Figure 12. — Gold box presented to 

 Cyrus W. Field by the City of New 

 York. Loan of Metropolitan Mu- 

 seum of Art. In Division of Political 



History. (Ace. 64761, cat. 26209; 

 .Smithsonian photo 57010.) 



General Meigs himself ga\e the Museum this in- 

 teresting piece of presentation siKer. He also gave 

 the previously described tureen (fig. 5) that had be- 

 longed to Commodore John Rodgers, who was General 

 Meigs' father-in-law. 



* * * 



Cyrus VV. Field became interested in the idea of a 

 cable across the Atlantic between Newfoundland and 

 Ireland in 1854. It was not a new idea, and other 

 shorter submarine cables had been successful, but this 

 was the first time a transatlantic cable had been pro- 

 moted by a man of Field's business ability and finan- 

 cial standing. Through his efTorts, a governmental 

 charter was secured and a company of prorninent New 

 Yorkers was formed to underwrite the venture. An 

 unsuccessful attempt to lay the cable was made by 

 the company in 1857. Field tried again in 1858; on 

 the fourth attempt he was successful and immediately 

 acclaimed as the "genius of the age." 



New York greeted Field with wild rejoicing, and the 

 city authorities set September 1, 1858, as a day of 

 celebration to give him an official public ovation. The 

 celebration surpassed anything the city had ever before 

 witnessed. Mr. Field and the officers of the cable 

 fleet landed at Castle Garden and received a national 

 salute. From there the procession progressed throitgh 

 crowded and gaily decorated streets to the crowd- 

 filled Crystal Palace, where an address was given on 

 the history of the cable. Then the mayor of New 

 York gave an address honoring Mr. Field and pre- 

 sented him with a gold box stating: 



The municipal government of this city instructs me to present 

 to you a gold box with the arms of the city engraved thereon, 

 in testimony of the fact that to you mainly, under Divine 

 Providence, the world is indebted for the successful e.\ecution 

 of the grandest enterprise of our day and generation; and in 

 behalf of the Mayor, Aldermen and Commonalty of the 

 City of New York I now request your acceptance of this 

 token of their approbation. 



The gold box (fig. 12) presented to Field by the 

 City of New York is in the collections of the United 

 States National Museum.'* It measures 4^, inches by 

 3 inches. On the lid and around an engraved repre- 

 sentation of the cable fleet is inscribed: 



The City of New York to Cyrus VV. Field 



The sides of the box are engraved with vignettes 

 depicting the landing of the cable, the planning group 

 at work, science and industry united, and Europe 

 and America united. The bottom is engraved with 

 the American eagle and the British shield. The inside 

 lid of the box is inscribed: 



The City of New York to Cyrus W. Field commemorating 

 his skill, fortitude and perseverance in originating and 

 completing the first enterprise for an ocean telegraph suc- 

 cessfully accomplished Aug. 5, 1858 uniting Europe and 

 America. 



Significant of the enthusiasm with which Field was 

 greeted in 1858 is a silver-mounted tankard, made 



"Loan of Metropolitan Museum of Art (ace. 64761, cat. 

 26209), Division of Political History, USNM. 



PAPER 4 7 : PRESENT.ATION PIECES 



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