The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-24 00:00:00

TELEGRAPHIC CODING.

Coding is to telegraphy what telegraphy was to let-
ter-writing not many years ago. It bridges space
more certainly, effects an enormous saving in time,
and is imperfectly understood. Hitherto coding has
been confined to such merchants and others as
arranged a series of private signals with their agents,
and has never been adopted on a uniform and com-
prehensive sale. Private coding has, however, been
employed more with the view of securing secrecy
than speed; and a code which should at once promote
accrracy, cheapen messages, end nye labour, has
long been a desideratum with telegraphists all over
the world. When the first Atlantic cable was laid,

the importance of cocVfying messages sent through
it was so strongly felt that an elaborate volume was
compiled, by aid of which it was hoped to abbre-
N:ate language and save time. It was reserved, how-
ever, for the successful. lay ing of the cable of this
year to elicit the most perfect code yet attained.
The following certificate, signed by Mr. Cyrus
Field, Mr. Cromwell Varley, and Professor Thorn-
son, tells its own story respecting the system in-
vented by Captain Bolton, the heads of which we
propose to explain :

"We have witnessed several trials of Captain
Bolton's system of coding messages. These have
been transmitted through the Atlantic cable, first
by the Morse alphabet in fu'l, and then codified.
" The messages have been correctly transmitted,
and the time occupied in doing so through the
cable has shown a saving iu favour of Bolton's
code for messages of ordinary character, varying
from 50 to 400 per cent., according to the nature
of the message. " C. F. VAIILEY.

" CYRUS W. FIELD.
WILLTA3I THOMPSON,

" July 9, 1866."
It may be added that Mr. Latimer Clark and the
rest of the scientific and practical electricians con-
nected with the undertaking concr-red in the above
testimony, and that we are able to confirm it from
having practically tested the merits of Capt. Bolton's
system. Every message sent through the Atlantic
or any other telegraphic line may be expressed, some,
in half, some in a fractional part of the number of
words now employed. Any company who had the
exclusive use of this czde could afford to send mes-
sages at a moiety of the price demanded by its rivals •
any telegraphic agent enjoying its monopoly could
reduce his expenditure and amp7ify his inte"igence
at least 50 per cent. ; and any merchant in posses-
sion of the secret and the means of working it m'ght
telegraph to his agents in a'l languages and in every
part of the world at less than half the rate he e•s-
burses now. in proof of this, and to show that the
code effects even gi-eater economy than has been
claimed for it, an interesting experiment was made
yesterday. The following message was taken from
the journals of the morning; and coded, when it was
found that sixty of what electricians know as " ele-
ments," or, in other words, sixty deflections of the
needle or ray of light, sufficed to express every word
and fraction of a word it contains :
" AMERICA.
" (BY ATLANTiC TELEGRAPH.)
" NEW YORK, Aug. 20 (Even'ng).
" Gold, 1481. Exchange on London, 1581.

5-20 United States Bonds, 1104. Middling Up-
land, 34;c."
The message was moreover put into code and read
off without a moment's delay or a single error; vnd
the general reader wf'l understand the enormous
saving implied when he le2rAs that " elements" in
the Morse alphabet rre the " dots" and " dashes"
which go to form the letters, so that &xty of these
represent a considerably less number of cha-
racters. Nor is there any cr fficulty in mastering
this silrL'ing system of abbrel:ation, or i-npaiting
its mysteries to telegraphic operators. Since Co-
lu-nbus bru:sed the egg there has been nothing
s'rnpler or more effective than Captain Bolton's mode
of rendering whole sentences by a few symbols, and
long words in a couple of characters. Another
curious thing is, that any language under the sun,
provided it is expressed by the Eng"sh alphabet,
c-In be transmitted by this code. Neither the opc-
raf•nr who transmits the ine..o.sc, nor the clerk who
transfers it to paper, 400 d c'°.`"Piebella "
of the tongue they a7e conversing in; mere nonsense
words can be expressed with a Ile faci"ty ; and the
whole charm can be learnt in a few minutes. In-
deed, this qxperiment might be easily tried. a
few gentlemen were, we will ny, given facilities

for inqu'ring into the work;ng of the code—none of
whom had seen or investigated it before—and were
asked what languages they were acquainted with,
selections might be made and messages written out
and d'stributed in such a way that each man should
hold a sentence he could not read. Five minutes'
explanation of the system, and the means of work-

ing it, would enable every one present to express
the sentence he was unable to comprehend in the
symbols cf the code. These symbols can always be
read off with ease by those acqyainted with the
method, and thus the absurd rnd annoying tele-
graphic d'incultics respecting foreign words and
places seem to be at an end.
An order for a banquet to the celebrated Fran-
catelli, sent the other Jay by the ord;nary telegraphic
method, came out thus :

