bareleggedArabsdigholesforthelandtelegraphpostsonthefollowingprinciple：onemantakesapickandbangslazilyatthehardearth;whenalittleisloosened，hismatewithasmallspadeliftsitononeside;andDACAPO。
Theyhaveregularfeaturesandlookquiteinplaceamongthepalms。
OurEnglishworkmenscrewtheearthenwareinsulatorsontheposts，strainthewire，andorderArabsaboutbythegenerictermofJohnny。IfindW—hasnothingformetodo;andthatinfactnoonehasanythingtodo。SomeinstrumentsfortestinghavestuckatLyons，someatCagliari;andnothingcanbedone—oratanyrate，isdone。Iwanderabout，thinkingofyouandstaringatbig，greengrasshoppers—locusts，somepeoplecallthem—andsmellingtherichbrushwood。Therewasnothingforapenciltosketch，andI
soongottiredofthiswork，thoughIhavepaidwillinglymuchmoneyforfarlessstrangeandlovelysights。
’OffCapeSpartivento：June8。
’Attwothismorning，weleftCagliari;atfivecastanchorhere。
Igotupandbeganpreparingforthefinaltrial;andshortlyafterwardseveryoneelseofnoteonboardwentashoretomakeexperimentsonthestateofthecable，leavingmewiththeprospectofbeginningtoliftat12o’clock。Iwasnotreadybythattime;
buttheexperimentswerenotconcludedandmoreoverthecablewasfoundtobeimbeddedsomefourorfivefeetinsand，sothattheboatcouldnotbringofftheend。Atthree，Messrs。Liddell，&c。，cameonboardingoodspirits，havingfoundtwowiresgoodorinsuchastateaspermittedmessagestobetransmittedfreely。TheboatnowwenttograppleforthecablesomewayfromshorewhiletheELBAtowedasmalllateencraftwhichwastotakebacktheconsultoCagliarisomedistanceonitsway。Onourreturnwefoundtheboathadbeenunsuccessful;shewasallowedtodropastern，whilewegrappledforthecableintheELBA[withoutmoresuccess]。Thecoastisalowmountainrangecoveredwithbrushwoodorheather—poolsofwaterandasandybeachattheirfeet。I
havenotyetbeenashore，myhandshavingbeenveryfullallday。
’June9。
’Grapplingforthecableoutsidethebankhadbeenvotedtoouncertain;[andthedaywasspentin]effortstopullthecableoffthroughthesandwhichhasaccumulatedoverit。Bygettingthecabletightontotheboat，andlettingtheswellpitchherabouttillitgotslack，andthentighteningagainwithblocksandpulleys，wemanagedtogetoutfromthebeachtowardstheshipattherateofabouttwentyyardsanhour。Whentheyhadgotabout100yardsfromshore，weranroundintheELBAtotryandhelpthem，lettinggotheanchorintheshallowestpossiblewater，thiswasaboutsunset。Suddenlysomeonecallsoutheseesthecableatthebottom：thereitwassureenough，apparentlywrigglingaboutasthewavesrippled。Greatexcitement;stillgreaterwhenwefindourownanchorisfoulofitandhasbeenthemeansofbringingittolight。Weletgoagrapnel，getthecableclearoftheanchorontothegrapnel—thecaptaininanagonylestweshoulddriftashoremeanwhile—handthegrapplinglineintothebigboat，steamoutfarenough，andanchoragain。Alittlemoreworkandoneendofthecableisupoverthebowsroundmydrum。Igotomyengineandwestarthaulingin。Allgoesprettywell，butitisquitedark。Lampsaregotatlast，andmenarranged。Wegoonforaquarterofamileorsofromshoreandthenstopatabouthalf—pastninewithorderstobeupatthree。Grandworkatlast！AnumberoftheSATURDAYREVIEWhere;itreadssohotandfeverish，sotomblikeandunhealthy，inthemidstofdearNature’shillsandsea，withgoodwholesomeworktodo。Praythatallgowellto—
morrow。
’June10。
