"I do most sincerely hope that Captain James Anderson, of the Cunard steamer _China_, will be appointed to the command of the _Great Eastern_ during the laying of the Atlantic telegraph cable.... With Captain Anderson in command and Messrs. Canning and Clifford superintending the laying of the cable, I should feel the greatest confidence that all would go right." The _China_ was at this time on her way to New York. She sailed again on her return voyage, March 8th, and Mr. Field was on board as a passenger. The following letter from Captain Anderson is evidently the sequel of their conversations on the voyage: "34 RICHMOND TERRACE, BEECH ROAD, "LIVERPOOL, _March 19, 1865_. "_My dear Mr. Field_,--I purpose going up to London sometime to-morrow. I did not get the _China_ moored until four P.M., so that I have still the necessary custom entries to make. "I shall meet you at breakfast Tuesday morning as early as you like, and shall look for a note upon my arrival at your hotel. I shall telegraph when I start. "Mr. David MacIver appears to have laid his plans for the possibility of my being required to remain behind at this time, but will require an answer at latest on Wednesday morning. It will therefore be necessary that I should be in communication as early as possible on Tuesday morning with some one who could proceed to the ship with me and talk the matter over. "I dare say there may be no more work required than could be done after my arrival in May, but it would then be too late to undo anything. "I have, however, the greatest faith in the engineering skill and experience of Messrs. Glass, Elliott & Co., and believe I shall find myself unable to suggest much that they are not already quite familiar with, but I naturally would like to identify myself with some knowledge of the storage and plans for lifting the ship, with a view to trim for steering, pitching, or rolling as she becomes lighter. "I would like to see how the tanks are connected with each other in their communication, and to understand the process of paying out, the possibility of ever requiring to check it, and to be generally familiar with men and material below the deck. "You know I think prevention better than cure, and that it is the distinct duty of a ship-master to be familiar with what is to be apprehended, and, so far as he can, to have some plans in his mind to which he can resort when his foresight has proved insufficient. I do not apprehend or fear any difficulty to your great enterprise, but as little as possible should be left to chance or inspiration. "The essentials, as far as I am concerned, would be to _see for myself all_ the ground tackling _clear_ and efficient; "The steering gear and prevention ditto in good order;