"THE APPROPRIATION, OF NEARLY HALF A MILLION OF FRANCS, WAS PASSED with only a few dissenting voices. The bill has been reported to the Chamber of Peers, with a circumstantial and able recommendation from the pen of GABRIEL DELESSERT, chairman of the Committee of Peers."

It will be thus perceived that the electric telegraph had not been established in France, in 1846, while it was in full and active operation in this country, and, moreover, that it was the result of its success here that operated to its establishment in France. Morse's system is, at this date, established throughout the Continent of Europe thousands of miles, and is still in process of extension, and is fast superseding the needle and signal systems. Even in England, where the Morse telegraph has never been practically tried, it is about being introduced. We expect, in the future, to discuss the relative modes of telegraphing with a consideration to financial economy.

ART. V.-MEDITERRANEAN ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH,

UNITING EUROPE WITH AFRICA, EAST INDIES AND AUSTRALIA, VIA FRANCE, PIEDMONT, CORSICA, SARDINIA, ALGERIA AND EGYPT.

JOHN WATKINS BRETT, ESQ., GERANT.

WE append the substance of a circular, issued by the International Telegraph Company, relative to the extension of the line across the Mediterranean Sea. The whole management is under the direction of that wonderful and energetic telegrapher, John W. Brett, Esq., who has been the foremost man of the world in the extension of submarine lines and the general advancement of electric telegraphs.

In the advancement and promotion of this grand undertaking, connecting Europe with Africa, the French government has exhibited a degree of energy and character not surpassed by any other government. The Emperor of the French has had opportunities of witnessing the advantages to be derived from the extension of the electric telegraph, and with a spirit of enterprise that does honor to his power and country, he elevates the art in every way possible, for the general good of his people. Had the present emperor been on the throne in 1838, Professor Morse would not have met the sad fate he did when in France. After much expense in exhibiting his wonderful achievement in the invention of the electric telegraph,producing the first available system known to man, he procured

a patent from the French government. One of the conditions of the patent was, a requirement to put his invention into actual operation within two years. After much effort, Professor Morse effected an arrangement to fulfil this provision of the patent by the aid of one of the railways.

The fact becoming known to the government, Prof. Morse was served with information, prohibiting the erection of the line. This order continued in existence until after the expiration of his patent, and was then rescinded. These are the facts as near as we can give them. The king of the French ought to have abdicated long before he did. But he is gone! It would have been better to have informed Morse before he went to much expense, that his telegraph could not have been allowed in that country. We do not refer to this with a view to cast any unreasonable reflections upon the memory of the ex-king; but we refer to it, to show what difficulties Professor Morse had to contend with in the establishment of his telegraph, and also to illustrate the difference between the power of France in 1838, and that of 1855. The former was indifferent to the wants of the age, and the latter carefully studies and exerts himself to advance his country and promote the happiness of his people.

We will not say more at present upon this subject, and therefore refer the reader to the following, for further information relative to the extension of the electric telegraph, and the liberal consideration given to it by the French and Sardinian governments.

REPORT OF JOHN W. BRETT, GERANT.

GENTLEMEN :-We shall assemble on the 14th instant, to inaugurate the completion of the first portion of the submarine cable for the great Mediterranean and Indian line of telegraph, and it may be interesting to you, first, to recapitulate the va rious heads of the concessions, and, secondly, to inform you of the state of the works at the present moment.

The concessions were confirmed to me by the French and Sardinian governments, with the guarantees and privileges as above, on the 1st of June, 1853, allowing two years for the completion of the works, and an open communication for telegraphic correspondence in all languages, without restriction.

1ST. THE CONCESSIONS

Give to the company the power to construct any number of telegraph lines ( he junction of the telegraph lines of

Italy, France, and England, at Spezzia,) across the Mediterranean, en route to India, with exclusive privileges for fifty years, dating from June, 1855.

STATE OF THE WORKS.

The first portions of the submarine cable intended to unite Spezzia with Corsica, and Corsica with Sardinia, is now completed (110 miles), allowing some 20 miles more than the actual distance, and it is confidently expected that these two portions will be laid down and in operation by the middle of July next, by which time the whole of the land lines (about 800 kilometers) in the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, will be finished.

About fifty miles of the second portion (150 miles) of the submarine cable is aleady completed, and it is confidently expected that this will be also laid down about the middle of August next, uniting the Island of Sardinia with the telegraph lines of the French Government at Bone, in Algiers, when the present undertaking of this company will be accomplished.

