28 Col. Macdonald on Telegraphic Communication. I. and about three miles across the Mr. URBAN, YOUR Summerland Place, Exeter, Jan. 15. YOUR valuable Publication is always interesting; and the last Number contains papers of much importance. Among others, I read one on the establishment of Telegraphic Communication between us and foreign nations. I am always glad to see subjects handled to which I have paid attention; as the collision of ideas tends to advance a knowledge of what is brought forward to public notice. In 1817, I published a Telegraphic Dictionary, containing 150,000 words, phrases, and sentences. The true mode of judging of such Dictionaries is to compare them experimentally. In consequence of a sort of challenge thrown out in print, a page of the 410 edition of Hume's History of England was converted into telegraphic signals, according to the respective methods of this Dictionary, and of another; and the result was, that one of them gave the page in 240 signals less than the other. This decisive mode of comparative trial is also the most eligible for ascertaining the relative power of Telegraphs. The French have carried the science on land much farther than has as yet been done in this country; as they use more powerful Telegraphis, and a Dictionary of great scope and comprehension. Their Telegraphs branch in all directions from the Capital, by which means information is procured in a few minutes, from the most remote parts of the kingdom. This is done with great celerity, as few Bullæum [Silurum] is not certainly located. [Jan. movements are required. With us, on land, a single word frequently requires four successive movements; and not only this, but it is also necessary to make a signal of distinction between words, in order to distinguish them from each other. This is all very tedious in a climate so very apt to be obscured by the intervention of cloudy weather, as was but too frequently experienced during the last war, when communications of great moment were interrupted, in cases where a powerful Telegraph and Dictionary of adequate copiousness would have carried the message through, during a clear interval. Every Telegraph, to be unexceptionable, ought to have a power of expressing any three figures simullaneously. To carry them beyond this allowed strength of expression, would be losing in time what would be gained in power. I speak from near thirty years' experience; and shall be happy to hear the sentiments of those who have studied this fine but ill-understood science of vast future promise. I In my Telegraphic Dictionary, I recommended communicating with foreign nations by a very simple and obvious plan. I give a sketch of it, as it may induce some of your scientific readers to suggest ameliorations. must not omit to mention, that after my General Telegraphic System for every Service, by Sea or Land, was sent to India by the Court of Directors of the East India Company, I recommended to the enlightened nobleman political wisdom and military talents, who has achieved so much there by to run all telegraphic lines in direct straight lines from Calcutta to the extreme stations, over hill, dale, woods, or water. By this means, expenditure is saved, and celerity of commuThis is a most essential improvement, nication very materially increased. where they are forming telegraphic lines five hundred miles in length. universal language has at various peThe possibility of establishing an riods exercised the ingenuity and talents of men distinguished by their philological and general knowledge. To render the plan practicable, what is next to impossible must be effected; that is, all nations must agree to learn or use one language, either antient or modern, in order to have it general and common. Nations, like individuals, are generally actuated by their peculiar 1822.] Col. Macdonald on Telegraphic Communication. peculiar vanities or prejudices, and would not, were the project possible and practicable, readily yield to each other in the choice to be made.-Were even all objections obviated, any agreed on language would not be studied in a manner sufficiently general to produce the desired effect. Hence the possibility of reducing to practice an universal language, must ever remain highly problematical, if not absolutely chimerical. Though the multiplied difficulties of a general oral communication through the medium of a specific language, appear insuperable, still it is quite easy for nations totally unacquainted with the language of each other, to communicate on the principle of a NUMERICAL DICTIONARY, containing the relative tongues of each nation. For instance, suppose that in regular order, under each word, tense, and phrase, in a full Telegraphic Dictionary, were printed the same word, tense, and phrase, in the French, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, and other continental languages, it is evident that an inhabitant of any of those countries, by having in his possession each Dictionary, would immediately, on having any number telegraphed to him, or on having any word in the Dictionary pointed out to him, comprehend the meaning, by seeing the word in his own language immediately annexed to it. It is further manifest, that were all foreign nations to have each a Dictionary on a numerical principle, with the sentences, words, tenses, and phrases, followed by the same in several other languages, a native of any of the countries included, being in possession of such Dictionary, would instantly understand the import of any word attached to a marginal number, either telegraphed or pointed out. To converse with a Swede, a Dane, a Russian, or an Italian, these nations must have a NUMERICAL DICTIONARY of their own language, marginally numbered, with the meanings attached in other languages. The Russian would telegraph his own language numerically, and this the Englishman would understand. He would answer from an Anglo-Russian Dictionary, and the Russian would instantly understand him, by reference to the wards of his own language attached to the English Dictionary. 