ships rejoined it was found that at nearly the same instant the operator on each vessel discovered a break about ten miles from his ship. There was now no time for inquiries respecting this mysterious event. Once more a splice was made, and the steamers again separated. This was on Monday. Two hundred miles were paid out, when, suddenly, the cable again parted, this time about twenty miles from the Agamemnon. There being no hopes of success, the cable was cut off from the Niagara, and the vessels reluctantly bore away for Queenstown.

The directors met at London. A feeling of the deepest discouragement pervaded the meeting. Some were for selling the cable and totally abandoning the enterprise. But Mr. Field was obdurate. "The ships are still here, and we have cable enough to cross the ocean. Let us make one more attempt." Prof. Thomson still maintained that the enterprise was feasible. Their views prevailed, and the majority of the directors determined to make one more attempt. The vessels were immediately put in condition for a new expedition, and in five days, on July 17th, the squadron was again under weigh. On July 29th, the steamers met in mid-ocean, effected a splice, and moved in their respective directions. On August 5th, the Niagara reached Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, in safety. On the same day the Agamemnon entered Valentia Bay, having burned her masts and all the spare timber on her decks for fuel, her coal having failed.

The previous failures of the enterprise had rendered Mr. Field an object of public derision. The present success made him an idol. The news of the completion of the cable caused a wild burst of joy throughout our country. New York city held great meetings, had an immense procession of military and the trades during the day, and at night a brillant torchlight procession of firemen, closing the whole with a grand pyrotechnic display. The final scene of this display, though not on the order of exercises, far excelled the rest. The City Hall took fire, and was damaged to the extent of $30,000.

But human hopes are vain. On the very day of this gigantic celebration the Atlantic cable gave its last throb. When this news reached the public the depression was in exact proportion to the elation. Mr. Field was abused on all sides as a deceiver. Many denied that the cable had ever worked, and asserted that the despatches received never passed over the wire; they maintained that the whole was a stock-jobbing affair to enable Mr. Field to sell his worthless stock. How true this assertion was, Dr. Field shows in his work. Mr. Field sold only one of his eighty-eight shares, preferring to hold the rest. That the cable did work is most satisfactorily proved by Dr. Field, who gives in full the various telegrams, and by comparison shows that they could never have been compiled by guesswork. It is certain that at least two despatches were transmitted, countermanding orders for transportation of troops, whereby £60,000 were saved to the British treasury.

The failure of this cable was a fearful disaster to the enterprise. Still Mr. Field did not despair. Application was again made to the British Government, but with only partial success. The public were called upon to give means for renewal of the undertaking, but no money was forthcoming. For five years the project seemed dead. Meanwhile, scientific men were applying tests and making improvements; marine cables were being laid in various parts of the world, and public confidence in an Atlantic Telegraph began to revive. Mr. Field still urged his hobby. At length, in August, 1863, the public feeling was so favorable that, although the funds were not in hand, the Board of Directors advertised for a new cable. The contract was given to Messrs. Glass, Elliott & Co. Every thing seemed prosperous, and Mr. Field, in high spirits, was about to return to America, when news came that there was no money, and further prosecution of the enterprise must be deferred.

"Hope deferred maketh the heart sick." Mr. Field was sick. £600,000 were required for the new cable. The old stock company was without vitality; unless new blood could be infused, the enterprise must fail hopelessly. With characteristic energy he renewed his efforts. He first applied to Mr. Thomas Brassy, who offered to take one-tenth of the whole. Others followed. The Gutta Percha Company, and Messrs. Glass, Elliott & Co., combined to form the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Co. Thus far only £285,000 had been subscribed. This company offered to take the rest, £315,000. They did more: they took £100,000 of the Atlantic Telegraph Company's bonds. The problem was now solved. The Atlantic Telegraph was to be a reality.

A fresh difficulty was now encountered. The new cable was 2,700 statute miles long, and was much more bulky than either of the former cables. Where could it be stowed? Providence had caused the Great Eastern to be built, apparently for this purpose alone, as she is useless for any other. This vessel was then for sale. Her fitness being evident, some of the gentlemen most active in reviving the cable combined to purchase her. She was immediately put at the service of the Atlantic Company. A commander for her was found in Capt. Anderson, of the Cunard steamer China.

The work now went on with speed. Mr. Field, with a light heart, returned to America, but early spring found him again on his way to Europe. At length, on May 29th, the work was finished, and on July 15th the great ship bore away to Foilhommerum Bay, about six miles from Valentia. Here the shore end was fixed, and the Great Eastern set out on the expedition, Sunday, July 23d. For two weeks every thing went well. Within six hundred miles of Newfoundland, and within two days' sail of shallow water, they felt safe. But on Wednesday the signals ceased. Down on the floor of the sea some minute fault had occurred. The men began to wind in the cable; but while they were thus engaged

the steamer drifted and chafed the cable, so that as the injured part touched the wheel it parted, and twelve hundred miles were lost. Canning, engineer-in-chief, declared his intention to grapple for it though it lay two and a half miles below the surface. Three times the cable was secured, but each time the grappling tackle gave way. At last the rope broke, and the expedition was compelled to return.

The expedition for 1865 was over. It did not succeed, yet it was not all a failure. It proved that a cable could be laid; it proved that if the cable should break, it could be recovered by proper grappling appliances. No one was discouraged. A new attempt was immediately ordered. Encouraged by the partial success of 1865, the Telegraph Construction and Maintenance Company offered to construct and lay the cable, to be paid only in case of success.

