"2. That Forts Walker and Beauregard be connected by a submarine cable. "3. That a submarine cable be laid between Hilton Head and Tybee Island. "4. That the Forts at Key West and Tortugas be brought into instant communication by means of a telegraph cable. "5. That a cable be laid connecting the Fort at Tortugas with Fort Pickens. "If I can be of any service to you or the government in this matter it will give me pleasure. "I shall remain at this hotel until to-morrow afternoon or Friday morning, and have with me samples of different kinds of cable. "Very respectfully, "Your obedient servant, "CYRUS W. FIELD. "Major-General G. B. MCCLELLAN, Washington, D. C." On the 12th of December General McClellan indorsed the plans with these words: "I most fully concur in the importance of the submarine telegraph proposed by Mr. Field, and earnestly urge that his plans may be adopted and be authorized to have the plans carried into execution. More careful consideration may show that a safer route for the cable from Fernandina to Key West would be by the eastern shore of Florida. This will depend on the strength of our occupation of the railroad from Fernandina to Cedar Keys. "Very respectfully, etc., "GEORGE B. MCCLELLAN." This expression is copied from a letter dated London, December 28, 1861: "The rebels are waiting with great anxiety for the arrival of the steamer _Africa_ and her news about the _Trent_ affair." On January 1, 1862, he wrote to Mr. Seward, the Secretary of State: "The importance of the early completion of the Atlantic telegraph can hardly be estimated. What would have been its value to the English and United States governments if it had been in operation on the 30th of November last, on which day Earl Russell was writing to Lord Lyons, and you at the same time to Mr. Adams, our minister in London? "A few short messages between the two governments and all would have been satisfactorily explained. I have no doubt that the English government has expanded more money during the last thirty days in preparation for war with this country than the whole cost of manufacturing and laying a good cable between Newfoundland and Ireland.