TELEGRAPHS. We have been requested, by an old and respected correspondent, to give a place to the succeeding copies of letters on a subject of universal interest. (Copy.) Summerlands, Exeter, March 5th, 1825. My Dear Sir: My attention has been called to an article on Telegraphs, in the Supplement to the Encyclopædia Britannica, where I find my name introduced in a manner which I am unavoidably called on to notice, I fear in no very pleasing terms. As for this inconsiderate writer's comparative notice of me, as an author on this subject, I treat it with unqualified contempt; because my labours have been munificiently rewarded by a crowned head, and highly approved of by foreign governments, one of which has adopted my semaphore. I have another consolation for the unfounded attack made on me, which is, that I have the public approbation, on account of its being now well known that a dictionary, calumniated by my old friend with a new face, has, on exemplified comparison, completely beat the only two in use. I possess two French volumes well, but egotistically written on telegraphic science by Monsieur Chappe l'ainé. He treats the Admiralty with more than freedom; remarking that, in one hundred British plans, examined by what he calls commissaires, not one was found tolerable, because comparative experiment, in vain called for, had been invariably refused. What would not M. Chappe l'ainé say now, were he informed that after all the vauntings made in public papers, directed against me mainly, the far-famed single figure telegraph is placed in every seven miles, with spelling again had recourse to, for manifest reasons? Lord Melville, who was requested to communicate my critique, will shew you an account I sent him of this work, with quotations from the extraordinary original. I have had too much experience not to have found that prejudice, hauteur, and favouritism, are inti. mately connected with official station. Sir Robert Walpole experienced that, in some shape or other, every man has his price; and public men are under a sad necessity of managing the corruption of human nature, as they often come in unavoidable contact with what cannot but be frequently reprobated by their more honourable feelings. I am told that you are the author of the article on Telegraphs above alluded to. If you are not, I beg your pardon for troubling you. If you are, I must trouble you with some remarks which I shall be truly sorry to have occasion to make, in a case where I am grossly misrepresented; and with sang froid bordering on irony, handed down to posterity with something like the character of onon onta. Yours very truly, JOHN MACDONALD. P.S. M. Chappe quotes my treatise, but not my Dictionary. He says, that at Plymouth, in 1810, an experiment was made with sliding shutters mentioned by me in MS. but laid aside in my publication. He did not know that my twelve-shutter telegraph was erected long ago at Deal, without any acknowledgment. John Barrow, Esq. (Copy.) Summerlands, Exeter, April 6th, 1825. My Dear Sir: I addressed you, necessarily, on the 5th ultimo, and not having received any answer, I conclude that you are the author of the short article on Telegraphs, in the Supplement to the Encylopædia Britannica. Besides, the letter attached to the article, indicates your name. In all my writings in print, I have invariably mentioned your name in a manner due to your talents and acquirements; independently of your having, till this ill-judged article appeared, treated me with civility and attention, as evinced by correspondence. I am not conscious of having ever given you any cause of offence; and, therefore, I am quite at a loss to account for the hostile spirit in which the article is written. But let us take things in their order. Your censure 4 censure of a telegraphic dictionary, on the score of copiousness, is evidently directed against mine, as fully indicated by the heading of the class you expressly allude to. To me personally, when referred to you by Lord Mulgrave, you said, after looking over the MS. that such a Dictionary, precisely, was wanted in the navy; and that you were sure Sir Home Popham would say so, were he present. I have it under your hand, that you deemed this Dictionary well calculated for land service in India; and this opinion is amply confirmed by a report made on it by a telegraphic committee, consisting of staff officers, in India. An extract from this report is too important to omit here. After approving of the power and simplicity of my telegraphs, we have the following opinion of my Dictionary :—“ Having thus secured so great a number of signals, the more arduous task of forming a telegraphic dictionary remained; for this purpose the author appears to have availed himself of every form of speech that industry could collect, or ingenuity devise as useful in rendering this mode of correspondence at once clear and comprehensive. The labour, perseverance, and ability required to select and arrange this vast mass of materials, cannot be too highly appreciated. On inspection, the Dictionary will be found to contain 150,000 words, phrases, and sentences.""The advantage yielded by the principle of classification, is