ipes, which were
to be fixed under the water by the aid of diving bells. This scheme,
having been found to be impracticable, has been very prudently abandoned.
Whatever difficulties may have hitherto interfered to prevent the
establishment of submarine telegraphs, appear, now, to have been entirely
overcome, for the time occupied from the commencement of carrying the
telegraph from shore to shore, and transmitting signals, did not occupy a
quarter of an hour. The telegraph, which has the appearance of an
ordinary rope, was coiled into one of the dockyard boats, one end of it
being made fast on shore, and, as the boat was pulled across, the
telegraphic rope was gradually paid out over the stern, its superior
gravity causing it to sink to the bottom immediately. . . . Independently
of the simplicity of this submarine telegraph, it has an advantage which
even the telegraphs on land do not possess--in the event of an accident,
it can be replaced in ten minutes. The success of the trial here has, we
understand, determined the inventors to lay down their contemplated line
across the Channel, from England to France, under the sanction of the
respective Governments."

Such was the germ of the multitudinous cables which now span every ocean.

CHAPTER XXIX.

Medals for Army and Navy--Grenville library--Day of fasting--"Binding of
Satan"--Suspension of transportation--New House of Lords--Jenny
Lind--_Bunn v. Lind_--"Jenny Linden"--Death of O'Connell--Story of the
Duke of Buccleugh--Abolition of Eton "Montem."

At this time, at all events, we did not plaster our soldiers with medals
for every trifling deed of duty, and it was not until January of this
year, that a Commission was appointed to decide upon the medals which
were to be presented to the officers and men who served in the Peninsula,
under Wellington and other commanders. And it was not till the 1st of
June, that an Order was issued from the Horse Guards, that claims might
be sent in by those who were present in battles from 1793 to 1814--or,
rather, the list began with Maida, 1806, and ended with Toulouse, 1814.
The medals for naval service began with the "Glorious First of June,"
1794, and ended with the fight between the Endymion and President on 25
Jan., 1815. The Medal for Waterloo was granted some long time
afterwards.

In January, the British Museum received the splendid bequest of the
Library of Thomas Grenville, Esqre., who died 17 Dec., 1846. T