29 The English and French languages are now so generally known and cultivated, that it might prove quite suffi cient to have only two descriptions of Numerical Dictionaries, viz. an English one, with the French meanings joined, or opposite; and the other, alphabetically French, with the English meaning printed opposite. This would be reducing the plan to the most simple and least expensive form.In my Dictionary a provision is made for spelling such proper names as no Dictionary can possibly include. This is easily effected, by having above three thousand combinations of the letters alphabetically arranged in classes. These combinations contain two, three, and four letters; so that a proper name is telegraphed in a few movements, without any previous signal to indicate the commencement or termination of this unavoidable operation. Till very recently all words were com municated in this country letter by letter. I wrote much showing the eligibility of abandoning so tedious and operose a procedure. The Admiralty, ever ready to adopt what is useful, now communicate by words, phrases, and sentences; and it is expected (seeing how much our active neighbours exceed us in celerity), that ere long, a more powerful Telegraph and a more comprehensive Dictionary will be introduced. To effect this to the best advantage, it is understood that their Lordships, with a laudable zeal for the advancement of the science, intend to have comparative experiments made to ascertain which may be the most advantageous to adopt, out of eight Dictionaries already printed, and out of many powerful Telegraphs of various descriptions. This certainly can be the only effectual mode of arriving at the truth of the case. I forgot to observe above, that to execute a plan of Telegraphic Communication between nations, an Universal Numerical Set of Flags must be agreed on. The flags of nine nations would furnish the nine numerals. A white flag or a cornet-flag might be the 0, or cypher; a blue, the substitute; and any pendant, the answering pendant for expressing also the undermost of three similar figures. I am going on establishing my theory of the Magnetic Variation, and shall, I trust, send you a concluding paper 30 Planetary Attraction.-Tour in France, in 1821. paper on this most interesting subject ere long. In the mean time, I hope some of your readers will inform me what the variation and dip were at Spitzbergen, during the last and former voyage attempted direct to the North Pole, and also in Baffin's Bay, previously to Captain Ross's Voyage. I expected to hear our late inunda tions ascribed in a great measure to the disturbing attracting influence of the two great superior planets, which are visibly contiguous, and are acting conjointly on our atmosphere. This effect, if such, must have happened at former periods, when in their orbicular courses, they were similarly situated. Venus is also at her greatest elongation nearly, and she might have helped in this attractive operation; and the Newtonian doctrine will not have the Moon inefficient in throwing in her quantum of effect. Some of your astronomical readers may probably give us something profound on the subject of so terrific and uncommon a state of things. Yours, &c. JOHN MACDONALD. TOUR IN FRANCE, IN 1821. (Continued from vol. XCI. i. p. 585.) [Jan. of Royalty, one that afforded considerable gratification and noble feelings of triumph. The mind of all was intent upon the holy exercise, and if Religion can once more rear her head in France, it will be owing to the devotion and example of the King and Royal Family. The service was short, but very impressive. I was not near enough to remark the features of the Duchess, but I occasionally had a glimpse of her countenance, which is pleasing and attractive. The Princes looked well, and I thought that Monsieur had a cast of the English character. Long may they live in the possession of their just rights, and strengthen the throne by upholding principles of enlarged and generous policy! To bring back the people to their former opinions, and increase the attachment to the Royal Family, must be a work of time. The latter may be accomplished, if something be given up to change of ideas; and as the constitution is now established on chartered rights, and the power of the Government is defined by a code of laws, mutual benefit will gradually determine mutual obligation, and these barriers will protect the community, and fix the stability of the Crown. In the afternoon I went to the pa Sept. HAVING been favoured with rish church of Saint Roche. The 9. of admission to the Chapel Royal, we went