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which to hunt for gratifications。 'We are not here to be happy；
but to be good'； I wish he had mended the phrase： 'We are not here
to be happy； but to try to be good；' comes nearer the modesty of
truth。 With such old…fashioned morality； it is possible to get
through life； and see the worst of it； and feel some of the worst
of it； and still acquiesce piously and even gladly in man's fate。
Feel some of the worst of it； I say； for some of the rest of the
worst is； by this simple faith； excluded。
It was in the year 1868； that the clouds finally rose。 The
business in partnership with Mr。 Forde began suddenly to pay well；
about the same time the patents showed themselves a valuable
property； and but a little after； Fleeming was appointed to the new
chair of engineering in the University of Edinburgh。 Thus； almost
at once； pecuniary embarrassments passed for ever out of his life。
Here is his own epilogue to the time at Claygate； and his
anticipations of the future in Edinburgh。
' 。 。 。 。 The dear old house at Claygate is not let and the pretty
garden a mass of weeds。 I feel rather as if we had behaved
unkindly to them。 We were very happy there； but now that it is
over I am conscious of the weight of anxiety as to money which I
bore all the time。 With you in the garden； with Austin in the
coach…house； with pretty songs in the little； low white room； with
the moonlight in the dear room up…stairs； ah； it was perfect； but
the long walk； wondering； pondering； fearing； scheming； and the
dusty jolting railway； and the horrid fusty office with its endless
disappointments； they are well gone。 It is well enough to fight
and scheme and bustle about in the eager crowd here ＇in London＇ for
a while now and then； but not for a lifetime。 What I have now is
just perfect。 Study for winter； action for summer； lovely country
for recreation； a pleasant town for talk 。 。 。'
CHAPTER V。 … NOTES OF TELEGRAPH VOYAGES； 1858 TO 1873。
BUT it is now time to see Jenkin at his life's work。 I have before
me certain imperfect series of letters written； as he says； 'at
hazard； for one does not know at the time what is important and
what is not'： the earlier addressed to Miss Austin； after the
betrothal； the later to Mrs。 Jenkin the young wife。 I should
premise that I have allowed myself certain editorial freedoms；
leaving out and splicing together much as he himself did with the
Bona cable： thus edited the letters speak for themselves； and will
fail to interest none who love adventure or activity。 Addressed as
they were to her whom he called his 'dear engineering pupil；' they
give a picture of his work so clear that a child may understand；
and so attractive that I am half afraid their publication may prove
harmful； and still further crowd the ranks of a profession already
overcrowded。 But their most engaging quality is the picture of the
writer； with his indomitable self…confidence and courage； his
readiness in every pinch of circumstance or change of plan； and his
ever fresh enjoyment of the whole web of human experience； nature；
adventure； science； toil and rest； society and solitude。 It should
be borne in mind that the writer of these buoyant pages was； even
while he wrote； harassed by responsibility； stinted in sleep and
often struggling with the prostration of sea…sickness。 To this
last enemy； which he never overcame； I have omitted； in my search
after condensation； a good many references； if they were all left；
such was the man's temper； they would not represent one hundredth
part of what he suffered； for he was never given to complaint。 But
indeed he had met this ugly trifle； as he met every thwart
circumstance of life； with a certain pleasure of pugnacity； and
suffered it not to check him； whether in the exercise of his
profession or the pursuit of amusement。
I。
'Birkenhead： April 18； 1858。
'Well； you should know； Mr。 … having a contract to lay down a
submarine telegraph from Sardinia to Africa failed three times in
the attempt。 The distance from land to land is about 140 miles。
On the first occasion； after proceeding some 70 miles； he had to
cut the cable … the cause I forget； he tried again； same result；
then picked up about 20 miles of the lost cable； spliced on a new
piece； and very nearly got across that time； but ran short of
cable； and when but a few miles off Galita in very deep water； had
to telegraph to London for more cable to be manufactured and sent
out whilst he tried to stick to the end： for five days； I think；
he lay there sending and receiving messages； but heavy weather
coming on the cable parted and Mr。 … went home in despair … at
least I should think so。
'He then applied to those eminent engineers； R。 S。 Newall & Co。；
who made and laid down a cable for him last autumn … Fleeming
Jenkin （at the time in considerable mental agitation） having the
honour of fitting out the ELBA for that purpose。' ＇On this
occasion； the ELBA has no cable to lay； but＇ 'is going out in the
beginning of May to endeavour to fish up the cables Mr。 … lost。
There are two ends at or near the shore： the third will probably
not be found within 20 miles from land。 One of these ends will be
passed over a very big pulley or sheave at the bows； passed six
times round a big barrel or drum； which will be turned round by a
steam engine on deck； and thus wind up the cable； while the ELBA
slowly steams ahead。 The cable is not wound round and round the
drum as your silk is wound on its reel； but on the contrary never
goes round more than six times； going off at one side as it comes
on at the other； and going down into the hold of the ELBA to be
coiled along in a big coil or skein。
'I went down to Gateshead to discuss with Mr。 Newall the form which
this tolerably simple idea should take； and have been busy since I
came here drawing； ordering； and putting up the machinery …
uninterfered with； thank goodness； by any one。 I own I like
responsibility； it flatters one and then； your father might say； I
have more to gain than to lose。 Moreover I do like this bloodless；
painless combat with wood and iron； forcing the stubborn rascals to
do my will； licking the clumsy cubs into an active shape； seeing
the child of to…day's thought working to…morrow in full vigour at
his appointed task。
'May 12。
'By dint of bribing； bullying； cajoling； and going day by day to
see the state of things ordered； all my work is very nearly ready
now； but those who have neglected these precautions are of course
disappointed。 Five hundred fathoms of chain ＇were＇ ordered by …
some three weeks since； to be ready by the 10th without fail； he
sends for it to…day … 150 fathoms all they can let us have by the
15th … and how the rest is to be got； who knows？ He ordered a boat
a month since and yesterday we