The Weekly register., 1844-07-06
n u vi B e Il II.

The mode of connecting the wires as
required is very simple. One of them
is kept always immersed in cup of
mercury into which the other is dip
/ ped, whenever it is desired to send a
current of electricity through the entire
circuit, the fluid metal forming con-
ductor between the ends. The opera
tion Of writing consists in pressing a
/ button, to which the end OF the wires IN
use is attached, in the manner in which
a single key Of a piano is struck by the
! finger, with succession cf. rapid or
| prolonged strokes, as dots or lines are
required 10 be formed. We have spo-
ken of the stylus as q single piece of
iron, but it is in fact composed of three,
like three prongcd fork, so that each
letter is made in triplicate.
As already stated, the paper is drawn
over the grooved roller against which
the stylus presses by two rollers which
are set in motion by a simple clock work
which, in its turn, is started by tho
first stroke Of the lcver-a delent or
ketch, being Withdrawn, like the detent
ola stop watch; and so long as the wri-
ting is going on, this detentis kept back:
and when the writing is done, the detent
falling into its place, stops the clock
work, and the paper ceases to move
> The first stroke Of the lever also rings
little bell, which calls the attention Of
the attendant to the machine, The
whole machinery does not occupy
space Of more than one foot by two.
In the foregoing onr purpose has
been to make such an explanation as viii
crafty the curiosity ofunscienlifc rea-
ders, and, pretending to no accurate
philosophical knowledge, we may doubt
less have exposed ourselves to the criii-
; cism Of those who possess il.
: We have described the mode Of work
/ ing the machinery, so 10 speak, now
E used but we understand there are others
S which would enable those who want
f the experience of Professor MORSE, and
his polite Assistant Mr.VAII, who is at
! the Baltimore end, TO write, by striking
) keys arranged like those Of a piano and
marked with the letters Of the common
, aIphabet-the effect being produced by
the passage OF arms over The proiec-
tions or CYLINDER, after the manner Of
u hand or musical box.
The only remaining matter to beno.
ticed is the mode which it is proposed
TO make the Magnetic Telegraph gen
orally useful for business purposes
Let US suppose for instance, that It is
extended from New York 10 New Or
leans. John Smith in New York, wants
, to buy from James Brown in New Or
leans 500 bales Of cotton at 8 cents per
ID. He writes accordingly the follow
ing letter flames B:own-buy 500
bales cotton at cts. John Smith" lie
folds it, directs it, and sends it to the
Post Office marked "Magnetic Tele-
graph
Here it is at once sent to the room Of
the clerk Of the Telegraph, who opens
il and writes the contents to New Or
leans, where clerk in attendance at
the Post Office at the end Of the wires,
puts the letter into common writing,
seals and directs it TO John Smith, and
sends it off instantly by messen-
ger in waiting. But cotton is 10 cents
per lb. and SO James Brown writes back
-"John Smith, cotton 10 CTS, James
Brown" To which Smith answers
"James Brown, buy at 10 cts, John
Smith," And all this is done between
New Orleans and New York in the
space of half an hour, allowing time for
the passage of the letters from the Off
ces TO the counting houses of Smith ond
Brown. Or if it is desired that The cor
respondence should not be known, Smith
and Brown may agree upon a combina-
ton of dots and lines differing from the
combination Of Professor MORSE, and
then upon sending the letter in some
such shape as this-"John Smith -
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