In 1873 he was appointed by the governor of California one of a commission to examine the code of laws of that state, and to prepare amendments to the same for legislative action.

IV. Cyrus West, an American merchant, brother of the preceding, born at Stockbridge, Mass., Nov. 30, 1819. He was educated in his native town, at the age of 15 became a clerk in New York, and in a few years was at the head of a large and prosperous mercantile house. In 1853 he partially retired from business, and spent six months in travelling in South America. On his return he became deeply interested in the project of a telegraph across the ocean. He was first applied to for aid to complete a land lino, which had been begun in Newfoundland, to cross the island, 400 miles, from Cape Kay to St. John's, from which it was intended to run a line of fast steamers to the west coast of Ireland, and thus bring America within a week of Europe.While studying the subject, and turning over the globe in his library, the idea flashed upon his mind, "Why not carry the line across the ocean?" In this idea was the germ of one of the greatest enterprises of modern times, that of telegraphic communication between the old world and the new. His first step was to obtain legal authority.

For this purpose he went in March, 1854, to St. John's, Newfoundland, and obtained from the legislature of that colony a charter, granting an exclusive right for 50 years to establish a telegraph from the continent of America to Newfoundland, and thence to Europe; and he thereupon associated with himself Peter Cooper, Moses Taylor. Marshall O. Roberts, Chandler White, and Wilson G. Hunt, of New York, under the title of the "New York, Newfoundland, and London Telegraph Company," for the purpose of carrying this design into effect. Mr. Field thenceforth devoted himself almost exclusively to the execution of this project. To build the land line of telegraph across Newfoundland and Cape Breton island took more than two years. While this was in progress he went to England, and ordered a submarine cable, to connect Cape Ray and Cape Breton. This was sent out in 1855, but was lost in a gale in the attempt to lay it across the gulf of St. Lawrence. The attempt was renewed the following year with success. In that year (1856) he went to London,and there organized the "Atlantic Telegraph Company," to carry the line across the ocean, and himself subscribed for one fourth of the whole capital of the company.

By his personal application he procured from the British and American governments aid in ships, and accompanied the expeditions which sailed from England in 1857 and 1858 for the purpose of laying the cable across the Atlantic ocean. Twice the attempt failed-in 1857, and the first time in 1858. The third attempt proved successful, and in August, 1858, telegraphic communication was established across the ocean. The cable, however, worked only a few weeks, and then became silent. To resuscitate the project now became more difficult than ever, as the public had lost faith. From that time it was kept alive only by the ardent faith and indomitable will of its projector. He was continually passing to and fro between America and Europe, inspiring fresh courage and gathering new resources. But obstacles multiplied, civil war broke out in the United States, and the nation, absorbed in its own affairs, had no time for foreign enterprises. Thus seven years passed away before the attempt was renewed. But at last, in 18G5, another expedition was prepared. Submarine telegraphy had been greatly improved; a better cable was constructed; and the Great Eastern took it on board, and sailed to the west. Over 1,200 miles had been laid, when by a sudden lurch of the ship the cable snapped and was lost.

The bottom of the sea was dragged for days in vain, and the expedition returned defeated to England. The year 1866 saw still another expedition, which this time proved successful. The cable, 2,000 miles long, was safely stretched across the ocean, and the communication proved perfect. After landing this the Great Eastern returned to the middle of the ocean in search of the cable lost the year before, and after a month's labor finally succeeded in grappling it at a depth of two miles and bringing it to the surface, and, joining it to the cable on board, carried it safely to the western shore. Thus, after 12 years of incessant labor, in which he had crossed the ocean some 50 times, Mr. Field saw the great object of his life accomplished. Congress voted unanimously to present him a gold medal, with the thanks of the nation; while the prime minister of England declared that it was only the fact that he was a citizen of another country that prevented his receiving high honors from the British government. John Bright pronounced him " the Columbus of modern times, who by his cable had moored the new world alongside the old." The great exposition in Paris in 1867 gave him the grand medal, the highest prize it had to bestow.

Since that year two other cables have been successfully laid, and telegraphic communication across the Atlantic ocean has never been interrupted for a single hour.

V. Henry Martyn, an American clergyman, brother of the preceding, born at Stock-bridge, Mass., April 3, 1822. He graduated at Williams college at the age of 16, and after four years1 study of theology became pastor of a church in St. Louis in 1842. After five years he resigned his charge to go abroad. In 1847-'8 he was in Europe, and after returning he published a historical sketch of the Italian revolutions, and a letter from Rome on The Good and the Bad in the Roman Catholic Church." In January, 1851, he was settled at West Springfield, Mass., whence he removed in 1854 to New York, to become one of the editors of the Evangelist," a religious journal, of which he subsequently became proprietor. In 1858 he again made a tour in Europe, which he described in a volume entitled Summer Pictures from Copenhagen to Venice" (New York, 1859). In 1867 he went abroad again to the great exposition in Paris, and as a delegate to the Free church of Scotland and the Presbyterian church of Ireland. His last book is a "History of the Atlantic Telegraph." He has also published "The Irish Confederates, a History of the Rebellion of 1798 (1851).