to the Tuileries about eleven o'clock, and as soon as the gates were open, ascended the grand staircase, and passed on to the gallery de la Chapelle, which is the diameter of a long salle. The officer in command was extremely polite and attentive, and accommodated the ladies in the front seats. The chapel is neat and handsome, every way suited to the magnificence of the palace. The floor is lozenged, of black and white marble; the pulpit is on the West side, and that and the altar covered with drapery of crimson fringed with gold. The seats in the gallery are lined with the same. The King's tribune faces the altar and the body of the chapel. On the front seats, before the canopy, sat Monsieur in the centre; next to his Royal Highness, on the left, his Royal Highness the Duke D'Angoulenie, and on his side the Duchess D'Angouleme, his Royal and illustrious spouse, the daughter of Louis XVI. The sight was solemn and highly interesting, and, to all lovers St. women considerably prevailed in num- By way of finish, and "to become all things to all men," we went in the evening to a fête at St. Cloud.-Conceive to yourself thousands on the road in cabriolets, carts, waggons, voitures of all descriptions, men on horseback and on foot, women dressed out in their best, boys and girls, beggars and mendicants; high and low, driving, riding, or tramping, on Sunday afternoon, to this seat of jollity and dissipation. My conscience smote me, but curiosity prevailed, 1822.] Tour in France, in 1821. prevailed, and I joined an English party to walk in the gardens, to witness a scene so uncommon in England, and, to the credit of my country, so averse from the British character. The gardens of St. Cloud were laid open, and every description of jollity was in full pay. Roundabouts circulating men, women and children; dancing at the various parts of the garden; gambling in the small way; jumping, running, and frolick; booths for the sale of fairings and eatables; spreads on the grass for the better sort of folk; waterfalls and cascades in full play to amuse the throng; the young village girls in white gowns, silk aprons, and high caps, with large flowing lappets; seeking partners for a waltz or less objectionable tripping. These were the Sunday amusements at the fête of St. Cloud,-the expectation of the young, and the delight of the aged. But custom establishes every thing, and no one thought that he was doing wrong, or violating the Sabbath, enjoined to be kept holy. What our intercourse with the French people may effect at home, and to what extent their light notions of religious duties may prevail, on being imported into our Metropolis, it is not for me to anticipate; the solid sense of the English, and their superior principles, will, I trust, guard them against imitating a conduct that would open the flood-gates of vice, and sweep away the sacred institutions of vital Christianity. No: let us venerate the Sabbath Day, and keep it as it ought to be kept; not with pharisaic strictness, but with holy, temperate, innocent joy;-in such a manner as the Word of God commands, and the corrected understanding of reasonable and accountable beings approves. Any thing short of this will strike at the root of our happiness, and bring about our ruin. I have already said that we stand on the highest ground, in the estimation of the world; let us maintain it, and we shall, by the blessing of Providence, rise above all our difficulties. Wealth is the sinew of power, and wisdom is the heart of both wealth and strength. But what wisdom, unless it be founded on reIzeus principles? throw that aside, and Infidelity will complete its work. The past should not be forgotten; rens of passion and blood can never be w ped out; years have elapsed, but the awful lesson remains. Many thou 31 sands of British subjects visit France; but the great vortex is the Metropolis. And here, as elsewhere, retirement from the dissipated of society may be attained; a family may live in quiet at home, and within the walls of an hotel, there may be nothing to offend the eye or vitiate the morals, unless it be a naked figure or two, which de cency would conceal from the sight of female innocence. Young ladies might take a pleasant turn in the gardens of the Luxembourg or Tuileries, and admire the order of the plants and the beauty of the flowers; the taste displayed in the formality of the tufted orange trees, and the angular direction given to the walks; basins of water, and ingenious jets-d'eau, might delight their fancy; but the purity of the female mind is attacked by personifications, larger than life, by a full view of naked nature, without the least concealment or omission. In every direction, these figures, cut and modelled with exquisite art, and in just proportion, leave nothing for the imagination to conceive, or the virtuous mind to avoid. They present themselves in the exercise of muscular strength, or in the softer appearance of symmetry and elegance of form and shape. They speak love, and excite the grosser thought. Such display may suit the taste of the French women, whose notions of virtue may not be impaired by such exhibitions; but in Great Britain the tact and feeling on this subject are very different; and if in London we equal Paris in dissipation, allurement to vice here is not so open, if it be so general; it does