of an ocean telegraph.  He also wished to visit the different countries on the continent where his telegraph was being used, to see whether their governments could not be induced to make him some pecuniary return for the use of his invention.  Last, but not least, he felt that he had earned a short vacation from the hard work and the many trials to which he had been subjected for so many years, and a trip abroad with his wife, who had never been out of her own country, offered the best means of relaxation and enjoyment.  On the 7th of June, 1856, he sailed from New York on the Baltic, accompanied by his wife and his niece Louisa, daughter of his brother Richard.

The trip proved a delightful one in every way; he was acclaimed as one of the most noted men of his day wherever he went, and emperors, kings, and scientists vied with each other in showering attentions upon him.  His letters contain minute descriptions of many of his experiences and I shall quote liberally from them.

To Cyrus Field he writes, on July 6, of the results of some of his experiments with Dr. Whitehouse:—­

“I intended to have written you long before this and have you receive my letter previous to your departure from home, but every moment of my time has been occupied, as you can well conceive, since my arrival.  I have especially been occupied in experiments with Dr. Whitehouse of the utmost importance.  Their results, except in a general way, I am not at present at liberty to divulge; besides they are not, as yet, by any means completed so as to assure commercial men that they may enter upon the great project of uniting Europe to America with a certainty of success.”

And then, after dwelling upon the importance of Dr. Whitehouse’s services, and expressing the wish that he should be liberally rewarded for his labors, he continues:—­

“I can say on this subject generally that the experiments Dr. Whitehouse has made favorably affect the project so far as its practicability is concerned, but to certainly assure its practicality further experiments are essential.  To enable Dr. Whitehouse to make these, and that he may derive the benefit of them, I conceive it to be a wise outlay to furnish him with adequate means for his purpose.

“I wish I had time to give you in detail the kind receptions I have everywhere met with.  To Mr. Statham and his family in a special manner are we indebted for the most indefatigable and constant attentions.  Were we relatives they could not have been more assiduous in doing everything to make our stay in London agreeable.  To Mr. Brett also I am under great obligations.  He has manifested (as have, indeed, all the gentlemen connected with the Telegraph here) the utmost liberality and the most ample concession to the excellence of my telegraphic system.  I have been assured now from the highest sources that my system is not only the most practical for general use, but that it is fast becoming the world’s telegraph.”