’Thankheavenforamostfortunateday。Atthreeo’clockthismorninginadamp，chillmistallhandswererousedtowork。Withasmalldelay，foroneortwoimprovementsIhadseentobenecessarylastnight，theenginestartedandsincethattimeIdonotthinktherehasbeenhalfanhour’sstoppage。Aropetosplice，ablocktochange，awheeltooil，anoldrustedanchortodisengagefromthecablewhichbroughtitup，thesehavebeenouronlyobstructions。Sixty，seventy，eighty，ahundred，ahundredandtwentyrevolutionsatlast，mylittleenginetearsaway。Theevenblackropecomesstraightoutoftheblueheavingwater：
passesslowlyroundanopen—hearted，good—temperedlookingpulley，fivefeetdiameter;aftpastaviciousnipper，tobringallupshouldanythinggowrong;throughagentleguide;ontoahugebluffdrum，whowrapshimroundhisbodyandsays"Comeyoumust，"
asplainasdrumcanspeak：thechatteringpaulssay"I’vegothim，I’vegothim，hecan’tgetback："whilstblackcable，muchslackerandeasierinmindandbody，istakenbyaslimV—pulleyandpasseddownintothehugehold，wherehalfadozenmenputhimcomfortablytobedafterhisexertioninrisingfromhislongbath。
Ingoodsooth，itisoneofthestrangestsightsIknowtoseethatblackfellowrisingupsosteadilyinthemidstofthebluesea。
Wearemorethanhalfwaytotheplacewhereweexpectthefault;
andalreadytheonewire，supposedpreviouslytobequitebadneartheAfricancoast，canbespokenthrough。IamverygladIamhere，formymachinesaremyownchildrenandIlookontheirlittlefailingswithaparent’seyeandleadthemintothepathofdutywithgentlenessandfirmness。Iamnaturallyingoodspirits，butkeepveryquiet，formisfortunesmayariseatanyinstant;
moreoverto—morrowmypaying—outapparatuswillbewantedshouldallgowell，andthatwillbeanothernervousoperation。Fifteenmilesaresafelyin;butnooneknowsbetterthanIdothatnothingisdonetillallisdone。
’June11。
’9A。M。—Wehavereachedthesplicesupposedtobefaulty，andnofaulthasbeenfound。Thetwomenlearnedinelectricity，L—andW—，squabblewherethefaultis。
’EVENING。—Awearydayinahotbroilingsun;noair。Aftertheexperiments，L—saidthefaultmightbetenmilesahead：bythattime，weshouldbeaccordingtoachartinaboutathousandfathomsofwater—rathermorethanamile。Itwasmostdifficulttodecidewhethertogoonornot。Imadepreparationsforaheavypull，setsmallthingstorightsandwenttosleep。Aboutfourintheafternoon，Mr。Liddelldecidedtoproceed，andwearenow（atseven）grindingitinattherateofamileandthree—quartersperhour，whichappearsagrandspeedtous。Ifthepaying—outonlyworkswell！Ihavejustthoughtofagreatimprovementinit;I
can’tapplyitthistime，however。—Theseaisofanoilycalm，andaperfectfleetofbrigsandshipssurroundsus，theirsailshardlyfillinginthelazybreeze。ThesunsetsbehindthedimcoastoftheIsolaSanPietro，thecoastofSardiniahighandruggedbecomessofterandsofterinthedistance，whiletothewestwardstilltheisolatedrockofTorospringsfromthehorizon。
—Itwouldamuseyoutoseehowcool（inhead）andjollyeverybodyis。Atestywordnowandthenshowsthewiresarestrainedalittle，buteveryonelaughsandmakeshislittlejokesasifitwereallinfun：yetweareallasmuchinearnestasthemostearnestoftheearnestbastardGermanschoolordemonstrativeofFrenchmen。Ienjoyitverymuch。
’June12。
’5。30A。M。—Outofsightofland：aboutthirtynauticalmilesinthehold;thewindrisingalittle;experimentsbeingmadeforafault，whiletheengineslowlyrevolvestokeepushangingatthesamespot：depthsupposedaboutamile。Themachineryhasbehavedadmirably。Oh！thatthepaying—outwereover！Thenewmachinerythereisbutrough，meantforanexperimentinshallowwater，andhereweareinamileofwater。
