1864. | Crooxus on the Atlantic Cable and its Teachings. 49 
disregard of necessary precautions, more than this could not be expected. 
Indeed, it was scarcely anticipated during the paying out, that any result 
whatever would be gained. The many coilings and uncoilings which 
the rope had undergone, had undoubtedly caused injury. The leakage 
at Keyham was very great, and many bad places were cut out; but as 
the cable was not once tested under water before its actual submergence, 
some imperfections necessarily escaped detection. 
It soon became evident that very serious faults existed in the cable ; 
its capability of conveying signals varied greatly, going and coming at 
uncertain intervals, and sometimes stopping altogether; and when 
to this was superadded the tedious nature of the signalling, owing to 
induction, it is somewhat surprising that any intelligible messages 
passed through its whole length. Indeed, had it not been for Professor 
Thompson, who, without fee or reward, threw himself heart and soul 
into the affair, the cable most probably would not have spoken at all. 
Even when the wire worked well, the sluggishness of the current 
was a serious obstacle to the reading of the signals. If the 2,000- 
mile wire had been suspended in air, the signals from one end to the 
other would have been practically instantaneous ; but surrounded as it 
was with iron and water, great retardation took place from induction, 
three or more seconds being required for the electric wave to pass along 
the whole distance. If the discharge at the one end were effected 
as rapidly and sharply as the charge at the other end, the time occupied 
in the transmission would be of no consequence, but unfortunately the 
discharge is always slower than the charge, and consequently a series 
of sharp crisp dots signalled into the wire at Valencia, would be 
smeared into a continuous line when they came out at Newfoundland. 
On this account words could only be transmitted very slowly, the 
highest speed actually attained being 41 words in 15 minutes. 
At one time, indeed, two clerks conversed at the rate of 4 words a 
minute, but most of these words were abbreviated or guessed at before 
half spelt, so that for ordinary messages, the highest attaimable speed 
may be put down at 23 words a minute. 
On the 10th of August, the first words were sent from America to 
Treland, but although the whole day was occupied in such messages 
as “Repeat, please,’ “Please send slower for the present,” “ How 
do you receive?” ‘ Please say if you can read this,’ “ How are 
signals ?” “ Please send something ;” and the second day was occupied 
in similar messages and requests to “Send alphabet,” and “Send V 
slowly,” Valencia, like a coy maiden, refused to respond to these 
entreaties. On the third day, Valencia showed signs of thawing, and 
condescended to obey the request contained in the following message 
sent from America :—‘“ If this received, send battery current in one 
direction five minutes.’ The next day when America signalled— 
“Send word Atlantic,” Valencia was able to reply, “ Atlantic :” (this 
was the first word read in America.) We then find several words 
from Valencia in answer to American entreaties, but during the whole 
of this day, America was signalling to Valencia such messages as 
these :—‘‘ We receive currents, but can’t read you,” “Can’t read.” “You 
must send slower, as some of your dots do not show on most delicate 
VOL. I. E 
