The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-31 00:00:00

THE ATL‘INTIC TEL gGRAPH.

The alteration from the original plan of laying
down the Atlantic telegraph cable though it will
delay for a short time the completion of the com-
munication between the two continents, has the
advantage of enabling us on this side the Atlantic
to know from hour to hour how the work pro-
ceeds ; and in the course of a few days we shall
most probably be able to report progress. One
end of the cable will be connected with the tele-
graph station at Valentia, and then the Agamem-
non and the Niagara, with their two at-
tendant steam-vessels, will start together,
and proceed in company to Newfoundland.
When one of the large ships from which the cable
has been paid out has been disburthened, the
end of the first half will be connected to that
coiled up in the hold of the other ship, and
by that time the success or failure of the
undertaking will be almost certainly known ; for
the greatest of the difficulties will then have been
encountered.

Objections have been taken to the machinery for
paying out the cable as too cumbrous for the work,
and as likely to break the line ; and it has also been
stated as a serious mistake that the twist of the two
halves of the outer wire rope are different ; but
from neither of those circumstances need there be
much apprehension • and the second objection is
indeed quite insignificant. The most formidable
difficulties are those which pertain to the very natur e
of the enterprise ; the difficulty of maintaining
psrfect insulation in so long a wire, and of dis-
charging the residual electricity. What effect
the pressure of the water at great depths may
have on the elastic insulating materials in the
first place, remains to be seen. At a depth of
two miles the pressure will be upwards of two
tons on every square inch of surface, and the effect
of that amount of compression on an elastic body
may be conceived when it is stated that a gallon
of air would be reduced within the compass of a
walnut-shell ; and at a depth of three miles air
would be denser than water. The grab percha
and the tarred rope that cover the thin cord of
copper wires, when subjected to such enormous
pressure, may be squeezed into one-tenth their pre-
sent thickness, and the insulated wire will be com-
pressed within the outer casing of wire rope, as if
it had shrunk from it, leaving a water space be-
tween them. What effect this compression of the
gutta percha on the inner wire may have on the
insulation remains to be proved, but we are in-
c'ined to think that the compression of the insulat-
ing material will be beneficial rather than other-
wise ;
.and as to the outer casing of wire rope, its
separation will be of no consequence as regards
the security or the insulation of the wire. It
is questionable, indeed, whether it has not been
from the beginning an unnecessary, as well as a
costly, appendage.
Assuming, then, that no disruption occurs in the
laying down, and that the insulation remains in-
tact, the question to be proved is, whether distinct
electric signals can be sent successively through
the submerged wire with sufficient rapidity to be
available for telegraphic purposes. In the expo
riments of Mr. Whitehouse, at Greenwich, through
1,600 miles of wire, the signals were transmitted at
the rate of four in a second, though the time occu-
pied in passing from one end of the wire to the otter
was three-quarters of a second. It thus appeared
that two or more separate signals ware traver-ine
the wire at the same instant. °Another experiment,
which told in favour of the arrangements made for
discharging the electricity from the wire after each
signal was this. When an instantaneous charge of
magneto-electricity was given to the wire, it re-
mained charged with electricity for several seconds,
and the shock, if received on the tongue, instead of
being violent and instantaneous, became a pro-
longed electrical sensation, indicating clearly the
detention of the electricity in the wire. But by
reversing the direction of the electric current after
each instantaneous charge, that sensation ceased ;
from which it may be inferred by reversing the cur-
rent after each signal the wire will be sutficieutty
discharged to transmit another signal instanta-
neously. It must be observed, however, that in
these experiments at Greenwich the battery which
communicated the signal and the instrument which
received it were close together, at the two ends
of the thousand miles of insulated wire, and
it is well known that very different results may
be obtained when the telegraph instrument is
placed iu the middle of the circuit. Fears may,
therefore, be still rationally entertained that when
the cable is safely deposited in the bed of the Atlan-
tic the wire may not be discharged of electricity
with sufficient rapidity after each signal by merely,
reversing the electric current. Should this diffi-
culty occur, it will begin to show itself after about
400 miles of the cable have been laid down, and
we shall look with much anxiety for the reports
of its progress after that distance has been com-
pleted.
Those not acquainted with telegraphic opera-
tions may be at a loss to know how, with a single
wire, a voltaic current can be completed. In tee
early stages of the electric telegraph it was cus-
tomary o employ a second insulated wire to bring
back the current to the voltaic battery, but it was
afterwards found that the moist earth is so good a
conductor of electricity that it will serve the pur-
pcee better than a wire. It is now usual, there-
fore, at all telegraph stations, to bury a plate of
copper in the ground and to connect it with the
voltaic batteries by a wire, and that metal plate
keeps rip the electric communication through the
earth with all the other stations where similar
plates are buried. In the Atlantic telegraph
the return current wilt in the same manner be
conducted through the sea by communicatirm with
immersed metal plates on each side of the Atlantic.