’6。30。—Ihavemademycalculationsandfindthenewpaying—outgearcannotpossiblyansweratthisdepth，someportionwouldgiveway。Luckily，Ihavebroughttheoldthingswithmeandamgettingthemriggedupasfastasmaybe。Badnewsfromthecable。Numberfourhasgiveninsomeportionofthelasttenmiles：thefaultinnumberthreeisstillatthebottomofthesea：numbertwoisnowtheonlygoodwireandtheholdisgettinginsuchamess，throughkeepingbadbitsoutandcuttingforsplicingandtesting，thattherewillbegreatriskinpayingout。Thecableissomewhatstrainedinitsascentfromonemilebelowus;whatitwillbewhenwegettotwomilesisaproblemwemayhavetodetermine。
’9P。M。—Amostprovokingunsatisfactoryday。Wehavedonenothing。Thewindandseahavebothrisen。Toolittlenoticehasbeengiventothetelegraphistswhoaccompanythisexpedition;theyhadtoleavealltheirinstrumentsatLyonsinordertoarriveatBonaintime;ourtestsarethereforeoftheroughest，andnoonereallyknowswherethefaultsare。Mr。L—inthemorninglostmuchtime;thenhetoldus，afterwehadbeeninactiveforabouteighthours，thatthefaultinnumberthreewaswithinsixmiles;andatsixo’clockintheevening，whenallwasreadyforastarttopickupthesesixmiles，hecomesandsaystheremustbeafaultaboutthirtymilesfromBona！Bythistimeitwastoolatetobeginpayingouttoday，andwemustlieheremooredinathousandfathomstilllightto—morrowmorning。Theshippitchesagooddeal，butthewindisgoingdown。
’June13，Sunday。
’Thewindhasnotgonedown，however。Itnow（at10。30）blowsaprettystiffgale，theseahasalsorisen;andtheELBA’Sbowsriseandfallabout9feet。Wemaketwelvepitchestotheminute，andthepoorcablemustfeelverysea—sickbythistime。Wearequiteunabletodoanything，andcontinueridingatanchorinonethousandfathoms，theenginesgoingconstantlysoastokeeptheship’sbowsuptothecable，whichbythismeanshangsnearlyverticalandsustainsnostrainbutthatcausedbyitsownweightandthepitchingofthevessel。Wewereallupatfour，buttheweatherentirelyforbadeworkforto—day，sosomewenttobedandmostlaydown，makingupourleewayaswenauticallytermourlossofsleep。ImustsayLiddellisafinefellowandkeepshispatienceandtemperwonderfully;andyethowhedoesfretandfumeabouttriflesathome！Thiswindhasblownnowfor36hours，andyetwehavetelegramsfromBonatosaytheseathereisascalmasamirror。Itmakesonelaughtorememberoneisstilltiedtotheshore。Click，click，click，thepeckerisatwork：IwonderwhatHerrP—saystoHerrL—，—tests，tests，tests，nothingmore。Thiswillbeaveryanxiousday。
’June14。
’Anotherdayoffatalinaction。
’June15。
’9。30。—Thewindhasgonedownadeal;butevennowtherearedoubtswhetherweshallstartto—day。WhenshallIgetbacktoyou？
’9P。M。—Fourmilesfromland。Ourrunhasbeensuccessfulandeventless。NowtheworkisnearlyoverIfeelalittleoutofspirits—why，Ishouldbepuzzledtosay—merewantonness，orreactionperhapsaftersuspense。
’June16。
’Upthismorningatthree，coupledmyself—actinggeartothebrakeandhadthesatisfactionofseeingitpayoutthelastfourmilesinverygoodstyle。Withoneortwolittleimprovements，Ihopetomakeitacapitalthing。Theendhasjustgoneashoreintwoboats，threeoutoffourwiresgood。Thusendsourfirstexpedition。BysomeoddchanceaTIMESofJunethe7thhasfounditswayonboardthroughtheagencyofawretchedoldpeasantwhowatchestheendofthelinehere。AlongaccountofbreakagesintheAtlantictrialtrip。To—nightwegrapplefortheheavycable，eighttonstothemile。Ilongtohaveatugathim;hemaypuzzleme，andthoughmisfortunesorratherdifficultiesareaboreatthetime，lifewhenworkingwithcablesistamewithoutthem。
