40 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



Atlantic Telegraph Co., 22 Old Broad St., 

 London, October 30, 1857. 



5 



Sir : — The directors of this undertaking having had the advantage, subse- 

 quent to the failure of the cable, of the scientific aid and advice of Mr. 

 Everett, the chief engineer of the United States steam frigate Niagara, and 

 having conceived a very high opinion, both of his personal qualities, and of 

 his mechanical knowledge and ability, are now desirous of availing them- 

 selves of his valuable services in the re-adjustment and alteration of the 

 machinery and appliances, upon which so much will depend Avhen the next 

 attempt is made to lay the cable. 



I am, therefore, insti-ucted to inquire if the regulations of the American 

 service would permit Mr. Everett's return to this country, for such pur- 

 pose, soon after the arrival of the Niagara at New York, and if so, to state 

 that the directors would be very greatly indebted to you, if leave of absence, 

 and the requisite permission to act in behalf of the enterprize in this par- 

 ticular, could be extended to him, 



I have the honor to be, sir. 



Your most obedient servant, 



GEOllGE SAWARD, Secretary. 

 To the Hon. Isaac Toucey, 



Secretary of the Nacy, Washington, D. C. 



Mr. Everett was then in England, and, in anticipation of an affirmative 

 reply from the Department, he, before leaving England, arranged to have 

 the paying out instrument set up, in order that he might compare its 

 results with the new one (having but two sheaves), which he designed to 

 adopt, and upon his return there, (January, 1858,) learned that, in conse- 

 quence of the first reply of the Navy Department having been in the nega- 

 tive, no steps had been taken towards the construction of the required 

 machinery. 



On the 21st of that month, however, he received the following instruc- 

 tion : 



The Atlantic Telegraph Co., 22 Old Broad St., ) 

 London, E. C, 21s^ January, 1858. \ 

 Messrs. Easton & x\mes : 



Gentlemen — Mr. William E. Everett, United States Navy, having been 

 authorized to superintend the construction of machinery at your establish- 

 ment, any work which he may desire to have done for the company, in con- 

 nection with the machinery for paying out the cable, will be authorized. 



Yours truly, 



GEORGE SAWAED, Secretary. 



That from this time to the first of March, was employed by him in pro- 

 curing and setting up the required machinery, and that the entire month of 

 March was consumed in experimenting upon Appold's ])rake, before any- 

 thing satisfactory was obtained in its results, the chief ditheulty being, as 

 assigned by him, " that when loaded, say at 2,000 lbs. when running, if 

 the machine was stopped, the clinging, or griping, of the brake blocka to 



