In the spring of 1858 two unsuccessful attempts were made to lay the cable ; but the work was accomplished in the summer, between July 17th and August 5th. Seven hundred and thirty-two messages were sent through it with difficulty, but the cable was never opened for public business. One of the first communications that passed over the cable was a message from Newfoundland to Ireland, asking if permission could be granted the Cunard agent to telegraph the Cunard Company in England, announcing the fact that the mail steamers Europa and Arabia had been in collision, but that both ships and passengers were safe.

Photograph of an original message sent over the first Atlantic Cable, August 17, 185S, the day after the cable was laid. The actual time occupied in sending the above message was 25 minutes. A similar message can be transmitted over the Commercial Cable in 1½ minutes.

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