but it was rather behind the public feeling in that respect. It cannot be denied that the news-agent who hailed the Great Eastern at Crookhaven with the words, “We did not know what to make of you. Many think you went down,” expressed the conviction of a great number of persons all over the kingdom, on the 17th August. Early on the morning of that day the Great Eastern came in sight of land, and soon after 7 o’clock a.m. steamed into Crookhaven, to land a few passengers and to communicate with the telegraph station at that solitary and romantic spot. Ere noon the news of the safety of the ship relieved many an anxious thought, silenced many a tongue and pen, and dissipated many a gloomy apprehension. It may be said that the return of the Great Eastern was a subject of national rejoicing. Every newspaper in the kingdom contained articles on the topic. The narrative of the voyage, which was written on board, and sent to all the principal journals before the Great Eastern arrived at the Nore, so that the public were at once placed in possession of every fact connected with the proceedings, almost simultaneously, was read with the utmost avidity, and when the facts were known, all men concurred in the justice of the leading articles which, without exception of note, drew fresh hopes of success from the record of the causes which led to the interruption of the enterprise. The energy, skill, and resolution displayed in the attempt to recover the Cable were admitted and praised on all hands. But what most excited attention was the fact that the Cable had actually been hooked three times at a depth of two nautical miles, and carried up halfway to the top. The most sceptical were convinced when they became aware of the hard material evidence on that point. Next in point of interest perhaps was the conduct of the Great Eastern herself. A great revulsion of sentiment took place in favour of the vessel which had hitherto been unfortunate in her management, or in the conditions under which she had been tried. Whilst the most profound ignorance respecting the fate of the Great Eastern prevailed, an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Atlantic Telegraph Company was held on 8th August, in pursuance of a notice issued on 24th July previous, to consider the expediency of converting into Consolidated Eight per Cent. Preferential Stock the Eight per Cent. Preferential Capital of the Atlantic Telegraph Company, consisting of 120,000 shares of 5_l._ each, and of converting into Ordinary Consolidated Stock the whole of the Ordinary Share Capital, consisting of 350 shares of the par value of 1000_l._, and 5,463 shares of the par value of 20_l._, and to issue either in ordinary stock or in shares the sum of 137,140_l._ of ordinary capital, authorised at the Extraordinary General Meeting of March 31st, 1864, and agreed to be issued in instalments fully paid up, to the contractors from time to time after the successful completion of their contract.