264 A SAGA OF THE SEAS 
W. Childs, of Philadelphia; to General W. T. Sherman, St. Louis, 
and Mr. E. F. Beale, of Washington. 
I have for several days been very anxious to call and see you, but 
have been prevented by press of business and a severe cold. 
With great respect, I remain, 
Dear General Grant, 
Very truly your friend, 
Cyrus W. Field. 
Six months later Grant died of cancer, at the age of sixty- 
three. After his troubles were over, a large sum of money 
was subscribed to build a grandiose tomb for him in one of 
the most conspicuous spots in New York City. It is a favorite 
calling-place for sight-seeing busses and tourists. The effect 
inside is like the interior of an Egyptian pyramid. 
During the summer of 1885 Field was again in England. 
On July 4 in London he gave a dinner for thirty friends, of 
whom eight were Americans. Excellent speeches were made 
by the Duke of Argyll and John Bright, both venerable 
figures. The Duke said that the best friends of his life had 
been Americans—Charles Sumner the statesman, Longfellow 
the poet, Prescott and Motley the historians, and Cyrus Field. 
As to the late unfriendliness over the Alabama claims, so com- 
pletely had America proved its rights that it was difficult to 
find an Englishman who would admit that he ever thought 
differently. The Duke, who was himself a statesman and 
author, had a ripe old age ahead of him. 
John Bright, unfortunately, was to die a few years later. 
In his speech, he recalled the days of the Civil War, when, in 
the absence of a cable, he used to spend the week in anxiety 
over the news which the Saturday steamer would bring from 
America—news two weeks old. On several occasions during 
the war, for example after the battle of Bull Run, he thought, 
as did many other Englishmen, that the South would win. 
The ultimate victory of freedom over slavery filled his life 
with happiness. As always, Bright’s fine voice and sincerity 
thrilled his listeners. 
