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Several experiments have been made in the Bay of Biscay, in paying out the Atlantic telegraph cable. From the accounts published ; these seem to have been unsatisfactory.— The cable parted several times; the machinery in the Agamemnon frigate got out of order, and floating buoys to relieve the cable of strain failed to operate. The tar coating of the cable accumulated on the sheaves of the paying-out machinery, and clogged its operations. This was talked of as a serious obstacle. Had there been a good practical chemist on board he could easily have prevented this. Considerable alteration must be made in the paying-out arrangements before the expedition starts on its grand and final effort.
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