The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-12-14
MONS. GoNoN's TELEGRAPH.


+ II will no doubt be remembered by the readers
OF the Madisonian, that memorial was adj
dressed TO Congress last winter, by Mons. Go
non, praying that body TO take into considera-
lion the propriety of adopting "a system of tele
graphs TO be established between The cities of
washington and New York" Congress, how
ever, being too deeply engrossed in the exciting
political discussions, incident 10 that very crit
cal and interesting moment, could not or did
not pay to the subject the attention which, we
conceive, II deserved. tits true that the memo
mai was referred 10 committee in the Senate,
the chairman Of which, Mr. Mouton, of Loui-
siana, IN very able report, recommended il,
with high commentators, to the especial att en-
lion OF the Senate. At the commencement of
the special session, in June last, M. Gonon was
induced TO offer an exhibition of his telepraphc
system TO Congress. For that purpose, he Sc
lected an elevated spot on the Capitol, and
temporary observatory at Bladensburg, FIVE miles
distant, as points at which to test its efficacy
The experiments commanded the unqualified
approval Of all who took the trouble to witness
them.
M. Gonon is about to memorialze Congress,
at lis present session, and we sincerely trust
that the gentlemen Of that body, if they can do
no more, will at least endeavor TO render them
selves acquainted with the character and appli-
cability of his system. M. Gonon is no charlie
tan. He comes before Congress, gentleman
of high and unquestioned scientific attainmenls,
and endorsed by names too well established in
the literary and scientific world to admit Of
doubt or cavil. His telegraph, as he avouches,
Is an improvement, and vast improvement,
too, upon that now employed in France, and
of the French people, has been in constant use,
in that country, for forty eight years. That
system was the work of Mons. Chappe, and
was sold by him to the French Government, Of
which, with the secret of its modus operandi,
it is yet the exclusive property.
The French Telegraph is an admirable pro-
duction Of science, but being circumscribed TO
limited series Of combinations, is, necessarily,
far short Of perfection. In general, it will trans
nit all ordinary communications with prompt
ness; but, often, from the novelty or complica-
ton of the intelligence 10 be conveyed, il is
compelled to act in a restrictive circle, and a
despatch Of fifty or sixty words will sometimes
require more than two hundred signals.
M. Gonon, after reaching the height Of NJ
Chappe's system, perceived that further means
could be employed, and that he could cores
pond, word for word without employing more
signals than words. This, it would seem, is
the perfection of the system. M. Gonon asserts
that with thirty observations, between Wash
ington and New York. including one in each
city, he could transmit from the latter 10 the
former city, the words The British feet,
three ships Of the line and fpe .frigates APP
peared off the Hook at ttirty-t,Oo minutes past
TENN FIVE or six minutes! This one fact, il
fact il is, is worth more than all we can urge in
favor of giving Mr.. Gonon and his Telegraph a
fair hearing and fair trial before the present
Congress- 1t is impossible to conjecture how
soon circumstances may render it necessary 10
convey the Identical sentence, quoted above,
from New York TO Washington. AT present,
as exemplified in the rapidity with which the
Presidents Message was carried from this city
to New York, il may be transmitted in nine
hours But the difference between nine hours
and fpe or sir minutes is vast, indeed, when
we reflect that the fate Of city, if not Of ma
ton, might depend on it.