THE FINDING OF THE COPPER CYLINDER It occurred as far back as February 15, 1850.

It happened on that day that the yacht Falcon lay becalmed upon the ocean between the Canaries and the Madeira Islands.

This yacht Falcon was the property of Lord Featherstone, who, being weary of life in England, had taken a few congenial friends for a winter's cruise in these southern latitudes.

They had visited the Azores, the Canaries, and the Madeira Islands, and were now on their way to the Mediterranean.
The wind had failed, a deep calm had succeeded, and everywhere, as far as the eye could reach, the water was smooth and glassy.

The yacht rose and fell at the impulse of the long ocean undulations, and the creaking of the spars sounded out a lazy accompaniment to the motion of the vessel.