at a maximum" [as established by Col. Macdonald], " when any required signal can be communicated by two movements of the telegraph, one to indicate the number of the class, and the other, the place which the word to be conveyed holds in that class." A challenge was given in print, by the author of the dictionary used in the East-India Company's marine service. I took it up, as I felt in it a pointed degree of arrogance directed against my Dictionary. What he wished for, he was indulged in. A quarto page of Hume's History of England, was converted into telegraphic signals, by each dictionary; and the result proved in favour of mine by two hundred and forty signals. Again; two communications were converted into signals, by Sir Home Popham's Dictionary, and by mine; when the difference in favour of the latter, was sixty-seven signals, with one hundred and nine flags and pendants fewer, by my mode. These comparative results were laid before the Admiralty and Court of Directors. It is the advantageous manner in which the Dictionary, you at one time so highly praised, is constructed, that has produced such overwhelming comparative results; and it is fair to mention, that I possess letters from all the Governments of Europe, expressive of high approbation of the work, on account of which the King of the Netherlands was graciously pleased, through his ambassador, to offer to me, either a sword, or a magnificent snuff-box. With these remarks, I may safely quit this part of my eclaircissement with you, in justification of a dictionary which you unaccountably endeavoured to depress. The second part of your attack is hardly worthy of notice. You name three persons, to whom you are pleased to give a preference to me, by name. One of them proposed a telegraph not in use. The second, in this country, has not brought into use either a dictionary or a telegraph; and the third has written a dictionary alluded to above, and which is less used at present than spelling, at the Admiralty. I need not feel as mortified as you kindly meant, by being, by you, put out of competition with these gentlemen, as I stand secure on the ground of public opinion and comparative experiment. You have, at the Admiralty, a letter from me to one of these personages, confuting his twice-told assertion that I borrowed my semaphore from him. To this letter he has made no reply, for obvious reasons, or, in other words, because a single glance at the relative models shewed the fact of the case. If Mr. Barrow, previously to his inconsiderate attack, had made such comparison as has been stated, he would have found that the methodized collection of useful auxiliary phrases he objects to, in terms quite unqualified, are chiefly subservient in producing the vast superiority manifested experimentally, as the best comparative test. Mere inspection shews sufficiently that many telegraphic movements, and much valuable time, are saved by these serviceable phrases, which are as readily taken out when wanted as any single word. Were I to write a second edition (and only a few volumes of the first remain), I would 5 D 2 I would omit the series of combinations, and substitute more of these phrases, much approved of and imitated in other dictionaries. I inserted the combinations to save a telegraphic movement; and if I had omitted them, some kind person or other would readily enough have said I did not understand them. I come now to the most serious part of your attack, and which, on your own account, I really feel concerned to say, proves to be a total misrepresentation, in ascribing to me, what I am to make it appear, I never said. Surely, when Mr. Barrow introduced me to posterity, as he has unfoundedly done, in his article, he must have expected a reply from any one so injuriously treated, and in a permanent work too. There is a good Italian proverb, that says, "Qui la fa, l'aspetta." If you had looked at the published letters in the appendix of a book I gave you, with many others, you would have found in my account of the present state of Telegraphic Communication, that your allegations are not fact, as you apply them to me. You exemplify your positions by reference to the comparative visibility of the late six-shutter telegraph, and the present semaphoric wing: and bring me in asserting, that a shutter, of course, grouped with five others, would be better, or as well seen, on a telegraphic line, as the semaphoric wing. My argument, on the contrary, referred to the comparison of a single shutter compared to a single wing; and also to the comparative visibility of six shutters in perpendicular and parallel rows, and six semaphoric wings; both being displayed to express what all telegraphs must ultimately come to, viz. the expression of any three figures simultaneously, as in the navy. To shew what I really asserted, and what you ought not to have ascribed to me, I shall lay before you a few extracts from the work in your possession, and in the library at the Admiralty. Page 10. Dedication to Lord Mulgrave: "Forgetting, my Lord, or rather avoiding, the main consideration of conjoining the operation of full-powered telegraphs and dictionaries, minor matters are