220 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
above project, believing that if so approved the government of 
the United States will give their concurrence, and that the work 
will be speedily accomplished. 
Cyrus W. Field 
of New York. 
Once more back at Gramercy Park, Field thought of some 
additional aspects of the Russian proposal that he should have 
included in his letter. For example, he was willing to agree 
not to kill seals or deal in furs in Russian territory. To ob- 
viate controversy with Japan, he would avoid the disputed 
island of Saghalien (or Sakhalin). The amount of money re- 
quired should be limited. With these provisions in mind, he 
wrote again to the Grand Duke Constantine, as follows, urg- 
ing a prompt answer: 
Gramercy Park, 
New York, 19th September, 1871. 
Sir,—Referring to my personal interviews with you, and to my 
letter of 11th ultimo, in which I enclosed a memorial to His 
Majesty the Emperor of Russia respecting the establishment of a 
submarine telegraph cable between Russia and the United States 
of America, I now beg respectfully to submit to your Imperial 
Highness the following modifications of the propositions con- 
tained in that memorial, which I think will commend themselves 
to your good judgment: 
1. The proposed guarantee of three per cent. not to commence 
until the day the cable is completed and in successful working 
order. 
2. The amount of capital guaranteed not to exceed £3,000,000. 
3. The company to bind itself not to kill seals, nor to deal in 
furs on any portion of Russian territory. 
4. The cable not to be landed on the island of Saghalien. 
5. In the event of any dispute arising between the cable com- 
pany and any subject of His Imperial Majesty, the question to be 
referred to the Russian courts. In disputes between the cable com- 
pany and American citizens, the courts of the United States to 
have sole jurisdiction. 
May I respectfully solicit your Imperial Highness to take these 
