190 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
Worlds by his devotion to the interests of Atlantic telegraphy 
through circumstances of protracted difficulty and doubt.” 
The chairman of the invitation committee was the Duke of 
Argyll; the chairman of the executive committee was Sir 
James Anderson, former captain of the Great Eastern and 
Field’s comrade of many an anxious night on the high seas. 
The wording of the acceptance of an invitation by the fa- 
mous humanitarian, the Earl of Shaftesbury, is typical of 
the genuine respect felt in England for Field’s accomplish- 
ment. It was as follows: 
June 19, 1868. 
Sir,—It would give me great pleasure to show any mark of re- 
spect in my power to Mr. Cyrus Field and to the great nation to 
which he belongs. 
I shall be happy to attend the dinner on July 1st, if by so doing 
I can attest my sense of Mr. Field’s services. 
I trust that I shall not give offence, should I be compelled to 
retire before the rest of the company. 
I remain your servant, 
Shaftesbury. 
Sir James Anderson. 
The speeches at the dinner were fitting and impressive. 
The Duke of Argyll said in proposing “that which is pre- 
eminently the toast of the evening”: “I believe the success of 
this enterprise would have been delayed for many years— 
perhaps for whole generations of men—had it not been for 
the confidence and zeal, for the foresight and faith, amount- 
ing, as I think, to genius, of our distinguished guest, Mr. 
Cyrus Field. . . . Of all commercial enterprises which have 
ever been undertaken, this one on the part of Mr. Cyrus 
Field represented the noblest and purest motives by which 
commercial enterprise can ever be inspired. . . . He risked 
every farthing of his own private fortune in promoting its 
success. On these grounds, ladies and gentlemen, I ask you 
to drink his health. But on one other ground also I ask you 
