"Yet I must say you owed me some compensation for having stolen the hearts of my wife and children and of every friend whom I was guilty of bringing into contact with you. I believe if you were obliged to make similar compensation for all the delinquencies you have been guilty of in this way, your whole cable, great as it is, would scarcely suffice. I know the inroad you have made into the Lord Lieutenant's affections would require a long bit of it. I was sincerely sorry to hear from Crosby that you were again suffering, but I reflect with satisfaction that probably the voyage, even with its accompanying excitement, is the best remedy within your reach. "Yours most sincerely, "FITZGERALD, Knight of Kerry." All went most successfully, and although the excitement was still at fever heat on board the _Niagara_, the probability of soon meeting the _Agamemnon_ in mid-ocean and following her to the shores of Newfoundland was most hopefully discussed, and this message was given to the press: "VALENTIA, _Monday_, _August 10_, 4 P.M. "The work of laying down the Atlantic telegraph cable is going on up to the present time as satisfactorily as its best friends can desire. Nearly 360 miles have now been successfully laid down into the sea. "The depth of water into which the cable is now being submerged is about 1700 fathoms, or about two miles. The transition from the shallow to the greater depth was effected without difficulty. The signals are everything an electrician could desire. The ships are sailing with a moderate fair breeze, and paying out at the rate of five miles per hour. Messages are being instantly interchanged between the ships and the shore. "All are well on board, in excellent spirits, and hourly becoming more and more trustful of success. "WILLIAM WHITEHOUSE, Electrician. "GEORGE SAWARD, Secretary." At nine o'clock the same evening, without any apparent cause, the cable ceased working. At twelve o'clock the electric current returned, and it was with a feeling of intense relief that all went to their berths. This satisfaction was short lived. At a quarter before four came the cry, "Stop her! back her!" and then the words, "The cable has parted." The flags of the ship were put at half-mast, and the fleet returned to Valentia. This expedition had cost the Atlantic Telegraph Company $500,000, and on August 25th Robert Stephenson wrote: "The Atlantic cable question is a far more difficult matter than those who have undertaken it are disposed to believe. The subject has occupied much of my thoughts, and as yet I must confess I do not see my way through it. Before the ships left this country with the cable I publicly predicted as soon as they got into deep water a signal failure. It was in fact inevitable." The first words of greeting were more cheering: "VALENTIA, _14th August, 1857_.