398 Mr, J, W. Brett, [March 20, 



of the submarine cable between Corsica and Sardinia was success- 

 fully accomplished a few days afterwards ; also the completion of 

 the land lines, in the aggregate about 500 miles in length, through 

 the two islands, uniting the different towns. The possibility of 

 establishing a line of telegraph through these wild and lawless 

 districts had previously been questioned, a guard of horse being 

 thought necessary to protect it from injury : but the result proved 

 that the public in all parts of the world may be trusted ; and it is re- 

 markable that only one instance of wilful injury has ever occurred 

 throughout these islands ; and the line has been in daily use since 

 April 1855, and the French and Sardinian Governments have 

 forwarded several thousand messages annually through it. 



The submarine cable for connecting Sardinia with Algeria was 

 made the same year. It was 150 miles in length, and weighed 

 1200 tons, and, allowing for coals, required a steamer of 2000 tons 

 to carry it. Being unable to procure a steamer of that size in this 

 country, in consequence of the war with Russia, I applied to the 

 Emperor of the French for one, and at the same time expressed a 

 wish that the portion of the Mediterranean I was about to cross 

 should be sounded. I was directed to call upon the Minister of 

 Marine, the Emperor adding that he would speak to him on the 

 subject. On seeing the Minister, however, and naming the size of 

 the steamer required, I was informed that the Government had not 

 a vessel of this size at their disposal. But the soundings were made, 

 and the result proved depths of 3000 metres, or nearly two miles, 

 being from fifty to sixty times the depth of the English Channel. 



The impossibility of obtaining a vessel of the required size con- 

 tinuing, and my friends becoming impatient of delay, I engaged, 

 the following year, the Result, a large sailing vessel, and two of 

 the best steamers I could procure to tow her, and operations were 

 commenced from Cagliari, in September 1855. We encountered, on 

 entering the great depths, one of those alarming flights of the cable 

 which occurred in the previous year. In this instance about two 

 miles, weighing sixteen tons, flew out with the greatest violence in 

 four or five minutes, flying round even when the drums were 

 brought to a dead stop, creating the utmost alarm for the safety of 

 the men in the hold, and for the vessel. It was brought up by its 

 encircling a large timber in the hold. Our means on board proved 

 ineffectual to raise it, and the capstan broke by its weight, and 

 rough weather coming on the vessel became unmanageable, and 

 lost her course ; there was therefore no alternative but to sever it 

 from the injured portion in the sea, and it being evident that a 

 sailing vessel would not do, I resolved to cut the cable and save the 

 eighty-six miles for another attempt. 



I had another and longer cable manufactured for the ensuing 

 year, and finding opinions strong against taking the deeper direct 

 line, it was resolved to carry it east of Galita, making a detour 

 round the island, and thence to La Calle on the African coast. 



