History of the Atlantic Cable & Undersea Communications
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The Telegraph Jubilee - August 1858

People were wide awake at an early hour, and THE TRIBUNE was in demand yesterday morning. Our extra of the previous night had sharpened public curiosity, and the morning edition went off like dew before the sun.

During the forenoon but very little business was done, everybody being engaged in conversation and congratulations, and in preparations for the evening. Flags, British and American, were exhibited from all public buildings, and in some instances, a cosmopolitan spirit evoked the colors of many other nations.

THE SALUTES.

At sunrise a salvo of 100 guns was fired in the Park, and a salute of 33 guns was fired on the Battery.

At noon a detachment of the Scott Life Guard, under the command of Lieutenant Wm. H. Brown, fired another 100 guns in the Park; and another detachment of the Guard under the command of Lieutenant J.D. Mcgregor, fired 100 guns on the Battery.

The artilleries in both cases were in full uniform, except cartridge boxes, and their lively handling of the guns showed they had not forgotten the lessons they had learned on the battle-fields of Mexico.

THE BELL-RINGING.

As soon as the hour of noon had been struck, many of the church bells in the city commenced to peal. Trinity Church led off, when Mr. Ayliffe, the bell-ringer, repeated his programme of Monday night, with variations and additions.

Trinity Chapel, up town, with its fine peal, attracted much attention. The bell-ringers of Dr. Phillipe’s Church (in Fifth avenue), St. Paul’s Church, St. John’s Chapel, the Church of the Holy Communion (in Twentieth street), the Dutch Reformed Church in Fifth avenue, and many others distinguished themselves by the hearty manner in which they rang out welcome to the Queen’s Message and the President’s reply.

At the same moment, all the factory bells of the city joined in the general chorus, and the steam-whistles, which usually announce the hour for the mid-day lunch of laboring men, shrieked more loudly than ever, and for many minutes swelled the din commenced by the bells. On the steamboats, at the foundries—up town, down town—everywhere steam lent its aid to celebrate the triumph of electricity.

These noisy demonstrations continued about an hour.

PROCESSION FROM CENTRAL PARK.

The workmen upon the Central Park, and the work. men on the new Croton Reservoir, made a novel parade, and after marching through the principal streets, were reviewed by Mayor Tiemann, in front of the City Hall.

The procession was headed by a squad of the Central Park Police, in full uniform; then came a full brass band, and a standard bearer with a white muslin banner, on which was inscribed

The workmen, attired in their every-day clothes, with evergreens in their hats, next marched in squads of four, each gang carrying a banner with the name of their boss-workman inscribed thereon. In the line of the procession were several four-horse teams drawing wagons in which were the workmen in the engineers’ department. On the sides of the vehicles were muslin banners, with the words:

The Reservoir workmen were a hardy-looking set of men, and were fair specimens of the laborers of Now. York.

The procession filled Broadway from Union square to the Park, and as it was altogether unexpected, it created no little excitement and inquiry. If all the men and teams in this turn-out are kept at the city’s work, we shall soon see great improvement in the new Park.

Upon the arrival of the procession at the Park, Mr. Andrew H. Green, President of the Central Park Commissioners, addressed the men as follows:

Fellow-citizens and fellow-workmen of the Central Park: This procession of laboring men of the city, turning spontaneously from their daily work into line of three miles long, with plows, drays, spades, and all the insignia of labor, adds a most significant feature to the celebration of this most wonderful achievement of time. While bankers, and brokers, and shipowners, and manufacturers are all fathoming the influence of this event upon their peculiar vocations, the intelligence of the laboring man is not behind in discovering its bearings upon his interests and the interests of labor throughout the world. Movement, activity, transportation by rail and by ship, by land and by sea, are the life of this great market place of the West and of the East. All inventions facilitating the exchange of material products and articles, and the interchange of thought, must enhance the greatness of this metropolis; and it is not singular that you who are engaged in a work that is to add beauty to its greatness should  sympathize in an event that so deeply concerns its advancement. Whatever tends to equalize the prices of commodities operates to arrest those sudden periodical shocks that paralyze trade and manufactures, and bear so heavily upon labor. This the ocean telegraph must do, and I find a chief gratification in a faith that points out to me this result. While officials speak of this event in the language of State, this demonstration of labor shows that the great heart of the people beats with an enthusiasm, worthy of the day and of the wonder of ages. It cannot be that this new avenue of thought, that brings the civilized people of the earth within an hour of each other, will ever fail to subserve the big best interests of humanity.

Mr. Green then introduced Mayor Tiemann, who made a brief and appropriate speech.

After the address of the Mayor, Mr. Green alluded in terms of encomium to the message of the President of the United States, and at the suggestion of Mr. Olmsted, the Architect-in-Chief of the Park, said that a message would at the earliest moment be forwarded from the workmen of the Central Park to the workers of the parks of London, Paris, Berlin, Vienna and other large cities of Europe.

The procession was composed of 1,100 laborers and 800 carts from the Central Park, under the marshalship of Messrs. Olmsted, Miller, Waring and Grant, and 700 laborers and carts from the new reservoir, under the marshalship of Mr. Walker, forming a procession over three miles in length.

MAYOR TIEMANN’S MESSAGE TO LONDON

The following Message to the Lord Mayor of London has been forwarded:

Mayor’s Office, New-York, Aug. 17, 1858.
To the Right Hon. Sir Robt. WALTER CARDEN, M.C,
Lord Mayor, London.

I congratulate your Lordship upon the succeed laying of the Atlantic Cable uniting the Continents of Europe and America, and the Cities of London and New-York—the work of Great Britain and the United States; the triumph of science and energy over time and space.