The company are at present under treaty with the English government for an extension of the telegraph to Malta; but as this extension would be purely a government line, it cannot be undertaken without some similar support from the British government to that already granted to this company by the French and Sardinian governments for the extensions to Algiers and the island of Sardinia; and they also confidently look forward to a fair support from the East India Company to enable them to extend the lines to Alexandria and India.

It must be borne in mind that, in addition to the difficulties attending the introduction of a system of telegraphs-in countries where all the necessary materials and labor had to be imported-other adverse circumstances have occured, not the feast of which have been the enormous increase in the price of the materials and labor, and the extraordinary demands for freight (namely 90s. per ton,) owing to the demand of vessels for the government service. Notwithstanding these disadvan tages, the works have been carried on energetically, both in the islands of Corsica and Sardinia, aided by the able superintendence of some of the most experienced and practical telegraphic engineers in Europe.

We must be allowed to add, that the thanks of the shareholders are due to Mr. Tupper, of the firm of Tupper and Carr, contractors for the cable, &c., and to Mr. Glass, of the firm of Kuper and Co., the manufacturers; also to Mr. Statham, of the

gutta percha company, from whom, as from others, we feel indebted for the very able assistance received in forwarding the above works.

In conclusion, gentlemen, we must express to you the gratifi cation we feel at the success attending our operations as far as they have gone, and we beg to assure you of our constant and unremitting efforts to carry out the undertaking, so as successfully to insure the interests of the shareholders and the advantages of an European telegraphic communication with the East.

I have the honor to be, Gentlemen,

Your most obedient and humble servant,

JOHN W. BRETT.

Since the issuing of the above circular, we had the pleasure of witnessing the shipping of the 110 miles of cable on the steam ship Persia, June 15th, 1854, at Greenwich, near London, designed for the section between Spezzia and Corsica. The rigging of the vessel was very beautifully dressed, with the flags of nearly every nation upon the face of the earth, and on referring to our notes, we find the United States flag was not there!

We attended the celebration, through the kindness of Mr. Brett, and we were much pleased to meet so many gentlemen interested in the extension of the electric telegraph. The cable was 110 miles, containing six wires. These electric wires were connected, making 660 miles, and through which the needle instruments were worked very successfully. During the day, we had only one desire, and that was to have there two of the Morse instruments with two expert operators, to convince the assembled gentlemen, that America was far in advance of them in the art of telegraphing.

The war in Europe is unfortunate for the extension of the telegraph. It has been a great hindrance to the success of Mr. Brett. Notwithstanding his promptness in making his cables, he cannot get vessels to lay them down. How cheering will be the dawn of peace.

ART. VI.-THE WORLD GIRDLE TELEGRAPH.

PRACTICABILITY OF A TELEGRAPH AROUND THE WORLD CONSIDERED-THE ROUTE GIVEN THE COUNTRY PEOPLE AND CLIMATE.

TAL. P. SHAFFNER, PROJECTOR.

AN electric telegraph line or lines surrounding the globe, is now an enterprise of serious consideration, and, in our opinion, will, at an early day, be realized. When we say, that it is under serious consideration, we wish to be distinctly understood, that active arrangements are now being made to consummate that grand and stupendous undertaking. When we say that it will, at an early day, be realized, we desire to be understood as saying that, within a few years, probably not exceeding ten revolutions of the earth around the sun, we will see the earth girdled with an unbroken chain of electric flashes, controllable by man, and diffusing light and knowledge-cultivating peace and good-will to the nations of the globe. It may be deemed by some gentlemen as visionary-as a scheme for a few days' talk, or the wild and rattling fancy of an ill-arranged brain. The impossibilities, doubtless, arise in the minds of some, towering over the reach of human ingenuity. Natural formations of the earth's surface are supposed to contain formidable barriers, and even too much so to be overcome. Scientific difficulties are supposed to exist, preventing the consummation of the undertaking. No one doubts for a moment the advantages to be derived from the telegraph, if constructed to connect the continents across the Atlantic. No one doubts the benefits to the world that would flow from the construction of a telegraph, connecting the two hemispheres by lines, as proposed in the plan of the world's girdle telegraph. We do not deem it necessary to discuss the financial arrangement necessary to execute this great and magnificent undertaking. That must be a question resting upon a distinct basis. The advantages to the people of the earth are, of course, admitted by every person; and, therefore, any discussion upon that point we deem superfluous at the present time.

We propose to notice the two and only remaining difficulties, namely the scientific and natural difficulties necessary to be over come in the construction of a telegraph around the world; and, first, the

SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS.-It has been demonstrated, by seve ral years' practical experiments, that a galvanic current can be sent on circuits varying in length from 100 to 1000 miles,