"I hope in a few days to have arrangements made so that we may on some given evening connect the lines between St. John's and San Francisco together, and by means of relays speak directly through, between these two points, a distance by the telegraph of over 5000 miles." Neither did he neglect his private business. On December 3d, within a year of his failure, he was able to write: "All of our extension notes due on the 30th of September last were duly paid, and we have already taken up all that will be due on the 30th of this month with the exception of $14,992 78, and all that are due on the 30th of March next except $326 40. You will see that we have reduced our liabilities to a very small amount, and we shall meet them all promptly at or before maturity." He was so very exact in all his work that he could not understand the lack of like exactitude in others. To one who failed to answer a letter he sent this note: "_My dear Sir_,--If it takes four weeks _not_ to get an answer to a letter, how long will it take to get one? "I have not received a reply to my letter of November 4th. "I remain, very truly your friend, "CYRUS W. FIELD. "_December 2d._" The news of the seizure of Mason and Slidell by Captain Wilkes, from the steamer _Trent_, was received in Boston on November 24th, and at once he saw another reason for urging the immediate laying of a cable across the Atlantic, and in a letter to Mr. Saward he says: "The low rate of interest now ruling in Great Britain, and the great desire of the British government to have telegraphic communication with her North American colonies, both indicate that _now_ is the time to move energetically in the matter of connecting Newfoundland and Ireland by a submarine cable." And on the 17th of December: "It does appear to me that now is the time for the directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Company to act with energy and decision, and get whatever guarantee is necessary from the English government to raise the capital to manufacture and lay down without unnecessary delay between Newfoundland and Ireland a good cable." General T. W. Sherman had written to him from Port Royal on December 21st: "It was but the other day I was discussing the very subject you mention. We want very much a telegraphic communication between Beaufort, Hilton Head, and the Tybee. How can we get it promptly?" This was in reply to a letter of Mr. Field's in which he had enclosed a copy of the following letter and its indorsement: "WILLARD'S HOTEL, "WASHINGTON, _December 4, 1861_. "_Sir_,--Pardon me for making the following suggestions: "1. That government establish at once telegraphic communication between Washington and Fortress Monroe by means of a submarine cable from Northampton County to Fortress Monroe.