Thus uniting more closely the bonds of peace and commercial prosperity, and introducing an era in the world’s history, pregnant with results beyond the conception of a finite mind.

To God be all praise!

Daniel F. TIEMANN,
Mayor of New-York City.

THE MAYOR OF MONTREAL TO MAYOR TIEMANN.
MONTREAL, Aug. 17, 1858.

For the Mayor of New York:

Will your worship be pleased to inform me if it is intended to fix upon a day, and what day, for observing the success of the Atlantic Cable in the States. My object is to have our celebration in Canada coincide with yours.

C.S. Rodier, Mayor.

MAYOR TIEMANN TO THE MAYOR OF MONTREAL.

NEW-YORK, Aug. 17, 1858.
To the Hon. C.S. RODIER, the Mayor of Montreal:

This city will celebrate the event, but the day not yet been fixed. We propose that London shall fix the day for the general festivities, and that if possible all the cities of both hemispheres shall unite in its celebration.

You will of course receive seasonable notion

DANIEL F. TIEMANN, Mayor of New York

MAYOR OF ALBANY TO MAYOR TIEMANN

ALBANY, Aug 17, 1858.
To Mayor Tiemann, New-York City.

When decided upon, please inform me by telegraph what day the general festivities will take place.

ELI PERRY, Mayor.

Mayor Tiemann sent a reply to Mayor Perry similar to that which he had returned to the Mayor of Montreal.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE CELEBRATION.

The Committee held their sixth meeting yesterday morning.

A delegation from the Hoboken Common Council was introduced, and stated that it was the desire of Hoboken to join with New-York in celebrating this event, and they desired to know the particulars, that they might cooperate.

A communication was received from the St. Georges and St. Andrew’s Societies, stating their wish to join in the celebration. It was referred to the Committee of Arrangements.

A communication to the same effect was received from the American Geographical and Statistical Society, which was referred to the Committee of Arrangements.

The Secretary was requested to obtain the name of all the officers of the forts surrounding New-York, and it was recommended that the Navy-Yard be requested to furnish us with decoration bunting.

Ordered, that Center Market be illuminated on Centre, Grand and Broome streets, or not at all.

The Committee then adjourned till to-day.

A RELIGIOUS MESSAGE.

At the Fulton street prayer-meeting, the Rev. Dr. DeWitt, the Rev. Dr. Marsh, Mr. Edward Corning, A.R. Wetmore, esq., and the Rev. Mr. Lamphier, were appointed a Committee to prepare and send by the Ocean Telegraph, at the earliest possible period, a Christian salutation to the leading London prayer-meeting.

HOBOKEN IN NEW-YORK.

A long yellow omnibus, crowded with men, and drawn by four horses decorated with flags, passed through Nassau street about 7 p.m, When in front of THE TRIBUNE office the occupants gave three hearty cheers, which were repeated in front of The Times building. Around the top of the vehicle was a large banner, with “Hoboken” inscribed on it.

THE DECORATIONS ALONG BROADWAY.

At the Astor House, every window on the three fronts was brilliantly illuminated. Along the top of building there was a large transparency, having upon it the words,

Below were two other transparencies, with the following quotations from Scripture:

Over the door was another transparency, displaying conspicuously the names of

while fireworks were discharged from the fronts on Broadway and Vesey street. At 5 o’clock a salvo of a hundred guns was fired from the top of the building.

J.N. Gezin’s Bazaar, No. 214 Broadway, also his private residence, corner of Seventh avenue and Fourteenth street, were brilliantly illuminated.

The Office of the Great Western Railroad and Michigan Central Railroad, corner of Broadway and Courtlandt street, was finely illuminated and decorated with national flags; also a large banner with the following motto:

The American Museum was likewise illuminated with gas, and bountifully decorated with bunting.

Gardner’s Hotel, corner of Broadway and Park place, illuminated on both sides.

Delmonico’s Hotel, corner of Broadway and Chambers street, was very brilliantly illuminated on both fronts, and presented a fine appearance.

Bowen & McNamees’s splendid marble store, corner of Broadway and Pearl street, was brilliantly illuminated with gas and candles, and in the windows the following mottoes:

The International Hotel (Taylor’s Saloon), corner of Broadway and Franklin street, was brilliantly illuminated on both streets, and on the Broadway front there was a very large transparency (18 by 31), designed by a Mr. Rowe, as follows:

The center was a white ground and fancy letters, and the border blue with white letters. It made considerable show and attracted much attention.

Brady’s photographic gallery had a transparency 48 by 28 feet, having upon it two female figures representing England and America shaking hands, and above them the portraits of Field, Franklin and Morse. The two females stood on a bridge, representing the bridging of the ocean by the telegraph, and beneath is Neptune in chariots. At the left corner was the letter V, and at the right the letter B, initials of the names of the Queen and President, each on an electric star.

L M. Singer & Co.’s Sewing Machine office, a handsome four-story marble structure at the corner of Grand street and Broadway, was lighted from top to bottom.

The St. Nicholas Hotel lit up every room with gas as brilliantly as possible, but the proprietors did not attempt anything further through fear of vitiating their insurance policy.

The Prescott House or Hotel Diez, corner of Broadway and Spring street, was brilliantly illuminated as far as their gas arrangements would permit.

The Metropolitan Hotel presented a magnificent appearance, every window of the house being as brilliantly illuminated as gas and sperm candles could accomplish that object. In front of the hotel there was a transparency with the following inscription:

In addition to a display of fireworks, the balcony was illuminated by a calcium light, and the walls were profusely decorated with flags of all nations.

