The telegraph manual: a complete history and description of the semaphoric, electric and magnetic telegraphs of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, ancient and modern.

THE MEDITERRANEAN SUBMARINE LINES. 621
after the little fleet moored in St. George's Bay, north of La
Valette, Island of Malta. The whole laying occupied seventytwo hours. Three hundred and seventy miles of cable were
paid out. The electric flash was transmitted through the cable
with perfect success.
On account of the unfavorable weather, the laying of the
cable from Malta to Corfu was suspended, and it was determined to submerge it from Corfu to Malta to avoid head winds.
To this end the vessels sailed to Corfu. The town of Corfu
lies on the east side of the island. The St. Gordo Bay lies on
the west side, where the cable was carried ashore. The end
of the cable was connected with the land line which runs over
the island to the town of Corfu.
At 11 A. M., on the 1st of December, 1857, the fleet sailed,
the Desperate piloting the way and the Blazer serving as tender.
The weather was very fine and prospect of success encouraging.
December 3d, the greatest depth, eight thousand feet, had been
passed, and on the 4th at noon the whole cable was submerged
without accident. The vessel anchored in St. George's Bay,
and the cable soon thereafter conducted on to the Malta shore.
Amount paid out, four hundred miles, and the time occupied
seventy-two hours. On the 5th the news of the great triumph
was announced in London. The whole cost of the line was
~125,000. In this enterprise the intrepid contractors won for
themselves and their nation a renown more brilliant than deeds
achieved at the cannon's mouth.