"_Sir,_--With reference to your letter of the 6th instant requesting that directions should be given for permitting British mail packets between Liverpool and the United Stales to receive and throw overboard off Cape Race and off Queenstown cases containing telegraphic dispatches, to be picked up by the telegraph company's own vessels, I am commanded by the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury to acquaint you that their lordships have stated to the Lords of the Admiralty that after communicating with Mr. Cunard as to the feasibility of the plan, and receiving from him an assurance that it might be carried into effect without in any way retarding the regular mail service, they are of the opinion that the necessary directions may be given for this purpose, subject to the following conditions: "1. That the mail steamers shall not be delayed. "2. That they shall not be required to alter the course they would otherwise have taken. "3. That no responsibility shall attach to their ship or to the government. "4. That the companies shall make such arrangements in reference to the receipt and dispatch of messages as shall be satisfactory to the Treasury, in order to secure equal advantages to all persons using the telegraph. "I am, sir, "Your obedient servant, "C. L. TREVELYAN." In a New York paper of July 12, 1857, is this telegram: "From the steamship _Persia_, "OFF CAPE RACE, NEWFOUNDLAND, "_Saturday_, July 11th, P.M. "We have thus far had a very pleasant passage and expect to reach Liverpool next Friday. All well and all in good spirits. "CYRUS W. FIELD." And below the telegram this was added: "This feat would seem to demonstrate the entire practicability of obtaining news from the Atlantic steamers as they pass Cape Race, and should the Atlantic telegraph cable fail from any cause, we understand that the telegraph company will make effective arrangements to carry something of this kind into operation." CHAPTER VI THE FIRST CABLE (CONTINUED) (1857) The following cable message was sent to Mr. Field by Sir James Anderson on March 10, 1879, the twenty-fifth anniversary of "ocean telegraphy":