KRONSTADT LINE. 147 



tower a similar tube to that which existed in the others, 

 and of carrying up therein the insulated telegraph wires. 

 That made an impression on the count. He inveighed 

 against his officers, who could suggest nothing better 

 than knocking out grooves in the masonry, "and now", 

 so he expressed himself, "there comes a beardless young 

 man, and sees at the first glance how easily the thing- 

 is to be done." Thus Charles succeeded on his 

 very first appearance in gaining the favour of the 

 count, who from this moment onwards accorded 

 him an authority, in which he placed as implicit 

 a confidence as in my own. In this he was not dis- 

 appointed. 



In the autumn of 1853 Charles completed the 

 Kronstadt cable-line to Count KleinmicheFs perfect 

 satisfaction. This was the first submarine telegraph 

 line in the world which has remained permanently 

 serviceable. The gutta-percha conductors, protected 

 by iron wires, employed for it have stood the test 

 admirably. At the same time as the laying down of 

 the line its maintenance, the so-called remount, was 

 also contracted for by us for a period of six years. 

 During the whole of this time the wire was only once 

 seriously injured by ships' anchors, and after the lapse 

 of the six years was handed over to the government 

 in a faultless condition. It has remained in active use 

 to the present time, and affords therefore a good proof 

 of the durability of well-constructed submarine cables. 



In the spring of 1854 the Crimean war broke 



out. We received in consequence the commission, to 



10* 



