222 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
for his eager and energetic nature. In the autumn of 1873 a 
financial panic began in America. 
Nevertheless, the prospect of a Pacific cable by way of 
Hawaii still held attractions. Field even selected a sandy 
beach a few miles south of San Francisco as a terminus. The 
Hawaiian Government made him alluring promises at first, 
recognizing the prestige of his Atlantic success, but up to 1879 
granted no definite concessions that would enable anyone to 
proceed with assurance. In that year, he received the follow- 
ing letter from the influential Yankee politician, Elisha Al- 
len, who was acting as agent for the “King of the Sandwich 
Islands”: 
Hawaiian Legation, March 10, 1879. 
Sir,—The twenty-fifth anniversary of the formation of the com- 
pany for laying the Atlantic cable seems an appropriate occasion 
for giving an impulse to the great work of extending a cable 
across the Pacific. 
I am sure that you will not be satisfied with anything less than 
a cable round the world. 
The Hawaiian Islands have a very central position for the 
navigation of the North Pacific. They are a great resort for the 
naval and mercantile marine of the commercial countries. 
His Majesty the King has long realized the great importance 
of a submarine cable to his kingdom, as well as to all nations 
whose vessels and citizens visit there, and has authorized me, by 
advice of his Cabinet, to grant you, your associates and assigns, 
the exclusive privilege of landing a submarine cable or cables 
on any of the Hawaiian Islands, and for using the same for con- 
nection with the United States, or any other country, and cross- 
ing any or all of the silands, and this for the period of twenty-five 
years. 
Any land which you may find necessary to have for any of these 
purposes will be furnished by the government free of expense to 
you, not intended to include land for offices or houses. 
It is to be understood that if you do not within five years begin 
the construction of the cable necessary to connect the islands with 
the United States, and establish the connection within ten years, 
this grant is to cease. 
