He had, nevertheless, cheerfully given of his time and talents in the first attempt, although cautioned by Mr.Kendall.
He goes fully into the whole matter in a very long letter to Mr.John W.
Brett, of December 27, 1858, in which he details his connection with the cable company, his regret and surprise at being excluded on the ground of his not being a stockholder, especially as, on a subsequent visit to Europe, he found that two other men had been made honorary directors, although they were not stockholders.

He says that he learned also that "Mr.Field had represented to the Directors that I was hostile to the company, and was using my exertions to defeat the measures for aid from the United States Government to the enterprise, and that it was in consequence of these misrepresentations that I was not elected." He says farther on: "I sincerely rejoiced in the consummation of the great enterprise, although prevented in the way I have shown from being present.

I ought to have been with the cable squadron last summer.

It was no fault of mine, that I was not there.

I hope Mr.Field can exculpate himself in the eyes of the Board, before the world, and before his own conscience, in the course he has taken." On the margin of the letter-press copy of a letter Written to Mr.Kendall on December 22, 1859, is a note in pencil written, evidently, at a later date: "Mr.Field has since manifested by his conduct a different temper.
I have long since forgiven what, after all, may have been error of ignorance on his part." The fact remains, however, that his connection with the cable company was severed, and that his relations with Messrs.