160 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
the Prince of Wales. Then he proposed a toast to “the origin- 
al projectors” of the Atlantic telegraph—Sir Charles Bright 
and Cyrus Field, John W. Brett having died. Quoting the 
Times: “He begged to couple with the toast the name of Sir 
Charles Bright, as, perhaps, the foremost representative from 
all points of view up to the present time (applause). The 
greatest honor is due to the indomitable perseverance and 
energy of Sir Charles Bright that the original cable was suc- 
cessfully laid, though, through no fault of his, it had but a 
short useful existence (great cheering).” 
The Times account continued: ‘Sir Charles Bright, M. P., 
after acknowledging the compliment paid to the ‘original 
projectors’ and to himself personally, said that the idea of lay- 
ing a cable across the Atlantic was the natural outcome of the 
success which was attained in carrying short lines under the 
English and Irish Channels, and was a common subject of 
discussion among those concerned in telegraph extension 
prior to the formation of the Atlantic ‘Telegraph Company. 
“About ten years ago the science had sufficiently advanced 
to permit of the notion assuming a practical form. Soundings 
taken in the Atlantic between Ireland and Newfoundland 
proved that the bottom was soft, and that no serious currents 
or abrading agencies existed, for the minute and fragile shells 
brought up by the sounding-line were perfect and uninjured. 
“There only remained the proof that electricity could be 
employed through so vast a length of conductor. Upon this 
point and the best mode of working such a line, he had been 
experimenting for several years. He had carried on a series of 
investigations which resulted in establishing the fact that mes- 
sages could be practically passed through an unbroken circuit 
of more than two thousand miles of insulated wire, a notion 
derided at that time by many distinguished authorities. Mr. 
Wildman Whitehouse, who subsequently became electrician 
to the company, had been likewise engaged. On comparing 
notes later, it was discovered that they had arrived at similar - 
