Meanwhile, Mr. Field labored energetically to revive the company.  The war which had broken out in the United States brought home to our Government the urgent need of telegraphic communication with Europe, and Mr. Field had no difficulty in obtaining from the President an assurance that this Government would be most happy to join with Great Britain in promoting this great international work.  He addressed meetings of merchants in various American cities, and displayed the greatest energy in his efforts to enlist the aid of American capital.  Very little was accomplished, however, until 1863.  By this time the success of the lines in the Mediterranean and in the Persian Gulf had demonstrated the practicability of long submarine telegraphs, and the public confidence in the attempt had been revived to such an extent that the directors ventured to call for proposals for the manufacture of a cable.  Seventeen offers were made, from which that of Messrs. Glass, Elliott & Co., of London, was selected.  Mr. Field now renewed his indomitable efforts, and in a few months the new capital of six hundred thousand pounds was subscribed, Messrs. Glass, Elliott &, Co. taking three hundred and fifteen thousand pounds, besides one hundred thousand pounds in bonds.  This was accomplished in 1864, and work on the cable was immediately begun.  The cable now adopted was very different from, and much more sensitive than, those which had been used before.  It was heavier, and less liable to be injured by the water.

The “Great Eastern” steamship, the greatest wonder of naval architecture, was at this time advertised for sale, and it occurred to several of the gentlemen interested in the telegraph company that she was the best vessel for laying the cable that could be found.  They at once organized themselves into a company, purchased the ship, and fitted her up for that service.  They were fortunate in securing the services of Captain James Anderson, and placing him in charge of her, sent her to Sheerness, where the cable was sent down to her in lighters from the factory at Greenwich.  When the cable was on board, and all the other arrangements had been completed, the big ship left the Thames and sailed for Valentia harbor.

The point of landing had been changed from Valentia harbor, five or six miles, to Foilhommerum Bay.  On the 23d of July, 1865, the shore end was connected with the cable on board the ship, and the voyage was begun.  It would be interesting to follow the huge steamer on this remarkable voyage, and to relate to the reader the almost marvelous manner in which faults were detected in the line hundreds of miles from the shore, and how the cable was successfully hauled in and the damage repaired.  All went well until twelve hundred miles of cable had been paid out, and the ship was but six hundred miles from the shores of Newfoundland, when the cable broke again and plunged into the sea.