It nearly disabled him while laying the
Lowestoft to Norderney cable for Mr. Reuter, in 1866. This line was
designed by Messrs. Forde & Jenkin, manufactured by Messrs. W. T.
Henley & Co., and laid by the Caroline and William Cory. Miss Clara
Volkman, a niece of Mr. Reuter, sent the first message, Mr. C. F, Varley
holding her hand.
In 1866 Jenkin was appointed to the professorship of Engineering in
University College, London. Two years later his prospects suddenly
improved; the partnership began to pay, and he was selected to fill the
Chair of Engineering, which had been newly established, in Edinburgh
University. What he thought of the change may be gathered from a letter
to his wife: 'With you in the garden (at Claygate), with Austin in the
coach-house, with pretty songs in the little low white room, with the
moonlight in the dear room upstairs--ah! it was perfect; but the long
walk, wondering, pondering, fearing, scheming, and the dusty jolting
railway, and the horrid fusty office, with its endless disappointments,
they are well gone. It is well enough to fight, and scheme, and bustle
about in the eager crowd here (in London) for awhile now and then; but
not for a lifetime. What I have now is just perfect. Study for winter,
action for summer, lovely country for recreation, a pleasant town for
talk.
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