The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1837-09-06
From the Boston Mercantile Journal.

from fhe Boston -Wercanftte JOHrRdn
New AND BEAUTIFUL INvENTIoN.-Au
English paper contains the following de-
scriplion of Il new and highly ingenious
mode of applying the principle of electrici-
~, or galvanism, to the communication of
intollgence-or in other words, 10 the con.
struciion of an electric telegraph. The
theory is probably correct but we fear that
serious obstacles will prevent its applica-
ton on an extensive scale, as appears 10
be contemplated by the writer -
"When in London, few days ago, we
learned that an eminent scientific gentle
mon is, at present, engaged in maturing an
imscntion which promises to lead to the
most astonishing results, and to exert vast
influence on the future progress of society.
Il is aG Electric Telegraph, the powers of
whIch as much surpass those Of the com
mon instrument bearing that name, us The
art of printing surpasses the picture writing
of the Mpxcans. The telegraph consists
of five wires, inclosed in sheath of India
rubber, which isolaies them from each 9TH
er, and protects them from the external air.
A galVanic trough or pile is placed ut The
one end of the wires, which act upon nee
dies at the other; and, when any of the
wires Is put in communication with the
trugh, motion is Instantly produced in
he needle at the other extremity, which
motion ceases the moment the cOnnexion
between the wire and the trou sh Is suspend
ed. The five wires may thus denote as
many letters, and by binary o: Urinary COM
bInations, the six-and-twenty letters of the
h.., H., L..
simple mechanical contrivance, the com
nunication between the wires and the
trough may be established aud stopped, rs
the keys of "A piano-forte are touched 10y
the hands of a practsed musician, and the
Indications will be exhibited at the other
end of The chain Of wires, as quickly rs
they can be read off. In the experiments
already made, the chain of wires has been
extended to length of five miles, (by form !
ing numerous coils within a limited sur
face y and the two ends being placed near
each other, it is found that the transmission
of the electric action is, so far as the human
senses can discern, perfectly instantaneous.
Little doubt is entertained, that it may be
conveyed over a hundred or n thousand
miles, with the snme velocity; and the pow
ers oi ihe instrument promise TO he as great
as The action Is rapid. twiil not be cuu-
tined, Ike the common telegraph, TO the 1
transmission of few sentences, or a short
message, and thus only in the day time, in |
clear weather, and by repeated operations,
each consuming a portion Of time; for. |
while 1t works by night or by day, it will /
convey intelligence with the speed Of
thought, aud with such cop.ousness and
ease, that = speech slowly spoken in Lon
inu might be written down in Edinburgh,
each sentence appearing on paper within
, few minutes AFTER IT wss uttered four
hundred miles off! There may be practi-
;ai difficulties attending its operation, as
yet unhnowu; but we speak here Of wha,
Intelligent men, acquainted with the ex-
Dcrimenis now in progress, look forward to
IS their probable result. If the promise
hese experiments hold out he reslized, the
discovery will, perhaps. be the grandea in
lie annal. of the world; ond its effects will
DC snch as no efforts ct imagination can
anticipate"
WILLrs's New TRAGEDY.-The new
Tragedy wririeu by n. y. Willis for Miss
r-.fr,.., -. ,,,J,r.J f,y ,b. Grs, ts,-. a,