not invite by exposure, nor does it taint so widely. Virtue still predominates, a higher sense of honour prevails, respect is gained by reputation, and character is measured by private as well as public actions. Religion not only assumes an appearance, but wears the robe of sincerity. The sacred truths of the Holy Scriptures are acknowledged, and the influence of Christianity is seen and felt throughout the empire. Modes and forms of worship are in themselves indifferent matters, but unity and spirit is the one thing needful. Let us then preserve this unity in the bond of peace," and hold fast our noble Establishment which interferes with none, but tolerates all. In a country where there is no established system of religious worship, Religion itself is neg lected, 32 Tour in France, in 1821. lected, or the profession of it is deprived of that public sanction and declared authority which governs the multitude, and convinces them of the necessity of an obligation so sacred, so congenial to the mind of a rational and accountable being, so consistent, with the order of Providence, and so beneficial to man. [Jan. siles, and sometimes even wounded by concealed weapons: and they bear all this abominable treatment with' more patience than can be expected from brave soldiers, to whose fortitude and steady valour the preservation of our country is so highly indebted. But a military police, like that in France, might be considered as We saw some priests walking about an attack upon British liberty, and the streets in their habits; and in the however useful it might be rendered, churches many attended at the altar; would, even under proper modifica but the shops make a show of business, tions, be looked upon as a stretch of and although the shutters of some are power bordering on despotism. And up, and the doors are partly closed, yet who could think so, but the intrade is alive on Sunday, as well as on considerate. The gens d'armes are a other days, till the hour of amusement civilized, well-conducted body of arrives; and then the devotee forgets troops, ready to protect from insult, the mass, and, with the indifferent, and commanded to put down the first hurries away to more terrestrial scenes. excitement to commotion; they would It has been observed, and with great not, however, endure the insults acjustice, that at all their places of re- cumulated upon our Guards in Loncreation, however numerously attend- don, who are not only the finest troops ed, the utmost order prevails; ebriety in the world, but, on every occasion is not witnessed, and there is no brawl that has threatened the peace of the ing, or any thing of riot. This is not Metropolis, have deserved the greatest the case in England, where exhibi- praise for temper, conduct, caution, tions of a different sort arise out of and admirable forbearance. I heard noisy revellings, and produce blows some respectable Frenchmen express and bloody noses. But our police is the utmost abhorrence at such treatnot like that of the French government, and no uncommon surprise at ment; if it were it would be of considerable advantage and protection. During the reign of Buonaparte it was rigorously strict; before his rule, when the factious reigned, it was cruel in the extreme. Under the present King it is vigilant at all points, but far from being oppressive. The gens-d'armes are a body of troops under the immediate orders of the Police. They are a fine set of men, well mounted and appointed, dispersed throughout the kingdom. In Paris they are stationed in different parts, and always on the alert. At the playhouses, in the streets, at the public institutions, and in the courts of justice, they are on guard. On all occasions of state or grandeur, of fêtes or rejoicings, they parade about, and prevent disturbance. In fact, they are mounted constables, to keep the peace, and afford protection to the subject. sess. And how much better is this sort of police than that which we posIn times of tuinult and danger, our troops are called out to co-operate with the civil magistrate, and as they cannot act without his authority, they are too often subject to foul abuse, pelted with dirt and stones, exasperated beyond endurance, hurt by mis such moderation. Sept. 11. Two hours of this morning were occupied in revisiting the Louvre, where the painters of the French school are immortalized. At the Luxembourg their works remain during their life, but on their decease they are removed to this grand gallery, the meed of public praise, and a stimulus to emulation. There is something in this that is above conmiendation. It elicits talent and gives a stamp to merit, which no time can efface. Artists and young ladies are seen intent upon the various paintings, and engaged in making copies of the favourite study. Access to this school, and to every public institution, to all the palaces, and every cabinet or collection of science, whether it relate to mechanics, manufacture, sculpture, botany, mineralogy, medicine, astronomy, or literature, are open on certain days, and at appointed hours, to all who choose to visit and derive information from such resources, and guides attend to explain on each subject, or books are sold at a trifling charge to afford every requisite information. No fee for admission is allowed to be taken, but all is gratuitous, and foreigners |