’2P。M。—Hurrah，heishooked，thebigfellow，almostatthefirstcast。HehangsunderourbowslookingsohugeandimposingthatI
couldfinditinmyhearttobeafraidofhim。
’June17。
’WewenttoalittlebaycalledChia，whereafresh—waterstreamfallsintothesea，andtookinwater。Thisisratheralongoperation，soIwentawalkupthevalleywithMr。Liddell。Thecoasthereconsistsofrockymountains800to1，000feethighcoveredwithshrubsofabrilliantgreen。Onlandingourfirstamusementwaswatchingthehundredsoflargefishwholazilyswaminshoalsabouttheriver;thebigcanesonthefurthersideholdnumberlesstortoises，wearetold，butseenone，forjustnowtheyprefertakingasiesta。Alittlefurtheron，andwhatisthiswithlargepinkflowersinsuchabundance？—theoleanderinfullflower。AtfirstIfeartopluckthem，thinkingtheymustbecultivatedandvaluable;butsoonthebanksshowalonglineofthicktallshrubs，onemassofgloriouspinkandgreen。Settheseinalittlevalley，framedbymountainswhoserocksgleamoutblueandpurplecolourssuchaspre—Raphaelitesonlydareattempt，shiningouthardandweird—likeamongsttheclumpsofcastor—oilplants，oistus，arborvitaeandmanyotherevergreens，whosenames，alas！Iknownot;thecistusisbrownnow，therestalldeeporbrilliantgreen。Largeherdsofcattlebrowseonthebakeddepositatthefootoftheselargecrags。Oneortwohalf—savageherdsmeninsheepskinkilts，&c。，askforcigars;partridgeswhirruponeithersideofus;pigeonscooandnightingalessingamongstthebloomingoleander。Wegetsixsheepandmanyfowls，too，fromthepriestofthesmallvillage;andthenrunbacktoSpartiventoandmakepreparationsforthemorning。
’June18。
’Thebigcableisstubbornandwillnotbehavelikehissmallerbrother。Thegearemployedtotakehimoffthedrumisnotstrongenough;hegetsslackonthedrumandplaysthemischief。Luckilyformyownconscience，thegearIhadwantedwasnegativedbyMr。
Newall。Mr。Liddelldoesnotexactlyblameme，buthesayswemighthavehadasilverpulleycheaperthanthecostofthisdelay。
HehastelegraphedformorementoCagliari，totrytopullthecableoffthedrumintothehold，byhand。IlookascomfortableasIcan，butfeelasifpeoplewereblamingme。Iamtryingmybesttogetsomethingriggedwhichmayhelpus;Iwantedalittledifficulty，andfeelmuchbetter。—Theshortlengthwehavepickedupwascoveredatplaceswithbeautifulspraysofcoral，twistedandtwinedwithshellsofthosesmall，fairyanimalswesawintheaquariumathome;poorlittlethings，theydiedatonce，withtheirlittlebellsanddelicatebrighttints。
’12O’CLOCK。—Hurrah，victory！forthepresentanyhow。Whilstinourfirstdejection，IthoughtIsawaplacewhereaflatrollerwouldremedythewholemisfortune;butaflatrolleratCapeSpartivento，hard，easilyunshipped，runningfreely！Therewasagroovedpulleyusedforthepaying—outmachinerywithaspindlewheel，whichmightsuitme。Ifilledhimupwithtarryspunyarn，nailedsheetcopperroundhim，bentsomepartsinthefire;andwearepaying—inwithoutmoretroublenow。Youwouldthinksomeonewouldpraiseme;no，nomorepraisethanblamebefore;perhapsnowtheythinkbetterofme，though。
’10P。M。—Wehavegoneonverycomfortablyfornearlysixmiles。
