The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-10-25
Prof. Morse and the Telegraph.

early struggles and ambitions regard
ing the telegraph, were addressed to
the late Judge William W. BoardrHan,
Of New Haven, then a member of Com
gress, and warm friend and support
er of the invention. They are as fol-
lows:
NEW York. March 7, 1884.
Ny DEAR SIR:-l intended long since
to have written you and thanked you
for your kind attention in relation to
my telegraph and for your resolution
of inquiry. Please now accept my
thanks. | have been constantly occu-
pied this winter in simplifying some
parts of the mechanism, and had hoped
to have everything complete to show it
in Washington this session. | still may
be able, but dare make no promise,
knowing full well from experience the
battling and protracting nature of in
vention. Ny instrument is much more
complete than it has ever been, and if
in its ruder state it created SO much in
| terest, | feel confident of a greater when
the perfect instrument is seen. | have
just received letter from Professor
Henry, of Princeton, which / copy for
your perusal, and with view Of having
it handed to the committee Ineed not
say to you that Prof Henry has higher
| character as aphilosopher and discov-
erer in the department of electricity and
electro-magnetism than any man in the
country and there is no man of the
present age who stands higher in Eu-
rope in this particular department
You may recollect it was Prof. Henry
who first successfully caused the mag
net to hold suspended 1000 pounds,
and invented the first magnetic engine.
With regard to the resolution of inquiry
before the Committee of Commerce.
may | ask the favor of you to have
them suspend action upon it until can
show the telegraph in Washington, I'M
less they are disposed to report the bill
| reported by the former committee? If
they are ready to do this without seeing
the operation of the instrument, verV
well. | shall then be able to show
them more extended application to
its power the next session. But if they
are not ready and should report it in
expedient it might injure my opera
tions next session. The following is the
copy of Prof. Henry's letter:
PRINCETON COLLEGE, Feb "a, 1872.
PROFESSOR MORSE: Dear Sir am
pleased to learn that you have again
petitiOned Congress in reference to your
| telegraph, and | most sincerely hope
that you will succeed in convincing our
Representatives of the Importance of
the invention. In this, however, you
may perhaps find some difficulty, since,
in the minds of many, the electro-mag-
netic telegraph is associated with the
various chimerical projects constantly
presented to the public. and particular
ly with the schemes so popular q year
or two ago for the application of cleo
tricity as a moving power in the arts.
| have asserted from the first that all
attempts OF this kind are premature and
made without a proper knowledge of
scientific principles. The case, is, how
ever, entirely different in regard to
the electromagnetic telegraph. Science
rs now fully ripe for this application,
and have not the least doubt, if proper
means be afforded, of the perfect sue
cess of the invention. The idea of
transmitting Intelligence to a dis
lance by means of electrical action
has been suggested by various per
sons, from the time of franklin to
the present; but until within
thelast few years, orsince the principal
discoveries in electro-magnetism, all
attempts to reduce it to practice were
necessarily unsuccessful. About the
same time with yourself Profess
soT Wheatstone, of London, and
Dr. Steinheil, of Munich, Germany,
proposed plans of the electro-nDag-
nesic telegraph, but these differ as
mech from yours as the nature of the
common principle could we'll penTait,
and unless some essential improYem ents
| have lately been made in these European
plans | should prefer the one invemsed
! by yourself. With my best wishes for
your success, | remain. with much es-
teen, yours truly, JOSEPH HENRY
Thus you will perceive that Prof.
Henry accords precisely in opiniOnwith
nhe committee of the French Govern
ment which examined both Wheat
stones and Steinheirs, in connection
with mine, and gave preference to the
American. lean not doubt, when the
subject is fully understood. that our
Government will appreciate the inn
pOrtance OF this invention. The mind
may speculate very freely on the revo-
luton which the instantaneous inter-
change of thought from one part of the
| cOuulIN u may !Sbf vi Olle WoIdD W
another has effected, and although to
one who is ignorant of the nature Of the
invention these speculations may seem
the vagarics of a prurient imagination,
the reality will still outstrip his con-
ceptions. ask my Government for aid
in giving this invention to the world
and demonstrating its American origin
and perfection. viii they do it?
If thought advisable in the ex-
isting state of the finances of
the country to appropriate
less sum than is asked by the bill
formerly reported, less sum, say
$15. 900 or 100000, would give the in
vension sufficiently extensive trial on
which to found future legislative action.
| i lsave the subject to the wisdom of
Congress. have written on the sub
ject (some weGks since) to several
friends in Washington, to whom, if you
sre so disposed, please show this letter
to Mr.. Barnard, Mr.. Winthrop, Mr..
Cushing, Mr.. Granger, and any others
at your convenience and pleasure.
With sincere esteem, your friend and
servant, SAMUEL +. b. MORSE.
rrt,o uo.J VIYrY Ar w nn,pn,,,,.