A few days ago an eagle struck dead a foal some days
old, near Lord Elcho's shooting-box, where it was pas-
turing with its mother. —Alta o'Groat's Journal.
THE TRANSFER OF LAND.--Two separate bills have
been presented to the House of Lords by two ex-Chan-
celiors for the simplification of the transfer of reel
estate. The one drawn up by Lord Brougham and
Vaux, makes provision for the registration of the titles
of land by the appointment of a registrar-general and
a corps of registrars, whose duties are clearly defined,
and by whom devisees, heirs-at-law, trustees, tenants-in-
fee, and recently enfranchised persons may be registerel.
The country will be divided into districts by order in
Council for the registration of assurances of real estate.
A. second bill, emanating from Lord St. Leonard's, re-
stricts executory devises, shortens the time of the limita-
tion of actions against purchasers without notice, &o.
Just published, price 33. 6d., letter to Viscount
Pal-
merston, K.G., on the political importance of the
Euphrates Valley Railway, and the necessity of the
financial support of her Majesty's Government. By
W. P. Andrew, F.R G.S., &c., Chairman Euphrates
Valley Railway, with reports by Major-General Chesney
and Sir J. Macneill, and memorandum, &c., by Sir Justin
Sheil, K C. 8., and map. Also minutes of evidence
before the House of Commons on the establishment of
telegraphic communication with India through Turkish
Arabia. By Sir W. B. O'Shaughnessy, T. K. Lynch,
E.q., and W. Ainswcrtb, E-q., &c., &e., &c. Kur-
rachee, by the Euphrates, is 1,400 miles nears to Eng-
land than Bombay is by the Red Sea'—Sir Justin Sbeil.
London. W. H. Allen and Co., 7, Lea lenhall-street
[ADVERTISEMENT.]—It is with pleasure we notice the daily
in 2rease of cures without medicine of indigestion (dyspepsia),
flatulency, constipation, nervous, bilious, and liver com-
plaints, cough, asthma, consumption, and debility, by Du
Barry's delicious Revalenta Arabica. We quote the follow-
ing : —Southwick Park, Fareham, Hants, Oct. 31, 184 S
Gentlemen, I sincerely thank you for your kind attention.
When I began taking the Revalenta I was in as deplorable a
condition as can well be imagined. I was confined to my bed,
and so weak that I could neither stand nor walk, suffering
severely from flatulency, constipation, and indigestion, and
being compelled to have recourse to aperients every second or
third day; and, upon one occasion, I swallowed no less than
seven doses within twenty-eight hours, under medical advice.
There was a giddiness in my head, and a singing in my right
ear, that when I turned my bead on the pillow it resembled
the sound produced by a light touch on a musical glass. I
had a pain and rort of fullness across the chest, a sore throat

—...-- and a slight cough ; but the pain around my loins was so
great that I could not remain in the same position for ten
DEATH opt ADMIRAL SIR -RuGa
piGoT, minutesall night long. The principal seat of the pain seemed
K. C. H. AND K. 0.13. to be just below the ribs on my left side, and about three
We regret to state that this venerable and tail inches from the backbone. I commenced taking Du Barry's
gallant and distinguished flag officer died Street;
Alandßeventa Arabica morning and evening, boiled in water and
Y salt in less than a fortnight my appetite was greatly
evening, at his town residence, in Ebury-street, it, unproved, and flatulency and constipation so far vanished
the 82d year of his age. • that: I have not tasted a pill or drug of any kind
The following advancements and promotions are tns:eiike Ia
darmunkmonucmh
nst,rsconc.g_erj,
eiciNattvAwssa,lkLansdtea.stdeiewra,
rda.7.d
consequent on Sir Hugh Pigot's decease :
Admiral of suPPorted b testimonialsA from the celebrated Professors cf
Campbell ;* Dr`rreClttrikreer;
To be Admiral of the Blue.—Vice
•
vice Sir
spLtoiriar. art
;s
mtuaiatotr.teenDle chi eg •, the 'Dowa.
Chemistry, yDr Db..rShVand ; Dr. Harvey
gerureozeurn;teDesr.
the Red Sir Edward Tucker, K.C.8.,
Lucius Curtis, Bart., to be admiral of the white,
of Castle
./
Tice Sir Hugh Pigot, deceased. persons, whose he
herhaas Bing, and many other respectable
To be Vice Admiral of the Blue. —Rear Admiral means of cure had failele. been restored by it, after all other
of the Red Sir Houston Stewart, K. C. B. corn- stractions. In canisters, libtly packed with full in-
Ile ; 121 b, 225. The 1 21b canister; 9adr. ; 21b, 4s, Exl. ; 51b,
wander in chief on the North American an.l West
on receipt of Post-Office order.—...Bar stnut ean is e' fr,eo,
India station, vice Robert- Wauchfme Es ,to be 77, Regent-street, London. I strORTANT C Barry, ;13c Co"
Tic 9 admix al of theice John Brett' 'Di •
AUTION aga.nst the
white, lice ..1. ury :s, fearful dangers of spurious imitations :
Dm ,to he vice admiral of the red. lor Sir William Page Wood granted an 1 '
—The V' Ch 1
ce- ance,-
_To tallear Admiral of the Blue.--Capt. George .10th Xarch, 185 i, against
Alfred Ilooporii:;iinnetiou on the
" D Barry ^ Revalenta Arabic-a Food.', • ii• fc)r-imitatng
Rodney Mundy (Januari 10, 1837. . )--, nee Charles uWY - .
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