On returning to St. John's he published his idea in
the COURIER by a letter dated November 8, 1850.
About the same time a similar plan occurred to Mr. F. N. Gisborne, a
telegraph engineer in Nova Scotia. In the spring of 1851 he procured a
grant from the Legislature of Newfoundland, resigned his situation in
Nova Scotia, and having formed a company, began the construction of the
land line. But in 1853 his bills were dishonoured by the company, he
was arrested for debt, and stripped of all his fortune. The following
year, however, he was introduced to Mr. Cyrus Field, of New York, a
wealthy merchant, who had just returned from a six months' tour in South
America. Mr. Field invited Mr. Gisborne to his house in order to
discuss the project. When his visitor was gone, Mr. Field began to turn
over a terrestrial globe which stood in his library, and it flashed upon
him that the telegraph to Newfoundland might be extended across the
Atlantic Ocean. The idea fired him with enthusiasm. It seemed worthy
of a man's ambition, and although he had retired from business to spend
his days in peace, he resolved to dedicate his time, his energies, and
fortune to the accomplishment of this grand enterprise.
A presentiment of success may have inspired him; but he was ignorant
alike of submarine cables and the deep sea.
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