Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-11-02
EXTRACTS FROM LATE FOREIGN JOURNALS.

EXTRACTS FROM LATE FOREIGN JOURNALS.
EiEerRieAL PRcGKEssfoR.-" Intellect" makes
but slow progress IN its "march" compared with
the on~nrd movement Of electricity. We spesk
no; OF its physical movement for time out OF mind
flash Of lightning has Iun second only to though;
but Of its advances into the social system, and its
increasing Usefulness in the orts of life. The daily
multiplying appliances OF this subtle mysterious
principle forbid US TO question its power 10 accom-
pish al things. Electric influence is extending its
dominons in regions where, some years since, the
most ouisiretched imagination would not have con-
ceved the possibility Of ire entering. The engraver
hnds the utmost ingenuity Of his art surpassed; the
platter behods the solvent gold and silver appear
and at the touch OF this invisible agent spread them
selves over oil the intrcacies Of the chsced metal
with matehless uniformity and precision; saucepan.
and Kettles actually grow IN the blue COPPER solu-
ton, 10 set AZ nnught the brazies hri, the fsbrc-
printer throws down S wooden blocks 10 despair
on seeing the most involved patterns, traced in Va
etles Of coors, impressed once and in the twink.
ling Of an eye, by the touch Of n wire; the anti
quarry starts on discerning his rares, relics r.pro-
duced so exactly that skill can distinguish tho
copy from the original; even the giant steam, with
his lightning speed, IS leii far behind 10y the light
nng iiself and groans the announcement that sleam
has had its day.
To those who have witnessed the inroads or IN.
electric fluid into all the affairs Of life, il comes
within the range Of Imagination TO conceive that
even tie functions Of government may be, OF no
patch" by its oil pervading in fence. The Light
ming telegraph already threatens to destroy CT one
fell swooD the vhOe corps Of representative soyer.
eigns and deputy governors. What need Of am
bassadors Of foreign cOufts, when communications
con he made directly and instananeousiy between
the soveregns or ministers Of distant nations7 or
Whit use will be colonial governors, where inteIli q
genee Of passing events - Communicated, and all ne
eessnry instructions Transmitted across the Atlantic
ere on ordinary courier can ride from Whitehall 10
]
periecting Of this impousnt governmental appata-
tus since we last noticed its progress; and II Il but
proceed on the road Of Improvement during the neIt
twelve months al as rapid a pace during tho past
year, the picture nov sketched by Imagination will
be painted in vivid eolors on the canvass Of accom-.
! p'isbed facts.
! In the course ofeKpornenis instituted by Ms.s,s.
Wright and Balm for the Improvement Of their cleo
rcal telegraph hey Discovered that the electric cir
cult OF a gavsnic battery IL as th,cuslly complet.
cd through large body OF wnler ~ through an in
sula'ed wire Ttey have applied this curious die
eovefy ~ tfsctualiy as 10 be now able 10 dispense
With two of the wires heretofore thought necessary
for the action Of their printing telegraph; and the
are thus enabled 10 print all communications either
verbal or symboleal, Mt any distance, by the use Of
q single wire. We understand they are now in trea
~ with the Government 10 construct n telegraph or
this principle between the Admiralty and Ports
mouth One insulated wire would he laid down be
tween the two points to connect the galvanio battery
Of The outpon with the printing spparotus Of g.,
Admiralty, ord the return current would be sen
through the earth IN lieu Of using second wire {,
complete the circuit.
Should the moisture in the ground not prove suf
hcient 10 conduct the electricity, the inventors pro
pose 70 transmit the return current by Water max
ing II pass down the Thames 10 the German Ocean
= and thence along the Channel 10 Portsmouth: mi
roundabout voysee TO be performed ins,ants neous
e ly. By thu5 simplifying ond consequently great
reducing the cost Of the electrical printing TELEGRAPH
the inventors have gone for towards rendering
u generally available ARCHER step in advance wi
s dispense with oil metallic connexion whatever TIL
IS atmosphere and the ocean may then be oil sufhcsr
" media Tor the communication Of thought literally
!. realise the poets vision,
b "And wsh sigh from Iodus 10 the Pole 4"
J London Spectator.