In front of the photographic establishment of Mr. Fredricks, Nos. 585 and 587 Broadway, there was transparency, having upon it:

And beneath, a representation of a coil of telegraph cable, and in the center of it a daguerreotype apparatus. Every window in the building was brilliantly illuminated.

C.C. Leigh’s china and glass warerooms, Nos. 561 and 563 Broadway, presented a brilliant display,

The headquarters of the Police Department, corner of Broome and Elm streets, was illuminated throughout, and made quite a show.

All the engine-houses in the city were likewise brilliantly illuminated.

Boardman & Gray’s piano-forte warerooms, southwest corner of Broadway and Broome street, were finely illuminated on every floor.

The Cooper House, corner of Broadway and Worth street, was also illuminated on each story.

The Everett House, in Union Square, presented a splendid appearance. In addition to the gas, upward of a thousand candles were lighted. The house was decorated with national flags and streamers, and a large fire balloon, having upon it the words ‘Everett House,’ was sent up by the proprietors.

The Clarendon made the best display possible with gas. The Union-place Hotel pursued the same course,

In consequence of the St. Dennis Hotel undergoing repairs, display was postponed until the general festivities take place.

The Blancard House, No. 825 Broadway, and Twelfth street, was very brilliantly illuminated, both fronts.

Moffat’s Building, corner of Broadway and Worth street, was a perfect blaze of light, every window on both fronts being illuminated. The Third-avenue Railroad Depot had 600 lights burning, and being the only illuminated building in that neighborhood made a fine display. The balcony was also decorated with flags, &c. The private dwelling, No. 36 Tenth street, was brilliantly illuminated, and in one of the windows there was a miniature telegraphic instrument and cable in operation which attracted considerable attention.

In the window of the bookstore of Anson Randolph, at the corner of Amity street and Broadway, was displayed the following:

The Everett House was fully illuminated, showing some 500 lights on Sixteenth street, and nearly as many more on Fourth avenue...

THE CELEBRATION AT THE VARIOUS PLACES OF AMUSEMENT.

The almost universal observance of the request to celebrate the arrival of the Queen’s message over the Atlantic Cable brought immense numbers of people into the streets, and of course injured the business of the several houses of amusement in a great degree. When people could get such a glorious entertainment out of doors, with nothing to pay for it, it was not to be expected that many of them should pay any of their money for in-door amusements. So nearly all the theaters and concert-rooms had meager audiences, although some of them filled up considerably after 9 or 9½  o’clock, when the people had seen the illumination, cheered the fireworks, and watched the bonfires flicker away in smoke and ashes, and began to get tired and want a comfortable place to sit down.

THE ACADEMY OF MUSIC.

This house was neither illuminated, decorated in any manner, nor in any way disturbed from its gloomy propriety.

LAURA KEENE’S THEATER.

There being no company at present playing at this house, there was no attempt to light it up, or make any display of banners, fireworks, or other appropriate means of adding to the general glorification. The Laura Keene Hotel, immediately over and adjoining the theater, was not illuminated

BURTON’S THEATER.

This house, being also closed until the regular winter season shall begin, was not lighted up. The Lafarge Hotel, within which the theater is situated, was not illuminated. The proprietors of this hotel, however, have a number of appropriate banners and mottoes prepared, and on the occasion of the great demonstration that is anticipated at the time of the national celebration in England propose to light their house from the basement to the garret.

NIBLO’S GARDEN.

The front of this theater was illuminated, and the doorway was draped with the British and American flags in a most tasteful manner. This doorway was one of the most prominent and generally admired objects in Broadway. The audience was not large.

WOOD’S MINSTREL HALL.

This fine building was illuminated all along the whole front. No banners or mottoes were displayed. The audience was scanty.

WALLACK’S THEATER.

The whole Broadway part of this house was brilliantly lighted up, and presented a fine appearance.

No mottoes were here displayed. There WBS a respectably large audience in attendance.

BRYANT’S MINSTRELS.

This house was the only crowded place of amusement in the whole city. It was not decorated in any unusual manner.

NATIONAL THEATER.

This theater was brilliantly illuminated, and along the front, just above the balcony, hung a huge transparency, with these words:

The audience was slim.

BOWERY THEATER.

The whole front of this building was lighted up, and decorated in a very tasteful manner with flags and streamers. No foreign flags of any nation were displayed. The audience here was below the average in number.

UNENUMERATED INSTANCES.

Beside the above, there were hundreds of little noteworthy efforts in other streets; but the recording of them would require more of our space than we can spare.

THE ILLUMINATION.

At a few minutes past 8 the City Hall, Police Headquarters, Station-Houses and Engine houses were illuminated. The principal hotels, THE TRIBUNE buildings, the Theaters, the Restaurants, and a goodly number of private establishments followed at once, and for an hour the vicinity of the Park, Broadway, the Bowery and a few other streets, presented a magnificent appearance. The illumination extended even to private residences, not a few of which were tastefully displayed.

The mottoes and inscriptions most worthy of note are presented in another part of this article.

THE FIREWORKS.

Only at the City Hall were fireworks for the public shown. There a fine display was made of rockets, Roman candles, mines of colored fires and set pieces. This exhibition was very fine, the pieces being fresh and working well.

The three chief pieces were:

1. Letters of fire— “New-York, Newfoundland and London Telegraph Co. Prof. Morse, President.”

2. Letters of fire— “Atlantic Telegraph. Alex. Brown, Pres’t.”

3. Representation of the Niagara and the Agamemnon laying the cable, with an inscription making honorable mention of Cyrus W. Field.

The exhibition was over at 9 o’clock. The crowd of people in and around the Park exceeded anything we have seen at night in the city. The best of feeling seemed to prevail.

BROOKLYN.