made prominent, such as the comparative visibility of the shutter and semaphoric wing: and even of this point a very erroneous view is taken, by comparing an arm of the extraordinary length of nine feet, elevated bigh in the atmosphere, with a shutter grouped with five others in a low situation. My anonymous opponents cannot see that a proper semaphore must ultimately have three pairs of wings on one mast; and that six wings in action will not be so well seen as one or two. This is, however, the only fair mode of judging; and the experiments recommended will shew the comparative effect of six arms, six feet long by eighteen inches broad, pointing variously, and of six shutters, six feet square, closed in on a telegraph of twelve such. Sit altum silentium, till this experiment is made on a line not less than eleven or twelve miles." Page 153. Paragraph of a letter to Lord Melville, 21st January 1819: "Let a semaphore, with three pairs of arms, be placed alongside of a shutter telegraph of twelve shutters, on a line of twelve miles. Let the number 999 be expressed on each. In this case, boards 1 and 3 will be shut-in, on each division of the shutters; and, at the same time, the six arms of the semaphore will be all in action, and pointing variously. Here a most essential difference will be found between viewing one or two arms, and the whole six together, as must be done. As far as my observations have extended, and unless I am much mistaken, the six-shutters will be seen more distinctly than the six arms, in the ratio of the proportions of area. This experiment alone, my Lord, and not anonymous and gratuitous assertions, can possibly set the subject at rest. It will be an improvement of the shutter-telegraph to place the ranges of boards five feet asunder, and to insulate the shutters, with a space of two feet between." In a letter to the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, under date the 20th August 1818, will be found, as follows, at page 161:-"Two wings are seen with a certain degree of distinctness. Two shutters (if also used, isolated) would be better seen, on account of their greater area. Now, I will beg your Lordships to recollect, that a semaphore, to be a proper one, must, sooner or later, have six arms (vide the model at the Admiralty) in three pairs. In expressing any figures beyond the figure 6, the six wings must be in action. In expressing the same on a proper shutter-telegraph, six boards boards must be closed in. It will be found by experiments on very long lines, that the shutters, on account of greater area and contrast, will be more distinctly discernible than six arms pointing variously from three centres of motion." As Lord Liverpool introduced me to three successive First Lords of the Admiralty, I felt it a duty to furnish that able nobleman with copies of my telegraphic letters. Bearing on the subject at issue, is the following paragraph from a letter to his Lordship, dated 5th November 1818. Vide Page 171: "Your Lordship will be told that the semaphoric wing is better seen than a shutter. Common sense shews that a semaphore must, ultimately, have three pairs of wings, or arms. In such case, six arms in action will not be seen so well as six shutters."-Vide Page 177: "The writers (and particularly one anonymous one) mention, over and over again, that the shutters were not so well seen as the long wing of above nine feet. It is not stated, as it ought, that the shutter was viewed as one grouped with five others in a much lower situation than the long wing. The unfairness of this comparison cannot be placed in a stronger light than by taking his own illustration, of seeing a letter better in the middle of a page of white paper than when viewed surrounded by other letters."—" The anonymous writer seems to be aware that there must be more arms, by-and-bye, on one mast, as he uses the expression, 'provided those are not too numerous so as to be liable to confusion.” ”. Vide Page 203: "One of my three-figure telegraphs is erected at Deal. Let a communication be made with a ship on the station by its means, and let the same be also made by means of the single-figure telegraph: let the results be compared. This result will be unexceptionable and decisive. The same experiment made by means of different dictionaries, relatively applied, will lead to farther useful conclusions. A trial of this convincing nature, resisted as it now is, will and must, ultimately, be had recourse to; and I should feel deficient in the duty I owe to the public, were I not repeatedly to recommend resorting to so fair a procedure, alone calculated to elicit truth." This comparison with dictionaries has recently been made; and the result was communicated to the Admiralty, and Court of Directors, as completely decisive in favour of my dictionary. Attacked unjustly as I am, in a permanent work, by the very man who formerly exceedingly praised this very dictionary, I am compelled, in justice to science and to myself, to state real facts opposed to mere whimsical opinions. I could quote much more to the present purport, but enough has been adduced to shew Mr. Barrow that he has quite misrepresented my positions. I