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each of which could be put in seven positions, and each position indicated a word or sentence. The posts were placed from three to five miles apart; but each was visible to the nearest on either side. When the arm of the first was put in a given position, the man at the second put his in the same position, and the third, fourth, &c., did the same, and a word was thus run through the line at the rate of about a mile in a second; then another word was conveyed in the same way, and then another, and so on, till the whole message was communicated. It could be used, of course, only by day-light. There were twenty-seven of these signal posts between Calais and Paris, 152 miles; a word was conveyed through the line in three minutes, and a sentence of ten words in half an hour. There were eighty signal posts between Paris and Brest, 325 miles, through which distance a word was conveyed in ten minutes, and a sentence of ten words in one hour and forty minutes. It will be seen at once that this mode of conveying intelligence was very expensive; it required more than eighty men to convey ten words 325 miles, and kept them occupied one hour and two thirds. And yet it was deemed so important to be able to convey it in this speedy manner, the government of France supported them at the cost of $210,000 annually. England paid $15,000 a year to sustain 72 miles of telegraph, between Portsmouth and London."

Methods of telegraphic communication without machinery have, at various periods, been devised and used in conducting military operations; and these have been found particularly valuable in time of war. One is by "discs of wood held by men in certain positions; another by a white handkerchief, varied in position; another by two small flags; and another by stationing a few men in pre-arranged positions," &c. Naval signals have been found absolutely necessary at all times. They have consisted usually of flags of various forms and colors, sometimes numbered in signal books. The best system of flag telegraphing is perhaps that invented by H. J. Rodgers of Baltimore. But we must proceed at once to the consideration of the ELECTRO-MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.

While on his way to the United States, in 1832, upon the packet ship Sully, a gentleman referring to the experiments which had just been made in Paris with the electro-magnet, a discussion arose in regard to the time occupied by the electric fluid in passing through a wire of a hundred feet in length. Upon the intimation that the passage is instantaneous,—recollecting the experiments of Franklin-Morse suggested that the electricity could be carried to any distance, and be made a means of conveying and recording intelligence. The idea

took deep hold of his mind, and before the end of the voyage, he had draughted and written a plan of the greatest invention of the age. "The electric telegraph invented by Prof. Morse of America, in 1832, was essentially a registering instrument, the various signals being traced on a strip of paper. An electro-magnet was so placed as to be within attracting distance of any armature fixed to the shorter arm of a lever, of which the longer end carried a pencil projecting sidewise from it, and pressed lightly against a sheet of paper. This paper was made to travel slowly beneath the pencil. So long as no attractive power was exerted by the electro-magnet, the pencil would continue to trace a straight line as the paper moved onwards: but on momentarily making the circuit, with the battery, the armature was drawn to the electro-magnet, and the pencil carried by the arm of the lever upwards, made an angular mark like the letter V reversed, on the paper. These angles might either be joined in groups, by rapidly succeeding completions of the circuit; or they might be separated by longer or shorter spaces of straight line. The nine digits were represented by corresponding numbers of angles, and these were combined so as to form all possible numbers. In the telegraph constructed by Morse in 1844, between Baltimore and Washington, a different mode of recording the signals was adopted. The use of the pencil was found objec tionable from its so frequently requiring fresh pointing, and from the risk of breakage. The same arrangements were retained in regard to the paper, but it was made in its course to pass under a roller having a groove around it. The long arm of the lever carried a blunt steel point standing out from its upper surface vertically under the groove in the roller. When, therefore, the arm of the lever was elevated, by the attraction of the magnet upon the armature, the steel point pressed the paper into the groove, and produced an indentation. If the attraction were momentary, a depressed point was produced; but if the action were continued for a longer time, a lengthened depression was the result, as the paper was drawn on. The combinations of these two kinds of marks denoted the various letters and figures. In his first instrument, Morse produced the requisite groups of angles by means of type having as many projecting ridges, or teeth as there were to be angles. These being arranged in a frame, as required for the message, made the successive contacts with the battery as they were drawn under the lever or spring. Subsequently, however, a single key was used, by depressing which with the finger the circuit might be completed when necessary."

Wherever Morse's instrument has been carefully examined

it has been pronounced the best. Already, it has been approved by most of the governments of the old world. In 1851, at a convention held by Austria, Prussia, Saxony, Wirtemburg, and Bavaria, for the purpose of determining upon a uniform system of telegraphing for Germany, Mr. Morse's instrument, by the advice of Steinheil, was selected and declared to be superior to any other that had ever been invented. The first foreign acknowledgment of his invention was by the bestowal of a nishan, or order-the "order of glory"-by the Sultan of Turkey. Next comes a gold snuff-box, from the King of Prussia, containing the Prussian gold medal of scientific merit. Last, from the King of Prussia, the "Wirtemburg Gold Medal of Arts and Sciences." His system has also been adopted in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Russia, &c., &c. In 1838, Morse went to England to secure a patent in that country, but was refused, upon the pretext, manufactured by Wheatstone and his friends, that his invention had been published. The only proof which could be adduced was the publication of an extract of the New-York "Journal of Commerce" in an English periodical devoted to science.