ACTION OF THE BROOKLYN COMMON COUNCIL.

A special meeting of the Common Council was held yesterday afternoon; Ald. Kalbfleisch, the President, in the chair.

After organizing, the Clerk read the following call of the meeting:

‘The undersigned, members of the Brooklyn Common Council, respectfully call a special meeting of the Board, to be held on Tuesday, August 17, 1858, at 3 pm., in conformity with title 2. sec. 12, to take necessary action for a celebration of the completion of the Atlantic Telegraph, which is now the great event of the age, and we truly feel that Brooklyn, as the home of Capt. Hudson of the Niagara, who has played so great a part in its successful completion, and also to his associates, that we should give him a hearty demonstration of our approval, and our records bear ample testimony of our appreciation.

J.L. DOUGLASS,
DANL. D. WHITNEY,
ROBERT FURLEY,
Members of the Board.
August 14, 1858.

Ald. Wilson thereupon moved that a Committee of five be appointed to draft suitable resolutions, which was carried.

The President appointed Aldermen Wilson, Pierson, Douglass, Greene and Franks as said Committee.

The Board then took a recess, and on reassembling the Committee reported the following preamble and resolutions:

Whereas, The actual reception on this continent of the kindly greeting of the Queen of Great Britain to the President of the United States has demonstrated the absolute success of the great experiment of establishing electric telegraphic communications between the old and new worlds—a triumph of human science and skill second in magnitude of the consequences beneficial to mankind and civilization anticipated to result from it, to none of the great inventions and discoveries which mark the nineteenth century as pre-eminently the golden era in the history of human civilization; therefore,

Resolved, That this Common Council hold it incumbent on them in behalf of their constituents, so far as they have the power, to unite in the expression of popular joy, exultation and gratitude to Divine Providence, which at this moment is rising throughout this land at this great event.

Resolved, That the Common Council, without intending invidiously to discriminate as to the degree of merit to be awarded to the individuals to whose labors this great achievement is due, feel it peculiarly to be their province as the representatives of the City of Brooklyn to extend to Capt. Hudson of the steam frigate Niagara, their fellow-townsman, their warmest congratulations at the success which has attended his exertions in the laying of the great cable, and their heartiest welcome on his return home.

Resolved, That a Committee of five be appointed to make arrangements to celebrate the event, and that they be directed to tender to Capt. Hudson and Cyrus. W. Field the hospitality of the city, and that the Governor’s Room be appropriated to their use.

Resolved, That the citizens be requested to join with the above Committee in the proposed celebration.

Resolved, That the City Hall be illuminated, the bells of the city and churches be rung, and two salutes fired of 100 guns each, one in each section of the city, at an expense not to exceed $250.

The last resolution was amended so as to make the expense $500 instead of $250, and as amended the resolutions were adopted.

The following is the Committee of arrangements appointed by the Chair: Aldermen Douglass, McNamee, McDonald, Backhouse and Mauzer.

The Board then adjourned.

Subsequently the Committee held a meeting, and decided to celebrate the event this evening (Wednesday, August 17.)

The City Hall, in the Western District, and the Old City Hall, in the Eastern District, will be illuminated.

Col. Samuel Graham of the 70th Regiment, will fire a salute of one hundred guns from Fort Green, (Washington Park,) in the Western District, and one hundred guns from Wheat Hill, on Bedford avenue, in the Eastern District.

Col. Graham proposed to fire three salutes free of expense, and the Common Council tendered him a vote of thanks therefore.

Fireworks are to be displayed from the Brooklyn City Hall and from the old Williamsburgh City Hall.

Bands of music will be in attendance at both places.

In connection with the above the stores and many of the residences along the principal streets will also be illuminated, and a grand time generally is anticipated.

RECEPTION OF CAPTAIN HUDSON.

Arrangements have been perfected by the proprietor and boarders of the Mansion House, in Hicks street, (Capt. Hudson’s residence, when at home), to give him a proper reception on his arrival. The house will be illuminated in the evening, and transparencies bearing appropriate inscriptions will be displayed. Gov. King is expected to be present, and if so, he will be welcomed by ex-Mayor Hall.

JERSEY CITY.

The event of the success of the Atlantic Telegraph Cable was celebrated yesterday by the firing of a salute of 100 guns at noon by the Hudson County Artillery, Capt. Hexamer.

The steamship Persia, at the Cunard Wharf, was gayly decked off with the flags of all nations.

The Jersey City ferryboats also displayed their flags in honor of the occasion.

In the evening quite a number of stores and dwellings were illuminated.

HOBOKEN.

Between 4 and 5 o’clock yesterday afternoon, Capt. Hexamer’s company fired a salute of 100 guns.

Odd Fellows’ Hall, Otto Cottage, and various other buildings, were illuminated.

ATLANTIC CABLE, NEW-YORK STATE,

POUGHKEEPSIE, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The announcement last evening that the Queen’s Message had passed through New-York to Washington, created a great sensation here. Immediately the bells were rung and cannon fired, bonfires kindled, and rockets and crackers discharged in great profusion, On the receipt of the message itself, notwithstanding some doubts of its genuineness, every one shouted for joy, and the cheers for the Atlantic Telegraph, Morse, and Field, were most enthusiastic. The streets were crowded and the rush for the telegraph office by citizens and parties from the surrounding country, who would believe nothing till they had heard it direct from the operator, was so great, that he was obliged to close the doors and display the Queen’s message in the show window, where it could speak for itself. Great preparations are being made for a grand celebration this evening. At eight o’clock a salute of one hundred guns will be fired and all the bells in the city rung. All the public buildings, the principal hotels and most of the stores and private residences in the city and suburbs will be illuminated. The-Military and the Fire Departments will be out in full force, and the procession will proceed to the residence of Professor Morse, two miles below the city. His grounds and house will be illuminated by Chinese lamps, &c. Tomorrow night a public meeting will be held here, at which Benson J. Lossing, esq., will read a historical sketch of the Telegraph, and the Hon. Gilbert Dean and others are expected to speak.

