CYRUS W. FIELD - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED 03/05/1872 - HFSID 79566

CYRUS FIELD. Manuscript LS: "Cyrus W. Field.", 1½p, 5x8, conjoined leaves. 42 Charges Street, Piccadilly, London, 1872 March 5. To James Edward Lewis, Esqr., Pembroke College, Oxford. Begins: "My dear Sir". In full: "I am sorry that I am unable to oblige you with a copy of the speech of Senator Colfax but on my arrival in New York, for which place I sail next Saturday, I shall be most happy to forward you a copy in the event of its ever having been published. I remain My dear Sir very truly your friend." Field is likely referring to SCHUYLER COLFAX (1823-1885), who was not a U.S. Senator, but a U.S. Representative from Indiana (1855-1869). Colfax, who was Speaker of the House from 1863-1869, was U.S. Grant's Vice President (1869-1873) at the time of the letter, so he was President of the U.S. Senate. Also in the year of this letter, Colfax unsuccessfully sought the nomination as the Republican Party's candidate for Vice President. CYRUS WEST FIELD (1819-1892), who amassed a fortune in the paper business, was chiefly responsible for the laying of the first submarine telegraph cable between the U.S. and Europe (1857-1866). In 1877, he resuscitated the New York City elevated system, which had been founded in 1870. The first urban rapid transit system in the U.S., it finally became popular in 1878. Lightly creased with folds, upper horizontal fold underlines signature and touches the "C" and the descender of the "y" in Cyrus. Minor paper scuff at mid-left edge of address page. Slightly soiled. Fine condition with large, bold signature.