P. :ink Morn.

and, it ;s unnecessary to add, was seriously
delayed in consequence. the paragraph re-
cently quoted by a contemporary shows the havoc
made by the Incran telegraph of native names,
and few of us at home use the NCI-es frequently
without learning how easily a- simple Enesh mes-
sage may be transposed and its mean4ng lost. By
the code under consideration these mistakes are im-

possible. At present it is necessary to use the Eng-
lish alphabet—a stipulation leaving an enormous
margin ; but the system could he employed to any
extent and in any character or cypher. On the
26th of last June the following message was sent
through 2,374 miles of Atlantic cable by reversals
in this code, and transposed into Hindustani without
a single slip or repeat:—"Ajkyah calm hi hanko
nzaloom nay Toom guddah pursand lii."
But the vast- practical value of the invention 's
the greater speed and cheapness which can be se-
cured for ordinary messages. Not one of the morsels
of news published in the newspapers per Atlantic
wire but might be sent at a saving which is incal-
culable. The President's and the Queen's congra-
tulations we have seen coded, and they would have
been worked across at a reduction of nearly a hun-
dred per cent. in the number of words used. The
commercial items supplied by Mr. Reuter might, as
we have shown above, be transmitted day by day in
a few symbols by this method, and the public have
some right to hope for its general adoption, and the
acceleration of peace which would necessarily follow.
Captain Bolton has had long and successful ex-
perience in codifying and signalling, and, in con-
junction with Co►nnder. Colomb, of the navy, tried
some important experiments for the Government a
couple of years ago. Their then object was to esta-
blish a system of conveying messages by signal from
ship to shore at great distances in such a way as

to supplement the electric telegraph, and it is
admitted on all hands that this was effecWally
done. After many trials made independently these
gentlemen decided that to communicate effectively
by night and day the " dot " and " dash" alphabet
invented by Professor Morse for the electric tele-
graph must be used, and its application extended
to the flashing of lights and the sounds of a steam
whistle, bugle, and fog-horn. By thcse means it
was proved that communications of a character
hitherto unprecedented for accuracy and speed could
be easily made at vast distances, and without the
operators being x:sible to each other.

The code now 'rider consideration is, however,
exclusively designed for electric communications,
and the advantages it claims may be briefly sum-
marised :—G aiu of speed; si mp" city of transmission;
non-Yiability to mutilation in passing through
foreign countries ; facility of repetition ; and ap-
plicability to any language by translation without
loss of time. If these things are proved, as the
electricians declare they are, and as the investiga-
tions conducted independently show, the public may
hope for the full benefit of the invention, and that
the evils of blocked electric l;nes and consequent
delays shall be reduced to their misimum.—Daily
.Yetes.

,
4. ft /.1°
1(cl/flu tutifiar

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Aug. 23.
The Queen, accompanied by their Royal High-
nesses Princess lonise, Princess Beatrice, and
Prince Leopold, drove iu the Home Park this
morning.
The Mayor of Windsor, attended by the Town
Clerk, had the honour of presenting to the Queen
this morning an address of congeatulation from the
Mayor and Corporation of Windsor upon the war"
I:age of their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess
Chr'istian of Schleswig-Holstein.
Her Maje.-_,ty was attended by Lady Churchill, the
Lord and Groom in Waiting, and the Master of the
Household.
Her Majesty, with their Royal Highnesses Pi inch
Lor'se, Princess Beatrice, and Prince Leopold, left
Windsor Castle tls's evening, at a querter before
seven o'clock, for Balmoral.
The suite in attendance consisted of Lad:j.
Churchill, the Hon. Emily Cathcart, Major-General
Sir T. M. Biddulph, Lord Charles Fitzroy, Dr*

Jenner, Mr. Sahl, and Mr. Legg.
Princess Victoria and Princess Erza,beth of gess°
left the Castle this morning for the Continent.
The Hon. Emily Cathcart has succeeded the
lion. Flora Macdonald as maid of honour.
Lord Charles Fitzroy has succeeded as Equeril
in Waiting to her Majesty.

