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1869； 'People may write novels； and other people may write poems； but not a man or woman among them can say how happy a man can be who is desperately in love with his wife after ten years of marriage。' Five weeks before his death he wrote to her； 'Your first letter from Bournemouth gives me heavenly pleasure for which I thank Heaven and you； too； who are my heaven on earth。'
During the summer he enjoyed another telegraph cruise in the Mediterranean； a sea which for its classical memories； its lovely climate； and diversified scenes； is by far the most interesting in the world。 This time the Elba was to lay a cable from the Greek islands of Syra and Candia to Egypt。 Cable…laying is a pleasant mode of travel。 Many of those on board the ship are friends and comrades in former expeditions； and all are engaged in the same venture。 Some have seen a good deal of the world； both in and out of the beaten track ； they have curious 'yarns to spin；' and useful hints or scraps of worldly wisdom to bestow。 The voyage out is like a holiday excursion； for it is only the laying that is arduous； and even that is lightened by excitement。 Glimpses are got of hide…away spots； where the cable is landed； perhaps。 on the verge of the primeval forest or near the port of a modern city； or by the site of some ruined monument of the past。 The very magic of the craft and its benefit to the world are a source of pleasure to the engineer； who is generally made much of in the distant parts he has come to join。 No doubt there are hardships to be borne； sea…sickness； broken rest； and anxiety about the workfor cables are apt suddenly to fail； and the ocean is treacherous； but with all its drawbacks this happy mixture of changing travel and profitable labour is very attractive； especially to a young man。
The following extracts from letters to his wife will illustrate the nature of the work； and also give an idea of Jenkin's clear and graphic style of correspondence ：…
May 14。'Syra is semi…eastern。 The pavement； huge shapeless blocks sloping to a central gutter； from this base two…storeyed 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 shop…boys。 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 spendingno； in making A spendthreepence on coffee for three。'
Canea Bay； in Candia （or Crete）； which they reached on May 16； appeared to Jenkin one of the loveliest sights that man could witness。
May 23。'I spent the day at the little station where the cable was landed； which has apparently been first a Venetian monastery and then a Turkish mosque。 At any rate the big dome is very cool； and the little ones hold batteries capitally。 A handsome young Bashi…Bazouk guards it； and a still handsomer mountaineer is the servant； so I draw them and the monastery and the hill till I'm black in the face with heat； and come on board to hear the Canea cable is still bad。'
May 23。'We arrived in the morning at the east end of Candia； and had a glorious scramble over the mountains； which seem built of adamant。 Time has worn away the softer portions of the rock； only leaving sharp； jagged edges of steel； sea eagles soaring above our headsold tanks； ruins； and desolation at our feet。 The ancient Arsinoe stood here： a few blocks of marble with the cross attest the presence of Venetian Christians； but nowthe desolation of desolations。 Mr。 Liddell and I separated from the rest； and when we had found a sure bay for the cable； had a tremendous lively scramble back to the boat。 These are the bits of our life which I enjoy； which have some poetry； some grandeur in them。
May 29。…'Yesterday we ran round to the new harbour （of Alexandria）； landed the shore end of the cable close to Cleopatra's Bath； and made a very satisfactory start about one in the afternoon。 We had scarcely gone 200 yards when I noticed that the cable ceased to run out； and I wondered why the ship had stopped。'
The Elba had run her nose on a sandbank。 After trying to force her over it； an anchor was put out astern and the rope wound by a steam winch； while the engines were backed； but all in vain。 At length a small Turkish steamer； the consort of the Elba； came to her assistance； and by means of a hawser helped to tug her off： The pilot again ran her aground soon after； but she was delivered by the same means without much damage。 When two…thirds of this cable was laid the line snapped in deep water； and had to be recovered。 On Saturday； June 4； they arrived at Syra； where they had to perform four days' quarantine； during which； however； they started repairing the Canea cable。
Bad weather coming on； they took shelter in Siphano； of which Jenkin writes： 'These isles of Greece are sad； interesting places。 They are not really barren all over； but they are quite destitute of verdure； and tufts of thyme； wild mastic； or mint； though they sound well； are not nearly so pretty as grass。 Many little churches； glittering white； dot the islands； most of them； I believe； abandoned during the whole year with the exception of one day sacred to their patron saint。 The villages are mean； but the inhabitants do not look wretched； and the men are capital sailors。 There is something in this Greek race yet； they will become a powerful Levantine nation in the course of time。'
In 1861 Jenkin left the service of Newall & Co。； and entered into partnership with Mr。 H。 C。 Forde； who had acted as engineer under the British Government for the Malta…Alexandria cable； and was now practising as a civil engineer。 For several years after this business was bad； and with a young family coming； it was an anxious time for him； but he seems to have borne his troubles lightly。 Mr。 Stevenson says it was his principle 'to enjoy each day's happiness as it arises； like birds and children。'
In 1863 his first son was born； and the family removed to a cottage at Claygate； near Esher。 Though ill and poor at this period； he kept up his self…confidence。 'The country；' he wrote to his wife； 'will give us； please God； health and strength。 I will love and cherish you more than ever。 You shall go where you wish； you shall receive whom you wish； and as for money； you shall have that too。 I cannot be mistaken。 I have now measured myself with many men。 I do not feel weak。 I do not feel that I shall fail。 In many things I have succeeded； and I will in this。。。。 And meanwhile； the time of waiting； which； please Heaven； shall not be so long； shall also not be so bitter。 Well； well； I promise much； and do not know at this moment how you and the dear child are。 If he is but better； courage； my girl； for I see light。'
He took to gardening； without a natural liking for it； and soon became an ardent expert。 He wrote reviews； and lectured； or amused himself in playing charades； and reading poetry。 Clerk Maxwell； and Mr。 R