198 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
mental differences can be gained from a letter written at the 
time to Cooper by one of the British stockholders who had 
done important work as an engineer in the cable-laying, 
Cromwell Varley, then on a visit to New York. 
Fifth Avenue Hotel, 
New York, October 6, 1868. 
My dear Sir,—I hope you will pardon me for addressing you 
upon the subject of the Atlantic circuits. 
I am a small shareholder in the New York, Newfoundland, and 
London Telegraph Company, a larger in the Anglo-American 
and Atlantic Telegraph companies; and it is with regret that I 
see that the two companies are fighting instead of working. 
It seems as if they were re-enacting just the same farces that were 
performed when we were endeavoring to raise funds both for the 
1865 and the 1866 cables. I venture unhesitatingly to assert that 
we should not have succeeded but for the indomitable energy and 
the excellent judgment of Mr. Cyrus Field. 
I do not believe the present attempt at an adjustment will end 
in any useful results unless some one like Mr. Cyrus Field, enjoy- 
ing the confidence and personal regard of those interested on this 
side, as well as such men as Brassey, Hawkshaw, Fairbairne, Fow- 
ler, Gladstone, Bright, Whitworth, and others in Europe, go to 
England empowered to act on behalf of your company. The 
jealousies and conflicting interests existing between the directors 
on the other side prevent them from acting with that vigor and 
integrity of purpose so necessary to command success, and which 
qualities are possessed to so large an extent by Mr. Cyrus Field, 
to whom the world is mainly indebted for the Atlantic cables. 
He of all others is, in my opinion, the one most capable of effect- 
ing the settlement we are all so interested in. He succeeded in 
restoring public confidence, in harmonizing the disputants, and 
in raising the money when the enterprise had twice proved a fail- 
ure, and had as often been virtually abandoned by its natural 
protectors. How much the more, then, will he succeed now when 
he reappears amongst his old supporters and his true friends, 
backed this time not by failure, but by triumphant success, and 
with all his predictions realized! .. . 
Very truly yours, 
Cromwell F. Varley. 
Peter Cooper, Esq., New York. 
