he celebration surpassed anything the city had ever
before witnessed. Mr. Field and the officers of the cable fleet landed
at Castle Garden and received a national salute. From there the
procession progressed through crowded and gaily decorated streets to the
crowd-filled Crystal Palace, where an address was given on the history
of the cable. Then the mayor of New York gave an address honoring Mr.
Field and presented him with a gold box stating:

The municipal government of this city instructs me to present to
you a gold box with the arms of the city engraved thereon, in
testimony of the fact that to you mainly, under Divine Providence,
the world is indebted for the successful execution of the grandest
enterprise of our day and generation; and in behalf of the Mayor,
Aldermen and Commonalty of the City of New York I now request your
acceptance of this token of their approbation.

The gold box (fig. 12) presented to Field by the City of New York is
in the collections of the United States National Museum.[14] It
measures 4-1/2 inches by 3 inches. On the lid and around an engraved
representation of the cable fleet is inscribed:

The City of New York to Cyrus W. Field

The sides of the box are engraved with vignettes depicting the landing
of the cable, the planning group at work, science and industry united,
and Europe and America united. The bottom is engraved with the American
eagle and the British shield. The inside lid of the box is inscribed:

The City of New York to Cyrus W. Field commemorating his skill,
fortitude and perseverance in originating and completing the first
enterprise for an ocean telegraph successfully accomplished Aug.
5, 1858 uniting Europe and America.

[Illustration: Figure 13.--SILVER-MOUNTED TANKARD presented to Cyrus W.
Field by the workmen of Central Park, New York City. Loan of Metropolitan
Museum of Art. In Division of Political History. (Acc. 64761, cat. 26209;
Smithsonian photo 45992-H.)]

Significant of the enthusiasm with which Field was greeted in 1858 is a
silver-mounted tankard, made from the wood of the Charter Oak, that was
given to him in December by the workmen of Central Park. On August 18,
seemingly without advance publicity or elaborate preparations, there was
a parade on Broadway of the workmen of Central Park. The procession was
headed by a squad of policemen in full uniform, a band, and a standard
bearer with a muslin banner inscribed "The Centra