securing a buoy on the evening of the
2nd. As interpreter [with the Italians] I am useful in all these
cases; but for no fortune would I be a doctor to witness these scenes
continually. Pain is a terrible thing.--Our work is done: the whole of
the six-wire cable has been recovered; only a small part of the
three-wire, but that wire was bad and, owing to its twisted state, the
value small. We may therefore be said to have been very successful."

II

I have given this cruise nearly in full. From the notes, unhappily
imperfect, of two others, I will take only specimens; for in all there
are features of similarity, and it is possible to have too much even of
submarine telegraphy and the romance of engineering. And first from the
cruise of 1859 in the Greek Islands and to Alexandria, take a few
traits, incidents, and pictures.

"_May 10, 1859._

"We had a fair wind, and we did very well, seeing a little bit of
Cerigo or Cythera, and lots of turtle-doves wandering about over the
sea and perching, tired and timid, in the rigging of our little craft.
Then Falconera, Antimilo and Milo, topped with huge white clouds,
barren, deserted, rising bold and mysterious from the blue chafing
sea;--Argentiera, Siphano, Scapho, Paros, Antiparos, and late at night
Syra itself. 'Adam Bede' in one hand, a sketch-book in the other,
lying on rugs under an awning, I enjoyed a very pleasant day.

"_May 14._

"Syra is semi-Eastern. The pavement, huge shapeless blocks sloping to
a central gutter; from this bare two-storied houses, sometimes plaster
many-coloured, sometimes rough-hewn marble, rise, dirty and
ill-finished, to straight, plain, flat roofs; shops guiltless of
windows, with signs in Greek letters; dogs, Greeks in blue, baggy,
Zouave breeches and a fez, a few narghilehs and a sprinkling of the
ordinary continental shopboys.--In the evening I tried one more walk
in Syra with A----, but in vain endeavoured to amuse myself or to
spend money; the first effort resulting in singing 'Doodah' to a
passing Greek or two, the second in spending, no, in making A----
spend, threepence on coffee for three.

"_May 16._

"On coming on deck, I found we were at anchor in Canea bay, and saw
one of the most lovely sights man could witness. Far on either hand
stretch bold mountain capes, Spada and Maleka, tender in colour, bold
in outline; rich sunny levels lie beneath th