Legal difficulties having arisen respecting the issue of preferred stocks by the Atlantic Telegraph Company, it was thought best to organize a new company to share the profits with the old one. The new association was termed the Anglo-American Telegraph Company, capital £600,000. It contracted with the Atlantic Company to construct and lay down a cable in the summer of 1866, for doing which it is to be entitled to a preference dividend of twenty-five per centum. The whole capital of this company was secured in fourteen days, the subscriptions varying in amount from £500 to £100,000.

It was already March 1st, only four months remained in which to manufacture 1660 nautical miles of cable and prepare for sea. But the obstacles were cleared away, and all went to work with great vigor. The cable was similar to that of 1865, the machinery was strengthened, and the grappling rope could bear a strain of thirty tons. The steamer herself was cleaned, for in her many voyages her hull had become fouled and was covered with seaweed, muscles, and barnacles to a thickness of two feet. Her boilers were scraped, her engines inspected and strengthened, so that she might be well prepared. On the last day of June every thing was in readiness, and the great ship sailed for the Irish coast. The shore end was again laid, the fifth time, the splice was effected, and the squadron soon disappeared from the coast. The rest is of yesterday. A voyage of uninterrupted success. On the 29th of July, by that cord we in America learned of peace in Europe.

And this is the history of the cable. A monument to American skill and energy. Morse invented the telegraph, Field laid it on the bed of the ocean. In this paper we have given but a synoptical narrative. Dr. Field's "History," from which we have drawn the facts, is full of thrilling details. It is thoroughly reliable, as the author is brother to Mr. C. W. Field, the projector. It contains much general information concerning the geography of the sea, which, in its connection with the main subject, is of great interest.

OCTOBER, 1866.

THE

HOW THE INTERESTS OF EDUCATION ARE ADVANCED.

HE Teachers' Association of this State met at Geneva, July 31st, for the purpose of advancing the interests of Education. The discrepancy between the purpose avowed, and the means adopted to accomplish it, deserves a passing notice.

In the reports of the Association we hear very much of "attractions," "brilliant performances," and the like, but very little of earnest discussion, or hearty endeavor to grapple with the practical questions which should have engaged every attention. "Considerable music was interspersed," reports say, "but the most welcome treat of all was the reading of Miss Potter." In the evening, Linden Hall was crowded to overflowing, Miss Potter being again "the main attraction." There were besides, Mrs. Randall, and the "still further attraction of singers, male, female, and professional."-Truly, we hope the teachers of New York are not responsible for the foregoing classification of the singers who so kindly entertained them.-During the evening, poems were read; professional readings delivered; an operatic air was sung; and, probably, as an interlude to enable the "attractions" to recover breath, Dr. Miller read an Address on our Common Schools. On the following day, the Geneva Select Choir, and a choir of girls, "entertained the assembly" with some of their choicest songs; Prof. Mills "delighted the Association" with a performance on the harp; and Miss Potter and Mrs. Randall further advertised their elocutionary proficiency.

That all these exercises had a primary reference to education is evident from the titles of the various pieces. Prof. Baker, upon invitation, gave a "brilliant performance" of "True love can ne'er forget;" Miss Potter read "High Tide ;" and Mrs. Randall, “The Vagabonds."

These intellectual and artistic entertainments were, no doubt, very agreeable; but when we compare such misuse of time with the serious discussions and business-like action of the Association of School Commissioners and Superintendents, which met at the same place earlier in the week, the contrast is any thing but creditable to the Association of Teachers. If teachers seek relaxation and amusement, and choose

to assemble as teachers for that purpose, they have a perfect right to do so; but we protest against their meeting in the name of the Association of the Teachers of the State of New York, ostensibly to discuss important educational questions, and then making such meeting solely the occasion of mutual admiration and personal display. We do not wish the world to look upon teachers as incapable of discussing intelligently the questions to which their profession gives rise; or less interested in the details of their calling, than jurists, physicians, and clergymen are with theirs. Members of these professions do not find it necessary to engage the services of singers and dramatic performers to insure a respectable attendance upon their conventions. And it is a disgrace to the teachers of New York that the Association of the Teachers of the State does not possess sufficient professional spirit and ability to sustain its conventions without so much extraneous and comparatively frivolous aid.

IN

THE BEGINNING OF OUR COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM.

N his message to the Legislature which met in Poughkeepsie, January 6, 1795, Gov. George Clinton reminded that body, that while provision had been made for the endowment of colleges and other seminaries in which the higher branches of learning were taught, no legislative aid had been given to common schools, and he recommended that provision should be made for their improvement and encouragement.

This was the first official movement made in this State in behalf of these institutions-institutions upon which, under God, depends the preservation of the rights and liberties of the people of these States. Thus speaks the chronicler of those times.

The Legislature passed a law appropriating annually, for five years, the sum of fifty thousand dollars. The act further provided, that a sum equal to one-half the sum received from the State by the several towns should be raised by a tax and added to the appropriation.

From such beginnings our Common School System was developed. This happened seventy-one years ago-threescore years and ten-the allotted life of man; and many an old man of to-day remembers with what joy the news was received in each little hamlet. And they will tell us how munificent they deemed the bounty of the State, and what visions of winter schools, reached through miles of long tramping, filled the imagination, and begot all sorts of vague yearnings.