ALBANY, N.Y., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The impromptu celebration held here last night in honor of the successful working of the Ocean Telegraph, was one of the most striking demonstrations ever made in this city. Immediately on the reception of the news the whole aspect of the city underwent a most magical change.

Darkness was dispelled by light; silence gave place to the noise of jubilee; the deserted streets became thronged with countless multitudes; bonfires of pitch and pine sent forth their glare on all the public thoroughfares; rockets and Roman candles shot upward through the darkness above; the cannon of the Buck and Breck Club, and that from the Armory, came forth and were fired in the streets; Company B, Capt. Van Vechten, turned out on grand parade, firing volleys at several points; speeches were made by Mayor Perry, the Secretary of State, Mr. George Dawson, and others, and the celebration was kept up unflaggingly through the entire night.

SCHENECTADY, Tuesday, August 17, p.m.

The citizens of Schenectady were jubilant last night upon the receipt of the news of the successful working of the Atlantic Telegraph, and to-night will be a general illumination and rejoicing, according to the request of the Mayor in a proclamation published to-day.

KINGSTON, N.Y., Tuesday, August 17, 1858.

Bells are ringing and 100 guns are firing; the houses will be illuminated, and a procession parading the streets.

RONDOUT, N.Y., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The Queen’s message was received here at 9 o’clock last evening. One hundred guns were fired, bonfires were lighted, rockets streamed through the air, while a torchlight procession was marching through the streets, and the bells were ringing a merry peal, all of our citizens evincing the most unbounded enthusiasm and demonstrations of joy. To-night a grand illumination will take place. Soldiers, citizens and firemen will turn out en masse to celebrate in becoming manner the great event of the age.

FULTON, N.Y., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The people here are in the wildest state of enthusiasm, owing to the reception of the Queen’s message.

A serious accident has just occurred from the premature discharge of a cannon, by which three men were seriously if not fatally injured.

PORTCHESTER, N. Y., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The bells were all rung for one hour on the reception of the news that the Queen’s Message had been received, and flags are flying from all sloops in the harbor, and all the public buildings.

ROME, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

Rome is now celebrating the consummation of the telegraphic union of Europe and America. The greatest enthusiasm prevails. Bells are ringing, cannon roaring, bands playing, illuminations blazing, and everybody rejoicing. The fire brigade are parading in torchlight procession. One hundred guns were fired at 7 p.m., during which one of the gunners lost a hand by the premature discharge of a piece.

PALATINE BRIDGE, N.Y., Aug. 17, 1858.

The success of the Ocean Telegraph was celebrated here this evening by the firing of salutes and ringing of bells. The Depot of the New-York Central Railroad was brilliantly illuminated, and the people, young and old, turned out en masse, running over with enthusiasm..

OWEGO, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The event of the age has been enthusiastically celebrated here to-day. The bells merrily rang out the announcement of the Queen’s and President’s dispatches at 12 m., and this p.m. and evening have witnessed the extreme joy manifested in processions, cannon-firing, bonfires, fireworks, speeches and cheers.

PORT JERVIS, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

We have celebrated the glorious achievement of the laying of the Atlantic cable at this place, by the firing of guns, torch-light procession, general illumination, &c. Orations by the Hon. W.E. McCormack, the Rev. Mr. Grinnell, the Hon. S.F. Headley, the Rev. Mr. Miles and others. Mottoes of various descriptions conspicuously displayed.

The citizens of our village and those of the surrounding country have participated warmly in this glorious achievement.

OSWEGO, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

Great enthusiasm prevails here to-day in commemorating the laying and working of the Atlantic cable. On receipt of the Queen’s and President’s messages, cannons were fired and bells rung, after which the military came out and paraded through the principal streets, headed by bands of music. American and British flags are floating together triumphantly from the shipping in the harbor and from public and private buildings. This evening the firemen are out with torchlights, and public buildings, stores and private residences generally are illuminated, among which are the telegraph offices, the Custom-House, the City Hall, and Commercial Times building. The festivities of the day will close with fireworks and bonfires. It is one of the most joyous days ever seen in Oswego. While a salute was being fired this forenoon, Lamorite L. Thorp, one of the gun squad, had his right arm blown off by a premature discharge.

SCHENECTADY, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The city is in a blaze of light. Every window is illuminated, the bells are ringing merry peals, guns are firing, and the 26th Regiment flagstaff, one hundred and forty feet high, is strung with colored lights, all in honor of the successful working of the Atlantic Cable.

SYRACUSE, Tuesday, August 17, 1858.

The celebration this evening exceeds in magnificence anything that has ever been witnessed here before. The telegraph, railroad, and printing offices, hotels, stores, and all the public buildings and a large number of private residences are gorgeously illuminated. The bells are ringing, bonfires are blazing, and fireworks lighting up the city in every direction. A national salute has been fired, and the military, accompanied by a band of music, are passing the telegraph office, newspaper establishments, hotels, and residences of the principal citizens. The most novel feature of this splendid ovation is the array of fifteen huge locomotives of the Central Railroad with their bells ringing, and blazing lamps, ranged on the track in the heart of the city, all gaily decorated, and at intervals making the very welkin ring with the shrill scream of their brazen whistles. The streets are crowded with a dense mass of enthusiastic citizens, every one almost wild with excitement.