IRELAND.

PUBLIC ENTRY OF THE VICEROY•

DUBLIN, Thr'sday Night. ,
The public entry of his Excellency the Marge.°
of Abercorn took place this day, and was the west
imposing pageant witnessed in Dublin for mail
years. There has never been a larger concourse °
spectators or a more enthusiastic reception of a
Viceroy. The Lord-Lieutenant landed at Well
o'clock in Icngston, and at half-past twelve reached
Dublin, accompanied by the Marchioness of Abe
t•r'
corn and the members of his family. .A. 9. the Pe'•
lie bli'ldings were decked with flags, and at every
point of the route the cheering was loud and geaeci
ral, the assemblage was exceengly orderly, all
only one arrest for misconduct is reported.
an
His Excellency reached the Castle at one,
o 4
held a reception at which the principal personalty"
in Dublin were presented.
Deputations from the corporation, the universitil
and other public bo'es will be received on Satlit:
•
day.

The Duchess (Emily) of Beaufoi:; has arrived 71
Dupplin Castle, near Perth, on a visit to the Earl sei
Countess of Kinnoull, from Grimstone Park, the 081 °
Lord and Lady Londesboreugh, near Tadcaster.
RANK AND FASHION AT PENZANCE.—YesteraN
afternoon there arrived at the Queen's Hotel Lady Afeje,rf
worth, of Pencarrow, Lord and Lady Skelmersdale,
ue
Emily Villiers, Viscountess Holmesdale, Lady Susan
VA
Tempest, Mr. and Lady Virginia Sanders, Gelcine
and the Hon. Mrs. Dudley Carleton, Lady Dore
e,
Nevill, S. S. the Marquis d'Azeglio, the Marquis of
Lord and Lady Otho Fitzgerald, Mr. P. Alderson, the 11,°11;
James Stuart Wortley, the Hon. N. Harris Temple'
Corny Cornellan, Mr. Sartoris, and Mr. Hamilton '1 3
`"
In all, these visitors are 21, and they come to Penzae,irceo,l
tA
is understood, as the guests of Lady Molesworth. "ci
them are 12 attendants. Arriving at the Mairazion PT;
tion, about three o'clock, Lady Molesworth and herfrientie,
proceeded to the Mount, and inspected the ancient Os"
Mr. John St. Aubyn, M.P., was not at the Mount, but Ye%
soon saw Lady Molesworth, and, doubtless, gave he be
cordial welcome to this part of Cornwall. All dined at
" Queen's," at 8, and to-day proceed—some to the 1-49°,,,
End and Logan Rock ; others to Botallack.—Cornish ,
graph. the
CRYSTAL PALACE.—The fifth, and certainly
most brilliant, of a series of pyrotechnic fetes; Vi, it r
the general details of which the public are now /write",
was given last night on the grounds of the Crystal PP%I r
The programme used on former occasions of a sir° 1.,.
character was followed for the most part, but some le3P°4
taut additions were made to it which are worthy of sPec!-I
notice. Tho display began, as usual, with the salute of a6L.I f
maroons, followed by the firing of three large set pioc°lo
I.,anty. Tt was announced that Etharj,
would ascend his spiral mountain at a quarter to 9 o'clecoi
and at that time he appeared on the platform and commeoe
his performance. 'When, however, he had got up
yards he slipped, and the ball upon which ho was wan,:
fell into the network which is suspended beneath
column. Ethardo himself fortunately alighted without
jury on that portion of the inclined plane on which that
was resting when the accident occurred. Immediate'cr"
after this two fiery comets were sent down with alu°itrjo'r
velocity from the great towers of the Palace to the were
temples During former displays similar comets mr
lot fall on the basins of the fountains on the 111/brie
terrace, but on this occasion they were driven, eSt:ic‘ii
been said, to the summit of the water temples, "'n
on their arrival burt into most effulgent splendour,aucli,c
peered like a series of arches of floating fire with a
waterfall slowly trickling down the sides of each. -A- mil,
loon to exhibit a magnesium light of crimson tint hullg
been sent up at the same time the coup d'ceil was of Ole;
and unusual brilliancy. The fete terminated with a fine,
of 1,000 coloured rockets and salvos of coloured ,5"o
with variegated stars. The numbers were—admissions",.,
PaYment,.23,3o6 ; ditto by season tickets, 5,827; total

