"May I respectfully solicit your Imperial Highness to take these proposed modifications into your consideration, and, should they meet with your approval, I would beg the favor of your laying them before His Majesty the Emperor, with such suggestions as may seem to you advisable. "It is important that I should know the views of His Imperial Majesty's government at the earliest moment, as the Congress of the United States meets on the first Monday in December. "I beg again to express my sincere thanks for the great kindness shown to myself by your Imperial Highness, and for the interest you have taken in the subject I have so much at heart. "I have the honor to subscribe myself, "With great respect, "Your Imperial Highness's most obedient servant, "CYRUS W. FIELD." In January, 1872, he was again in Russia, but after that time there appears to be no mention made of that government's taking any interest in a Pacific cable, and it is only possible to give bits of correspondence in connection with this project, to which he gave so much of his time and thought. On the 27th of November, 1876, he wrote: "I strongly advise that the Pacific cable be landed a few miles south of San Francisco, at a spot which I selected two years ago. There is a most excellent sandy beach, and the cable could be easily connected with the existing telegraph lines across the continent." "_July 11, 1878_. "When the Hawaiian government fulfil their promise to me in regard to landing cables on their shores, the question of a Pacific submarine telegraph may be entertained by me. Until then I certainly shall do nothing towards the accomplishment of the enterprise _via_ the Sandwich Islands." "HAWAIIAN LEGATION, _March 10, 1879_. "_Sir_,--The twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of the company for laying the Atlantic cable seems an appropriate occasion for giving an impulse to the great work of extending a cable across the Pacific. "I am sure that you will not be satisfied with anything less than a cable round the world. "The Hawaiian Islands have a very central position for the navigation of the North Pacific. They are a great resort for the naval and mercantile marine of the commercial countries. "His Majesty the King has long realized the great importance of a submarine cable to his kingdom, as well as to all nations whose vessels and citizens visit there, and has authorized me, by advice of his Cabinet, to grant you, your associates and assigns, the exclusive privilege of landing a submarine cable or cables on any of the Hawaiian Islands, and for using the same for connection with the United States, or any other country, and crossing any or all of the islands, and this for the period of twenty-five years.