TROY, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The reception of the Queen’s message entire this noon caused the greatest excitement. This evening the bells are ringing, bonfires burning in various parts of the city, guns firing, fireworks displayed, &c.

NEW-JERSEY

TRENTON, N.J., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

A large and enthusiastic meeting of the firemen and citizens of Trenton met at the City Hall at 10 o’clock this morning and appointed several Committees to make arrangements for a grand torchlight procession, bonfires and so forth. His Honor the Mayor being called to the chair, made a very appropriate speech, at the conclusion of which tremendous cheers were given for the successful completion of the Atlantic Telegraph,

NEWARK, N.J., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The news of the receipt of the Queen’s Message was received here with extravagant demonstrations of joy—bonfires, illuminations, firing of guns, ringing of bells, and a parade of firemen, The Junior Bachelors’ Club proceeded in a body with the message to the Mayor’s house, and read it to him, and elicited a speech from him,

TRENTON, N.J., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1853.

Our city is brilliantly illuminated this evening in honor of the Atlantic Telegraph. A splendid torchlight procession is now moving, a large number of firemen being in the line, cheering lustily.

NEW-ENGLAND,

BOSTON, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The reception of the Queen’s message establishing the fact of the successful operation of the Atlantic Telegraph caused demonstrations of joy throughout Now-England

At West Lebanon, N.H., Capt. Joseph Woods, a veteran of the Revolution, aged 99 years, rang the church bells with a vigorous arm. England and America he saw divided in his youth, but now united forever.

At Windsor, Vt. the schools were dismissed, the church bells rang, cannon fired, flags displayed, and a general jubilee held, such as the town has seldom if ever before witnessed.

At Great Falls N.H., the event was joyously celebrated.

At Newburyport, Mass., the city authorities initiated a general celebration, by the salutes of canon and ringing of bells. Many buildings were illuminated in the evening.

Reports from other localities are similar to the above.

BOSTON, Tuesday, Aug. 17—9 p.m.

The telegraphic celebration in this city to-night is only equaled by our Fourth of July demonstrations. Thousands of citizens crowd the streets. Among the most conspicuous buildings illuminated, are the City Hall, the Public Library, The Journal and Transcript newspaper offices, and the Parker House. The Common presents a magnificent appearance, being illuminated by thousands of colored lanterns attached to the forest of trees.

The Second Regiment of Infantry is being reviewed on the Common, while several bands of music engaged for the occasion, enliven the scene with the National airs of America and England.

The statue of Franklin in front of the City Hall is wreathed with flowers, and his name made conspicuous in letters of gas light from the facade of the building. Rockets are flying in all directions. Though hastily got up the demonstration is grand and worthy of the occasion.

In Charleston, Chelsea, Cambridge, Roxbury and other cities and towns adjoining, the event was also appropriately celebrated to-night.

There has been a general jubilee.

A salute of one hundred guns was fired and all city bells rung one hour to-day in commemoration of the Atlantic Cable. The event was observed in numerous cities and towns in the State by firing cannon, ringing belle, etc.

PROVIDENCE, R: I., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

A salute of 100 guns was fired at noon to-day in honor of the Atlantic Cable. The bells were rung and flags were displayed from the public flagstaffs and across the streets. In the evening there were fireworks, bonfires, and illuminations, and a parade of the Light Infantry.

CONCORD, N.H., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

At noon today all the bells of the city were rung and one hundred guns fired. To-night there were speeches, fireworks and other appropriate rejoicings.

CALAIS, Me., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The Queen’s message created great enthusiasm in this place, which was participated in by the inhabitants on both sides of the River. Alternate salutes of 100 guns were fired from both the English and American sides of the River. To-night bonfires blaze, bells are ringing, the band playing national airs, illuminations have been made by various citizens, and the festivities close with a grand ball and supper.

BRIDGEPORT, Conn., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The announcement that the Queen’s message had passed over the line, was received here with great enthusiasm. Immediately, all the bells in the city were rung, bonfires kindled, and rockets sent up in great profusion. On the reception of the message itself this morning, the excitement was intense. Bells were rung during the day, and cannon fired. Bonfires were kindled at every corner this evening, St. John’s Church, the American Telegraph office, and the numerous private residences, were brilliantly illuminated. A salute of 100 guns is now being fired,

STAMFORD, Conn, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

On the reception of the Queen’s message the bells of all the public buildings were rung for one hour, A grand celebration is to take place in a day or two.

WORCESTER, Mass., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

All the bells in the city were rung at sunrise this morning in honor of the successful working of the Atlantic Cable, which has created intense feeling here. At noon a national salute was fired, and bells rung for an hour.

HALIFAX, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

As soon as it was intimated yesterday afternoon that the Queen’s Message to the President had passed through Nova Scotia, royal salutes were fired from the Citadel and flag-ships. Flags were displayed in all parts of the city. To-day, the greatest enthusiasm prevailed, and every available piece of bunting is flying in all the provincial towns. The announcement of the Queen’s message and President’s reply was received with bursts of intense joy. Public meetings have been held, and preparations are making to celebrate the event.

MARYLAND,

BALTIMORE, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The streets present quite a holiday appearance. Flags are displayed from all the public buildings and shipping. A salute of two hundred guns is now being fired, and the bells of Christ Church and all the other bells in the city are ringing a merry peal. The enthusiasm is very great.

THE WEST.

