232 TEAVEL, ADVENTUEE, AND SPOET. 



ter interfered with the proper attention to our meals, 

 or destroyed our equanimity ; and I take this season- 

 able opportunity to say a few words about the com- 

 pany on board. 



And first, as in duty bound, let me mention Captain 

 Anderson of the China, one of the Cunard steamers, 

 specially selected on account of his great experience 

 for carrying out this arduous enterprise. Of him I 

 may truly say that I never met with a nobler speci- 

 men of a race of men whom, from my earliest youth, 

 I have ever regarded with the utmost respect and 

 admiration brave, yet God-fearing; stern on duty, 

 yet gentle at other times ; and of such skill that it is 

 not surprising his reputation as a commander should 

 be so high. Then follow two gentlemen on whose 

 ability the success of the undertaking mainly de- 

 pended namely, Messrs Canning and Clifford, the 

 chief Engineers, whose characters will be best de- 

 veloped in the events that occurred. Next follow 

 Messrs de Sauty and Saunders, the chief Electricians 

 of the expedition. There is Mr Gooch, afterwards 

 M.P. for Cricklade, who, as a director of the Tele- 

 graph Construction and Maintenance Company, and 

 also as a director and chief proprietor of the Great 

 Eastern, necessarily leads a most anxious life ; and 

 Mr Cyrus Field, the pioneer of Atlantic enterprise, 

 full of hope and confidence, and never betraying 

 anxiety or despair even at the most serious disaster 

 a man whose restless energy is best shown in his 