Anhourandahalfwasspentwashingdown;foralongwithmanycolouredpolypi，fromcorals，shellsandinsects，thebigcablebringsupmuchmudandrust，andmakesafishysmellbynomeanspleasant：thebottomseemstoteemwithlife。—Butnowwearestartledbyamostunpleasant，grindingnoise;whichappearedatfirsttocomefromthelargelowpulley，butwhentheenginesstopped，thenoisecontinued;andwenowimagineitissomethingslippingdownthecable，andthepulleybutactsassounding—boardtothebigfiddle。Whetheritisonlyananchororoneofthetwoothercables，weknownot。Wehopeitisnotthecablejustlaiddown。
’June19。
’10A。M。—Allouralarmgroundless，itwouldappear：theoddnoiseceasedafteratime，andtherewasnomarksufficientlystrongonthelargecabletowarrantthesuspicionthatwehadcutanotherlinethrough。Istoppeduponthelook—outtillthreeinthemorning，whichmade23hoursbetweensleepandsleep。Onegoesdozingabout，though，mostoftheday，foritisonlywhensomethinggoeswrongthatonehastolookalive。Hourafterhour，Istandontheforecastle—head，pickingofflittlespecimensofpolypiandcoral，orlieonthesaloondeckreadingbacknumbersoftheTIMES—tillsomethinghitches，andthenallishurly—burlyoncemore。Thereareawningsallalongtheship，andamostancient，fish—likesmellbeneath。
’1O’CLOCK。—Suddenlyagreatstraininonly95fathomsofwater—
beltssurgingandgeneraldismay;grapnelsbeingthrownoutinthehopeoffindingwhatholdsthecable。—Shoulditprovetheyoungcable！Weareapparentlycrossingitspath—nottheworkingone，butthelostchild;Mr。LiddellWOULDstartthebigonefirstthoughitwaslaidfirst：hewantedtoseethejobdone，andmeanttoleaveustothesmalloneunaidedbyhispresence。
’3。30。—Grapnelcaughtsomething，lostitagain;itleftitsmarksontheprongs。Startedliftinggearagain;andafterhaulinginsome50fathoms—grunt，grunt，grunt—weheartheothercableslippingdownourbigone，playingtheselfsametuneweheardlastnight—louder，however。
’10P。M。—Thepullonthedeckenginesbecameharderandharder。
Igotsteamupinaboilerondeck，andanotherlittleenginestartshaulingatthegrapnel。Iwonderifthereeverwassuchasceneofconfusion：Mr。LiddellandW—andthecaptainallgivingorderscontradictory，&c。，ontheforecastle;D—，theforemanofourmen，themates，&c。，followingtheexampleofoursuperiors;
theship’sengineandboilersbelow，a50—horseengineondeck，aboiler14feetlongondeckbesideit，alittlesteamwinchtearinground;adozenItalians（20havecometorelieveourhands，themenwetelegraphedfortoCagliari）haulingattherope;wiremen，sailors，inthecrevicesleftbyropesandmachinery;everythingthatcouldswearswearing—Ifoundmyselfswearinglikeatrooperatlast。Wegottheunknowndifficultywithintenfathomsofthesurface;butthentheforecastlegotfrightenedthat，ifitwasthesmallcablewhichwehadgotholdof，weshouldcertainlybreakitbycontinuingthetremendousandincreasingstrain。SoatlastMr。
Liddelldecidedtostop;cutthebigcable，buoyingitsend;gobacktoourpleasantwatering—placeatChia，takemorewaterandstartliftingthesmallcable。Theendofthelargeonehasevennowregaineditssandybed;andthreebuoys—onetograpnelfoulofthesupposedsmallcable，twotothebigcable—aredippingaboutonthesurface。Onemore—aflag—buoy—willsoonfollow，andthenstraightforshore。
’June20。
’Itisanill—wind，&c。Ihaveanunexpectedopportunityofforwardingthisengineeringletter;forthecraftwhichbroughtoutourItaliansailorsmustreturntoCagliarito—night，asthelittlecablewilltakeusnearlytoGalita，andtheItalianskippercouldhardlyfindhiswayfromthence。To—day—Sunday—notmuchrest。
Mr。LiddellisatSpartiventotelegraphing。WeareatChia，andshallshortlygotohelpourboat’screwingettingthesmallcableonboard。Wedroppedthemsometimesinceinorderthattheymightdigitoutofthesandasfaraspossible。