The first electric telegraph completed in the United States was erected between Baltimore and Washington, in 1844, and the first public message transmitted was the announcement of the nomination by the Baltimore Convention, of James K. Polk, as the Democratic candidate for the Presidency. More than fifty thousand miles of telegraph have since been erected in this country, and but a few years will pass until all parts of our vast domain will be bound together by iron wires.

Many important improvements have been made of late in telegraphing. Whether the system of placing the wire under the ground, or that of suspending it upon poles will ultimately prevail, cannot be predicted. The most interesting feature of telegraphing, and that likely to be attended by the most important results, is the Submarine. It has been satisfactorily demonstrated that wires can be so coated with gutta percha and other materials as to act under water.

Professor Morse still indulges the idea of returning to his old profession-painting; so much of his time, however, will necessarily be devoted to' the business to which he has given so much attention for twenty years, an opportunity will probably never arise for him to gratify his ardent wish to become once more associated with the beautiful and classic models of Italy and the Louvre. We only do him justice when we assert, that he is one of the most intellectual and refined characters of the age. His genius, or his learning, alone, would constitute him an ornament to the proudest galaxy of literary

and scientific men in the world; and it is with pride and pleasure we claim them both as the property of our country. The period is near at hand when the universa! voice will pronounce in his favor, and when the miserable pretenders of Great Britain that have attempted to usurp his honors, will

sink to merited oblivion.

Professor Morse resides at Locust Grove, two miles south of Poughkeepsie, on the banks of the Hudson.

Art. II-REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON THE SUBJECT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC TELEGRAPHS.

Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting a Report upon the subject of a System of Telegraphs for the United States. December 11, 1837.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, December 6, 1837. SIR: I have the honor to present this report, in compliance with the following resolution, which passed the House of Representatives on the 3d of February last, viz. "Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be requested to report to the House of Representatives, at its next session, upon the propriety of establishing a system of telegraphs for the United States." Immediately after its passage I prepared a circular, with the view of procuring, from the most intelligent sources, such information as would enable Congress, as well as the Department, to decide upon the propriety of establishing a system of telegraphs.

It seemed. also important to unite with the inquiry the procurement of such facts as might show the expense attending different systems; the celerity of communication by each; and the useful objects to be accomplished by their adoption.

A copy of the circular is annexed, (1.)

The replies have been numerous, and many of them are very full and interesting. Those deemed material are annexed, numbered 2 to 18, inclusive.

From these communications, and such other investigations as the pressure of business has enabled me to make, I am satisfied that the establishment of a system of telegraphs for the United States would be useful to commerce as well as the Government. It might most properly be made appurtenant to the Post Office Department, and, during war, would prove a most essential aid to the military operations of the country.

The expense attending it is estimated carefully in some of the documents annexed; but it will depend much upon the kind of system adopted: upon the extent and location. of the lines first established; and the charges made to individuals for communicating information through it which may not be of a public character.

On these points, as the Department has not been requested to make a report, no opinion is expressed; but information concerning them was deemed useful as a guide in deciding on the propriety of establishing telegraphs, and was, therefore, requested in the circular before mentioned. Many useful suggestions in relation to the subject will be found in the correspondence annexed, and in the books there referred to.

The Department would take this occasion to express, in respect to the numerous gentlemen whose views are now submitted to Congress, its high appreciation and sincere acknowledgment for the valuable contributions they have made on a subject of so much interest.

I remain, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,

The Hon. J. K. POLK,

LEVI WOODBURY,
Secretary of the Treasury.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

No. 1.

Circular to certain Collectors of the Customs, Commanders of Revenue Cutters, and other persons.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, March 10, 1837.

With the view of obtaining information in regard to "the_propriety of establishing a system of telegraphs for the United States," in compliance with the request contained in the annexed resolution of the House of Representatives, adopted at its last session, I will thank you to furnish the Department with your opinion upon the subject. If leisure permit, you would oblige me by pointing out the manner, and the various particulars, in which the system may be rendered most useful to the Government of the United States and the public generally. It would be desirable, if in your power, to present a detailed statement as to the proper points for the location, and distance of the stations from each other, with general rules for the regulation of the system, together with your sentiments

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