"I think I hear you say, Why does not papa answer all of our letters? The reason is that I am so much occupied that I have hardly one single moment of leisure. I am busy all day at the Atlantic Telegraph Company's office; or at Messrs. Glass, Elliott & Co.'s; or at the Gutta-percha Company's works; or with some persons connected with the English government; and almost every evening I am engaged until a very late hour. "I will give you a list of my engagements for the next few evenings: 1. Saturday, November 22d.--At Mr. Russell Sturgis's, to dinner and to spend the night. 2. Sunday, November 23d.--At Mr. Russell Sturgis's, spend the day and night. 3. Monday, November 24th.--Canning's, to dinner and spend the night. 4. Tuesday, November 25th.--Meet Mr. Maitland and others on business, and then to Mr. Lampson to dinner, seven P.M. 5. Wednesday, November 26th.--I give a dinner-party at this hotel. 6. Thursday, November 27th.--At Mr. Gooch's, to dinner. 7. Friday, November 28th.--Sir Culling Eardley's, to dinner and spend the night. 8. Saturday, November 29th.--Lady Franklin's, to dinner. 9. Sunday, November 30th.--Mr. Ashburner's, to dinner and spend the night. 10. Monday, December 1st.--At Mr. Statham's, to dinner and spend the night. 11. Tuesday, December 2d.--At Mr. Reuter's, to dinner and to spend the night. "Professor Wheatstone, Dr. Wallish, Captains Becher, Galton, and Bythesea, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Wortley are among the number that are to dine with me. There will be twelve in all. "How much I wish that I could have this dinner-party in our own home! "Several times since I arrived I have had three invitations for the same evening, and I _decline_ all that I can without injury to the object of my visit to England. "I have been very anxious to get through and leave here so as to be with you on Christmas, or certainly New-year's, but I do not see any prospect of being able to do so. "I have very often regretted that your mother or some of you were not with me. "Mr. Holbrooke returns in the _Scotia_ on the 6th of December, and will be able to tell you how I am. How much I wish that I could go with him! "Do, my dear children, be very kind to your blessed mother, and do everything in your power to make her happy. "I have purchased _all_ the things that you gave me a memorandum of, or have written me about. "Good-bye, my dear children, and may God bless you all. "With much love to your mother, Eddie, and Willie, and kind regards to all the servants, "I remain, as ever, "Your affectionate father, "CYRUS W. FIELD. "Misses GRACE, ALICE, ISABELLA, and FANNY FIELD." CHAPTER X CAPITAL RAISED FOR THE MAKING OF A NEW CABLE--STEAMSHIP "GREAT EASTERN" SECURED