42 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



London, SOth April, 1858, 

 Dear Sir — "With reference to your request of the 28th inst., we beg to 

 state, for the information of the Directors of the Atlantic Telegraph Co., 

 that the machinery for paying out the cable is, in our opinion, well calcu- 

 lated to answer the intended purpose, and that we have uo alterations to 

 suggest. 



The apparatus for showing the speed of the ship and for recording the 

 total distance run, should of course be completed and fixed on board the 

 Agamemnon and Niagara before the preliminary trials are commenced on 

 board those ships, and the apparatus for showing the rate at which the 

 cable is being paid out and for registering the total quantity, should also be 

 fixed on board. 



There will be ample time for this purpose, and no difficulty need be 

 anticipated. 



We are, dear sir, yours very truly, 



T. LLOYD, 

 JOHN PENN, 

 JOSHUA FIELD. 

 Cyrus W. Field. Esq., etc., etc., et-. 



That in this instrument, the direction of the curvature of the cable over 

 the sheaves was the same ; that the occurrence of slack or nipping of the 

 cable in running out was avoided by the two sheaves revolving indepen- 

 dently of each other; that the brake used in connection with this instru- 

 ment was self-acting, and that varying strains upon it were readily and 

 safely encountered ; that the inertia in the delivery of the whole appara- 

 tus was reduced to a minimum and that the cable entered the paying out 

 instrument under an initial strain, whereby the injurious eifect of a slack 

 was set aside ; that in a second letter from the Telegraph Company (Gr.) 

 Mr. Everett's connection with the design and construction of the instru- 

 ment is again referred to, and so fully conceded that he was directed to 

 have a comjdete instrument forthwith constructed for the Niagara (the one 

 completed having been appropriated for the Agamemnon), as will be seen 

 by the following letter: 



G. 



Atlantic Telegraph Co., 22 Old Broad St., 

 London, April 24/A, 1858. 

 Dear Sir — As you have now reported to the Managing Commitlee, that 

 the paying out machinery for H. M. S. Agamemnon is completed, and that 

 it has been working satisfactorily during the last three days, and that you 

 do not consider any alteration necessary to increase its efficiency, and as 

 another set is required for the U. S. Frigate Niagara, the Managing Com- 

 mittee have authorized and instructed me to request that you will immedi- 

 ately give directions to Messrs. Easton and Ames to put another set in 

 hand for that ship, and I am further to request that you will continue 

 your supervision over the construction of the machinery, and also under- 