DETROIT, Mich., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The Queen’s message was received here last night with the utmost enthusiasm, the city bells were rung simultaneously, and the whole population called out by bonfires and fireworks and the lighted-up city, while the streets literally were thronged with citizens, anxious to learn the tidings, to celebrate the event and hear impromptu speeches. To-night a great display of fireworks and a general illumination will take place, a salute of 100 guns will be fired, and a great torch-light procession move through the principal streets. The utmost enthusiasm prevails through the State.

CLEVELAND, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The city is beautifully illuminated to-night, and the utmost enthusiasm everywhere prevails at the success of the Ocean Telegraph. Bells ringing, salutes firing, flags flying, etc.

CHICAGO, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

Although the preparations for celebrating the reception of the Queen’s Message were not perfected, yet immediately on the announcement of its receipt the excitement broke out, and continued nearly all night. At 10 o’clock 100 guns were fired, the bells rung for one hour, rockets were sent up and bonfires blazed on all sides, and in every street in the city. A grand celebration comes off this evening in honor of the event under the direction of a Joint Committee of the Common Council and Board of Trade.

PENNSYLVANIA.

PITTSBURGH, Penn., Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

The Mayor has called a meeting of citizens at the Merchants’ Exchange to-morrow, to make arrangements for a grand demonstration in honor of the Atlantic Telegraph, including a general illumination, and 100 guns, &c., on Thursday.

PHILADELPHIA, Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1858.

Early this morning a salute of one hundred guns was fired from the Navy Yard, to celebrate the reception of the Queen’s message over the Atlantic Telegraph, A similar salute was also fired from the corner of Broad and Washington streets, when at the last round the cannon prematurely discharged, shattering the arms of two of the artillerymen, The public buildings, the hotels, the newspaper-offices, the shipping and many stores are handsomely decorated with the English and American flags. All the church and fire bells in the city will be rung from 6 to 8 o’clock this evening.

The American Telegraph Building is brilliantly illuminated this evening, and the motto displayed, ‘The Atlantic Cable—Field’s improvement on Franklin’s kite-string.’ The rain prevented a display of fireworks.

From The Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, 17th.

The news of the reception of Victoria’s message having been generally circulated last night, many of our citizens were prepared for a jubilant and universal ringing of bells on churches, engine and hose houses, public buildings, and even on the hose-carriages themselves this morning. The ringing began at 7 o’clock precisely, and filled the air with joyous melody for one hour, The chimes of St. Peter’s and St. Stephen’s rang out most grandly.

Among the engine and hose companies which made an especial joyous noise were the Marion, Vigilant, Good Intent, United States, Northern Liberty, Good Will and Fairmont.

At Broad and Prime streets, at 7 o’clock, a salute was fired by the National Artillery, under direction of Col. J.K. Murphy, and also, at the same time a salute of one hundred guns was given from the receiving ship Princeton off the Navy Yards

The streets were soon alive with people, and animation prevailed in all parts of the city. The messages were discussed in all amplitude by crowds in front of the engine houses, at all the corners, and wherever a knot of citizens gathered. Morning papers were at a premium, and were eagerly read, even by those who know all that they contained about the great event.

The flags at the newspaper offices floated in the breeze at an early hour, and as the day advanced, Chestnut street bore the red, white and blue in company with the flag of England from many roofs and walls.

In Third street, above Chestnut, a very conspicuous flag bears the coat of arms of Pennsylvania on a light ground, with the motto “England and America united.”

At the corner of Fifth and Chestnut streets the British and American flags were suspended between the Board of Trade rooms and the Mayor’s office.

The granite stores on the north side of Chestnut street, below Eighth, occupied by Messrs. Horstman and others, were gayly adorned with bunting from roof to pavement, while the store of Messrs. T.W. Evans & Co., Nos. 818 and 820 Chestnut street, was decorated with very great taste, as follows: From the cornice depended the American and British flags, while across the balcony in front of the second story a transparency was placed with this inscription:

Flags hung from the different windows, while on white transparencies appeared the names of the different inventions characteristic of the age, namely, Steamship, Cotton Gin, Power Loom, Sewing Machine, Railway, &c.

The office of the American Telegraph Company looks very gay. A multitude of flags depend from the awning and windows, and a sign was placed in the window at 1 o’clock this afternoon, bearing upon it in large letters:

EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH OFFICE

The holiday signs all over town speak loudly of the reception of the news of the great success.

CAUSE OF THE DELAY.

The Boston Advertiser has private intelligence from Trinity Bay, asserting that the delay in sending messages across the Atlantic is owing to two causes. It appears that in the passage of one electrical signal across the ocean—not only is an appreciable time consumed, but the signal itself changes, in a degree, its original character. It is, so to speak, stretched out. A signal which, on a short line, would seem perfectly sharp and prompt, takes the form of a long wave, and requires from six to ten seconds to declare itself between the beginning of its effect and its end. Between what such a signal would be at the end of a short wire, and what it is at the end of the Atlantic wires, there is somewhat the same difference as between the shortest (staccato) blast of a whistle, and a note drawn out with the swell of an organ, to the length of six or even ten seconds. A distinct feature to be observed is the swell of the prolonged signal. It has most force in the middle of its period, and gains and loses that force gradually. The ordinary instruments in use for telegraphing are not adapted to such peculiarities in the electric signals, and therefore material alterations will have to be made. Hence the delay.

TELEGRAPHIC EXPERIMENTS.

A short time since experiments were made from this city, upon long telegraphic circuits, with the Hughes Telegraph Machine, which were of a highly successful character. The lines from Boston to Bangor, thence back to Portland, over the Grand Trunk route to Montreal, and thence, by way of Buffalo and Rochester, to New York City, were all connected, and messages sent through without any difficulty and with no apparent difference in time of sending and receiving, the distance being over a thousand miles. Other experiments have been made, within a few months, between here and St. John’s, N.F., of a like favorable character.
[Boston Journal.]