’June21。
’Yesterday—Sundayasitwas—allhandswerekeptatworkallday，coaling，watering，andmakingafutileattempttopullthecablefromtheshoreonboardthroughthesand。ThisattemptwasrathersillyaftertheexperiencewehadgainedatCapeSpartivento。Thismorningwegrappled，hookedthecableatonce，andhavemadeanexcellentstart。ThoughIhavecalledthisthesmallcable，itismuchlargerthantheBonaone。—Herecomesabreakdownandabadone。
’June22。
’Wegotoverit，however;butitisawarningtomethatmyfuturedifficultieswillarisefrompartswearingout。Yesterdaythecablewasoftenalovelysight，comingoutofthewateronelargeincrustationofdelicate，net—likecoralsandlong，whitecurlingshells。Noportionofthedirtyblackwireswasvisible;insteadwehadagarlandofsoftpinkwithlittlescarletspraysandwhiteenamelintermixed。Allwasfragile，however，andcouldhardlybesecuredinsafety;andinexorableironcrushedthetenderleavestoatoms。—Thismorningattheendofmywatch，about4o’clock，wecametothebuoys，provingouranticipationsrightconcerningthecrossingofthecables。Iwenttobedforfourhours，andongettingup，foundasadmess。Atangleofthesix—wirecablehungtothegrapnelwhichhadbeenleftbuoyed，andthesmallcablehadpartedandislostforthepresent。Ourhaulingoftheotherdaymusthavedonethemischief。
’June23。
’Wecontrivedtogetthetwoendsofthelargecableandtopicktheshortendup。Thelongend，leadingusseaward，wasnextputroundthedrumandamileofitpickedup;butthen，fearinganothertangle，theendwascutandbuoyed，andwereturnedtograppleforthethree—wirecable。Allthisisverytiresomeforme。ThebuoyinganddredgingaremanagedentirelybyW—，whohashadmuchexperienceinthissortofthing;soIhavenotenoughtodoandgetveryhomesick。AtnoonthewindfreshenedandthesearosesohighthatwehadtorunforlandandareoncemorethiseveninganchoredatChia。
’June24。
’Thewholedayspentindredgingwithoutsuccess。Thisoperationconsistsinallowingtheshiptodriftslowlyacrossthelinewhereyouexpectthecabletobe，whileattheendofalongrope，fasteithertotheboworstern，agrapneldragsalongtheground。Thisgrapnelisasmallanchor，madelikefourpot—hookstiedbacktoback。Whentheropegetstaut，theshipisstoppedandthegrapnelhauleduptothesurfaceinthehopesoffindingthecableonitsprongs。—IammuchdiscontentedwithmyselfforidlyloungingaboutandreadingWESTWARDHO！forthesecondtime，insteadoftakingtoelectricityorpickingupnauticalinformation。Iamuncommonlyidle。Theseaisnotquitesorough，buttheweatherissquallyandtheraincomesinfrequentgusts。
’June25。
’To—dayabout1o’clockwehookedthethree—wirecable，buoyedthelongseaend，andpickeduptheshort[orshore]end。Nowitisdarkandwemustwaitformorningbeforeliftingthebuoyweloweredto—dayandproceedingseawards。—Thedepthofwaterhereisabout600feet，theheightofarespectableEnglishhill;ourfishinglinewasaboutaquarterofamilelong。Itblowsprettyfresh，andthereisagreatdealofsea。
’26th。
’Thismorningitcameontoblowsoheavilythatitwasimpossibletotakeupourbuoy。TheELBArecommencedrollingintrueBalticstyleandtowardsnoonweranforland。
’27th，Sunday。
’Thismorningwasabeautifulcalm。Wereachedthebuoysatabout4。30andcommencedpickingupat6。30。Shortlyanewcauseofanxietyarose。Kinkscameupingreatquantities，aboutthirtyinthehour。Tohaveatrueconceptionofakink，youmustseeone：
itisaloopdrawntight，allthewiresgettwistedandthegutta—