In July, 1856, a cable eighty-five miles in length was successfully laid across the Gulf of St. Lawrence, connecting Newfoundland with Cape Breton, and also one of eleven miles from Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick. The lines, one hundred and forty miles in length, had also been built across Cape Breton. The telegraph system of the United States had thus been connected with the most eastern port of Newfoundland. How this work was done was told by Mr. Field on November 15, 1866. "It was a very pretty plan on paper. There was New York and there was St. John's, only about twelve hundred miles apart. It was easy to draw a line from one point to the other, making no account of the forests and mountains and swamps and rivers and gulfs that lay in our way. Not one of us had ever seen the country or had any idea of the obstacles to be overcome. We thought we could build the line in a few months. It took two years and a half, yet we never asked for help outside our own little circle. Indeed I fear we should not have got it if we had, for few had any faith in our scheme. Every dollar came out of our own pockets. Yet I am proud to say no man drew back. No man proved a deserter; those who came first into the work stood by it to the end.... "It was begun and for two years and a half was carried on solely by American capital. Our brethren across the sea did not even know what we were doing away in the forests of Newfoundland. Our little company raised and expended over a quarter million pounds sterling before an Englishman paid a single pound. Our only support outside was in the liberal charter and steady friendship of the government of Newfoundland." But it was now thought wise to enlist English co-operation. For this purpose Mr. Field left New York by the steamship _Baltic_ on Saturday, July 19, 1856. His work in London was begun at once, and John Brett, Michael Faraday, George Parker Bidder, Mr. Statham, of the London Gutta-percha Works; Mr. Brunel; Mr. Glass, of Glass, Elliott & Co.; Charles T. Bright, and Dr. Edward O. W. Whitehouse were soon among his friends and strongly impressed with the idea that a cable could be successfully laid across the Atlantic. It was at this time that in response to a note from his wife, Mr. Glass wrote, "Mr. Field is in London," and that showed that no longer was his time his own. Once when with Faraday, Mr. Field asked him how long a time he thought would be required for the electric current to pass between London and New York. His answer was brief and to the point: "Possibly one second." Brunel was also as clear-sighted; he pointed to the _Great Eastern_ that he was then building, and said, "Mr. Field, there is the ship to lay the cable." Eight years later it was used for that purpose.