The following prophetic lyric was written two years ago by WILLIAM ROSS WALLACE of this city, and printed in The Journal of Commerce:

SONG OF THE SUBMARINE TELEGRAPH BETWEEN AMERICA AND EUROPE.
BY WILLIAM ROSS WALLACE,

I.
I shall stretch, I shall stretch from a world to a world,
As electrical light from each star to each star—
Making luminous harmony, deathless as Time,
In the great orbs that people the Heavens afar.
O, how man will exult when the Flame-Spirit flies
O’er my frame by the deep ocean-billow enshrined
While he feels only less than the God of those spheres,
As the thunder itself crouches down to his mind.

II.
Ay, the storm fiend may stamp on the halls of the sea,
And the leven-bolt cleave for the vessel a grave,
And the king of the hurricane shout as he lifts
To a far thirsty firmament draughts of the wave—
But I’ll laugh as I hear all the battle above,
Still as calm as a lord of the wave in my lair,
Where the sea’s softest pulses alone can be felt,
Keeping time to my own like a destiny there.

III.
What a triumph shall swell through my wonderful frame,
As I feel o’er it flashing the thought of some soul
That is fixed like a sun in its own quiet might
Over nations to hold undisputed control—
Or to bend on the broad realm of science an eye
That shall firmly, but reverent, through her Deep pierce,
Seeing God from the roots of Eternity’s tree
Blossom out in the stars of His vast Universe.

IV.
What a wild, awful horror will glance through my nerve,
As the stories of earth-shaking battle-fields fly
With the names of the conquerors bathing in blood,
And the slaughtered who sleep, and the wounded who die;
But a gladness as sweet as the Bethlehem hymn
Shall be mine when I feel through my sad bosom dart
The one blessed word of “Peace,” and I utter—at last
God is planting His bow on Humanity’s heart.

V.
Would you know other joys that are destined for me?
Then but measure the many-hued souls of your race,
With their hopes and their fears like a mystical tune,
Making discord or melody over all space—
Now bathing the ivy-wreathed tomb with its tears,
Now filling with laughter Life’s roseate bowers,
Now courting each slow-creeping moment by clouds,
Now crowning its fast-fleeting forehead with flowers.

VI.
I shall wait, I shall wait for the lover afar,
Who is severed by pitiless Fate from his own;
How his message shall burn with some beautiful word
Telling yet that he lives for his plighted alone!
What a boundless bright Eden shall glow in a line,
But a single sweet line, for her womanly soul!
And, oh, as I speak it, what innocent joy
Shall irradiate over my glorious goal!

VII.
’Twill be mine, ’twill be mine for the exiles to speak—
The poor exile by tyranny hurled from his home
For some high, noble deed the Elect Ones of Earth
Would inscribe mid the stars in Eternity’s dome.
Yes, by me shall the poor, pallid wanderer tell
To some hearts far away in the land of his birth,
That he lives, still he lives, with the hope of return
To the spot that for him is the dearest on Earth.

VIII.
But you ask, “What the messages through Ocean flashed
Will forever be brightead, sublimest to me,
While the giant companion of Time I shall stretch
On the calm coral path of the deep rolling sea?”
One’s the message that tells of some down-trodden clime
Seeing triumph again on her banners unfurled—
And I know that blest Freedom must yet thunder down
To the dust all the tyrannous thrones of the world:

IX.
And the other’s the message that speaks of a land
That at last sees a dawn on her heathenish night,
And with music from Zion’s own oracle learned,
Marches up to the heavenly mountains of light,
What a worship shall swell its hosannas around!
What a sunburst shall fall on some prophecy old
That till then in the eyes of long centuries lay
With a meaning too vast to be ever unrolled!

X.
Then I’ll stretch, then I’ll stretch from each clime to each clime,
As electrical light from each star to each star—
Making luminous Harmony, deathless as Time,
In the great orbs that people the Heavens afar—
While the hearts of the Continents, raised from despair,
Feel the mad roar of trumpets at battle shall cease,
And the Earth summer on through the Edens of air,
With her broad bosom filled with the roses of Peace!

POSTSCRIPT....WEDNESDAY, 12½ a.m.

Burning of the City Hall.

The City Hall is now on fire, and the cupola is destroyed. The fire is going down, and has got into the Governor’s Room.

The firemen are hard at work, and probably the wings will be comparatively uninjured; but the center of the building will be nearly ruined.

About two hours since, some of the men working on THE TRIBUNE saw a small fire on the roof near the south side of the steeple. They van over and put it out.

Subsequently another fire began on the other aide of the steeple, and it is now raging furiously.

The bell-ringer bad time only to ring one round before he was forced to quit his station, and he is now ringing with a small hammer.

The fire was undoubtedly caused by the illumination, and shows the most criminal carelessness on the part of those who should have been watchful.

The bell at one o’clock rang for the Eighth, Seventh, Sixth and Fifth Districts, to get more help.

At 1½ o’clock a general alarm was sounded, which the bell-ringer was unable to give before, on account of the intensity of the flames.

At the same hour a portion of the Cupola fell with a terrible crash putting those in front of the building to flight. This diminished the height of the flames, and the firemen were better able to reach them.

HALF-PAST TWO.—The upper story is almost entirely destroyed, and the basement is completely flooded with water. The Governor’s room is much injured as is also the offices adjoining.

The rooms of the Aldermen was also much injured by water. The Mayor’s office escaped with slight damage.

The wings of the building escaped injury.

The City Hall was finished in 1811.

Mr. Taylor, the keeper of the Hall, and family were badly frightened, but their household goods were not greatly injured.

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