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378
The Story of the Atlantic Telegraph
·
Henry M. Field
18
However,
whether
he
ever
entertained
the
idea
of
such
a
project,
is
not
a
matter
of
the
slightest
consequence
to
the
public,
nor
even
to
his
own
reputation.
Ten
years
before
Professor
Morse
had
expressed,
not
a
dreamer's
fancy,
but
a
deliberate
conviction,
founded
on
scientific
experiments,
that
"a
telegraphic
communication
might
with
certainty
be
established
across
the
Atlantic
Ocean;"
so
that
the
idea
was
not
original
with
Mr.
Gisborne,
any
more
than
with
others
who
were
eager
to
appropriate
it.
It
is
a
part
of
the
history
of
great
enterprises,
that
the
moment
one
succeeds,
a
host
spring
up
to
claim
the
honor.
Thus
when,
in
1858,
the
Atlantic
Telegraph
seemed
to
be
a
success,
the
public,
knowing
well
who
had
borne
the
brunt
and
burden
of
the
undertaking,
awarded
him
the
praise
which
he
so
well
deserved;
but
instantly
there
were
other
Richmonds
in
the
field.
Those
who
had
had
no
part
in
the
labor,
at
least
claimed
to
have
originated
the
idea!
Of
course,
these
many
claims
destroy
each
other.
But
after
all,
to
raise
such
a
point
at
all
is
the
merest
trifling.
The
question
is
not
who
first
had
the
"idea,"
but
who
took
hold
of
the
enterprise
as
a
practical
thing;
who
grappled
with
the
gigantic
difficulties
of
the
undertaking,
and
fought
the
battle
through
to
victory.
As
to
Mr.
Gisborne,
his
activity
in
the
beginning
of
the
Newfoundland
telegraph
is
a
matter
of
history.
In
that
preliminary
work,
he
bore
an
honorable
part,
and
acquired
a
title
to
respect,
of
which
he
cannot
be
deprived.
All
honor
to
him
for
his
enterprise,
his
courage,
and
his
perseverance!
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