tors, 29,133.
A SUCCESSFUL CORN-CUTTER AND THE LAlsr":o
A corn cutter named Louis, aged 61, was tried the
days ago in Paris, on a charge of having practised t g
healing art without having a doctor's degree. It 'L(I
conclusively proved against him he had not only practis e,l
illegally, but had illegally and effectually cured a gloat 111.0..
people who were afflicted with wens and tumours. 3.1* Tfa •
seller, counsel for the defence, submitted that to renl°'-cf:
tumour or other excrescence was no more practising
tine than cutting a corn. He proceeded to give a tri-Aci
marvellous account of the way in which his client Jibe
become possessed of the secret which ho used fclr,,:p-
benefit of humanity. He had been for forty years a srej
herd, and had observed that his sheep carefully refralPa
from touching a certain plant which seemed to be reP,,;
cant to them. On ono occasion when he wished to 16-0
some lambs, it occurred to him as a good way to Pre aid
them from sucking to tie some leaves of this plant
the teats of the mothers. The device was effectual ;
to his astonishment, the teats shrivelled and fell off vitrt
a few days ! He happened at the time to have a large '!ut
at the tip of his nose. Reasoning by analogy, he
it probable that this herb would get rid of his wart. S°
did, and this was the origin of his secret. The le3rive
counsel read a letter from a priest, " Abbe Ravant,"
to
at 5, Vieux Chemin, is Montmartre, certifying that
Louis" had relieved him of a wart on the nose. F°rf
these illegal cures the court sentenced M. Louis to ?let
fine of 151., a punishment which will certainly not de
hint from continuing his practice.
nf
THE CONVICT BURROWS.—The execution -
total'
youth convicted of a murder at Hopwood is fixed to
place on Saturday morning, at the New Bailey Pris°l3l she
ford. The authorities, after taking into consideration 0,
dangers which would attend the assemblage of a largo ;490.0
course of people in front of the gaol, have givenoll4l
that the execution shall take place on the side of the bcV
forming one of the boundaries of New Bailey-street. W°oo,
men are already engaged in lowering the wall on tflat:s of
and in erecting the scaffold and drop. Large erc'vriAoJ
people congregate to watch the progress of thewl.' for
policemen are employed to keep the thoroughfare oPentbo
the ordinary traffic of the street. The convict's ra°ciaii
had an affecting final interview with him on INsdneS
and his father was to see him yesterday. Further atten'r
tatio
are making to get his sentence commuted to penal Seri° 600
for life, and the Home Secretary is to have hie atteue
called more particularly to the evidence and to the
recommendation to mercy. A memorial from the tre
tratos and leading inhabitants would, it was exPectede no
forwarded last night. It is said the prisoner has rat
clad
secret of his guilt since his conviction, and is not e% Peed to
therefore, to make a formal confession. lie is rePclt coo'
be very penitent, and in the opinion of his clerical tiots
forters is said to stand in bettor hope of forgivones3

99 out of every 100 people outside the gaol. 01
A vessel which arrived at Falmouth yes.'ere)
reports having passed the wreck of a vessel on tile ,:stO
July in 1at.37 N., long. 69 \V., apparently burnt, no 0110
standing, decks blown up, and stern washed out. 6"e-
a white deckhouse forward, a gammon knee with gilt s-rthe
on the side, and has apparently been a long time ie
water. , Of
THE NEW VICTORIA-BRIDGE.—In the notic-
the works at this bridge which appeared in our colas""
Tuesday it was stated that the Brighton con)P-,,503
branches have been constructed by Messrs. Piclorin,filtle
Heywood. Wo aro desired to explain that the two gar
the
named had separate contracts—Mr. Pickering for
for the
construction of the lines, and Mr. James Heywood
wrought-iron and cast-iron bridges. h COlll4
THE LANCASTER ELECTION INQUIRY.--2-e, tow
rnissioners (Mr. T. J. Barstow, Mr. R. M. Noirta -
the
Mr. Alexander Stavely Hill) appointed to inquire the
Sli
m'
borough of corrupt practices at the last election ,ebirc,
borough of Lancaster commence their sittings at tbe
hall, at Lancaster, on Monday next.