The new submarine telegraph from Falmouth to Bombay was opened
on Thursday, and a distinguished company met at the house of the chairman, Mr. Fender, to celebrate the event, and amuse themselves with telegrams to everybody. The Prince of Wales sent messages to the Viceroy of India, who, good man ! was in bed, and did not want to be bored with the composition of congratulations, but dutifully composed them ; to the President of the United States, who did not reply ; to the King of Portugal, who sent his thanks ; and to the Khedive, who was quite effusive about his desire for " progress,"—not to say loans. One message, moreover, was sent from Simla to Washington, and got there in 40
minutes, a really noteworthy feat. We want to understand, how- ever, why the telegrams sent on these occasions are so absurd. Cannot the telegraph people, who really compose them, find some- thing sensible for Princes to say, instead of hackneyed rubbish about " drawing the bonds closer " and the victories of science ? Even Lady Mayo, who was present, was made to send to her husband a sentence out of a copy-book :—" In availing myself of the submarine cable I feel the obligation which science imposes upon the world. Not only does it serve political interests, but assists domestic relations in thus enabling me to send you almost instantaneously an affectionate greeting from your wife and family." The next thing to do will be to send a message from oneself in Telegraph Street to oneself in Telegraph Street again, via Mel- bourne, and receive it in the instant of despatch. That will be done yet, and until it is done, we may as well leave off recording first messages by new cables.
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