am willing to believe that, injurious as this is, he has done it from inattention, inadvertency, and forgetfulness of what I really wrote and printed. What farther steps I may find it indispensable to take, or the reverse, must depend on his reply. Did I not, as above, rectify your mistakes and gratuitous assertions, it might be supposed I acquiesced in what is so palpably erroneous, to say the least of it: and, putting yourself in my situation, you would have repelled an attack with more tact, point, and ability, than I can pretend to exercise against a formidable opponent. I console myself with the reflection that, "Magna est veritas et prevalebit." You are known to be very sensitive, as an author, and, therefore, you ought not to be so very reckless of the feelings of others. Yours faithfully, JOHN MACDONALD. P.S. The shutter telegraph being found liable to warp in India, in the work alluded to, there is a figure and description of a full-powered telegraph, consisting of six balls sliding on rods. There is a model of it at the Admiralty, and others have been sent to India. Of all stationary telegraphs this is, by much, the most simple, serviceable, and permanent. It will be better seen than any other description of telegraphs, because the balls are completely insulated; and, on account of the simplicity of the machinery, the expense of construction and repairs will be comparatively small, with the advantage of greater durability, and no liability to warping. Your present weak and expensive semaphore is placed at distances of seven miles: I am willing to place the ball telegraph on lines of nine or ten, to prove that it is, in every respect, a better, and much cheaper article; and is readily formed of common materials in cases of emergency. This being a subject relating to the proceedings at the Admiralty, I enclose this letter, under a flying seal, to Lord Melville; and I trust you will shew it to Mr. Croker, who now directs the telegraphic correspondence. My letter to you of the 5th of March, opening this unfortunate subject, you will, as a matter of course, shew to his Lordship, and to the Secretary. John Barrow, Esq. (Copy.) At Lady Chambers's, Putney, March 27, 1826. My Lord: As your Lordship did me the favour to introduce me to three successive First Lords of the Admiralty, I have always deemed it my duty to communicate to your Lordship some account of such attempts as I have made, during nineteen years, to establish a telegraphic system, founded on comparative experiments, at all times, the best test of physical truth. I make no apology, therefore, for enclosing a copy of two letters, which sufficiently explain the important subject which, it appears, I was unavoidably called on to notice. When your Lordship has looked over the papers, I will trouble you to give them to Lord Melville, as they may be of future service, should at any time the improvement of the telegraphic science become a subject of farther consideration at the Admiralty. Your Lordship has the volume alluded to in the letters. A plate and description of my telegraph erected at Deal appeared in my publications; but still, it is thought that the inventor merited some notice on the part of the Admiralty. My telegraphic Dictionary, having proved on shore as decisive as is stated, is now under trial at sea. The Right Hon. the Earl of Liverpool. I have, &c. JOHN MACDONALD. ABOU NOAMA KATARY.* THIS eastern hero was distinguished both as an intrepid warrior, and as one of the best orators and poets of Arabia. He revolted from the authority of Mosab-ebu-Zobeir, when the latter governed Irak, as lieutenant of the Caliph, his brother, in A.H. 66. Katary assumed the title of Caliph, and defended himself successfully for many years. He was defeated and killed by Sofian ben-Abu-el Kalby, A.H. 78. His courage and contempt of death are discovered in the following verses addressed to his soul, which are preserved in the first chapter of the Hamasa:— "I said to my soul, when ready to break in pieces, how unfortunate art thou, that the aspect of the brave inspires thee with no fear! In vain wouldest thou seek to prolong thy existence one day beyond the term prescribed; remain, then, firm and unshaken in the midst of those dangers which threaten thy days, since to desire immortality is to wish for that which is impossible. "The coat (cufian) of existence is not a garment of great price; but its constant use is prohibited even to the lazy and pusillanimous. Death is the termination of all living beings; to it all the children of the world are called. Devouring vexation and ignominious old age are the inheritance of a man who does not expose his days to the hazard of battle; and death does not terminate the less his existence on that account. Life offers no advantage to man when he is no longer regarded, but is an instrument of no value." The classical reader cannot fail to remark the striking analogy between these sentiments and those put by Homer into the mouth of Sarpedon, in his address to Glaucus. * We are indebted for this fragment of Oriental history to James Grey Jackson, Esq., who has extracted it from the Lives of Illustrious men, by Ben Khilkan. |