BEGINNING OF THE RUSSIAN UNDERTAKINGS. 131 



The year 1852 formed a decided turning -point 

 in my personal as well as in my business life. 



At the beginning of that year I made my first 

 journey to Russia. The business connection of my 

 firm with the Russian government had been opened 

 as early as 1849 through the medium of Captain 

 von Ltklers. who was making a circular tour through 

 Europe, having been entrusted by his government with 

 the task of ascertaining the best system of electric 

 telegraphs. He then proposed our system for the line 

 to be constructed from St. Petersburg to Moscow. 

 Orders were given to Siemens Halske only for 

 apparatus dial telegraphs and measuring instru- 



ments - - as the Russian Government took upon itself 

 the construction of the underground wires. Negotiations 

 having reference to further orders now required my 

 presence in St. Petersburg. 



My journey lay by way of Konigsberg. which 

 I had long ardently desired to visit, without having 

 been able to make up my mind to undertake the 

 journey. It was there that Drumann, the well-known 

 historian, resided, who had married a daughter of my 

 uncle Mehlis in Clausthal, and was accordingly my 

 kinsman by marriage. In the year 1844 Frau Dru- 

 mann had, on a journey to Clausthal, looked me up 

 in Berlin, and spent a few days there with her youngest 

 daughter Matilda. I made myself useful to the ladies 

 during the time as cicerone, and passed some very 

 .agreeable and exhilarating days in their company. 

 The return journey was to have been also by way of 



